[Address cover — wax seals visible] The Hon^ble H. Henry Lee's from Secretary at War Philadelphia [Endorsement:] N° Y. C[undecipherable]bery July 14, 1797 N° 2. [cipher] The Hague 14. July 1797. My dear Sir, Your favour of the 23^d May was truly a cordial to me — as it evinced a friendship of which I never doubted & consoled my jaded mind with the prospects of better Opinions in my own country & of a better state of public affairs. The Speech we had seen through the kindness of the Bankers who always get intelligence very early — so propitious are the winds from America to the views of these exceedingly money loving politicians & financiers of private wealth — it is very un: :propitious are they to the conveyance of ministers & dispatches to them — Gen^d. Pinckney who is here; immediately with his accus: :tomed vigilance sent a [copy (manuscript)] off to Paris that the Directory might be anticipated & the public get an ungarbled edition of it, not as imported — for they stick not at altering, omitting &c — if they get the first blow — Immediately after, I sent off to Paris through Gen^d. P. — (as a friend of mine used to send to Ben — as I used to give to that manifest [piece?] of brilliant paragraphs a pointed hints attempting to point out to the public, a line of conduct which a profound policy is dictated to the Directory — to viz — a generous elevated course of policy & dictated to the Directory — towards the U.S. — pointing out to them the egregious mistakes of G. B. both towards the U.S. — pointing out to them the egregious mistakes of G. B. both during the [revolution?] & since, in not relying upon [ancient?] favourable & great majorities & the enmity of the country might have been been good majorities & — that this was the critical moment in S^t. France should defeat the views of G. B. upon our affections, by acting a handsome party [?] in such a state of things the people & Gov^t. U.S. would [probably] receive even [?] [?] testing as an act of grace [?] — that there was no ground of war — & that being the case, the true policy of France was to show so handsome a conduct towards U.S. as would place her at least upon a footing with her rival in our opinions after the peace — that if the Peace found us in our present invitated state, G. B. w^d. reap much more of our good opinion & of our commerce, than she was entitled to — and that the present state of things being friendly between U.S. & G. B. — the w^d. have some ascendancy upon that ground in the negotiation for Peace of France continued to have a quarrel as the U.S. are with a nation so vigorous & [undecipherable] by tales, as in the vicinity of the Islands — S^t. w^d. be in a very helpless state on the peace & need american supplies & friendly intercourse — this & much more of similar sort of mooring went to be sent in French [?] to a confidential person — but I [?] [name] [?] came to any at Paris. I have not seen it since — My anxiety is exceedingly great indeed upon the present state of the question between France & the U.S. — I depend upon it that from all I can hear of the public opinion at Paris they have not entirely sound opinion upon our subjects — none of them — They all in their hearts consider us as proper for alleged dependants & under eternal obligations to them — and that the People U.S. are with them, merely because the great mass of the people think to dislike G. Britain & have manifested some marks of esteem for the French exer: :cution. I have seen a letter from a member of the Council of ancients explicitly upon the various questions — he thought the Directory wrong in their rough treatment of N^r. Pinckney — but through his short letter insisted upon open undefined injuries to the U.S. had done France by the Treaty of 19. Nov. 94 — that we must give satisfaction for these injuries — he took it for granted that we owed our additional existence to France & a gratitude & considered our late conduct and : trons — outwardly he is a violent party man against the Directory upon these : trons — outwardly writes against them & speaks against them — but it is merely 2. because he hates the Directory — If any thing is to be done it is through the passions of such men who would do right from [?] its own to inculpate their own executive — If however no language of exception is held by Congress (as there was in debate something like it on or about the G^d. Term on the word "indignation") & do you arm — pretty, the country & hold up, I would risk my head that they would feel the importance of arms up, as the Force then brought upon the Parade, with the U.S. particularly as [her troops?] will be most severely felt by the West Indies if [carried?] into [play?]