[21 Nov^r. 1796 Hugh Williamson] Hon^ble James McHenry Philad^a. 21 Nov^r. 1796 Dear Sir I have read with disgust, I had almost said with Surprize, the Manifesto of M^r Adet published this Morning. for there are I me thinks of extravagance to which the mildest Citizens forcess could hardly be applied to them — I am aware that M^r Pickering cannot return an Answer to a [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading Foreign] Minister and yet I have reasons for thinking that a short and spirited answer to the Manifesto would have most salutary Effects on the public Mind. Though an official answer cannot come out, any Citizen has a right at this hour to publish his Remarks on that Insult on the rights of an independent nation, who ought not to seem even to make a Treaty of Peace with Pirates without consulting France. Clear [undecipherable] and conclusive answers have been given by Jefferson and others to most of the Acts complained of in that long Address to the Passions of the People but those answers are detached and in few hands. A clear and general Answer, conclusive to every mind as was M^r Pickering's [undecipherable] Note to the French Minister is now needed. Such a Piece if published might be circulated with equal [undecipherable] and universality to that with which the Manifesto is now propagated I have [undecipherable] and some very particular reasons for saying that such a Publication as I have [undecipherable] mentioning is greatly needed & cannot fail of having [underline: [undecipherable]tory Effects] on the Minds of People [undecipherable] the Southern & Western Part of Union. I confide that some of you who have every necessary information on the Subject will give dispatch to this, as I believe, necessary work. I am D^r Sir with great Respect & your obedt Serv^t Hu Williamson [Hon^ble Ja^s Mc Henry]