I now have all the primary pages needed. Here is the full transcription: [London, 26^th Feby 1798, Genl. [undecipherable]] [The Honble James McHenry. Esq. / Sec.^y of War of the U.S. / Philadelphia] [W. Bay and.] Dear Sir. London 26^th Feb^y. 1798. When I had the pleasure to see you last you requested me to write to you — and if I have not availed myself of this Request it is only because I have not had a thing to communicate which w.^d not come to you more promptly as well as more satisfactorily from other channels. — Of the progress of our Commission you w.^d naturally be apprised by our Despatches to the Sec.^y of State — and of the great Events of which Europe has been the Theatre, my Letters could give you no Information equal to that with you have better Means of acquiring. — I think however that my Silence has been blameable — and that I sh.^d have written if it were merely to remind you of my Claim to a place in your recollection, and to evidence the value I do not cease to put upon your Friendship & good Opinion. — I beg you to pardon me if you believe me to have been faulty in this respect — and to allow my promise of Amendment, with this Specimen of it, to make my peace. I am aware that in saying this much I appear to make myself of more Importance than I am entitled to do — but you will be good enough to ascribe the seeming vanity to the Proofs I have heretofore received of your Regards. — You have doubtless been much gratified by observing that, notwithstanding various the temporary Obstacles the Execution of the 7.^th Art. of the Treaty has equaled our best Expectations, and you will, more gratified by learning that the Prospect of an honourable Close to our Commission becomes every day more certain. — We had supposed it probable that we sh.^d differ from the B. Comm.ⁿ on a point of more Consequence than has hitherto occurred & upon the Decision of which w.^d depend whether the article sh.^d be idle and illusory or a substantial & efficacious Provision. The Treaty [provid]es that 18 Months for the Exhibition of Claims in the first Instance — & gives us a Discretion to receive them within 6 Months after the Expiration of the 18. — It is now perfectly certain that the judicial Remedy will not have been exhausted in the great mass of the Cases within either of those periods — as the Lords of Appeal decide nothing or at least very little. The Treaty makes it an essential Ingredient in every Complaint that it sh.^d be shewn that the Compl.^t c.^d not procure Redress, in the ordinary Course of judicial Proceedings — and no Complainant can come to us until he is in a Situation to allege & substantiate that Fact. — of Course it w.^d become important to determine whether a Man whose Cause is still undecided without any fault on his part, at the End of the 18 Months, is not authorized to demand our Aid, upon the Ground that he has tried the judicial Remedy to the Extent required by the Treaty. — For if he c.^d not then demand it & his Cause sh.^d remain undecided by the Lords until the End of the 6 Months it is obvious that he w.^d be forever with[out] the pale of this provision, and consequently the Treaty w.^d be almost a dead Letter. — upon this point, on which we had anticipated differences of Opinion, we shall probably be unanimous — and I do not foresee any other on with we are likely to have any considerable Difficulty. — I have Hopes of being able to return to America in the Course of the next Year — and it will I am sure give you pleasure to learn that my Health is so much recruited as to enable me to go back to the Bar without Inconvenience. — If it shall happen that our Labours here have not been in vain (and there is every reason to hope so) I shall be so far from having Cause to regret my Absence from my Country that it may justly [con]stitute me[self upon it.] — [undecipherable] our Envoys at Paris are still Status quo. — The French Law of the last Month denouncing indiscriminate Hostility ag.^t neutral Commerce — & Talions late Motion on another, by which all Neutral Vessels are to be brought in for Adjudication & if armed condemned without further Enquiry (a regulation obviously in aid of the former,) seem to be an unequivocal Answer to our Demands of Redress for past Injuries. — My Information does not enable me to form any decisive Judgment, but I sh.^d think our Comm.ⁿ cannot remain much longer in France. — If a Rupture with this proud Republic is the unavoidable witho.^t the Sacrifice of our national Honor and Interests, (and of this there does not appear to be any room to doubt) I hope & trust that the public Mind in America will be prepared for it & that we shall meet the necessity with all the Spirit & Resources of the Country. — Europe presents every day fresh Instances of French Ambition and the dreadful System by which it is to be gratified. Switzerland is upon the point of being revolutionized, & probably annexed to France, not only by the Troops of that Nation but by the operation of that detestable policy which plays off the lower & unprincipled portion of Society ag.^t the Government. — Berne is supposed to be prepared for a considerable Stand; but the Prospect of its being an efficacious one is not such as could be wished. — The Ecclesiastical States are on the Eve of being democratized or sunk into a French Province. — Portugal is menaced with a powerful Invasion — & Spain has consented to the March of the occupying Forces thro her Territories — the consequences of which will obviously be fatal to both. — Thus for the want of a timely Caution among the different Powers of the Continent, each will in its Turn become a Prey to the inordinate Views of a Nation which with Union they are still able to resist. — G. Britain alone preserves the firm Attitude with which she commenced the Contest — but her Efforts can only be defensive & can respect herself alone. — The threatened Invasion of this Country is probably mere vaporing; but if attempted to be carried into Execution has every possible Chance ag.^t it. — I ought to make an Apology for troubling you with trifles — I did not intend to do so because I can [undecipherable] state nothing upon these Topics but what I collect from Newspapers & common Conversation, & because you have infinitely better Sources of Information. — Mr. Kings Despatches have I presume made you acquainted with the State of our Claim to the Bank Stock. — His good Offices have been constantly employed to secure to Maryland her Share of its Object, & it is to be hoped will be finally successful. — Every Motion of Justice & Policy points to an absolute Transfer of the Stock to the States tho' it must ultimately produce it. — Harpour's Book has gained & uncommon Celebrity here — is read with avidity by people of every Description. — Monroe is republished in London but I have not seen it. — From what I have heard of it it contains [that] that which only the God of the U.S. could [undecipherable] give to the World — his Instructions &c. — Where a diplomatic Agent derives his Authority for the publication of such Documents is inconceivable — unless the Gov.^t has given it to him. — I will not add more to this long & hasty Letter than to tell you that we pass our Time pleasantly enough in London & that my Family enjoys better Health than formerly; but that I am anxious to return to Maryland. — We do not perceive from the Banks of our Country & our Friends till we are separated from them. — I beg you to be assured my D.^r Sir that of the latter there is not whom I remember with warmer Sentiments of Regard than you. — I do not ask you to write to me; but I cannot help remarking that so if you shall have leisure [it] to give me a Line you will gratify me highly by doing so. — Yours sincerely [undecipherable: probable reading J. Pinkney]