. The [?] be most severely felt by the West Indies & add new importance to the West India vast maritime Possessions in Europe & add new importance to this the island islands — She must be the rival of England in marine — to this the island [?] have been [?] will again be considered as necessary — I see no hold upon France have [?] will again be considered as necessary at present but our relationship to those islands — What can the new commission do except gain time? I speak entirely to you — The object of France is to make you break your Treaty or to dissolve the Union that we may to her dependent — through this very negotiation with G. B. Their efforts will be in America — to bring the Gov^t. of our country & the People too to this point — a vote or an abandonment of the British Treaty — in the proposal of such a nature, the chances are not of absolute evil to her — but merely that a nature one of disappointment — It will [be] success if she breaks the Treaty, negative one of disappointment — S^t. I do not expect; for that w^d. be sovereignty over us. — If she produced civil commotion (S^t. I do not expect —) she succeeds amply in her diabolical scheme — This I do not expect — for the conduct of France to all the Italian States, but especially to [?] will demonstrate, & by this time it must be acknowledged in all America, that she revolutionizes exclusively with a view to her own affairs — : disarmament — & that after having destroyed a gov^t. to render the nation im: :potent, she [parcels?] out, & [sells?] — to a crowned Head — [?] her bitter enemy : potent, she [parcels?] out, & [sells?] — to a crowned Head — & the enemy of the State thus sold, just [?] [?] parcels & of the — revolutionized & [?] states may now see her interests — all to this 3 and all Venetian Dalmatia, and Friuli, on the Italian side — and some other small districts, were Sold to the Emperor in [at the peace of the Emperor & Bonaparte.] [Lieu of Belgium] — This is by this time been among you — it is not denied even in France that all the north of Italy has been plundered of immense value in silver gold & jewels, part of which [was?], & it is but a droit for a good brother to give, from Buonaparte to his [sister?] on her marriage to one of his Generals — viz 500,000 livres in silver — From the poor wretched Venetians he has exacted by a recent command — one million five hundred thousand ducats — [they are?] to maintain the French army till it leaves them — to pay in several [sums?] 3,000,000 — Six ships of the line — To say nothing of 80 of the best paintings — the bronze lions & Horses of St. Marco's &c — This after having sent in an order, during a time of Neutrality, to the Senate to change the gov^t. — and this order sent to a gov^t. w^d. though certainly wretched, was the favourite of the People, which is a Fact — & it would gratify you to know, that in such a Senatorial Head as that which abandoned the government upon a vote — five senators were found to dissent — (there are probably the descendants of the five [and this kind of state being?] honoured from the Original Senate of 1700 years since —) This country also, as an instance, must be familiar to the just frame of our country — The French have literally [plundered?] the pockets, though not the honours of Batavia — The maintenance of an army of 25,000 men was quartered & shipped about from town to town — in small bodies of 1,000 — or 1,500 men — must be added — These are at the expense of Batavia — They are fed, enormously fed; clothed, & elegantly clad; paid & generously & exceedingly paid, in a thousand secret bounties, at the expense of this unhappy. 4 2 unhappy country — yet & the expense of these own expensive men, exceeds that of an army of 35,000 men, during the war, of national troops. Nine million Sterling is daily paying into the [equally to this Treaty, as a sort of ransom] French pockets — To raise this in a country him [?] taxation had reached almost every mode & article of life, before their Treaty of [?] France, the People are literally [?] to earth — [underline: [undecipherable]] — [undecipherable] — [?] horrible proditions famine is visible even among all ranks — but the misery is placed upon their lips — partly by their own act — & partly it is true by such such a train of events as was not long since coming upon the U.S. — of which scarcely anything short of the present system could have averted — After these two terrible instances america will never land as can into the wiles & the hypocrisy of France — and while her just & correctly national opinions are set in one day against the influence of Great Britain she will be taught to guard against that