The Hague 8^th August Dear Uncle I hope before this you have received some of the letters I have written to you at different times, I expect every day to have the pleasure of hearing from you. I have received three letters from Daniel, and am glad to find him so good a correspondent and hope he will continue writing to me. His news about the Insurgents was very interesting, I am happy that the affair terminated so well as it did. By Philad^a papers that we have received down to the 3^d June, I see that the apparent Ringleader of the insurrection has been found guilty of High Treason, but that a new trial has been granted to him. I hope sincerely he will undergo exemplary punishment. Our little Navy does wonders & is raising our reputation high in Europe. In the American Dutch papers I read of prize after prize & sometimes of one Merchantman engaging & beating off two privateers at once. The gallant manner in which our raw Seamen conduct themselves exceed by far my expectations, and shews what they will be able to do after experience. If Congress will second the brave efforts of our Tars we shall have one of the most respectable navies in the world, and with a good Navy we shall not only be respected but courted. It is too the only means we have for obtaining justice for Justice is only obtained from nations by being able to say:, if you dont give it we will take it. The secret expedition from England occupies the attention very much here. They expect an invasion from the English & Russians combined. All the Military Dutch & French both commanded by the French Gen^t, Brune, hold themselves in readiness to receive them if they co[me] here. It seems pretty clear a descent is intended somewhere. Holland is too openly spoken of it is likely intended for Brabant. The state of the country and dispositions of the people appear better [strikethrough: fitter for it,] a victorious army there would have a better effect in Holland than if actually here. A foreign army in this country must carry all before it before they can expect the cooperation of the Inhabitants however discontented they may be — They appear from their General character, very hard to be stirred. The Jacobins in Paris have raised their formidable heads & are struggling hard against the present Gov.^t, which seems to be much alarmed at them. They must destroy or be destroyed — France now appears to be in an extremely Critical Situation, all the enthusiasm & spirits of the people sunk and the Gov^t without any money and very much embarrassed about the manner of raising it — The Jacobins threatening their overthrow & a new reign of terror and what is still more embarrassing a victorious army pressing on towards their Frontiers with[out] their being able to raise sufficient forces to oppose them. — the main body of their enemy almost daily receiving reinforced by the Detachments supp[lied] in sieges that were left behind to besiege, the places surrendering. The Citadel of Alexandria has surrendered — Great advances have been made in the siege of Mantua — In a short time we must hear of its surrender, it will be impossible for it to hold out much longer. The French must then abandon Italy entirely — All Tuscany are in open Insurrection against the French — The Arch Duke has lately received a large reinforcement in Switz^d. I begin to be more pleased with the Hague than when I first came here — There is an agreeable little society here — Remember me affectionately to M^rs McHenry & all the young family. Hope my little cousin John will write to me when his brother writes again — Your Affect^te Nephew John McHen [3 Aug. 1799 John McHenry] [This may be a copy]