[Docket: 26 Nov. 1797 Uriah Forrest.] Philadelphia 26 Nov. 1797. Dear Forrest When I had the pleasure of seeing you in this city you suggested that you had a nephew who might have an inclination for the military life. As vacancies for Ensigns & Lieuts, are not unfrequent, I wish to know whether the friends of the young gentle:man [strikethrough: think] such a situation would be suitable for him, and whether you think him fitted for it. What [undecipherable] at Annapolis? [strikethrough: as] I can give you no intelligence of [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] may [undecipherable]. Every thing [undecipherable] is a problem that [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. You have no doubt seen by the Speech of the President the measures which in his opinion ought to be adopted. I wish I could say that information [has been] received from Europe since the Speech [strikethrough: had] [strikethrough: rendered] any of its recommendations [strikethrough: or] unnecessary; this unfortunately is not so. The directory of France, [undecipherable] over [strikethrough: both countries] and uncontrolled by the public sentiment of that nation, counting upon a party within the U.S. and sufficiently numerous and [undecipherable] to prevent such precautionary measures more from being taken [undecipherable] customary in such [undecipherable] of defense as ought in any wise to influence [undecipherable], by [undecipherable] to the world a [undecipherable] determination [undecipherable] the U.S. meant to protect their rights, by arms in case of necessity. without questioning the purity of the motives of the leaders and supporters of the Opposition it is to be lamented that in the prosecution of their system they should have wholly overlooked its tendency or [undecipherable] upon the policy of France as relative to the welfare of their own country. They have seen this power make easy conquests by means of the divisions and [strikethrough: undecipherable] which she either excited or supported in neighbouring nations, without being instructed by such examples; without supposing that [strikethrough: undecipherable] [she might be] [undecipherable] the same seeds, [undecipherable] and without appearing to suspect that their conduct was [undecipherable] [calculated] to [undecipherable] upon the minds of her rulers, that it was them who [undecipherable: probable reading — possessed] the strength of the people of the U.S. and that [the] government[s] [undecipherable] might be easily overturn[ed] [undecipherable] without [undecipherable] near [undecipherable]. [The] fact is [undecipherable] (however blameless the Opposition may be as to [undecipherable] intention) the directory of France has embraced this fallacy and [strikethrough: undecipherable] built thereon most if not all those measures of injury which have affected our commerce our treaty, and our rights as an independent nation. [What] is to be done in such a situ:ation? [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]; [undecipherable] and combine [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] systems [undecipherable] Rotterdam [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to avert [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] Pinckney [undecipherable] [undecipherable] from Rotterdam on his way with [Mr.] Marshall to the Directory, under date "We shall not commence any direct negotiations before we are joined by Mr. Gerry unless circumstances should indicate probable advantages. These I do not expect, for so much reliance is placed on the internal divisions in America and so large a party is thought to be more attached to French measures, than to the interests of our country that though I am convinced this opinion is erroneous, yet as it is entertained by men in power, am apprehensive our negotiations will be very difficult and my hopes of success are not at all sanguine." Let me hear from you, and some:thing I may give of the public sentiment. yours truly [strikethrough: undecipherable] James McHenry [Gen^l Uriah Forres[t]]