Having made the necessary examination into the means possessed by the Treasury for complying with a late order of the Senate and of the time which would be requisite for preparing them, I have the honor now to communicate the result—1

Several Custom-house returns of Exports amounting to a large sum having been rendered for a term longer than a quarter, it is found impossible to make up that return for the twelve months, directed by the Senate in the first paragraph. A Statement, however for one year differing therefrom only in one quarter is nearly matured. It can be completed in a few days, after the receipt of a quarterly return for the port of Philadelphia, the Custom-house business of which was exceedingly deranged by the late malady—

The detailed statement of Imports for the year ending on the 30th: day of June 1792 required by the second paragraph, can be made up in about two months, by suspending the formation of that for the Year ending with September 1792, which in the course of the Treasury-business was in preparation, and would have been compleated in a few days. This will require eight extra Clerks for two months, and will produce an additional expence of about 600 or 700 dollars—

The detailed statement of Imports for the year ending on the 30th: of June last, also required by the second paragraph, cannot be made up at present, for want of the Returns from the Custom-houses.—

The returns of Tonnage in the old form will exhibit what is 258 required by the third paragraph and can be made out in the proper office in a short time— The two sets of returns of tonnage required by the fourth paragraph, can be made out in about six weeks after the preceding documents shall be compleated; or they can be matured at the same time by imploying four more extra Clerks at an expence of about 250 dollars—

The Senate will perceive from this the state of the business and will judge whether it is expedient to pursue it in the form contemplated by the order. Such of the matters required as can go on without additional expence or the derangement of what is already on hand are in train. And if no revocation of the order is speedily received the other objects as far as they are practicable will be also prosecuted—

But I feel it a duty to use the liberty of taking the present occasion to remark, that it is extremely to be desired that the two houses of the Legislature could fix upon a plan for regulating the returns which they would choose to have made to them periodically from the Treasury, that the business might be prosecuted in conformity to that plan. Congress would then have the information, which they may deem useful, and the Treasury could be prepared systematically to furnish it;—without any derangement of the current course of its operation; and without an unnecessary increase of expence. Occasional & desultory calls frequently made for returns and statements, which involve complicated and elaborate investigations and much clerkship, interfere more materially with the regular conducting of the public business, than can easily be imagined, except by those who have the progress of it immediately under their eye.— They oblige the principal officers and the most expert Clerks to transfer so much of their attention from the ordinary & indispensable operations of the Department, as must render it impossible, (if the practice should continue in the same degree in which it has for some time existed) for the Officers of the Department to be responsible for the orderly punctual and efficacious execution of its primary & most essential objects— This conclusion has so pressed itself upon me from experience that I have thought it incumbent upon me to submit these reflections to the consideration of the Senate.

With perfect respect I have the honor to be / Sir / Your most Obedient / & humble servant

Upon the close of Your last Session and your return to Massts. it became not so convenient to return you my Thanks for your last friendly Communication of the 14th. of Jany. 1793.1 which I now do; hoping my delay will work no forfeiture of your future favours. The unexampled ingratitude and scandal, which about the Date of Your last, seemed to have spent all their venom and malitious Spite against You, soon, as you observe, took Aim at other Game.— The first and most noted vehicle of scandal, soon generated others:— But the fiery Tryals which two of the first Characters of Our Age, let me say of any Age, have sustained, has ended in the Confusion of their Enemies, The Confidence of Their Friends has been established, and inlarged.— But a Party exists:—and ever will more or less, as the Government is more or less free. But this we trust will never counterballance the Blessings of it. Great political Objects will bring on a difference of Opinion amongst the virtuous and good.— The virtuous and good, ought to keep in view this Distinction and preserve a just Esteem for each other, and still be mutually watchful against the Enemies of all Peace and Order.—

The Prudence of Our Executive and the Wisdom of His Measures have been equally attacked.— A madcap of a Stateman, hot from the Jacobin Club, has been put in the Scale against Him, and all the Wisdom and Virtue of the U. S;—but the Beam kicked up. and threw the poor Sancho out of the Scale:— He may possibly in his fall meet the Guillotine, and become a Head shorter.— This Demoncratick gives way to more important Scenes.— The Conduct of the belligerent Powers.— The arbitrary noncompliance with Treaties.— The Claim of a Right to dispense with the general Laws of Nations, when Millitating against the particular Convenience of Nations, especially in Wars of a new kind— The pirattical Conduct of Their Privateers &c &c &c seems to fill up the Drama.— In the mean time, We are involved in a War with Savages thro’ the want of those Posts withheld from Us by a faithless Nation,—and that Business cannot be attended 260 to, because a twopenny Law Suit has been continued by a Court of Law.— Our Brethren are captivated and inslaved by the more savage Algirenes, and Our whole Navigation interupted by the contending Nations under the most absurd and chimerical Pretexts.— But will a Fleet of five or six small Ships prevent this?— If Britain obtained a Peace for Portugal to let loose the Algireenes upon Us, If, I say this is true, will not Britain furnish Them with a greater Force still?— And where will this Fleet Business end?—but in absorbing Our Revennue? And what will Ships built with green Stuff, just cut down out of the Woods be worth in the Course of two Years?— A War of merchantile retalliation is urged;— This appears to me less exceptionable, if a prudent Line can be drawn;—if it is not, it may bring on a War of Powder and Bullets, with Nations who want little or no Pretext to do any Thing Their baseness suggests to Them, or may equally tend to destroy our Trade, divert our Revennue, or totally annihilate it.— I confess I am not sufficient for these Things; but the ardent Love I have for my Country makes me wish for Information;—and I have thrown out the above mearely to provoke You to give me some, upon the present alarming Crisis of Our publick Affairs, which be assured shall not compromit You. But it may be often in the Power of inferior Talents to do much good, if properly informed of Men and Things, as particular Occasions arise.—

In Massts.—Govr. H——k is no more, may all the good He ever did follow Him;—And may it be forgot, or forgiven, that He was no friend of Yours.— This I more particularly discovered in a Conversation I had with Him when He was here.— His immediate Successor has given the Gen: Assembly a moral Lecture and a Slice of french Equallity;— However some Things were well said.— He has been attacked for deviateing from His former Sentiments agt. speechifying.— Electioneering will soon come on,—And no want of Candidates.— Pray what gave rise to a late Resignation?— Does Mr. J——n go to France?—

I hope Mrs. Adams is well:—Please to present my best Regards to Her and to the Rest of the Family

with high Esteem & sincere affection / I am Yr. Friend and Servant