He has nothing against him, but the suspicion of republican
principles. I think he will one day be of the ministry. His foible is
a canine appetite for popularity and fame; but he will get above this.
_The Count de Vergennes is ill_. The possibility of his _recovery_
renders it dangerous for us to express a doubt of it; but he is in
danger. He is a great minister in European affairs, but has very
imperfect ideas of our institutions, and no confidence in them. His
devotion to the principles of pure despotism, renders him unaffectionate
to our governments. But his fear of England makes him value us as a
make-weight. He is cool, reserved in political conversations, but free
and familiar on other subjects, and a very attentive, agreeable person
to do business with. It is impossible to have a, clearer, better
organized head; but age has chilled his heart,
Nothing should be spared on our part, to attach this country to us. It
is the only one on which we can rely for support, under every event.
Its inhabitants love us more, I think, than they do any other nation on
earth. This is very much the effect of the good dispositions with which
the French officers returned.
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