The Secretary of the United States of America of the Department for foreign Affairs to whom was referred a Letter to him from A. Fowler of 1st. October last, complaining that a Boat which he had sent down the Mississipi was stopped at the Natches by the Spaniards—1

Reports

That there is good Reason to believe that the King of Spain is resolved if possible to exclude all Nations from the Navigation of that Part of the Mississippi which runs between his Territories.—

That therefore the United States will not have that navigation open to their Citizens unless by Arms or by Treaty. That in the Opinion of your Secretary the Time for the former is not yet come—That the free Navigation of that River is now the Subject of Discussion between the spanish Encargado de Negocios and himself—and that great Difficulties oppose their agreeing on that Head. But that however doubtful the Success of these Negotiations may be, it appears to him most prudent that they should not be precipitated; and therefore he thinks that the Letter which he has written to Mr. Fowler, and of which a Copy is subjoined, prevents the Necessity of taking further Measures for the present. As the Country adjacent to the River becomes filled with People, and the Affairs of the Confederacy become regulated and arranged, the Attainment of that and every other Object will daily and proportionably become more probable and easy.—

All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Congress2

[Enclosure]