both [?] Tyger which has savaged the liberties & wealth of every nation that has been weak enough & trust her camper, & do attem; & [warring?] enough — not to Rome & be ready. Half measures ruined Venice — they will any nation with those France, Monarchy, or Republic, Moderates or Jacobins shall enter into unequal contract of friendship & confidence — The passions of the people in America must be [set?] completely against the French, or our independence will fall — & they ought to be united — not by gov^t. as that is negotiating — but by a display of every fact that illustrates the terrible consequences of admitting them in confidence or of permitting their approach. To gain time is a great deal — & I know nothing better that could have been done — indeed it was 5 prudent as during this we are continually put them are in the wrong — pending the negotiation I expect they will attempt to show to the People U.S. that it would be an easy thing to gain their friendship & support, & they will hold out as valuable in some tempting shape or other; & they will do it for the purpose of consalion, if they can not drive the negotiators from them — worth of right, & probably still keep the negotiation open. — If however we are — & the People are united, as I have seen from your letter & my recollection they are, & the Congress speak a united language of support to the issue of the negotiation & particularly of the President (show them the French hate or [long?] hated —) — their plans will fail; & though we shall never yet redress, we shall get out of this quarrel honourably, & our national mind will become truly NATIONAL. As to the negotiation you are very strong both in men & in matter — for vindication & for assertion. Gen^d. P. is a very clever man — shrewd & vigilant — a good scholar & and a good Lawyer I dare say — of Judge Dana I know nothing personally — but he of [Conner?] is skilfull in the art of argument, part & — and as to M^r. Marshall they have no combat equal to him — in fact they are able men & good men — But what can they do? — can they convince — ? — there the point; for naming a few Justins, they could convince — but the dispute on their side will [?] the air of wounded Soutibility — they will not reason, but expect a flood of Senti: :ments to heal their [?] — & in that healing the sentiment short of an affir: :tion employed by concessions that [?] — they want our true Sovereignty, & that retrospectingly disgraces every principle of [?] Justice for [?] years back will satisfy them — as to reasoning, then could be no doubt, if your corps of generals, satisfied by the opinion of Justice, would dare bring them into a "pitched battle" — but defend it they will be all — also, sensibility — & only your commissioners are [?] upon that task, think, they will not be attentively heard — What are the "concessions" which in one days debate I saw alluded to by my excellent & orthodox friend M^r. Sitgreaves, & he said all were agreed upon; I can not divine — certain that the term can neither mean the Sacrifice of our domestic honour in points of Sovereignty, [nor?] of our existing engagements, I can imagine but one thing which it may mean — a determination, in revising the Treaty of Feb. 1778, to place France in the same footing with G. Britain & Spain — or to give up in the new Treaty those provisions which at the time were considered as benefits to us when Neutral — & which France may consider the surrender of, as a concession — as true bottoms — the list of contraband — & the Provision articles &c — to give her "droit" in the revised [?] — [?] the new Treaty as it is initiated by G. Britain — but all also what can she have to consider, as we are the greatly exposed & insulted nation — But my dear friend, I know we think alike — we know that this noise about the British Treaty is but vain Pretence — I have apprised Gen^d. P. that the note taken had not fully stated & had misrepresented the debates — as both M^r. Sitgreaves is undoubtedly [undecipherable] as orthodox a man as is in the Union — & I know him to be able & sincere, and also & firm and [dignified?] in his purposes — Dana also, a good man, [?] to take it for granted that some concessions were to be made — but the mind note taking — I would not for a million of dollars that the paper which we need here should be used at Paris by the Directory — Gen^d. Smith's statement of the two [vessels?] captured by France astonished us — Gen^d. P. daily almost receives letters from consuls in France & from Paris exhibiting lists of captures — & this sort of grievances is of so old an origin, that it is impossible that it... 7 information sh^d. not have reached Congress — from