5993. NICHOLAS (W. C.), French mission.—
A last effort at friendly settlement
with Spain is proposed to be made at Paris,
and under the auspices of France. For this
purpose, General Armstrong and Mr. Bowdoin
(both now at Paris) have been appointed joint
commissioners; but such a cloud of dissatisfaction
rests on General Armstrong in the
minds of many persons, * * * that we
have in contemplation to add a third commissioner,
in order to give the necessary measure
of public confidence to the commission. Of these
two gentlemen, one being of Massachusetts and
one of New York, it is thought the third should
be a southern man; and the rather, as the interests
to be negotiated are almost entirely
southern and western. * * * My wish is
that you may be willing to undertake it. [364]
—
To Wilson C. Nicholas. Washington ed. v, 3.
Ford ed., viii, 434.
(W.
March. 1806)
