Your favor of Sep. 22. is now before me. Mr. Barclay, just before his departure, wrote to me on the affair of Geraud and Rolland. I have written to him in answer that I thought the management of it would be better placed in the hands of Mr. Dumas who does our business in Holland, and is on the spot: that he can take the orders of the Treasury board on the subject, and act accordingly. So that I am not authorized to take any step in that business at present.

War is reduced almost to a certainty. There remains but a weak possibility of accomodation between this country and England. It may not commence till the spring, but it may commence also at every moment.

I have the honor to be with much respect Sir Your most obedient humble servant,