the american traitors in France those [privateers?] [?] fitted out under French commissions from France & in France, which weekly bring in vessels (American) from our ports some bound to French ports others to Dutch ports & some to Ostend and plunder them & get them condemned — on the most frivolous preten: :ces — even those must laugh in their sleeves at the [?] that few are taken — It is atrocious here — & I have been appl^d. to by the house of Salomons, Amsterdam, whose own ship the good friends [?] was consigned, to give my opinion whether it was safe to send her speedily to W^r. Girard's discretionary power to them, to Bourdeaux — on [?] answered they must judge & stated these facts — the Minerval Springs, Cap^t. Boylston stopped at Ostend by the Commissary of the Navy — The Romulus of Charles Town S.C. coming to Ostend (since released by order of the minister of marine) — The William of N. P. [Albers?] D^o., Cap^t. [Butler?] going to Bour: :deaux captured & sent into L'Orient by the Privateer Eagle said to belong to a [Republican?] [?] men in Paris, the cargo of the [?] [?] & [?] — The [Boisris?] of N. York bound to Amsterdam, [after?] a [year?] she belonging to [Cap^t.] [Framer?] [Rutgers?] & [?] of N. [?] taken — & [carried?] into Nantz — Catherine of New: :burg part owned by Cap^t. Anthony [?] [?] from [?] from Dumfries with Tobacco shipped, [?] [Henderson?] & [Gibson?] bound for Rotterdam — taken & [carried?] in — They take our ships they say because they have no Rôle D'Equipage & by bribing part of the crews, & if bribing will not do, condemn without the slightest reason — The practice it is their [enemy?] in different ports — but this variance though sometimes production of appearance of Justice is treacherous, for it is part of a scheme to distract — to excite hope & attachment in some — general [end?] of this [power?] in all — It rests on the assumed position of France, that she acts by her own Rules, & liberates herself from the tyranny of all nations, by disavowing the obligations of the law of Nations, or of adopting its rules, [according?] to convenience — Nothing can be said to such a nation but that we are cordially for Peace with you, but we can & will injure you if you will injure us — & Show the [Power?] to support this Self a defensive language — Nothing else can stop 8 3 that [?] to general a Rome-like Dominion, but a species of national universal police and [?] among the nations who, have [well?] for many [?] [?] — a connection — In fact the tendency of things flowing from this infernal war is certainly to force all nations who are not her dependants, to introduce a greater degree of the military Spirit than was formerly necessary; to force all independent governments to be more or less Military in their character — & unhappily — to render all her dependant friends, [unmilitary?] — In every thing she pursues Roman maxims; & the inevitable corruption & [Ravishment?] of Europe has it seems to me prepared them for a fate similar to that which enabled Europe Asia & Africa with the stagnating & bitter waters of Roman alliance, conquest, & subjugation — For instance the Roman Republic took upon [?] [?] generally to defend a [protect?] her conquered or influenced allies — In every time when a French army or her influence has got, or become from circumstances complete, She does the same division in her own country the People are disarmed — Paris is at this moment disarmed — These consequences instead of hastening what the real philanthropists imagined, & that till these years since, I believed would arrive, a greater portion of Civil Liberty to Europe, [?] & even there even the Feudal System to enslave mankind — for it [?] produces [?] military Despotism, putting peoples who have lost their elevated tone in [?] [?] the Feudal times — nothing but the fear of a greater influence has prevented Spain from calling in French troops to join in her meditated attack upon Portu: :gal — this fear [?] will save Portugal, as Spain is incapable of its conquest — It is a fact that almost the whole of the Diplomatic corps of Europe in its inferior orders, I mean not rank, as Secretaries, Chargé des affaires & men who are not Nobles, but who come lately in that grade, are [?] [fundamental?] Philosophers, all clerks, servants, & the efficient men employed to work the business of affairs are so — this is the case whether they belong to Republics or to Monarchies — Every man of inferior [degree?] seems to be endeavouring to acquire an ability against all possible contingencies & changing their opinions upon uncertain deal of peace hoping to take [?] position of all mine that would not change in human affairs is 9 