40.
129 2
the part of His Excellency to have solicitation of certain doubts as to the soundness of an opinion expressed in my letter marked "Private" of the 21st instant. His Excellency will not accuse me, I am sure, of declining my duty, if under these circumstances, I confine my attention to the opinion in question, and pretermit the more onerous part of the exposition he has invited. His Excellency cannot but be aware that I never decline my duty, and that although I am in no wise bound, as I was informed by high authority, and as the nature of my Commission shows, to undertake the extra duties which he has from time to time invited me to undertake, I have never refused them. I may mention those of acting as adviser to the Plenipotentiary, on