Your favor of Nov. 25. by Gouverneur Morris is duly recieved.1 [I must beg you to take the trouble of decyphering yourself what follows, and to communicate it to no body but the President at least for the present.]2 We had before understood thro different channels that the conduct of the Count de Moustier was politically and morally offensive. it was delicate for me to speak on the subject to the Count de Montmorin. the invaluable mediation of our friend the Marquis de la Fayette was therefore resorted to, & the subject explained tho’ not pressed. later intelligence shewing the necessity of pressing it, it was yesterday resumed & represented, thro the same medium to the Count de Montmorin THAT recent information proved to us that HIS MINISTER’S CONDUCT HAD rendered HIM PERSONALLY ODIOUS in Am[erica]. and might even influence the DISPOSITIONS OF THE TWO NATIONS THAT HIS RECALL WAS become a matter OF MUTUAL CONCERN, THAT WE had understood he was instructed to remind the new government of their Debt to this country and that HE WAS IN THE purpose of doing it in VERY HARSH TERMS. that this could not increase their DESIRE OF HASTENING PAYMENT AND might WOUND THEIR AFFECTIONS, THAT THEREFORE IT WAS much to be desired that his discretion should not be trust[ed] as to the form3 in which the demand4 should be made but that the Letter should be written here and HE INSTRUCTD. TO add nothing but HIS SIGNATURE nor was HIS PRIVATE CONDUCT OMITD.5 the Count de Montmorin was sensibly impressd He very readily DETERMINED THAT THE LETTER should be FORMD. HERE, BUT SAID THAT THE RECALL was a more difficult business: that as they had no particular fact to alledge against the Count de Moustier they could not RECALL HIM from that MINISTRY without giving HIM OTHER, and there was no VACANCY AT PRESENT however HE would hazard HIS FIRST THOUGHTS on the subject, saving THE RIGHT OF CORRECTING THEM BY FURTHER CONSIDERATION they were THESE THAT there was a LOOSE EXPRESSION in one of his LETTERS WHICH might be CONSTRUED INTO a petition for Leave of absence, that he would give him permission to return to France THAT it had been before decided on the request of the Marqui[s] de la Luzerne that Otto should go to him in London, that they would send a person to America as Chargé des Affaires in place of otto and that if the president General Washington approved of him he should be afterwards made minister. He had cast his eye on Colonel Ternant and desired the Marquis to consult me whether he would be AGR[E]EABLE at first I HESITATED RECOLLECTING to have heard Ternant represented in America as an HYPOCHONDRIAC DISCONTENTED MAN and paused for a moment BETWEEN HIM & barthelemy at London of whom I have heard a great deal of good. However I CONCLUDED IT SAFER TO take one we knew and who knows us The Marqui[s] was decidedly of THIS OPINION. TERNANT WILL SEE THAT HIS PREDECESSOR IS RECALLD. FOR UNCONCILIATORY DEPORTMENT and that HE WILL OWE HIS OWN PROMOTION to the approbation of the President he established a solid reputation in Europe by his conduct when Generalissimo of one of the UNITED PROVINCES during their LATE DISTURBANCES and it is generally thought that if he had been put at the head of the principal province instead of the rhingrave de Salm he would have SAVED THAT CAUSE. upon the whole I beleive you may expect that the Count de Moustier will have an IMMEDIATE LEAVE OF ABSENCE which will soon after become a [recall]6 in effect I will try also to have their consuls admonishd as to the line of conduct they should observe.

I shall have the honor of writing you a general letter within a few days: I have now that of assuring you of the sentiments of sincere esteem & respect with which I am Dear Sir your most obedient & most humble servant