[Private] Philad^a 16 July, 179[5?] Sir I have just received your private letter of the 13 inst. I am very sorry that what I said in my letter of the 7^th should have conveyed an idea that the least avoidable delay had taken place in the arrangements for the Algiers frigate nothing like which was intended — [undecipherable] the delay of [undecipherable] has and [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] I [undecipherable] the [undecipherable]. But the inclosed papers will shew you that every thing has been done which the case required. You will see by M^r Pickerings letter to me dated July 8th N^o 3. in answer to my note of the same date which was written immediately after the receipt of letter N^o 1. of same date N^o 2 that the draught of the vessel was begun on the 24th of June last, and you will perceive by the draught Sketch A [inclosed], which was made by M^r Fox (the only [strikethrough: Clerk] I have who knows any thing of naval matters) that it requires both thought and time to prepare the Sketch — [strikethrough: consequently] it [strikethrough: was not] of course [strikethrough: finished] till the 8th instant, [strikethrough: (the N^o 1)] the day M^r Pickering mentioned to me the necessity of sending M^r Fox on monday. [undecipherable] — before which no person could have been sent. You will observe also that it was necessary to have the Sketch to be able to take before it to [undecipherable] for the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to submit it to [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] it has been conducted in [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Ch. N^o 1. Accordingly, I framed instructions for M^r Fox (the same which I have transmitted to you) and sent them the day following to Wroscott for his perusal and correction with a request to him to send them to M^r Pickering for the same purpose. M^r Pickering returned them to me on Tuesday the 14, and on the 13 M^r Fox left this on his missions. I could have wished to have employed another person and had requested M^r Pickering to [strikethrough: find] [strikethrough: find] act a substitute, which he informed me in his letter of the 8th N^o 1 was not to be obtained. This detail will shew you, that this object has met with due attention from all parties, and that what depended particularly on the department of war was promptly attended to and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. In the course of my conduct, that I have endeavoured to follow the maxim you have [strikethrough: mentioned] [laid down] which you have always and so successfully treated [undecipherable] generally; and that in consequence thereof, I have subdued the business of the office; and am now able to meet the daily calls; and spare a little time occasionally to an examination of the permanent objects of the department — I find the Indian department wants [undecipherable] that new regulations are become necessary for the agents, and that the department of voluntary stores [undecipherable] their safe keeping and distribution has never been arranged or [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the rules [undecipherable] also devised when M^r Hamilton was in office, the provisions of which appear to one [undecipherable: extremely] important. I am engaged [undecipherable] [undecipherable] considerations, and shall lay all [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the system for each before you [undecipherable] I called on M^r [undecipherable] you to supply a [undecipherable] and is [undecipherable] wished interest to have [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] very much disappointed at not being able to accomplish it. He will have to go — to New London to buy ship-building masts for the West Indies, and he has tenderly built any [undecipherable] of West India business it on hand as to think and the hope of seeing you at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] reason. I [undecipherable] to think, what I was sure would be your report on hearing that you could not see him with the other ministers; and added such other things as comported with your ideas on the subject. I understand that M^r Adets reply to M^r Jay of [undecipherable] letter is evasive. I do not think however that the Republic means to quarrel with the U.S. I do not think she has given orders to capture these [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] — The case of the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — The very recent arrivals from the West Indies would [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on the same footing — [undecipherable] told you there was and an order — but [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] a copy in for [undecipherable] under examination, positive orders from the Directory may would [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in opposition to the West Indies and against this Coast. You would [undecipherable] have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] information from M^r Madison, because it could have quadrated with the system of opposition. [strikethrough: consequently] I considered the [undecipherable] of information given to M^r Hamilton, which he communicated to you as another Gallic [strikethrough: track], played upon him, that it might reach you under the [undecipherable: impression] of his having credited it. I have had nothing since my last communication from the Westward. Docny it seems to come to watch the course of the winds. I hope [undecipherable] be able to [undecipherable] the result of his discoveries, before their transmission to the national institution. With the most sincere respect & [undecipherable] 16 &17 July 1796. [undecipherable] Attachment I am Sir Your most ob^t hble James McHenry