I this moment received the inclosed official letter , an answer to the one from me, of which I inclose a copy, and do myself the honour to forward it sir to you under a hope that it may meet you at Braintree before the copy of it reach the Secretary of State. I inclose in another letter a copy of it to him— as this is a duplicate by the same post through another hand. I had sent duplicates to Major Mountflorence as my original went by post to Mr Talleyrand the Minister of Exterior Relations.

Had prophecy directed the view which led to your measure of meeting the French Republic and their making the atonement of explicit and formal assurances, it could hardly have pointed out a succession of events more favourable to Negociation than that which these two Months past have afforded— In the papers you must have seen this— I mean sir an unexampled series of defeats, retreats, yielding up whole countries late affiliated, and most distressing embarrassments on the part of the French Republic. Permit me sir thus far to congratulate you on the success of your demands! I have the honour to be with the highest respect & attachment / faithfully Sir / your most. Obedt servt. &c &c