iladelphia, February 22, 1798.

Dear Sir,

Yours of the 12th is received. I wrote you last on the 15th, but the
letter getting misplaced, will only go by this post. We still hear
nothing from our Envoys. Whether the executive hear, we know not. But if
war were to be apprehended, it is impossible our Envoys should not find
means of putting us on our guard, or that the executive should hold back
their information. No news, therefore, is good news. The countervailing
act, which I sent you by the last post, will, confessedly, put American
bottoms out of employ in our trade with Great Britain. So say well
informed merchants. Indeed, it seems probable, when we consider that
hitherto, with the advantage of our foreign tonnage, our vessels could
only share with the British, and the countervailing duties will, it is
said, make a difference of five hundred guineas to our prejudice on a
ship of three hundred and fifty tons. Still the eastern men say nothing.
Every appearance and consideration render it probable, that on the
restoration of peace, both France and Britain will consider it their
interest to exclude us from the ocean, by such peaceable means as are in
their power. Should this take place, perhaps it may be thought just and
politic to give to our native capitalists the monopoly of our internal
commerce. This may at once relieve us from the dangers of wars abroad
and British thraldom at home. The news from the Natchez, of the delivery
of the posts, which you will see in the papers, is to be relied on. We
have escaped a dangerous crisis there. The great contest between Israel
and Morgan, of which you will see the papers full, is to be decided this
day. It is snowing fast at this time, and the most sloppy walking I ever
saw. This will be to the disadvantage of the party which has the most
invalids. Whether the event will be known this evening, I am uncertain.
I rather presume not, and, therefore, that you will not learn it till
next post.

You will see in the papers, the ground on which the introduction of the
jury into the trial by impeachment was advocated by Mr. Tazewell, and
the fate of the question. Reader's motion, which I enclosed you,
will probably be amended and established, so as to declare a Senator
unimpeachable, absolutely; and yesterday an opinion was declared, that
not only officers of the State governments, but every private citizen
of the United States, are impeachable. Whether they will think this the
t