Th: Jefferson returned to Genl. Dearborne yesterday the letter of mr John Randolph, to which he thinks some of the following ideas might enter into the answer, to wit that the military establishment of the US. being known, it is only necessary to observe that it is nearly full; that a considerable portion of it is necessarily retained at the several forts & posts of the US to preserve them & the property at them; that all the residue are on the line of frontier between the US. & the Spanish dominions, under the command of Genl. Wilkinson, who has also authority to call on the territories of Orleans & Misipi for militia: that the force which Spain has on the Sabine has been represented as amounting to 1500. men, but is believed to be considerably below that; that it is impossible to say what force she can bring from her extensive dominions West & South of us or from beyond sea; probably the less on account of the war in which she is engaged, & which endangers other parts of her possessions that the President, in his message of Dec. 2. expressed his ideas of the means of protecting our citizens in the commencement of a war, & until time could be given for raising regulars, but that the right of deciding on these being with the legislature he will rely on those means which they shall think it most expedient to provide: &c. &c.