All dined at Mr. Jefferson's, with Marquis and Marquise de la Fayette, Count and Countess d'Ouradou, Chevalier de la Fayette another french gentleman, Mr. Short, who this morning arrived from St. Germains, Mr. Bowdoin from Virginia, Mr. Jarvis, &c. I there learnt that Mr. West and Dr. Ruston, were not gone for England: after dinner I went with Mr. Jarvis, to the Hôtel d'Orleans, Rue St. Anne, to see Mr. Randall, who dined at Dr. Franklin's to day. I went to West's lodgings, but he was out. Saw Dr. Ruston, who does not go, till next week. Mr. Jarvis, brought me out as far as the Barriere de la Conference, 1 where I luckily found our Carriage which was just passing by.

The weather has been exceeding fine, for a long time, but the drought is very great. All the Roads, are very inconveniently dusty, and daily Church processions are made to obtain Rain 263from Heaven. Grain, and Hay are extravagantly dear so that numbers of farmers, have been obliged to kill their Cattle, that they might not Starve to Death. Butter is 2 livres a pound, whereas, in the depth of winter, it is not commonly higher than 30 Sols, and in short if the present weather continues, I know not what will be the consequence the ensuing Fall and Winter.

After dinner the Ladies went into Paris: I left them at the Place de Louis 15. and went to Mr. West's lodgings: he had been out to Auteuil in the morning with Mr. Bowdoin, and had promised to meet me in the afternoon at his lodgings, but did not. I walk'd from 5. o'clock till 9 in the Palais Royal. Met M: de Gouvion there, and walk'd with him, about an hour and an half. He was much averse to the Packets, coming round from L'Orient to Le Havre, which has at length been determined upon; but they have been so slow and dilatory about it, that the time for the May Packet to go round has been lost, and I shall still be obliged to go down to L'Orient. M: de Gouvion says it will lengthen the Passage very considerably, and increase the danger. That besides, the greatest part of the Passengers in those Packets come from Marseilles, Bordeaux, and Nantes, and don't come to Paris. All those, says he, will rather go home in Merchant Vessels, than, go so far as Le Hâvre. But Mr. de Gouvion, does not consider that great numbers of Americans, that cross the Atlantic from England, in merchants vessels, or the English packet, will in future, prefer to either the french Packet, as it will be so near, and much less expensive: I reminded him of this, and he agreed it was true.

Met Messrs. Jefferson, Short and Williamos: the Ladies made me wait so long, that I had well nigh taken a fiacre, to return home. Ten o'clock before we got to Auteuil.

Went into Paris early in the morning. Called at the Hôtel d'Orleans, Rue St. Anne. Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Warburton, were going 264for England at Noon. Hotel d'Orleans, Palais Royal: Dr. Ruston found West there, and accompanied him, to the Diligence, Rue Montmartre; at 12 o'clock they all went off. I walk'd with Mr. Jarvis in the Palais Royal, and afterwards went and dined with him, at the hotel d'Orleans, Rue des Petits Augustins. After dinner I called upon Mr. Randall, at the Hotel de l'Union, Rue St. Thomas du Louvre, and bought of him, the Carriage, in which he came from L'Orient. Gave him 20 louis d'or's for it. Called upon the abbés and Mr. Grand, but did not find them.