not for distrust — they see that all the old sources of power are drying up — that authority is stripped of its weight by reasoning [?] superiority — that though ignorance & superstition seem removed by the complete diffusion of books [?] reaches all sorts of people, yet real & wholesome knowledge is not increased where it ought to be — & that though despotism be attenu: :ated in appearance, morals instead of gaining, have lost ground by the convulsions & habitual shocker of that [violence?] which removed it — a general [?] scepticism upon all things exists — and men of Speculation are lost in the magnitude of that crisis which they think they foresee — almost all their depend upon France — If she got into order — If she res: :tored the christian religion & could possibly restore her morals, the tide of insubordination might stop — If she continues, as she has gone on, a great crisis must come upon Europe, in which nothing but Military despotism will at all hold Society in a tolerable [state?] combination — In that country there is nothing like a settled opinion — They love all of them as they ought, France above anything imaginable — But their love is connected to ten thousand various directions of self interest & party views — From exceedingly good information, it is probable, that the majority of that nation are tired with their new Theory of [republicanism?], & wish for a King — & it would not be wonderful if the Prince de Condé or the Duke of Orleans, ac: :cording to party views, were brought into administration — The Directory would disappoint the last — Clubs are now getting [?] once more through contrary to the Constitution, & are endeavouring to rouse the People of Paris, for the nation has little or nothing to do with politics, on the score of the danger arising from the royalists — This charge is partly true, & partly owing to party hatred, [?] Affairs & its adversary, all sorts of opprobrious names. The embarkation of 15,000 troops found & Dutch on board the Transports at the Texel & the appearance of a movement of the dutch fleet S^t. has been kept within the Texel a long time by a very fine british ships at anchor, have added much speculation — 50 [?] good [?] went to it the other day from there [?] for contingent service — The real object is a secret that I am not master of — Hoche was here some days very lately as a [spy?] — [Three?] of the Dutch public men, were admitted into his councils at the French ministers — he has returned — Some say this movement is against the Elbe — to block that off — Mons^r. of Hanover — but that can not be as the King of Prussia would preserve its neutrality & it has an army of 30,000 very fine Troops — my own conjecture is that is an alarm to G. Britain — probably intending also to try the dutch sailors in an engagement with Duncan's [?] [?] — French Troops are put on board the men of war, also — Lord Malmesbury & his suite, and a splendid armement of it is, an obstacle with the French commissioners — Belgium which was a principal obstacle, is removed by its cession & the Emperor, in Bonaparte's Peace. — Gen^d. Pinckney & family — Miss Rutledge who ought to be Secretary of Legation, as he is a very fine young man & has had the rough of Legation, as he is a very fine young man & has had the rough of the [?] — & the Gen^d. nephew M^r. Hovig are in Lodgings near us — their M^r. Mount[?] is a great acquisition — as he is alert & intelligent — this M^r. Mount[?] is a great acquisition — as he is alert & intelligent — The Gen^d. is much pleased with his co: commissioners — I do as you tell me, try to please the Dutch — but I must tell you entire news (you know me, try to please the Dutch — & [said?] nothing else) that as yet I have perhaps I progress in french & [?] nothing else) that as yet I have perhaps received as little action politically, from any any as even minister or Traveler did — They (the committee) have it is true attended my visits or Traveler did — S^t. I made as is usual — but I saw none of them, as they neither sent and or I was actually out when they called — They seem to me very distant. I live yet in Lodgings at an hotel — one subject I wish to speak to you upon particularly. The American Hotel — as minister I am to live in it — I so informed the Bankers, &c. M^r. Adams told me he had the care of it — & there were in it two or three poor families — I at the same time [?] [?] to them to know if they had a prospect of selling it & [?] [?] — They answered they had never had [?] [?] to [?] [?] & [?] [should?] [?] out [?] 