R[obert] Smith to [Wilson Cary Nicholas ?], writes that although the advice in his letter was sound and was read by several department heads and the President, it has not been adopted. He discusses a letter from Armstrong explaining the recent arming of Austria who plans engineering an armed mediation, "its object is a separate peace between France, Russia, Prussia, and Sweden, leaving the field of battle to France and England. In such case the commerce and manufactures of G[reat] B[ritain] will be excluded from the North of Europe - from the Med[iterranean] - from Turkey - and if to this list American be added - the downfall of G[reat] B[ritain] may be pronounced as a certainty." Smith believes now is the time for the United States to insist on its rights and privileges as a neutral power and join the powers of Europe to resist the tyranny of the seas by the British. But he says "To any such course however Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison are [greatly] averse. Skilled as they both are in the use of the pen, they presume altogether upon its powers." A British vessel has withdrawn from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to Lynn Haven Bay, Florida, but he expects more examples of arrogance from the British fleet. Smith approves the actions of the people of Norfolk who have erected guns on their fort.