requested
me to remain with him, observing, that he should be plagued by these
gentlemen. During my stay, the conversation turned on different
subjects, in which I received every proof of candor and politeness.
The same evening I informed the Ambassador of France by letter, that
the King had consented to my being presented, a circumstance on which
he had always entertained doubts, although he has ever done everything
in his power, that could be expected from his public and private
character, to contribute to the success of our negotiation. Perhaps
some expressions on the part of Congress, testifying their sense of
the zeal which this nobleman has manifested to further their
interests, may be ultimately productive of good effects at the Court
of Versailles, if not here.

On the day appointed for my presentation, I waited on his Excellency,
the Count de Florida Blanca, and from his house, accompanied by his
servant whom he had the politeness to send with my own, I paid my
visits to the principal officers and ladies of the palace. This
ceremony finished, I went to the King's apartments, where the Minister
appointed me to meet him. When his Majesty arose from table, his
Excellency presented me as _Charge d'Affaires_ of the United States.
As I had been informed, that the King did not like long harangues, I
contented myself with expressing to his Majesty my happiness in being
the first of my countrymen who had the good fortune to assure him of
their desire to cultivate his amity. He answered me in a gracious
manner, and with a smiling countenance, saying, that he hoped I should
have frequent occasions of making him the same assurances. He then
passed into the audience chamber, to the Ambassadors and Ministers,
where, as several of them have informed me, he was pleased to speak
favorably of me.

The royal family dining at the same hour and separately, the same
etiquette being observed, viz. the presentation after dinner, it
required some days to finish this business; the Count de Florida
Blanca accompanying me more than three quarters of an hour each day,
with a politeness and good nature rarely found in men who have so
many important occupations in their hands. The Prince of Asturias
spoke of me during the dinner as of a person he had long known, and
when I was presented he told me so. The Princess, who was present,
spoke to me six or seven minutes in French and Spanish, and among
other things said to me, that I ought to l