[38 Dec^r. 1797 to W^m Smith. Portugae.] Philad. 3^d Dec^r. 1797. Dear Sir, I have received from [strikethrough: you] two letters, from you since your arrival at Lisbon [undecipherable] dated [strikethrough: by the] one 24^th of Aug^t. [strikethrough: and] 4^th of [Sept.?] [strikethrough: also] [undecipherable] as well as [Thereupon?] I have been much amused and [strikethrough: seen] some of your friends well [undecipherable] to whom I read a part of your [strikethrough: a] [broad?] letter with [strikethrough: the] [your?] account [your?] of the [undecipherable] of reception [strikethrough: at the] [undecipherable] [strikethrough: of] and those of the Portug[u]ean personages. [Considering?] that the Latter [strikethrough: has been] has been disciplined in such [excuses?] [strikethrough: it] it [strikethrough: was] is reasonable that you [should] [have?] derived some consolation from his [own?] blunders. [strikethrough: from my n[undecipherable] [undecipherable]] I learn with pleasure that you [strikethrough: acquiring] [have?] had made a very rapid [progress?] in the Portugese Language. I hope you will [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] [be able to?] [undecipherable] speak it fluently, [strikethrough: rather] than [undecipherable] it important to the U.S. that [you should?] as it will [undecipherable] be able to gain a [undecipherable: [more corrected?]] facilitate your acquiring [a?] more correct knowledge of the commerce of Portugal, and [undecipherable] [susceptibles of being?] of the bars that are to be removed to open to our merchants a participation in the trade of [his?] colonies and [undecipherable] a freer access to [undecipherable] our [staples?] into [Portugale?] as would tend to benefit both [the?] countries. I [shall?] incline to think, that a [treaty?] of [commerce?] with this knowledge and your talents the thing may be brought about, and a commercial treaty [included] [& concluded.] [undecipherable] Good information can no doubt arranged, that would [undecipherable] be obtained from [undecipherable] at [Lisbon?]. [Bulkly?] and the English houses of long standing, [undecipherable] but the [object?] [undecipherable: established by it?] ought perhaps to be kept out of [undecipherable: sight?] With respect to Spain. The Presidents Speech which accompanies this [undecipherable] show you what is [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you will infer from this that the project you suggest is [undecipherable: would to be?] [under present?] [circumstances?] at least premature and, that if things can be set right without it the necessity of having recourse to it so much the better. Spain [undecipherable: was with?] [has more reason?] to dread the U.S. than the U.S has to [fear the?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] this [undecipherable] and ought not to have any occasion after [undecipherable] his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: It would be appropriate?] [undecipherable: undoubtedly] [doubt it.] [undecipherable: It may still?] [undecipherable: I will trust to be?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable: the stipulations in this] [undecipherable: calls at this moment to prefer the stipulations in this] [undecipherable: but a treaty with the U.S. he who will do so.] [undecipherable: let us see whether she will attend to this call?] [undecipherable] I shall be apt to remember your wishes whenever any opportunity may offer by which they can be gratified. I feel exceedingly your absence. I [strikethrough: have] have formed no new [connexion?] since, and I am every day getting more desirous to resume a life of leisure and independence. [undecipherable] M^r. [Soderstrom?] has taken care to see your [chariot?] [strikethrough: [undecipherable]] cased & shipped. I took care to examine it and [ascertain?] its [undecipherable]