I thought it probable that the Directory after refusing to receive General Pinckney would have permitted him to remain at Paris till they should have received News from America of a date so late as to give the Result of the Election for President. I have been mistaken; whether the information already received on that Subject, which I presume has not been satisfactory, or the Elevation that has followed the prodigious Successes lately obtained by Buonaparte in Italy, has wrought the change, I cannot decide, but I have learnt this morning that the General has been ordered by the Directory to leave Paris, and the Territories of the Republic, and that in consequence thereof he was to depart for Amsterdam on the 31st. ulto.— this is a Step more extraordinary and decisive than I had supposed likely to happen—

If we give full credit to the french accounts of their late victories, & I believe them in the main, the Fate of Mantua, so long suspended by the Defense of Wurmser,1 must be decided, and all Italy must according to present appearances submit to the arms of France— you will readily perceive the possible consequences of such an Event, but I will not add any Reflections upon this interesting & perplexing Topic.

Our affairs here are as well as we can expect them to be— I mean in particular those which depend upon a liberal and candid execution of the Treaty— Difficulties from a Quarter from whence it was natural to look for them, have for a Time arrested the Proceedings of the Com[issione]rs. these by moderation and prudence have been effectually removed, and the Business proceeds in a Satisfactory manner— Some cases have been decided—and among them a leading one, being the Case of the Patersons of Baltimore— A Ship and Cargo belonging to them were condemned in the W[est]. Indies—2 This Sentence of Condemnation was affirmed by the H[igh]. Court of Appeals— Application has been made to the Board of Commissioners, who have pronounced (Nicholl3 only dissenting) that they had Jurisdiction of the Cause, and that upon its merits the Claimants were entitled to receive from the Treasury of the King, full & complete Compensation for their Loss & Damages—

The conduct of the Gov[ernment]. has upon this occasion been candid and correct— the Difficulties which have occurred have led to a pretty full consideration of the Provisions of the 7. Art[icle]. and I had the Satisfaction to find that we agreed in our Constructions— very respectfully, yr. ob. Ser