but he will get above this. The Count de Vergennes is ill.  The possibility of his recovery renders it dangerous for us to express a doubt of it; but he is in danger.  He is a great minister in European affairs, but has very imperfect ideas of our institutions, and no confidence in them.  His devotion to the principles of pure despotism, renders him unaffectionate to our governments.  But his fear of England makes him value us as a make-weight.  He is cool, reserved in political conversations, but free and familiar on other subjects, and a very attentive, agreeable person to do business with.  It is impossible to have a, clearer, better organized head; but age has chilled his heart,

Nothing should be spared on our part, to attach this country to us.  It is the only one on which we can rely for support, under every event.  Its inhabitants love us more, I think, than they do any other nation on earth.  This is very much the effect of the good dispositions with which the French officers returned.  In a former letter, I mentioned to you the dislocation of my wrist.  I can make not the least use of it, except for the single article of writing, though it is going on five months since the accident happened.  I have great anxieties, lest I should never recover any considerable use of it.  I shall, by the advice of my surgeons, set out in a fortnight for the waters of Aix, in Provence.  I chose these out of several they proposed to me, because if they fail to be effectual, my journey will not be useless altogether.  It will give me an opportunity of examining the canal of Languedoc, and of acquiring knowledge of that species of navigation, which may be useful hereafter:  but, more immediately, it will enable me to make the tour of the ports concerned in commerce with us, to examine, on the spot, the defects of the late regulations, respecting our commerce, to learn the further improvements which may be made in it, and, on my return, to get this business finished.  I shall be absent between two and three months, unless anything happens to recall me here sooner, which may always be effected in ten days, in whatever part of my route I may be.

In speaking of characters, I omitted those of Reyneval and Hennin, the two eyes of Count de Vergennes.  The former is the most important character, because possessing the most of the confidence of the Count.  He is rather cunning than wise, his views of things being neither great nor liberal.  He governs himself by principles which he has learned by rote, and is fit only for the details of execution.  His heart is susceptible of little passions, but not of good ones.  He is brother-in-law to M. Gerard, from whom he received disadvantageous impressions of us, which cannot be effaced.  He has much duplicity.  Hennin is a philosopher, sincere, friendly, liberal, learned, beloved by every body:  the other by nobody.  I think it a great misfortune that the United States are in the department of the former.