de in the instructions of their Ministers Plenipotentiary at Paris,
to deprive the English Minister of all pretext for conferring with
those of the other belligerent powers without them. I succeeded to the
satisfaction of his Excellency, and our friends were duly informed and
disposed, when they received this morning, while I was returning,
letters on this subject from the Grand Pensionary. My journey has
gained the time which would have been lost, if they had, on
re-assembling here taken the thing _ad referendum_.

_November 17th._ I had the pleasure to receive this morning, on behalf
of the Ambassador, absent at Amsterdam, the news of the re-admission
of M. Van Berckel, First Pensionary of Amsterdam, to the Assembly of
their Noble and Grand Mightinesses, where he will re-appear on the
20th, radiant as the sun, _disjectis nubibus_.

There has arrived a circular letter from Friesland, to take away from
the Prince the direction of affairs. I shall have it, and will add it
to the gazettes.

_November 18th._ On my return, Friday evening, I found, Sir, your
favors of the 5th and 12th of September, to which I can only answer
succinctly, that the present may not be delayed.

I have thought a long time how much it might be advantageous both for
Congress and for me, as you observe, Sir, if I could enter into a
minute and frequent detail of all that passes here within the sphere
of my action. But let Congress remember at last that _qui vult finem,
vult media_, being both essential and subsidiary. I labor all day.
Often I have scarcely time left to note briefly for myself what is
done or said. I am alone. It is necessary to copy the same despatches
four times, if one would hope for their arrival. I could have many
things to say on all this. But to what good, if Congress does not say
it also? I have not put my light under a bushel. I have made it shine
constantly before both worlds, for the service of the United States,
since they have called me here.

If the truths I transmit come more slowly than the falsehoods of the
enemy, which they may serve to contradict, it is because they may
forge stories as they please, but not the truth which arrives when it
can, and which besides, cannot always be hazarded prematurely, still
less be foretold, especially when the enemy might profit by it.

As to peace, we know not here what has been done about it at Paris. My
opinion is, that two or three more campaigns will be infinitely more
s