[Address leaf/wrapper. Rotated text, partially legible.] [BALTIMORE postal stamp] [Address reads:] [undecipherable] / [undecipherable: probable reading: James McHenry] / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] [Left margin notation:] [5 Dec^r 1796 / Ch: Carroll of Carrollton] [Right margin notation:] [Rec^d undecipherable] Dec^r 8^th 1796 Dear Sir, I recd the [undecipherable] your letter of the 2^d [undecipherable]. I [undecipherable] the determination of the [undecipherable] not to [undecipherable] to answer [undecipherable] last [undecipherable]. I have not heard [undecipherable] Gentleman [undecipherable] without [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] yet [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] no account of, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. he has said nothing [undecipherable] the truth — you may [undecipherable] guess what [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] M^r [undecipherable] [undecipherable] we [undecipherable] to move [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] to deny [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I do not see how the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — the Individual States, [undecipherable] are [undecipherable] to force [undecipherable] however, we [undecipherable] nothing to do with them, nor they with us. [undecipherable] we are Joint [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] have not [undecipherable] accused [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Legislature [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] management of our [undecipherable] relations. Yesterday [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading: Parker] & [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading: Burr] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading: Henry] 2 — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] who for [undecipherable] Adams, one [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from Adams, [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading: Parker] for Jefferson, [undecipherable] for both [undecipherable] [undecipherable] upon what foundation [undecipherable] not that neither [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] any vote [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that M^r Adams [undecipherable] elected [undecipherable] [undecipherable] votes. [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] when [undecipherable] a question decided [undecipherable] the election [undecipherable] place [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading: Electors,] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] he [undecipherable] be elected to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: probable reading: Representatives] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] the friends [undecipherable] the Government [undecipherable] Jefferson, they say he will [undecipherable] a very different line of conduct [undecipherable] the present [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that [undecipherable: probable reading: their] communication [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Congress the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] communications however [undecipherable] [undecipherable] myself [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] country [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the strongest [undecipherable] English [undecipherable] [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] there are in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in all the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] for a revolution [undecipherable] [undecipherable] but I am confident the great body of the people [undecipherable] attached to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to remain at [undecipherable: probable reading: peace] with [undecipherable: probable reading: all] nations. 9^th Dec^r We have this day reelected Col. [undecipherable: probable reading: Howard] on to the Senate of the US. to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] years from the 4^th of next March. he may be said to have been unanimously elected: [undecipherable] [undecipherable] blanks, & 4 votes for Ch^d Rich^d [undecipherable] alth^o no other person was in nomination [undecipherable: probable reading: but] Col. [undecipherable: probable reading: Howard] — [undecipherable] with much respect & regard y^r most hum. Serv^t [undecipherable: probable reading: Ch: Carroll of Carrollton]