[To J.A.] Alexandria 29 Oct^r 1797 In [undecipherable] with [undecipherable] Northern [undecipherable] [undecipherable] my ideas of the matter. [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] before [undecipherable] arrived at the [undecipherable] Session [undecipherable] Section [undecipherable] [undecipherable] The matter [undecipherable] [undecipherable] transferred [undecipherable] to have received [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the others of the present term. The abstract [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] affairs of foreign [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] constitution [undecipherable] [undecipherable] letters [undecipherable] would [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] letters [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of a treaty [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] as to [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] power [undecipherable] [undecipherable] measures [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the 6 [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the country [undecipherable] [undecipherable] some [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] be mentioned. As to the former [undecipherable] once done had been prompt and [undecipherable] before the [undecipherable] of the time of the Government in august last into which time there has been no motion on account of the business which is affected by [undecipherable]. The remains yet to be considered & decided — The information which has taken place in the execution of the former treaties relative to the completion of our territory and the running the boundary lines to the South [undecipherable] that conduct deserve to be attributed to [undecipherable] — and the proceedings of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] opinion we have [undecipherable] at first — there all out of our [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by the [undecipherable] not been a [undecipherable] at [undecipherable] of distinction [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] these [undecipherable] received [undecipherable] required to [undecipherable] as to [undecipherable] the important [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] what [undecipherable] so the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of republican government [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] which to the [undecipherable] ought to make [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [undecipherable] its basis and [undecipherable] be distinguished for its [undecipherable] to all the virtues is at the same time particularly [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to our commercial fellow citizens and injurious to the public finances — It being uncertain how long the present negotiation [undecipherable] be pending as well as what will be the event, the Legislature [undecipherable] be advised to consider how the commerce of our country may be made more safe now and in future [undecipherable] [undecipherable] that the laws of contraband do not improve upon the necessity of [undecipherable] or [undecipherable] in retaliation [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to go to the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in commerce [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to secure that [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] it should be recommended that some law be passed on this subject The most [undecipherable] [undecipherable] very reasonable [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] of our constitution the forms and mode of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] character [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] The above [undecipherable] [undecipherable] are [undecipherable] which have [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I shall immediately [undecipherable] — With perfect respect I remain [undecipherable] your most obedient [undecipherable] Charles Lee [M^r Lee Oct 29. 179[undecipherable]. The President of the United States]