The two letters with which you honored me, sir, dated 16 and 24 July, were successively well delivered to me.1 I am writing to Berlin today to obtain the clarifications you requested from me on the consumption of Virginia tobacco, indigo, and spermaceti oil in the king’s realms, and I will hasten to send them to you as soon as I am sufficiently informed in this regard. Mr. Short, whose forthcoming arrival you report to me, will be received with all of the distinction he may expect from me, all the more so as he will be the carrier of the treaty of commerce which I had the privilege to negotiate with you and your colleague Mr. Jefferson. All of these reasons combine to persuade me to greatly anticipate the opportunity to make his acquaintance.

I have the honor to be, with the most distinguished consideration, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant