[undecipherable] Your letter of the 3^d Instant has the Vienna post mark of the 8^th came to hand the 12^th inst. The state of things between this country & France is by no means pleasant, [strikethrough: as it ought to be], nor is it possible to form a well founded conjecture of the position which we may be finally compelled to take [underline: under so fluctuating a map as the varying events of Europe present us with]. In the midst however of [strikethrough: the] this perplexity, and after reading the communications, that have been received from Gen. Pinckney (of which I inclose you a (faithfull, abstract) and reflecting that France is extending her depredations upon our trade; I am persuaded, that you will find sufficient ground to justify the proclamation to convene Congress, and be perfectly satisfied, that the Executive [strikethrough: could not have proceeded one] alone without its [strikethrough: cooperation]. As to the probable length of the Session, that you know will depend very much upon the composition of the house of representatives. Should the majority be federal (which is said to be the case) and the President go into a specific enumeration of the measures he may deem necessary, [strikethrough: to give efficacy to negotiation] (which I think he ought) it will very much tend to abridge it; because if disliked they may be soon rejected, and if none other be offered in their room it will be easy to adjourn. I would flatter myself however that the occasion will produce a degree of unanimity favourable to a short Session. The