11 a syllable upon the subject — I [?] had heard of some intention of selling — M^r. Van Stapphorst told me they meant to repair it so as to preserve it from the weather for the windows were rotten & the roof exceedingly out of repair — that they had an original authority that extended to com: :mon repairs for the keeping up of the house not to prevent its absolute decay & they wished to put it into repair — I had previously told them that I intended to repair the rooms as I should use at my own expense — & that also as I could expect of them was such a repair as they w^d. have given it merely to preserve the house — The said he could do as I wished but that they had been in the habit of giving it occasional repairs & charged them to gov^t. — We got a workman & I made him note down every repair & its [?] plain or [parts?] of the house — that I might divide the expense with the Gov^t. upon the principles, that I would pay for all repairs except such as they considered as [?] material to the preservation of the building — those parts are in this country particularly, the windows — the out doors — painting of them — & mending the outside — very [part?] I considered to be painting in side, white washing & papering — parts of the carpenter work inside &c little, I considered as the Bankers affairs — They said they would charge the whole to Gov^t. & if they did not authorise it, I should pay it — I agreed to this — so it Stands — In fact nothing will be done to it by this repair (for [?] times & give it [?] myself when I get in to have some time) which is not in a [?] essential to the House, either as a tenement — or as a subject of Sale — If the Gov^t. will sell it — It will sell best in other times — for now it would not Sell for a 20^th. part of its value — as it is very large & has a garden back. & it will want & Sell after come this repair probably for twice as much as it would have done without it — After the Ministers have been known belonging to their Gov^ts. — & the Arms over the door — as one had — It will 12 be more expensive to live in it than in Lodgings, or a hired small house in a large part of the Town, for a married man — I do not wish you to Speak to the Secretary of State, absolutely not — but to give me your opinion upon any proceedings — If you think there will be the least exertion — pray take me & I will prevent the Bankers from making the change & paying the bill — which will be about 150 [£?] [?] myself — If I am [?] I pays it will just be about the cost of a Small house — though the size of it will render it to me in any small way & much less comfortable residence than a small & well furnished house — As to Lisbon. . — My dear friend it it comes as not I feel as I ought to know I do with a [?] kinds of your countrys [?] the kindness to me — it would be excellent — the climate, friend — but my humble merits have been already accommodated — I am alone — to take myself how him a person of [?] Standing with me — I am only astonished, sometimes, that I find myself have, to be as I am — & am — do me & how this world is carried on! — As to those commissioners — believe me I have been [?] very great — I discussed with the news of the meeting in the [?] British fleet & the [?] of peace generally — the existing peace & brought one of France S^t. the Suspension all meeting upon you might have closed that merely & have dumped that merely & led to a concession in the appointment of at least the middle commissioner than France has as far as she could Dictated — I mean him who she title shall the greatest Philosophers have [?] upon their subjects — He could not have sustained that plan I [?] not making a sacrifice of all he has laid a [?] [?] for 13 six years — his duty w^d. have led him to justify our Gov^t. — how could he have done that! — I also rejoice — & I can see the administration all unite firmly against a system of party adding a influence exceedingly provoked him in his nomination — Now ardently I wish to hear from you, you can not conceive as you are not in a distant country — in a scene that every moment affords visible proof of the designs we see if — Preparation, union, & especially — firm appearance on and the result by this very day of our councils — you should: :ly direct them. — To write with more freedom you Need not sign your name — & I also do not — you can put any name on the undirected [?] — I wrote a few days after I got here — Tell me in perfect confidence if I go too much — to speculation & opinion in my letter & Col. Pickering — my means yet are exceedingly small — & that I am expect to speak the comprehensive disposition of my Predecessor — he is really a very learned and able man — & was exceedingly cordial in his communications to me — this was long but a very short time after very sincere — I got your letter just time to take him, the wind bound at [Maars?]