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Goldsmith says that "every wish which leads to expect
happiness somewhere else than where we are, only lays
a foundation for uneasiness" I too truly proved so in his
case. He had a great desire to be appointed on a Mission
to S. America, in which he again met disappointment,
tho' he presented the highest testimonials of his worth and fitness
for such a Situation from numbers of his friends and members
of the Senate and House of Represents, but electionary politics
rule in this Country, each State must be favored with
appointments, and the plea for not gratifiying him, was
"his being too much identified with the S. Americans"
his not being an American (tho' he took the oath of
allegiance before the framing of the Constitution, in the State
of Delaware (see the Certificate in Box)--married and
settled in the Country and this residing in the Dist of Columbia
(which I have heard said, is an insufferable objection to
getting an appointment of consequence, the Citizens of
the Dist having no votes, all operated against him, and he
was again doomed to be disappointed in a favorite project.
But his buoyant and cheerful disposition and unyielding
spirit induced him to adopt, on some occasions, as a motto---