Gallatin felt entirely at home, and was happy in this peculiar sphere.

There was no time in his life when he would not have gladly surrendered all political power for the enjoyment of intellectual ease, the pursuit of science, and the atmosphere of society of the higher order of culture in whatever field.
And Paris was then, as it is still, the centre of intellectual and social civilization.
Jefferson rejoiced in Gallatin's appointment to France, and rightly judged that he would be of great service there.

Of Louis XVIII., however, Jefferson had a poor opinion.

He thought him 'a fool and a bigot, but, bating a little duplicity, honest and meaning well.' Jefferson could give Gallatin no letters.

He had 'no acquaintances left in France; some were guillotined, some fled, some died, some are exiled, and he knew of nobody left but Lafayette.' With Destutt de Tracy, an intimate friend of Lafayette, Jefferson was in correspondence.