Owing to Several Circumstances, and Particularly to a journey I Have Made through some Garrison towns, Your favour [of] june the 16th Has Reached me Very Late1—that there Should Remain the least doubt with Mr Gardoqui Respecting the Adoption of the English limits is a Matter of Amusement to me. the Original letter Having Been Sent, I Herewith inclose a Copy with a few Observations—I think its Presentation to Mr Gardoqui will the Better Convince Him, as He knows Count de florida Blanca’s Respect for His own Words of Honour, and May I Be allowed to Add, that the More this letter is known, the Better it will impress the public with ideas favourable to the Spaniards, and the Spaniards With a Sense of Engagement Which Men of Honour ought not trifle with2—

As to the Navigation of the Mississipy You know Better than me what are the Strong Headed prejudices of that Court Against it—But We Both know Equally well that in a little time We Must Have that Navigation, one way or other—which I Hope Spain May at last Understand—it Has Been Said in Some News papers that the Floridas Should Be Given up to France—But Nothing Has Come to our knowledge which Gives the basic ground for an Idea of that kind. Mr Jefferson is Sending You a letter Relative to Commerce, which improves the Condition of the treaty with England whereby She Has no Claims on the favours Enjoyed By the United States, altho she is to be treated like the other Most favoured Nations—3 and as Mr dumas is writing on dutch Affairs,4 I will only Beg leave to inform You that the Appointment of the Convention Had Already a Good Effect in Europe, and that Great Benefit will Be derived on this Side of the water also from the Commercial, and fœderal Measures, which it is My Happiness to Hear are Now Under Consideration.5

Altho there May Be a diversity of Opinion wether a peace Must Be purchased at Any Rate from the Barbary powers, or a war must Be Carried Against them Until they Come to proper terms, there Can in no Mind Be Any doubt about the Advantages of a third Measure—viz a Confederacy of Six or Seven powers, Each of them Giving a Small quota, the Reunion of which would Insure a Constant and Sufficient Course Against those pirats, and after they are Brought to terms, would Guard Against the Breaking of a peace which the powers would mutually Guarantee to Each other—Portugal, Tuscany, Naples, Venice, and Genoa are Now at war with those Regencies, and I would like at the Same time to manage the Armament so as to Use American flour, fish, and Naval Stores—This plan is not as yet very well diggested in My Head, But Beg leave to Submit to Congress the propriety to Empower their Ministers to Stipulate for such an Arrangement6 I Have the Honour to Be with the Most Affectionate Regard dear sir, Your obedient Humble Servant,

In Case Congress Have no particular orders for me, in which Case I would Be Most Happy to wait on them either as a Soldier in their Armies, or Any other Manner, I will perhaps Accept the Invitation of the Empress of Russia to Be presented to Her ^in the^ Next Spring in Her New dominions of Krimie7 Which Excite My Curiosity—Should Any thing turn out, that May Employ the Servant of the United States. I Hope they know My Zeal—

My Best Respects wait on mrs. jay—I Have Mde de Lafayette’s Affectionate Compliments to You and to Her. I am affraid a former answer to Your letter june the 16th Sent Some weeks ago may not Arrive Sooner than this.