[XXXIV. 40] [May 19^th] Philadelphia 13 May 1793 My dear Sir I received some days past your much esteemed favor of the 30^th ultimo. I have delayed making an answer as I [undecipherable] were hourly expected which [undecipherable] give us a view of the [undecipherable] in which French affairs were after the [undecipherable] of the 10^th of March But [undecipherable] this information is wanting, although at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] preparatory, giving Dumouriez's account of that action. if one may venture to compare on military principles, independent of politics, what the refusal of that [undecipherable] has been, I should rather be of opinion it has [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of Belgium If so, one we should be [undecipherable] also to say that would be the [undecipherable] of Paris and Monsieur [undecipherable] [undecipherable] but let the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] has the direction of affairs. Dumouriez is his friend [undecipherable] by his making [undecipherable] a General a [undecipherable] of 20 years of age. Upon [undecipherable] the affairs of France according to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the most noble cause ever embraced by men, seems to be [undecipherable] to ruin by the indiscretion and villainy of its leaders. [undecipherable] and the best ones are just in jeopardy and have lost their influence, while the pre-eminent scoundrel Orleans, [undecipherable] his [undecipherable] carry all before them — [undecipherable] one might not [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] at present of [undecipherable] to combine [undecipherable] with glory — But at the same time [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [I] think it the most tempting [undecipherable] ever presented to the men of [undecipherable] and ambition I will shortly write you further [undecipherable] [undecipherable] please be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I pray, as [undecipherable] to a [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] Yours truly [undecipherable] [undecipherable]