[Illegible Text — archive notation: Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible.] [From the] James McHenry Esq. Secretary at War &c &c — Philadelphia. [seal] [Received [undecipherable] 2 Dec^r 1799] [Secretary of War Indian affairs] [Mr McHenry Sec^y War] The Hague 2^d Dec^r 1799— My dear Sir I have received your favour of 22^d Oct^r. John who is an excellent young man has come [undecipherable] his character. With yours I received some others !!! I have reason to believe that my letter to Talleyrand, of [undecipherable] May [last] make a noise against me. [undecipherable] in the names of Diplomaticers [undecipherable] fall [undecipherable] were they given as well as the assurances to the public, [undecipherable] all given ! Why were they not more maturely considered in [undecipherable] their characters [undecipherable] along they were not at — the first Officials, but [undecipherable] of government; but I was [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] that [undecipherable] an Individual, a traveller, unknown to it Officially, Mr. [undecipherable] Mr. [undecipherable]. But I speak as a diplomatist — [a] day I was unknown, as a man having nothing to communicate — the intentions of my good to a foreign Gov^t for the purpose of their doing a [undecipherable] Governmental act in consequence of such a communication — at most it is impossible to make my letter more than Semi official. As to the air of pleasure with which it was written I was to presume that [French] would be agreeable. Never to a Government. No matter good or bad, hated or just. The career once opened, the incidents followed from the principle adopted. the The air of embrasement [which] I have [been] to bring to be received from a man whom they did not [underline: Officially] Know — whose authority nor they nor any but myself had [known] — that an upon an occasion presumed to be agreeable — was [given] in the true Spirit of an indifferent letter of that sort & not [suited] to that of an official one. If this affair has made a noise, as I rather think it has, I beg you as a candid man — even if you too have thought these letters indiscreet, to show this letter or rather to mention my grounds at least to the President & to [undecipherable] Washington [?]. As to Pickens you will hear more of him. I have written to Harper yesterday. [several lines crossed out — undecipherable] [undecipherable] — which my letter, [undecipherable] words borrowed [undecipherable] by the bold & light Spirit of the [undecipherable] — Message — [undecipherable] to be a little better a [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] blade — disgraced by the olive foliage on its manly hilt. It is intolerable [undecipherable] ! let what will come I am ready. I have been greatly worry'd here & injured in health & exhausted in Spirits. I have acted with Zeal & honour. I have not been inactive. I was ordred to be active. So I have as little to reproach me with as most men who act in such times & with very little guiding. It is inhospible to say what Bonaparte means, ultimately, he & Sieyes. This is certain, that there are Symptoms of a pacific principle at work. These may be the winter curtain to cover the preparations for another campaign. There are other Symptoms too more moderation more liberality in France — better Diplomats though Revolution men, yet moderates & some of the old aristocracy are sent abroad, Bourgoing goes to Copenhagen. The Jacobins displaced. Many Emigrants of the Royal constitution of 1791 expressly razed from the list & permitted to return as the Maubergs non of — La fayette, Lameancourt — Gen^l Valence (of Dournourier's family) here & I believe soon La fayette himself. No power in Europe will be disarmed by professions, & I pray that we may not be! however there may actually be more decency & more moderation of manner towards us or them. I am always affectionately yours My dear Sir— W.V.M. [3m for I. improves in his hand—]