-[Steeg?] (½ miles off [?]) his appointment — he sailed seven days [?] from London — in [?] collected health & good spirits & it is I hope by this time arrived. 14 to his beautiful & I have very charming Miss Louisa Johnson — A young Baron de Bielfeld is here Chargé des affaires. From Prussia — as soon as I saw the nomination mentioned in the [papers?] S^t. you sent me — I wrote to him & with in confidence — [?] Stating it — He wishes to know if it be a steady & permanent appointment & I told him I did not know but it probably was — Then my dear Sir — is not that political & diplomatical intelligence — you see & I have secrets to tell them in confidence — Baron B. is a very clever youngish man — Speaks English well — & I would give my him with a [?] aim of exciting the opportunity of making the earliest dispatches upon this subject — as I think, would & find his information [?] — I wrote to Col. Pickering on the 30. [?] & shall write to [him?] — day or [?] to [night?] as this letter has [?] my fingers — it is outrageously long — but I can not now fall in a great [?] at [question?] — it is too long — by your & [?] [?] — not [?] to what happen & speak of our own [?] & time abstinence — so I must write — M^r. P. [Pinkham's?] memorial was not among the papers as you enclosed — from a Chevalier [Gruage's?] was literally a curious thing — Col. Pickering completely disconcerted the [?] [writing?] of the council of State & the members of the distinguished order of Carlos the 3^d. (< L^d. Gen^d. P. is much pleased with it — The Laudier [?] "the Cheeks of his carriage" [?] — these look down & which appear to travel throughout the U.S. as among the most interesting parts of the details — & I wish the cheeks had been omitted in publication — likely it was intended to show the crippled situation of his equipage & of common thin [?] brutality in driving from France a minister whose [?] were [?] [?] by this own words — [undecipherable] shall [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] 15 a few days after I received yours of the 23 May — I heard that a Ship had been ashore at the Texel from Philad. — yet 3 feet [?] [?] were in her holds — & at that dispatches from Gen^d. P. & myself were lost in — two days after I got a letter from M^r. Wolcott which was open at the end & appeared to have been lost — back of the others I can here nothing — I subscribe to [Pernus?] & paid him for one year — It would be a most [?] [?] thing if you could make him send this paper in smaller bundles by ships going to any port in Holland — The part of your letter respecting Gen^d. P. & young Rutledge gave both Gen^d. P. & his Secretary very great pleasure — [?] [?] I took the liberty of reading that part to them — Piquet & some others you should have with pleasure — There is not one at this place but all by [?] I shall get one — & shall send you Mably's, Droit Publique de l'Europe with notes by [Roast?] — & Callier — I can not hear of the letters published at [?] — [?] on [?] [?] — The temperature moisture of this country has affected me a little but thank God I enjoy good health compared to anything I have tasted these ten years. I am with my dear friend with sincere and affectionate esteem y^r always. [signature] [Postscript, left column:] The enclosed letter to the President [M^r. Adams] — [G]ive thank [?] to have dispatched — to him — on the [?] [?] — to him — on [?] where you — to have — to the [?] [?] you — pass it [?] — [signature — undecipherable] [Postscript, right column:] Gen^d. P. comes in and [?] knowing that I had just written express, his [?] to the complete you & that he will get the [?] — you [?] to him about & will — in a fortnight to you. [Inside cover — endorsement notes, partially legible:] [undecipherable] 2. S. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Country [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [thing?] [undecipherable] The [undecipherable] to any [harm?] [undecipherable] [consummary?] [undecipherable] — [upon your?] [undecipherable] [Several additional lines undecipherable] [Inside cover back — additional notes, rotated, largely undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [?] [undecipherable] [?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Stapphorst?] [?] [undecipherable] [?] [undecipherable] [?] [?] [?] [undecipherable] [?] [undecipherable] [1778?] [undecipherable] [?] on [?] [Stapphorst?] [undecipherable] D [?] [?] [?] [undecipherable] [?] [?] [undecipherable] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [undecipherable] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [?] [undecipherable] [Inside cover back]