that reason is of no aid in calculating their
movements. We are, therefore, never safe till our magazines are filled
with arms. The present season of truce or peace, should, in my opinion,
be improved without a moment's respite, to effect this essential
object, and no means be omitted, by which money may be obtained for the
purpose. I say this, however, with due deference to the opinion of
Congress, who are better judges of the necessity and practicability of
the measure.

I mentioned to you, in a former letter, the application I had made to
the Dutch ambassadors and Prussian envoy, for the protection of Mr.
Dumas. The latter soon after received an assurance, that he was put
under the protection of the States of Holland; and the Dutch Ambassador
called on me a few days ago, to inform me, by instruction from his
constituents, "that the States General had received a written
application from Mr. Adams, praying their protection of Dumas; that
they had instructed their _greffier_, Fagel, to assure Mr. Adams, by
letter, that he was under the protection of the States of Holland; but
to inform him, at the same time, that Mr. Dumas' conduct, out of the
line of his office, had been so extraordinary, that they would expect
_de l'honnetete_ de Mr. Adams, that he would charge some other person
with the affairs of the United States, during his absence."

Your letter of September the 8th, has been duly received. I shall pay
due attention to the instructions relative to the medals, and give any
aid I can in the case of Boss' vessel. As yet, however, my endeavors to
find Monsieur Pauly, _avocat au conseil d'etat, rue Coquilliere_, have
been ineffectual. There is no such person living in that street. I
found a Monsieur Pauly, _avocat au parlement_, in another part of the
town; he opened the letter, but said it could not mean him. I shall
advertise in the public papers. If that fails, there will be no other
chance of finding him. Mr. Warnum will do well, therefore, to send some
other description by which the person may be found. Indeed, some friend
of the party interested should be engaged to follow up this business,
as it will require constant attention, and probably a much larger sum
of money than that named in the bill enclosed in Mr. Warnum's letter.

I have the honor to enclose you a letter from O'Bryan to me, containing
information from Algiers, and one from Mr. Montgomery, at Alicant. The
purpose of sending you this last, is to