Paris 18 May 1800 My dear friend An opportunity occurs w^h enables me to thank you for a few lines w^h have escaped from you bringing me the introduction of some of our countrymen going [undecipherable] M^r. R[undecipherable]. [A?] friend I have rec^d with the cordiality due — [to those] honor^d by your recommendations— In [further?] information respecting the State of things [undecipherable] U.S. [and the?] situation of things generally as having a bearing on the great questions now before the European world, I refer you to my correspondence with the Sec^y of State — you will be charmed with it — Condense — Condense — you told me some time since — The almanach's account = words Style [undecipherable] to me matters of decided division, as I have great consolation while my plumage is [fleeted?] — to hear even M^r. A['s?] letters (from Berlin) acknowledged to be at least [underline: long] letters ...! — believe me I do not compare mine to his as to me are masterly diplomatiste pieces — but it tears me reputation criticism. A scrap of a news paper now & then falls in our way from Philad^a — N.H. govern[or?] — a fed^l divided on the [undecipherable: war?] of an election of P[resident?]... in truth I know nothing equal to this but what is before us here — Not a single spark of wisdom in a crumbling but victorious coalition — disputes on col[l]ateral points — Prussia absolutely withdrawn — & those who remain af^t uncertain of each their plans & objects even — [they?] are for the Fed^l men must unite in supporting [the cause?] of the country requires it — as far as exterior reputation is concerned — as to the interior motions you know them better than I do — there could not be a more triuumphant event for T[undecipherable] than an abandonment of the P[undecipherable] by the Fed^l party — the sting which wounds him must rejoice the enemies of the U.S. — at last those who have been [mortified?] with by the only blow which has been given to them in the U.S. during the present war — I send you a news paper — Their accounts from the Rhine are to be used with due reserves — they are however [undecipherable] on [our?] affairs — In Italy Maspena's fate must be decided by the 15 inst — the day in [at?] B[undecipherable] declared he w^d relieve him — B[undecipherable] with his usual precision & velocity lately set off for Geneva with the army of reserve — he will try to turn [undecipherable] — if he do Italy will be again in jeopardy — Garrisons in Piedmont greatly weaken the Austrian army — [undecipherable] executions have been immense & his conduct wise since he came into France — He negotiated till he quelled at least 60,000 chouans — & pacifying them — thus liberating 60,000 nationed troops for the frontiers — while G.B. neglected those intrepid & organized bands — & he has raised in two months 4 mill^d Sterl[ing] — every shilling of w^h has been devoted to the army & its equipments — it is believed that so much has the new raised [undecipherable]gidly been directed to these objects that a good part of the functionaries in the Gov^t have had but pay from one quarter of a month to another at a time — [It is] true however that this scarcity ill agrees with such a people with the real spirit of the times. I take the liberty of inclosing some letters — some were given to me by M^r. D. from Vol. E... Vol. E. believing I had some opportunity. John is well — & en alle [undecipherable] from Holland to France — my health is almost a wreck — though the air here is better than that of H[olland] — but I was [underline: acclimated] there, & the sudden change has shaken me terribly. y^rs always & affectionately my dear S[ir?] W.V. Murray N.B. I rather suspect that a certain gentleman is more satisfid now with the policy of the measure, than when it was made in Feb. 99.