They will be joined by the inhabitants of Louisiana. This
will bring on a war between them and Spain; and that will produce the
question with us, whether it will not be worth our while to become
parties with them in the war, in order to re-unite them with us, and
thus correct our error. And were I to permit my forebodings to go one
step further, I should predict, that the inhabitants of the United
States would force their rulers to take the affirmative of that
question. I wish I may be mistaken in all these opinions.
We have for some time expected, that the Chevalier de la Luzerne would
obtain a promotion in the diplomatic line, by being appointed to some
of the courts where this country keeps an ambassador. But none of the
vacancies taking place, which had been counted on, I think the present
disposition is to require his return to his station in America. He told
me himself, lately, that he should return in the spring. I have never
pressed this matter on the court, though I knew it to be desirable and
desired on our part; because if the compulsion on him to return had been
the work of Congress, he would have returned in such ill temper with
them, as to disappoint them in the good they expected from it.
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