h the Tripoline minister. The conferences with
the minister of Portugal have, been drawn to a greater length than I
expected. However, every thing is now agreed, and the treaty will be
ready for signature the day after to-morrow. I shall set out for Paris
the same day. With this country nothing is done: and that nothing is
intended to be done, on their part, admits not the smallest doubt. The
nation is against any change of measures: the ministers are against it;
some from principle, others from subserviency: and the King, more than
all men, is against it. If we take a retrospect to the beginning of the
present reign, we observe, that amidst all the changes of ministry, no
change of measures with respect to America ever took place; excepting
only at the moment of the peace; and the minister of that moment was
immediately removed. Judging of the future by the past, I do not expect
a change of disposition during the present reign, which bids fair to
be a long one, as the King is healthy and temperate. That he is
persevering, we know. If he ever changes his plan, it will be in
consequence of events, which, at present, neither himself nor his
ministers place among those which are probable. Even the opposition dare
not open their lips in favor of a connection with us, so unpopular would
be the topic. It is not, that they think our commerce unimportant to
them. I find that the merchants here set sufficient value on it. But
they are sure of keeping it on their own terms. No better proof can be
shown of the security in which the ministers think themselves on this
head, than that they have not thought it worth while to give us a
conference on the subject, though, on my arrival, we exhibited to them
our commission, observed to them that it would expire on the 12th of
the next month, and that I had come over on purpose to see if any
arrangements could be made before that time. Of two months which then
remained, six weeks have elapsed without one scrip of a pen, or one word
from a minister, except a vague proposition at an accidental meeting.
We availed ourselves even of that, to make another essay to extort some
sort of declaration from the court. But their silence is invincible.
But of all this, as well as of the proceedings in the negotiation with
Portugal, information will be given you by a joint letter from Mr. Adams
and myself. The moment is certainly arrived, when, the plan of this
court being out of all doubt, Congress and th