James Monroe, Paris, France, to Joseph Jones, 1795 August 4

Paris Augt 4. 1795.
Dear Sir
I omitted yesterday to enclose Josephs letter: I send it however by an opportunity which promises to be more secure & perhaps as quick in the passage.
You will long since have heard that I have placd for you in the hands of Mr. Randolph 3000. dolrs. of what ought to have been recd. here, & abt. 150. on acct. of a like sum pd. here for Mr. Rittenhouse: in addition to wh. I have lately answered your bills in favr. of Southcombe & Burnley.
A peace is concluded with spain and the emigrant army entirely cut off amounting 10.000, of which abt. 4000 were slain. In addition to which the constitution is nearly gone thro & which upon the whole may be considered as a very good one. It divides the legislature into two branches, gives an independent Executive composed of 5. members, of whom one only is annually displac'd. So that in every view the prospect of this country is now the best that can be. By the peace with Spn. the whole of St. Domingo belongs to France & whereby an immense country is provided for the army when the war ends, whereby also not only justice will be rendered to those citizens who have deserved so well of the republick, but the probability of internal commotion removed.
With respect to the arrangment of my two farms in alb: I have heretofore said so much that I have little occasion to repeat any thing here. With respect to that where I live you recollect my wish was that a fence shod. extend in a line along the road by the house till you come to the road leading from Charlottesville & then with the latter to the lane of McKensie: that the ground inclosd shod. continue in wood clearing out the old & ugliest trees only: that the whole of the run? between the house & barn be cleared up & put in grass, planting here and there along it a weeping willow & leaving of the trees now standing here there one also.
Will it not be possible for you to pay us a visit? I think after you settle your affrs. you might do it & to advantage in point of health. Suppose you did it the ensuing year. how long I shall stay is uncertain provided my conduct is approved. We do not mean to stay long. but if you were to come seing into into my affrs. we might fix the time positively: & the sooner we get back, the present storm being over the better: certainly the more agreeable to you. Sincerely I am yr. friend & servt.
Jas Monroe