I have recd. a letter from H. Lee dated Nashville Aug. 24. stating that he had corresponded with Genl. Armstrong on the subject of the provisional order to Genl. Jackson of July 18. 1814, authorizing him on certain conditions to take possession of Pensacola; which order was not recd. by the General till on or about the 14th. of March 1815; and then open, and the envelope without post-mark; and though recd. from the post office, was endorsed [“]by Express”; that to enquiries as to the causes1 Secretary Armstrong’s reply was “The letter from me authorizing the attack on Pensacola, but kept back till January, was written, recorded, and as I am assured by Genl. Parker, regularly despatched from the Office for conveyance to the General by Mail. Some one having the power must have stopped it at the post office or in the hands of one of the Clerks; and unless the President of that day shall deny that he had any agency or privity in the stoppage, I shall conclude that it was a measure directed by him of which I was to be kept unacquainted.” Lee adds “I have been further informed, tho’ in a manner too round about to be yet a while, positively relied on, that Parker has asserted that the day after the letter was put into the p. office, happening to go into the Dept. of State, he saw it lying on that Secretary’s table.” Much importance appears to be attached by Lee to this affair, as “bearing on the salutary vigour of Genl. Jackson in his unauthorized attack on Pensacola[”]; and he requests from me any lights I may be able to throw on it; as also on the Creek & Louisiana Campaigns.

I have given the answers which I thought due to the request of Lee & to the insinuation of Armstrong. It is very probable that you have been written to as well as myself. If you know more of the matter than I do, drop me a line. I have no recollections, if I ever had any knowledge of the history given of the incidents to the order in question, nor can I now even lay my hand on a copy of it.

If you should be called this Autumn, by your private affairs to Albemarle, apprize me of the time I may expect you here, on your way. All happiness to you & the circle of which you are the center.