Your favor of Mar. 25. has been recieved, & the letter therein inclosed is referred to the Secretary of the Navy, who will give it just consideration whenever a vacancy in the body of Midshipmen occurs. if any thing can be done he will give notice of it.

Congress have just closed a long & uneasy session, in which they had great difficulties external & internal to encounter. with respect to the Ex-Bashaw of Tripoli, & many other more important matters, such a spirit of dissension existed, and such misrepresentations of fact, that it will be difficult for the public to come at truth. the change in the British ministry & the events of Europe will I think ensure a friendly settlement with her. whether we shall obtain the same from France & Spain is more doubtful. at the beginning of the session it was in our power but if passion should there be opposed to passion here, the issue may become serious: and if peace takes place in Europe immediately, a great obstacle to the indulgence of passion will be withdrawn. should the war however continue another year, cool sober sense on both sides may befriend both. unexpected & strange phaenomena in the early part of the session produced a momentary dismay within the walls of the House of R. however the body of Republicans soon discovered their true situation, rallied to their own principles, and moved on towards their object in a solid phalanx: insomuch that the session did most of the good which was in their power & did it well. Republicanism may perhaps have lost a few of it’s anomalous members, but the steadiness of it’s great mass has considerably increased on the whole my confidence in the solidity & permanence of our government. Accept my friendly salutations & assurances of constant esteem & respect