Arch Street. 16 July 1789 I called to see you, but not finding you at home I shall mention what to you I came to talk about. I think it would be unsafe to leave it to Allecot to stay or retire according to circumstances of which he should be the judge. So important a point ought not to be left to his discretion. It appears to me to be the soundest policy [must be charged?] to instruct him to continue his endeavours to attain the comple-tion of his mission, and [undecipherable] [undecipherable: that we should by him] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it is [undecipherable: ordered] by his own government. It is in [undecipherable: doubt] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] voluntarily [undecipherable: withdraw the] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] without being aided by [them?] of Ellicot [undecipherable] voluntarily she will have ground to require that our troops [undecipherable] retire, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] also [undecipherable] as to the line [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] would go by indirect [undecipherable] the same object. For such reasons as these I wish Ellicot to be [undecipherable: explicitly] instructed as above. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the state of things admit of [undecipherable] them So long as [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on [their?] present situation [undecipherable] she can [give?] no [reclaim?] to our [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] troops on the [undecipherable: Mississippi?] already [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [without?] [she?] seems willing to [receive?] the line [undecipherable] [which?] is enough to make it [proper?] that [she?] should take [undecipherable: precautions?] to [occupy?] the country with troops for [its?] protection. [Ja— H—] [undecipherable: 16 July 1789 / undecipherable] [Secy. of State]