[Page 1 is a "Illegible Text" notice card indicating some pages are wholly or in part illegible.] Hague 10^th July 1797 28 My dear Sir, Since I wrote the other day I have got me a second hand Packet and could it with a paper or two from England St. M^r R[oss] of Phila[delphia] brought over to this place — Nothing yet transpired as to the actual Dispositions of the Negotiators at Lisle — What — longed only device, though this Republic has provisionally appointed three Commissioners to Treat in conjunction with France, yet they want an invitation before they venture to send them — there is most secret [undecipherable] to this humiliating Situation — I rather do wish to be sure, friends [undecipherable: to camps] I believe they get [undecipherable] the acquisition — Probably France will make more money out of both — If she chuses she can say to them, when the acquisition has advanc'd you are both to take care of your selves, and so you will do so also for me — [undecipherable] them the Dutch particularly into further sacrifices — The extent of the means of France & their invention when once she has a people's affairs in her power — [undecipherable] days time on here the [Phila.] fine with the autumn is carry'd and has been actively celebrated by both the army on the [undecipherable] of our fine followers — would you think it — has I fancied to be in the midst of these at a moment the [undecipherable] of the care of [undecipherable] I could not come fast as old as they — M^r [undecipherable] — I and his [undecipherable] — I am opposed on men [undecipherable] — I know he would be found [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — I am getting [undecipherable] [undecipherable] with the endless [undecipherable] for them than any [undecipherable] means to concentrate toward the U. States [undecipherable] the national [undecipherable] one [undecipherable] them [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] they [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] is connected that whatever affected the last also could be felt on the part of [France?] important to ascertain exactly the intentions of France respecting the U. States that they have moderated them [undecipherable] to his not of France a [undecipherable] — [Presumed?] that France has taken a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] manufacturing [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] the U. States would send the means [undecipherable] the entertainment [undecipherable] and that this [undecipherable] some [undecipherable] They [undecipherable] them on those [undecipherable] The work on the those are that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that Fortune has the [undecipherable] The [undecipherable] want [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] a learned [undecipherable] Book [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] government [undecipherable] the that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] the means [undecipherable] a [undecipherable] meeting two [undecipherable] — [trying?] 2/ [undecipherable] — I with the French [undecipherable] men with them — I touched the chance [undecipherable] to cause [undecipherable] to the French [undecipherable] choosing of a conciliation disposition separately to forestall conciliation [undecipherable] as among the more moderate men among them — a man, I now know — the opposes a view that makes [undecipherable] is made up — a cherished expectation that they can take that he could vaunt [undecipherable] because he had the man [undecipherable] was yesterday received despatches from the Govern[ment] to that effect — I assured him that while the United States sought Justice, he would find that they added it in [undecipherable] Spirit so perfectly conciliating that it would not be their fault if every demand of Justice were be only received, but very much exceeded — Good faith that the very same [underline: spirit] [undecipherable] sentiment [undecipherable] was received, must [undecipherable] be [undecipherable] — All this [undecipherable] on the part of the French — three friends here I consider as you [undecipherable] will — as used for the purpose of abating our [undecipherable] — of diminishing in our eyes the appearance that led to [undecipherable] on our side — all these [undecipherable] is meted out to at a moment when they go on with unceated [undecipherable] in both taking and condemning our Vessels — & when they Publicist in the Red-acteur (the Official Paper) the Intelligence of the petition of the owners of Privateers at Nantz in support of the hostile proceedings of the Directory as a complete Answer to [Pastrol's?] arguments against the Directory on our relations — [But?] if not mounting it would be ridiculous, to bear the language of conciliation under such circumstances of extreme insult & provocation — But they will come down in their language [among?] they see no resource in [undecipherable] — they will do this though they do not alter their [underline: conduct] — and they find it political to do just so, they will then say, we always held the language since we heard of the new negotiation that was intended — [I said?] that the U.S. meant to explain — The expenses of Moderation though hard upon us all will be a test when there as it will be on the amount of national sentiment against them & will lead to that glorious independence of all European states which will make us a nation If it was as honorably from a war — and nothing but that can — it will be a trifle — If it do not it will have made us as ready to meet it — I write in great haste [undecipherable] of the addition of the new constitution of this country M^r [Nash?], the French Minister yesterday wrote a note to the National [Assembly?] informing them that the Directory of France felt the most earnest wish that the new constitution may be adopted — this is [undecipherable] for the national [assembly?] — There [undecipherable] that there were upon the constitution he was to send to them to France the work — This was a — kind — But not official to them [undecipherable] of Sincerely — A westerly wind actually came up to save appearances — & prevented the Fleet from getting out of the Texel But they can not attempt it — I wish they were as independent & as strong in marine as in the good days of [Trump?]! * I shall write soon — very soon — of my dispatch for the Secretary of State [undecipherable] I have kept from [hands?] not arrive when this does you need not say ought of this — yours always, my dear Sir & most affectionately [signature] To the Honourable James McHenry