Your favor of Aug. 25. has been handed me by Majr. Nelson. after the reciept of your former letter on the subject of your demand against mr Short I wrote to him informing him of it: and I am almost certain that in some letter to me since he has answered the article. but though I have spent near half a day in searching his letters (which are voluminous & written in a microscopic hand which renders it difficult to go over them) yet I cannot find the letter. however his letters of last winter & spring, down to Apr. 15. assure me he will be here this summer, and the war between this country & France renders it more certain, as the Americans will of course be obliged to quit France; & indeed the papers already announce that they have been ordered to do so. as soon as he arrives I will call his attention to the subject & deliver him your account & letter, & have no doubt you will immediately hear from him. I should add that tho I do not recollect precisely what he wrote me on the subject, yet I am sure it was not of a nature which enabled me to do any thing on it, or you would immediately have heard from me. I have the honour to be with great esteem & respect Dr. Sir

Your most obedt & most humble servt