Thomas Jefferson and the French Revolution, 1785-1800: U.S. History (1996)

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Still in his 40s, Jefferson was minister to France from 1785 to 1789, just before the French Revolution started. Months before Jefferson assumed the role as Minister to France he arrived in Paris on August 6, 1784 and four days later rode out to Passy to greet his old friend Benjamin Franklin. When the French foreign minister, the Count de Vergennes, commented to Jefferson, "You replace Monsieur Franklin, I hear," Jefferson replied, "I succeed him. No man can replace him." Jefferson attended the ceremony held at Passy bidding farewell to Franklin, who departed for the United States on July 12, 1785. Jefferson often found it difficult to fill the shoes of his predecessor Benjamin Franklin, who at the time was one of the most famous people in the world.[83] He enjoyed the architecture, arts, French cuisine and the salon culture of Paris. He often dined with many of the city's most prominent people, and stocked up on wines to take back to the United States.[84] While in Paris, Jefferson corresponded with many people who had important roles in the imminent French Revolution. These included the Marquis de Lafayette, and the Comte de Mirabeau, a popular pamphleteer who repeated ideals that had been the basis for the American Revolution.[85][86] While in Paris he wrote a letter to Edward Carrington expressing some of these ideals he held regarding the natural tendencies of government and its relationship to the people: "the natural process of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground."[87][88][89] While in France, Jefferson worked with Marquis de Lafayette to establish trade agreements between the United States and France with the objective of reducing the U.S. debt to France, and included commitments on tobacco and whale oil.[90] Though France was at the brink of Revolution, Jefferson's tenure there was generally an uneventful one. He was a firm supporter of the Revolution, although he was opposed to some of its very violent and bloody aspects. He allowed his residence in Paris to be used as a meeting place by Lafayette and other leaders of the Revolution. Jefferson maintained his support for the French Revolution.[91] With France at the brink of revolution Jefferson found his mail was often opened and inspected by various postmasters. In response he began to write his important messages using a code. Feeling strongly about the having his mail read he invented his own enciphering device, the 'Wheel Cipher. Jefferson would continue to write his important communications in codes throughout his public career.[92] Jefferson's eldest daughter Martha, known as Patsy, went with him to France in 1784. His two youngest daughters were in the care of friends in the United States.[16] To serve the household, Jefferson brought some of his slaves, including James Hemings, who trained as a French chef for his master's service. Jefferson's youngest daughter Lucy died of whooping cough in 1785 in the United States, and he was bereft.[93] In 1786, Jefferson, through his artist friend John Trumbull, met and fell in love with Maria Cosway, an accomplished Italian-English artist and musician of 27. They saw each other frequently over a period of six weeks. A married woman, she returned to Great Britain, but they maintained a lifelong correspondence.[94] In 1787, Jefferson sent for his youngest surviving child, Polly, then age nine. He requested that a slave accompany Polly on the transatlantic voyage. By chance, Sally Hemings, a younger sister of James, was chosen; she lived in the Jefferson household in Paris for about two years. After a five year stay in France, Jefferson returned to America only months before the French Revolution broke out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_jefferson