On the 16th. I was honored with your favour of the 12 May last. The determination of the Insurance Company to send some person here gave me much pleasure, since the importance of the object required the evidence of a person in so elevated a station as is Don Juan de Almeida &, as it will prevent my being implicated by a want of success which I am apprehensive will be the case, it being almost impossible in any cases whatever to obtain, the attestation of Officers in a much inferior station. Yet notwithstanding my doubts of the success, I consider it a duty imposed on me by my Office to render my fellow Citizens all the reasonable aid in my power without taking into Consideration the methods they may think proper to pursue, & rest assured Sir that your recommendation will not lessen my exertion in their behalf. The inclosed dispatch I received yesterday by a Courier from Faro. It was accompanied by a Circular letter from Mr. Simpson giving the agreeable intelligence of his haveing settled our differences with the Emperor of Morocco; on which please to accept my congratulation. I hope the Tripolitans may be induced to follow their example, & that the inclosed is the last disagreeable account you will receive from that Quarter.

The Antelope of New York was put under Quarantine the 16th. Inst. whereupon I got a Copy of the orders, & found they were from the head Officer of Health: whom I waited on, thinking it improper to trouble the Minister if I could succeed with him. After opening my business by means of the Vice Consul who stood interpreter, I presented him with the Circular orders to the different Collectors which were verbally translated; he observ’d that he gave the orders in consequence of a Paragraph that had been copied into a Portugueze Gazette from an English Newspaper, stating that the yellow fever had broken out in New York. The representation made in the Bill of Health was much strengthened, by the Certificate of the spanish Consul which was attach’d to it. After much conversation he appear’d to be so far convinc’d that the report was unfounded, as to say if a Petition was made to him stateing the facts he would release the Vessel, but wished for a translated Copy of the Circular orders. As I could not be suppos’d to have any formal Communication with him, the Petition was made out in the Captain⟨’s⟩ name in Portugueze. I sent it in the inclosed Copy No. 2 with the circular orders Translated; which after going through their forms the Vessel was yesterday releas’d.

The noise that was made in the affair of Genl. Lannes has pretty much subsided, by its being announced to the Public that the Genl. was appointed Inspector Genl. of the Armies of France. It is sd. that Brune or Augereau will succeed him. Tho it is still understood that he went away much dissatisfied & without takeing leave of the Court, & without letting them know of his appointment.

On the 18 Inst. an order was received at the Custom house from the Minister of the Interior, to prohibit altogether the importation of Cordage for home Consumption. In consequence of which an American Vessel that was freighted in St. Petersburg on account of an English House here & had discharged about one half of her Cargo was prevented from dischargeing the rest, except in Franquia for exportation. The owner of the Cordage applied to the Minister who told him the order was given & could not be recalled, but that he might send what was on board out in the same or any other Vessel, free of all port charges whatever. The English & Russian Ambassadors applied to the Government, the former to allow the rest of this Cargo to come on shore, the latter to get the order repeal’d, but without success. To morrow they commence the discharge of the rest in Franquia, for Exportation. About ten Cargoes are expected all of which will share the same fate or be sent out in the same Vessels. I hope this Govmt. will no longer suffer in the opinion of Foreigners, for an indolent procrastinateing disposition, for certainly here is promptness & decision enough; but I will do them the justice to say that they understand timeing their orders admirably well, for when they do not conceive it for their interest, they are seldom guilty of this reprehensible celerity. I am afraid that after their granaries are well supplied, our flour will exhibit another specimen of their promptness.

A Report has been circulated that war was declared by the French Government against the Algerines. The French Consul says he has no official advice of it, but he thinks it probably will take place. With the greatest Respect, I have the honor to be Sir Yr. most Hble Servt.

W. J.