stern lands is not yet
commenced. That valuable fund for the immediate extinction of our debt
will, I fear, be suffered to slip through our fingers. Every day exposes
it to events, which no human foresight can guard against. When we
consider the temper of the people of that country, derived from the
circumstances which surround them, we must suppose their separation
possible, at every moment. If they can be retained till their
governments become settled and wise, they will remain with us always,
and be a precious part of our strength and our virtue. But this affair
of the Mississippi, by showing that Congress is capable of hesitating
on a question, which proposes a clear sacrifice of the western to the
maritime States, will with difficulty be obliterated. The proposition
of my going to Madrid, to try to recover there the ground which has
been lost at New York, by the concession of the vote of seven States, I
should think desperate. With respect to myself, weighing the pleasure of
the journey and bare possibility of success in one scale, and the strong
probability of failure and the public disappointment directed on me, in
the other, the latter preponderates. Add to this, that jealousy might be
excited in the breast of a person, who could find occasions of making me
uneasy.

The late changes in the ministry here, excite considerable hopes. I
think we gain in them all. I am particularly happy at the reentry of
Malesherbes into the Council. His knowledge and integrity render his
value inappreciable, and the greater to me, because, while he had
no views of office, we had established together the most unreserved
intimacy. So far, too, I am pleased with Montmorin. His honesty proceeds
from the heart as well as the head, and therefore may be more surely
counted on. The King loves business, economy, order, and justice, and
wishes sincerely the good of his people; but he is irascible, rude, very
limited in his understanding, and religious bordering on bigotry. He has
no mistress, loves his queen, and is too much governed by her. She is
capricious, like her brother, and governed by him; devoted to pleasure
and expense; and not remarkable for any other vices or virtues.
Unhappily the King shows a propensity for the pleasures of the table.
That for drink has increased lately, or at least it has become more
known.

For European news in general, I will refer you to my letter to Mr. Jay.
Is it not possible, that the occurrences in H