Extract of a letter from W^m McHenry, Sec^y of War dated Trenton 20th Oct^r 1798. "You will be anxious to know the effect of Talleyrand's defence and his two last letters to W^m Gerry upon the American mind, and the course which may probably be pursued by our government. "It is generally presumed that the obscurity observable in his defence, the moderation in his letters, and the seeming reluctance they express to war, as well as the sudden removal of the embargo, may have been occasioned by one or all of the following considerations: The unanimity expressed by the people of the U. S. in their addresses to the President to support their government. The measures of Congress to strengthen the country by fleets and armies; a hope that this shew of peace and moderation would bolster up their party in the U. S. and nourish faction; their not being prepared to strike; and lastly, an expectation that this procedure on their part might tempt us to relax in our preparations for defence & thereby leave us more at their mercy. Perhaps also, they expected by this course to induce some of our merchants to interest themselves to get the act repealed interdicting commerce between the two countries. — Such being, as far as I can judge the state of public opinion, I do not calculate upon any [underline: successful] [underline: Attempts] at the approaching session of Congress to repeal any of the acts that apply to France which passed during the last session. It is more likely that some may pass to augment our marine; put our army into a more [underline: manageable] form, and to [strikethrough: secure] the ground we have gained. At the same time, whenever France will shew a plain honest and unequivocal desire to meet us with honorable terms, they will be listened to. But you will ask, how has it happened, with all this knowledge of French proceedings before the eyes of the people, that they have not returned to Congress a greater majority of federal characters; for from the elections which have taken place, the improvement in this respect is not very flattering. In the first place, as Swift has long since justly observed, we find, that men who are engaged in some evil design, or who labour under one common misfortune, such as want of power, are always in closest union among themselves, and the most industrious labourers in the political vineyard. In the 2^d place, those who wish well to the government and its administration, and would gladly contribute to its security, are apt to [underline: differ] in [underline: their opinions], about the men they wish to be chosen. Elections are not there to be considered as the criterion of public opinion, at least, in the conjuncture. It is beyond a doubt, notwithstanding the issue of some of our elections in favour of antifederal characters in districts, where a different result might have been expected, that the great mass of the people, in those districts, and through the Union, are truly federal, or for supporting government, and nearly, if not entirely unanimous to oppose France. It is [underline: local subjects] in these cases which overrule all others." Extract of a letter from the Secretary of State* dated Trenton Nov 7. 1798: "The yellow fever in Philad^a & New York has greatly deranged public as well as private business. The armed vessels intended for Algiers were nearly ready for sea when we were obliged to flee. They will put to sea in a few days. Some frosty weather has nearly destroyed the [strikethrough: scarlettina] fever, and the public Officers are on the point of returning to Phila. The Commissioners have determined, & justly, that the * Timothy Pickering