I arrived here yesterday morning according to expectation. when at Songster’s the overnight, I learnt that Skinner, who lives at the cross roads near Fairfax C.H. had found your dirk. I called on him and asked to see it. both John & myself recognised it. but as he did not express a desire to give it up, I told him I would write to you & if you had lost yours thereabouts (a fact I had not heard but from Songster) I would apply to him for it and give him any reward his care of it should render proper; to which he assented.

I have not yet looked into newspapers, bout the 14th. of Aug. Canning had sent Monroe a copy of our Proclamation and enquired into it’s authenticity in such a way as shewed they meant to construe it into a disrespect if not an hostility. Monroe & Pinckney still expected friendly arrangements on the 14th. but Humphreys, who left London after that, thinks otherwise, & I confess I think the scale of war seems to preponderate. my love to my dear Martha & the little one & be assured of my constant affection.