[Private] [18 July 1796 a. S^t Clair] Private Free The honourable James M^cHenry Secretary of War Philadelphia Greensburg July 18.^t 1796 Sir, I am at present laid up at this place, and am much afraid I shall not be able to prosecute my Journey with the expedition I intended, having been confined to my Bed these two days before. — The Person you know of has left Pittsburg, where, I learn from a confidential Person, he has not been so guarded as might have been expected. The Rout he proposed was to follow General Wilkinson from Cincinnati — to return to that Place after having seen him to make the Tour of Kentucky — proceed from thence to the Illinois Country, and then descend the Mississippi to New Orleans. He reports that the ratification of the Treaty with Spain will be delayed, and that the Stipulation in that Treaty with great Britain respecting the Navigation of the Mississippi will be made the pretext, and that Measures to produce that Effect have already been taken by the present Directory of France. — He has been on great intimacy with Judge Inness who was at Pittsburg when he arrived there, and it would not surprise me if he had entered into his Views — I may wrong him, but my suspicions arise from the connexions I know he had with the Persons most opposed to the Government — I hope to be at Cincinnati before his return to that Place and well follow or precede him to the Country below. Measures have been taken to get possession of the Correspondence that may take Place between the French Minister and him, but they cannot be effected without Money, and I do not yet know the price — I have fixed on the Expectation that it shall not be wanting, and I request you to inform me, by the return of the Post, how far it may be engaged, the manner of obtaining it. As soon as I am able to ride, I shall proceed to Pittsburg from whence I hope to give you more explicit information. With great respect I have the honor to be Sir your obedient Servant A. S^t Clair [Reed this 24. June 1796 JMH]