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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