I hope, on the contrary, that if it should be thought
worth a trial, it may be put into the hands of Mr. Adams, who knows the
ground, and is known there, and whose former successful negotiations in
this line would give better founded hopes of success on this occasion.
I formerly mentioned to you the hopes of preferment, entertained by the
Chevalier de la Luzerne. They have been baffled by events; none of the
vacancies taking place which had been expected. Had I pressed his being
ordered back, I have reason to believe the order would have been given.
But he would have gone back in ill humor with Congress, he would have
laid for ever at their door the failure of a promotion then viewed
as certain; and this might have excited dispositions that would have
disappointed us of the good we hoped from his return. The line I have
observed with him has been, to make him sensible that nothing was more
desired by Congress than his return, but that they would not willingly
press it, so as to defeat him of a personal advantage. He sees his
prospects fail, and will return in the approaching spring unless
something unexpected should turn up in his favor.
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