Thomas Jefferson in France

In presenting this study I have attempted to resent a connected Recount of Jefferson's diplomatic mission to France, 1784-1789. Any discussion of history necessitates both selection and arrangement of facts. There is such a vast amount of material relating to Thomas Jefferson - much of it controversial - that this has been no slight task. I have tried to select and arrange facts in such a way as to show what I believe to be true - that Jefferson's work as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to France was actuated by his sincere desire to establish the good reputation of his country in Europe, to better commercial relations and to secure financial credit. In order to make this clear it was necessary to consider the man Jefferson who went to France and the world abroad which was the theatre on whose stage he was one of the actors as well as the work which he accomplished there.