Your favor of Mar. 13. has been duly recieved. I forwarded to mr Appleton a duplicate of the letter I inclosed to you by a gentleman going direct to Paris, from whence he would forward it to Leghorn. owing to mr Dufief a balance of 24. D 68 c I have taken the liberty of inclosing him a draught on you for that sum. you will perhaps have seen that our late legislature has taken up the subject of public improvement with great spirit, and I hope they will pursue it. an University for the sciences, district colleges for classical education, and elementary schools in every county, Astronomical, geometrical, topographical, & mineralogical surveys of the state, with roads [and] canals are provided for. all this undertaken while [. . .] paying five times higher taxes than ever were paid in the st[ate] before, shews that the spirit of the state is roused, and taking an excellent direction. ever & affectionately your’s

Th: Jefferson