[Partial text at top of page — undecipherable] Your letter of the 30 which 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 [strikethrough: pleasant] [undecipherable]; nor is it possible to form a well founded conjecture of the position which we may be finally compelled to take, under so fluctuating a [strikethrough: mape] as the varying events of Europe present us with. In the midst however of 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 grounds to justify the proclamation to convene Congress, and be perfectly satisfied that the Executive alone could not have proceeded one [undecipherable] —— without its co—operation. 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. Th[e] what these measures ought to be you may easily conjecture from a consideration of [strikethrough: the recent] conduct of France; her continued and aggra: :vated aggressions upon our trade, the expectations she entertains of support from a majority of our citizens, and [strikethrough: explicit date she] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: government] to [undecipherable] the [strikethrough: explanation] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] she requires the injuries she has [strikethrough: compelled] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: should be redressed, are indoces of the measures which] will be necessary on the part of the U.S. to remove those false impressions and restore [undecipherable] to negoci: :ation As to an embargo which would shut out our merchants from all trade it does not strike me as [strikethrough: expedient]. If qualified [strikethrough: so as to enable the Executive] however to permit vessels to sail for ports of safety, or friendly ports, whether French or English &c, or vessels which have the means to defend themselves, upon their giving security not to attack, or make [undecipherable]. Is attacked, or vessels under sufficient convoys, it may be proper; but a Law of this nature would not be so much an embargo, as a set of regula: :tions to [strikethrough: secure] protect our trade [strikethrough: and] prevent [strikethrough: that] annihila: :tion of it which [strikethrough: the] depredations of [undecipherable] tend to effec: :tuate. [strikethrough: Under the circumstances among] Such measures, I conceive could neither be viewed here nor in France [strikethrough: undecipherable] as [strikethrough: conceding] [strikethrough: a] determination to war; but as necessarily resulting [strikethrough: in] a [undecipherable] from the situation in which the belligerent powers have placed our commerce; [strikethrough: now] the indispensableness of that commerce to our revenue and national prosperity, and the duty which [strikethrough: the] government must feel under [strikethrough: from] [underline: such weighty] motives, to afford it a solid and natural pro: :tection It will be proper however to go further, and to assume a serious face of [strikethrough: the] national defence. Half-measures would only serve to betray weakness and irresolution, and lead to greater depredations and more extravagant demands. It will be abso: :lutely necessary therefore, that Congress should augment the military establishment by a real and provisional force calculated to the protection of the Sea board and Southern States against in: :surrections. A negotiation which is not to be thus backed and influenced, [strikethrough: and became on under] [strikethrough: at the same] and the strongest [strikethrough: time Evidence at the same time exhibited to the] [strikethrough: troops] [strikethrough: directing] that the Opposition and people will not permit any military prepar[ation] · it may look towards hostility, must [strikethrough: defeat] render it [strikethrough: negotiations of] hopeless, [strikethrough: issue] and leave us entirely at the mercy of the Directory. [strikethrough: Peace may soon present can only be possessed by combining] defensive measures with prudence; [strikethrough: firmness with moderation]—I trust therefore that we shall agree to combine defensive measures with [strikethrough: firmness] negociation, and firmness with prudence. The paper I have inclosed you must be returned as it is confidential. [strikethrough: And the] Yours very truly and aff'ly. [Undecipherable initials at bottom left]