8.  

is, the secondary consideration, but not the

first, by any means. The present ad-

ministration is not very secure. They have

been in power now six months, and in my

opinion, it would not be strange if they

did not complete the year. Yet there is no

such thing as calculating in advance, on

any thing. They are so changeable and

there is so much open corruption and

demoralization, in all ranks of Society,

that mens [sic] opinions are any thing but

fixed. They may be what you please to-day

and tomorrow, converted alias corrupted.

Notwithstanding this unfavourable picture

which does not look like a prompt or

favourable result to my mission, I still

hope, that, the convictions of the Governm^t

will be so strong in favour of some arrange-

ment, that they may yet, venture to enter

upon some stipulations, very secretly &

trust to their future increased strength

some months hence, to let them come to

light[.] Some favourable conjecture

may give them courage and if frightned [sic]

a little on the score of consequences;

they may consent to do something[.]

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