The French packet-boats being discontinued, I am now
obliged to watch opportunities by Americans going to London, to write
my letters to America. Hence it has happened, that these, the sole
opportunities by which I can write to you without fear, have been lost,
by the multitude of American letters I had to write. I now determine,
without foreseeing any such conveyance, to begin my letter to you,
so that when a conveyance occurs, I shall only have to add recent
occurrences. Notwithstanding the interval of my answer which has taken
place, I must beg a continuance of your correspondence; because I
have great confidence in your communications, and since Mr. Adams's
departure, I am in need of authentic information from that country.
I will begin with the subject of your bridge, in which I feel myself
interested; and it is with great pleasure that I learn, by your favor
of the 16th, that the execution of the arch of experiment exceeds
your expectations. In your former letter you mention, that, instead of
arranging your tubes and bolts as ordinates to the cord of the arch, you
had reverted to your first idea, of arranging them in the direction of
radii.
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