[28 May 1797 To the Secy of State:] 28 May 1797 Dear Sir I asked permission to see —, and to [strikethrough: have] some conversation with you on the subject which we met again at the Presidents. The more I weigh the [strikethrough: measure] [undecipherable] of adding to the mission to France instead of clothing M. Pinckney with a new character, and the more I am inclined to [strikethrough: condemn] [strikethrough: reject it] distrust its policy and utility. The more addition in the first place will convey an idea to M. Pinckney, & prove that the President does not like to trust him alone, or that he thinks him incompetent [strikethrough: surprising] [strikethrough: inadequate] to so important a transaction. This will operate mischievously on the [strikethrough: relations] [undecipherable] of M. Pinckney to the [strikethrough: French] [undecipherable] who have great influence [undecipherable] and who are discovering a [strikethrough: disposition] to act well in reason with the Government. In this point of view it will certainly do no good. In the 2^d place, the addition will serve to conciliate no person [strikethrough: of his] description of men. [strikethrough: The] the friends of the government have confidence in M. Pinckney; the enemies of it, have acknowledged in the House of representatives, that [strikethrough: he has been full] their reliance upon him [strikethrough: of] [undecipherable] Integrity & honor, and have not suggested an [undecipherable] on what ground then that they wish for any [strikethrough: change] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] purposes are it will be asked [strikethrough: but] two [strikethrough: such the] negotiators added to this mission, when both parties are satisfied? [strikethrough: I] will recommend also with the [strikethrough: same measure] [undecipherable] there the idea of a commission [strikethrough: of the supposed policy of] incorporating into it any of the opposition. In the 3 place, both [strikethrough: members] in the house of representatives, have conceded and expressed in their speeches [strikethrough: by my hearing] that should M. Pinckney be clothed [with] extraordinary powers & be refused with a new character & rejected by France that it seemed [to be] sufficient [strikethrough: having] an [undecipherable] and [strikethrough: in any] a [undecipherable] a cause of war. By [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] to have [strikethrough: relinquished] the project of a plurality of negotiators for the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for the occasion [strikethrough: the volte]. In the 4 place, the mission will be considered [strikethrough: as] defective, as [undecipherable] no mercantile character; [strikethrough: and] being composed of lawyers only; and [strikethrough: are] neither of [strikethrough: them] [undecipherable] have yet acquired much [strikethrough: of] continental character. 5^thly, it will be charged [strikethrough: as] being expensive to the U. S without any apparent necessity or advantage to countervalue the expence. 6. It will be charged with being [strikethrough: never] being calculated to delay the negotiation; inasmuch as M. Pinckney must wait at Amsterdam [strikethrough: till] [undecipherable] the arrival of his co-adjutors; [strikethrough: and by this] refusal [strikethrough: of the] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] wished to be nominated, which will induce a new nomination; or by this requiring [undecipherable] time to arrange themselves for the voyage. On the whole I wish you to consider whether it might not be expedient to have the nomination suspended till the President can [strikethrough: review the subject] [strikethrough: now] maturely [consider it]. For my own part, I have not been able to discover any advantages attending a [undecipherable]. It will please nobody [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [strikethrough: The nomination] [undecipherable] by U. S. against a single and will ensure [undecipherable] government one additional [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. Yours