Since the Date of my last to you which was the 6th: September last, I have been honored with yours of the 10th: & 26th: June, and 19th: & 29th: July with the Papers mentioned to be enclosed.1 They are now before Congress, and I am persuaded that the strong Marks they bear of Industry and Attention will give them Pleasure.—

I perfectly concur with you in Sentiment respecting what ought to be the Conduct and Policy of the United States, and I am not without Hopes that they will gradually perceive and pursue their true Interests. There certainly is much Temper as well as Talents in Congress, and altho it is not in their Power to do all that should be done, yet they are willing and industrious to do whatever depends upon them. Your Letters I am sure are useful, they desseminate and inforce those fœderal Ideas which cannot be too forceably inculcated or two strongly impressed— Our fœderal Government is incompetent to its Objects, and as it is the Interest of our Country, so it is the Duty of her leading Characters to cooperate in Measures for enlarging and invigorating it. The Rage for Separations and new States is mischevious—it will unless checked scatter our Resources and in every View enfeeble the Union. Your Testimony against such licentious anarchical Proceedings would I am persuaded have great Weight.—2

Your Letters as yet are silent respecting the Evacuation of our frontier Posts— I do not mean to press you either to do or say any Thing unseasonably about it, for there are Times and Tides in human Affairs to be watched and observed— I know your Attention, and therefore rest satisfied that we shall hear from you on this interesting Subject as soon as you ought to write about it.3 During the ensuing Sessions of the Legislatures, I shall watch their Acts, and endeavour to send you such as may respect the Interests of the 511Union. I find it extremely difficult to collect them— when I first came into this Office I wrote a circular Letter to the Governors requesting them among other Things to send me from time to time printed Copies of their Acts— but whatever may have been the Cause, it has so happened that except in two or three Instances this Request has been entirely neglected.—4

With the Newspapers herewith sent, you will find the Requisition of Congress—what its Success will be cannot yet be determined.—5

The Algerines it seems have declared War against us—if we act properly I shall not be very sorry for it. In my Opinion it may lay the Foundation for a Navy, and tend to draw us more closely into a fœderal System. On that Ground only we want Strength, and could our People be brought to see it in that Light and act accordingly we should have little Reason to apprehend Danger from any Quarter.—

Mr. DeMarbois has left us and is gone to St: Domingo where he has an Intendancy— Mr. Otto succeeds him, and appears well disposed.—6

As yet your Place at the Hague is vacant—several Gentlemen are in Nomination, among whom I hear are Mr. Izard and Mr. Madison.—7

Doctr. Franklin is happy at Philadelphia—both Parties are assiduous in their Attentions to him, and it is thought more than probably that he will succeed Mr. Dickenson. I fear, in the Language of our Farmers, that a Day so remarkably fine for the Season may prove a Weather breeder—that is—that he will find it difficult to manage both Parties—for if he gives himself up to one, he must expect Hostility from the other— I wish he may be able to reconcile them, and thereby restore that State to the Degree of Strength and Respectability which from its Population, Fertility and Commerce it ought to possess.—

I congratulate you on the Issue of your Discussions with their High Mightinesses— Mr. Dumas gave us an Account of it, and we are all pleased to find that it terminated as it did.—8

With great and sincere Esteem and Regard / I am Dr: Sir / Your most obt. and very hble: Servt.

I have received the Letter you did me the Honour to write me the 6. Septr.

The Act of Congress of the 18 of August, which you inclose, Shall be communicated as directed.1

I have the Honour to agree, fully with you in your Opinion, that “it is manifestly as much the Interest of this Country, to be well with Us, as for Us to be well with them” But this is not the Judgment of the English Nation: it is not the Judgment of Lord North and his Party: it is not the Judgment of the Duke of Portland and his Friends: and it does not appear to be the Judgment of Mr Pitt and the present Sett. in Short it does not at present appear to be the Sentiment of any Body. And I am much inclined to believe they will try the Issue of Importance with Us.

I have insisted upon the Surrender of the Posts, with as much Earnestness as Prudence would warrant, but can obtain no other Answer than certain Hints concerning the Debts and Some other Points, which are Sufficient to convince me that the Restoration of the Posts will have certain Conditions tack’d to it. I have insisted in 513Conversation, and have enquired, in Writing, but have not yet made a formal Requisition, by a Memorial in the Name and by Order of the United States.— If I had done it, I Should have compromised my Sovereign, and Should certainly have had no Answer. Whenever this is done, it Should be followed up. I Shall certainly do it, if I Should See a Moment when it can possibly prevail. If it is the Judgment of Congress that it Should be done immediately, I Should be glad of their orders, which Shall be exactly obeyed. I Should even wish they would prescribe to me, the Form of the Memorial.2

It is indeed, as you observe, in the Power of Congress to take a certain Step, which would be longer and more Sensibly felt by Britain, than the Independence of the United States. You have not hinted at the Nature of this Measure: I can conceive of more than one. Exclusion of British Ships from all our Exports, and a heavy Duty upon British Manufactures, is one: a defensive Alliance with France, Spain and Holland is another. a Case may happen in which this last might be justifiable: but I presume it will not be hastily adopted, nor ever without Canada and Nova scotia, to be admitted into our Confederation, and one half at least of the best of the English West India Islands, besides Stipulations for the Admission of our Produce freely to the French West India Islands and Some Articles into France Duty free, with similar Stipulations with Spain and Holland. I hope however the first Measure will be adopted forthwith, and not the Smallest Article of our Produce be permitted to be exported in Brittish Bottoms.

Mr Barclay is appointed to go to Morocco, and Coll Franks goes with him. Mr Lamb to Algiers and Paul R Randal Esqr with him. There will be captives to redeem as well as Treaties to form.

I can obtain no Answer from the Ministry, to any one demand, Proposal or Inquiry. in this I am not alone. It is the Complaint of all the other foreign Ministers. The Dutch Envoy particularly told me yesterday, that he could obtain no Answer, to any of his Memorials, Some of which were presented as long ago as last April. The Ministry, Since the ill fortune of their Studies in Ireland, have been in a Lethargy. But they must Soon awake. Mr Pitt has long had with him in the Country Our Project of a Treaty, and, it cannot be long before he comes to some determination.3 They have had lately Evidence enough of the Utility to them of the public hope of a commercial Agreement with America. holding up the Idea of a Treaty, has rapidly raised the Stocks. But I cannot entertain any Sanguine hopes, 514for all Experience all Evidence, Seems to be lost upon this nation and its Rulers. According to most Appearances, a nation so entirely given up the Government of its Passions, must precipitate itself into Calamities greater than it has yet felt. I still think however, that a decided Opinion, concerning the system it will pursue, cannot be formed, before the Opening of the next Budget. With great Esteem and Regard I / have the Honour to be, Sir your most obedient / and most humble servant