It is not for me to
decide whether any diplomatic character should be kept at a court, which
keeps none with us. You can judge of Smith's abilities by his letters.
They are not of the first order, but they are good. For his honesty, he
is like our friend Monroe; turn his soul wrong side outwards, and there
is not a speck on it. He has one foible, an excessive inflammability of
temper, but he feels it when it comes on, and has resolution enough to
suppress it, and to remain silent till it passes over.
I send you, by Colonel Franks, your pocket telescope, walking stick, and
chemical box. The two former could not be combined together. The latter
could not be had in the form you referred to. Having a great desire
to have a portable copying machine, and being satisfied from some
experiment, that the principle of the large machine might be applied in
a small one, I planned one when in England, and had it made. It answers
perfectly. I have since set a workman to making them here, and they are
in such demand that he has his hands full. Being assured that you will
be pleased to have one, when you shall have tried its convenience, I
send you one by Colonel Franks.
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