olland may excite a desire
in many of leaving that country, and transferring their effects out of
it, and thus make an opening for shifting into their hands the debts
due to this country, to its officers, and Farmers? It would be surely
eligible. I believe Dumas, if put on the watch, might alone suffice; but
he surely might, if Mr. Adams should go when the moment offers. Dumas
has been in the habit of sending his letters open to me, to be forwarded
to Mr. Jay. During my absence, they passed through Mr. Short's hands,
who made extracts from them, by which I see he has been recommending
himself and me for the money-negotiations in Holland. It might be
thought, perhaps, that I have encouraged him in this. Be assured, my
Dear Sir, that no such idea ever entered my head. On the contrary, it is
a business which would be the most disagreeable to me of all others,
and for which I am the most unfit person living. I do not understand
bargaining, nor possess the dexterity requisite for the purpose. On the
other hand, Mr. Adams, whom I expressly and sincerely recommend, stands
already on ground for that business, which I could not gain in years.
Pray set me to rights in the minds of those, who may have supposed me
privy to this proposition. _En passant_, I will observe with respect to
Mr. Dumas, that the death of the Count de Vergennes places Congress more
at their ease, how to dispose of him. Our credit has been ill treated
here in public debate, and our debt here deemed apocryphal. We should
try to transfer this debt elsewhere, and leave nothing capable of
exciting ill thoughts between us. I shall mention in my letter to Mr.
Jay, a disagreeable affair which Mr. Barclay has been thrown into,
at Bordeaux. An honester man cannot be found, nor a slower, nor more
decisive one. His affairs, too, are so embarrassed and desperate, that
the public reputation is, every moment, in danger of being
compromitted with him. He is perfectly amiable and honest, with all his
embarrassments.

By the next packet, I shall be able to send you some books, as also your
watch and pedometer. The two last are not yet done. To search for books,
and forward them to Havre, will require more time than I had between
my return and the departure of this packet. Having been a witness,
heretofore, to the divisions in Congress on the subject of their foreign
ministers, it would be a weakness in me to suppose none with respect to
myself, or to count with any confidenc