Letter, 1787 March 15, Lyon, [France] to [William Short], Paris, [France].

Abstract

Concerns Jefferson's trip to Aix en Provence via Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, and Lyon; he has stopped in Lyon; Jefferson observes the weather, the countryside, architecture, vineyards, the conditions of the peasants; believes the people of Champagne are extremely poor because he observed women doing hard labor in the fields; Jefferson entertained by Madame de Espinay de Laye at Chateau de Laye, a large seigneury in Beaujolais; introduced to the de Layes by Abbes Chalut and Arnoux; Jefferson planned to have a new servant at each stop along the trip, but he liked the servant from Dijon so much he kept him on the whole trip; tells William Short to give greetings to his friends particularly Madame Adrienne Catherine de Noailles, Comtesse de Tesse and Madame Sophie Ernestine de Tott.