On my return the day before yesterday I found here your’s of the 15th. as the Russian ships are expected at Philadelphia are connected with the Imperial family, and their report will certainly be made to the emperor, would it not be well for you to write either to mr Gallatin, or at shorter hand, to Muhlenberg to recommend them to his particular attention good offices & indulgence, & those of the other officers of the customs. the case of the Indostan on which we complained to Turreau, and some of the groundless cases on which he has complained to us, shew that we ought on neither side to act on any complaint until the facts are supported by affidavits. after we shall have begun to observe this rule ourselves we may require from the foreign ministers to be furnished with affidavits of the facts on which they complain, & it will save to both parties a great deal of useless trouble. I think Fitzsimmons should be told we can do nothing on general surmises. the cases of wrong by privateers should be specified & supported by affidavits, & then we will act according to our means. the instructions asked by Simpson on ransoming from the Arabs are very difficult. they had better lie till we meet. if Dr. Thornton’s complaint of Latrobe’s having built inconsistently with his plan of the middle part of the capitol be correct, it is without my knolege, & against my instructions. for altho’ I consider that plan as incapable of execution, yet I determined that nothing should be done which would not leave the question of it’s execution free. I have sent to mr Wagner your letter to DeWitt Clinton & mine to the K. of Wirtemberg amended as you proposed. Meade’s conduct towards Yznardi excites real indignation. I will write to mr Smith to revoke Campbell’s unauthorised nomination of him as Navy agent, & to instruct the officers when they are in a port where there is no agent, to apply to the Consul for the port.

I inclose you a letter from Monroe. Capt Lewis of the Leander I see is returned. I think we had better have his motions watched & arrest him in Jersey, Pensylvania Columbia, or Norfolk should he be found in either.

All the papers recieved from you are now returned, except recommendations to office which I retain as usual. accept affectionate salutations.