I suppose he is not so certain
as he was of being engaged here. Mr. Grand, who knows him, gives me
reason to believe he may be engaged reasonably. Congress will decide
whether it be worth their attention.

In some of my former letters, I suggested an opportunity of obliging the
court, by borrowing as much money in Holland as would pay the debt due
here, if such a loan could be obtained; as to which, I was altogether
ignorant. To save time, I wrote to Mr. Dumas, to know whether he thought
it probable a loan could be obtained, enjoining on him the strictest
secrecy, and informing him I was making the inquiry merely of my own
motion, and without instruction. I enclose you his answer. He thinks
purchasers of the debt could be found, with a sacrifice of a small part
of the capital, and a postponement be obtained of some of the first
reimbursements. The proposition by him, for an immediate adoption of
this measure by me, was probably urged, on his mind by a desire to serve
our country, more than a strict attention to my duty, and the magnitude
of the object. I hope, on the contrary, that if it should be thought
worth a trial, it may be put into the hands of Mr. Adams, who knows the
ground, and is known there, and whose former successful negotiations in
this line would give better founded hopes of success on this occasion.

I formerly mentioned to you the hopes of preferment, entertained by the
Chevalier de la Luzerne. They have been baffled by events; none of the
vacancies taking place which had been expected. Had I pressed his being
ordered back, I have reason to believe the order would have been given.
But he would have gone back in ill humor with Congress, he would have
laid for ever at their door the failure of a promotion then viewed
as certain; and this might have excited dispositions that would have
disappointed us of the good we hoped from his return. The line I have
observed with him has been, to make him sensible that nothing was more
desired by Congress than his return, but that they would not willingly
press it, so as to defeat him of a personal advantage. He sees his
prospects fail, and will return in the approaching spring unless
something unexpected should turn up in his favor. In this case, the
Count de Moutier has the promise of succeeding to him, and if I do not
mistake his character, he would give great satisfaction. So that I think
you may calculate on seeing one or the other, by midsummer.

It had been