Ours stands in hope only. They consider us as the surest
nation on earth for the repayment of the capital; but as the punctual
payment of interest is of absolute necessity in their arrangements,
we cannot borrow but with difficulty and disadvantage. The monied
men, however, look towards our new government with a great degree of
partiality, and even anxiety. If they see that set out on the English
plan, the first degree of credit will be transferred to us. A favorable
occasion will arise to our new government of asserting this ground to
themselves. The transfer of the French debt, public and private,
to Amsterdam, is certainly desirable. An act of the new government,
therefore, for opening a loan in Holland for the purpose, laying taxes
at the same time for paying annually the interest and a part of the
principal, will answer the two valuable purposes, of ascertaining the
degree of our credit, and of removing those causes of bickering and
irritation, which should never be permitted to subsist with a nation,
with which it is so much our interest to be on cordial terms as with
France.
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