The last letter I had the honor to address to you was under date of the 20 Ulto. & went by the Brig Maria, Captn. Hilliard, via New York. I was favoured a few days Since with two copies of the Presidents message at the opening of the present Session of Congress. Few things could have gratified me more than such a picture of the happy state of our Country from authority so unquestionable. The great benefit which his Country has already reaped from his services, and the fatherly love & care he shews toward it ⟨in⟩ attempting to perpetuate its happiness & prosperity by the wisest ⟨p⟩lans, must greatly endear him ⟨to⟩ his Countrymen & make pos⟨te⟩rity venerate his memory. Did ⟨s⟩uch ideas want the ornament of stile, the simple elegance & perspicuity of the composition mu⟨st⟩ make them appear to the greates⟨t⟩ advantage. I did not know wh⟨at⟩ I could do better with the two tha⟨n⟩ to inclose one to His Excellen⟨cy⟩ Mr d’Araujo & to wait on the Fre⟨nch⟩ Charge with the other, requesting him to deliver it to the Span⟨ish⟩ Ambassador. Two nights afterwa⟨rds⟩ I met them both at a third pla⟨ce⟩ in a large company. They both appeared pleased with it. A stra⟨nge⟩ story had got about here that ⟨Colo.⟩ Burr, had caused an insurrecti⟨on⟩ in Kentucky, the object of which⟨h⟩ was to cause a separation betw⟨een⟩ the Western & Eastern States. Absu⟨rd⟩ as this was many appeared ⟨to⟩ beleive it & among the rest I ⟨found⟩ the French Charge inclined to ⟨give⟩ some Credit to it; but the mess⟨age⟩ has eradicated every impressi⟨on⟩ of the kind. The Secretaries of t⟨he⟩ Legations also appeared to be pleased with it. I think Moore ⟨in⟩ his Travells somewhere obs⟨erved⟩ that a Frenchman is alway ⟨will⟩ing to allow great merit to every ⟨o⟩ther Nation, because he beleived that France was so decidedly superior to all other Countries, that no one would pretend to dispute her pre-eminence. It may be owing to this National vanity that ⟨a⟩ Frenchman when he praises a great Man of another Nation ⟨i⟩t is generally by a comparison ⟨w⟩ith some one of his own. The Secretary of Legation in speak⟨i⟩ng of the President compared him ⟨with⟩ Henry the fourth of France after the Civil Wars were ended. This ⟨is⟩ no small praise in the mouth ⟨of⟩ a Frenchman, for of all their ⟨lo⟩ng line of kings he is the only ⟨on⟩e whom they seem to speak of ⟨w⟩ith affection. I shall take the ⟨l⟩iberty to hand inclosed my ⟨n⟩ote accompanying the mes⟨sa⟩ge with His Excy. Mr d’Araujo’s ⟨an⟩swer in English.

The late edict ⟨d⟩eclaring England in a State ⟨of⟩ Blockade, completely paralized ⟨tr⟩ade here for three or four ⟨we⟩eks. It was generally expected that a similar declaration wou⟨ld⟩ have been made on the part ⟨of⟩ Gt. Britain & as that Nation ⟨has⟩ a fleet adequate to the enforce⟨ment⟩ of it, the ruin of Neutral Co⟨m⟩merce was looked on as certa⟨in.⟩ At last a packet arrived bringing advices to the 28th. Ultimo, ⟨at⟩ which time no notice being ⟨ta⟩ken of it, not even in the Ki⟨ng’s⟩ speech, in some degree restor⟨ed⟩ confidence to the Mercantile world. I understand that Many ⟨pri⟩vateers are fitting out both in France & Spain in consequen⟨ce of⟩ it & am apprehensive that the⟨y⟩ will give much embarrassme⟨nt⟩ to our Commerce; which m⟨ust⟩ be attended with Serious dislo⟨cat⟩ions, always unpleasant but which it is peculiarly desira⟨ble⟩ under existing circumstanc⟨es⟩ to avoid if possible. I confess ⟨it⟩ was the last thing I should ever ⟨have⟩ expected; for in addition to th⟨e⟩ palpable infringement on th⟨e⟩ law of Nations, I cannot persu⟨ade⟩ myself that it is consistent wi⟨th⟩ sound policy, for was the English to retaliate with their superiority at Sea, it must distress the French Nation exceedingly. From the British writings I had supposed that they long had wanted a pretext for destroying Neutral Commerce & that they would have siezed the opening that this had offered with the greatest avidity. That they have not done it, makes me conclude that the Ministry are again turning their attention toward a Peace.

There has been a report here for some time past that Buenos Ayres was retaken by the Spaniards the 12 August, but it rests altogether on the authority of private letters. This would be a thing very acceptable to the Portugueze, for fear the possession of that Country by the English, should leave the opening to such an immense ⟨c⟩ontraband with the Brazils ⟨a⟩s nearly to destroy the trade between the mother Country & ⟨her⟩ Colonies.

A circular from Capt⟨n.⟩ Campbell will accompany th⟨is.⟩ I did not comply with his wi⟨shes⟩ in making it public, as I cons⟨i⟩dered it would tend to injur⟨e⟩ our flag without any imme⟨di⟩ate danger. These people seldo⟨m⟩ get to Sea before May or june. If I am well informed, the Tun⟨i⟩sian vessels are not in the hig⟨h⟩est state of repair; of course it must take some time to ⟨re⟩pair them; beside which, after ⟨wit⟩nessing the result of the War, t⟨heir⟩ neighbours the Tripolines, engag⟨ed⟩ in with us, I cannot beleive th⟨ey⟩ will be very much inclined ⟨to⟩ break with us; and if they d⟨o,⟩ there is already a force in the Mediterranean, that would aff⟨ord⟩ ⟨a⟩ very considerable protection to our Commerce against ⟨that⟩ power; I therefore concluded to shew the letter to such as were bound into the streights, by way of precaution; and I hope Govmt. will not disapprove of my not making it public.

A short time since the Quarantine was lessend from eight days to five from Philada. & New York & from five to three from all other ports in the U. S., but I am afraid that I shall not get any alteration in the discharge by Bira. With the most perfect Respect I have the honor to be Sir Yr: Mo: Ob: Servt