P. S. I had forgotten to express my opinion that deserters ought never to be enlisted; but I think you may go further and say to Erskine, that if ever such a practise has prevailed, it has been without the knowledge of the Government, and would have been forbidden, if known, and if any examples of it have existed, (which is doubted,) they must have been few, or they would have become known. The case presented from the Chichester, if true, does not prove the contrary, as the persons there said to have been enlisted are believed to have been American citizens, who, whether impressed or enlisted into the British service, were equally right in returning to the duties they owed to their own country. TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. MONTICELLO, August 20, 1807. DEAR SIR,--Colonel Newton's inquiries are easily solved, I think, by application of the principles we have assumed. 1. The _interdicted_ ships are _enemies_. Should they be forced, by stress of weather, to run up into safer harbors, we are to act towards them as we would towards enemies in regular war, in like case. Permit no intercourse, no supplies; and if they land, kill or capture them as enemies. If they lie still, Decatur has orders not to attack them without stating the case to me, and awaiting instructions. But if they attempt to enter Elizabeth river, he is to attack them without waiting for instructions. 2. Other armed vessels, putting in from sea in distress, are _friends_. They must report themselves to the collector, he assigns them their station, and regulates their repairs, supplies, intercourse and stay. Not needing flags, they are under the direction of the collector alone, who should be reasonably liberal as to their repairs and supplies, furnishing them for a voyage to any of their American ports; but I think with him their crews should be kept on board, and that they should not enter Elizabeth river. I remember Mr. Gallatin expressed an opinion that our negotiations with England should not be laid before Congress at their meeting, but reserved to be communicated all together with the answer they should send us, whenever received. I am not of this opinion. I think, on the meeting of Congress, we should lay before them everything that has passed to that day, and place them on the same ground of information we are on ourselves. They will then have time to bring their minds to the same state of things with ours, and when the answer arrives, we shall all view it from the same position. I think, therefore, you should order the whole of the negotiation to be prepared in two copies. I salute you affectionately. TO GEORGE HAY. MONTICELLO, August 20, 1807.