8781. VERGENNES (Count de), Assistants.—
Reyneval and Hennin are the two eyes
of Count de Vergennes. The former is the
more 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
everybody; the other by nobody. I think it a
great misfortune that the United States are in
the department of the former.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. ii, 109.
Ford ed., iv, 368.
(P.
1787)
