I lately received a letter from him, dated
Alicant, October the 10th, of which I have the honor to enclose you a
copy: by which you will perceive, that the circumstance of ill health,
either true or false, is urged for his not obeying our call. I shall
immediately forward the order of Congress. I am not without fear, that
some misapplication of the public money may enter into the causes of
his declining to return. The moment that I saw a symptom of this in
his conduct, as it was a circumstance which did not admit the delay
of consulting Mr. Adams, I wrote to Mr. Carmichael, to stop any monies
which he might have in the hands of his banker. I am still unable to
judge whether he is guilty of this or not, as by the arrangements with
Mr. Adams, who alone had done business with the bankers of the United
States, in Holland, Mr. Lambe's drafts were to be made on him, and
I know not what their amount has been. His drafts could not have been
negotiated, if made on us both, at places so distant. Perhaps it may be
thought, that the appointment of Mr. Lambe was censurable in the moment
in which it was made.
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