DEAR SIR,--There can be no doubt that Fronda's claim for the money advanced to Lieutenant Pike should be repaid, and while his application to yourself is the proper one, we must attend to the moneys being drawn from the proper fund, which is that of the war department. I presume, therefore, it will be necessary for you to apply to General Dearborne to furnish the money. Will it not be proper to rebut Fronda's charge of this government sending a spy to Santa Fé, by saying that this government has never employed a spy in any case, and that Pike's mission was to ascend the Arkansas and descend the Red river for the purpose of ascertaining their geography; that, as far as we are yet informed, he entered the waters of the North river, believing them to be those of the Red river; and that, however certain we are of a right extending to the North river, and participating of its navigation with Spain, yet Pike's voyage was not intended as an exercise of that right, which we notice here, merely because he had chosen to deny it; a question to be settled in another way. From the present state of the tranquillity in the Chesapeake, and the probability of its continuance, I begin to think the daily mail may soon be discontinued, and an extra mail once a week substituted, to leave Fredericksburg Sunday morning, and Milton Wednesday morning. This will give us two mails a week. I should propose this change for September 9th, which is the day I set out for Bedford, and will exactly close one month of daily mail. What do you think of it? Affectionate salutations. TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR. MONTICELLO, August 31, 1807. DEAR SIR,--Mr. Madison will have written to you on the subject of a demand of $1,000 furnished to Lieut Pike, to be repaid to Fronda, which of course must come out of the military fund. I enclose you an application from Mr. Graham for a commission in the army for a Mr. Lithgow, relation of Mr. Henderson, who solicits it, and who, I think, has a just claim for the gratification. I enclose you also a letter from Captain Brent to Mr. Coles on the subject of their commissions. They presented to me a list of names engaged, and of the officers they had chosen. I do not remember the words of my answer; but the idea meant to be expressed was only that the officers should be commissioned. I had no idea of fixing a date for them before they should have raised what could be accepted as a troop. They seem to have understood the date of my acceptance as the proper date of their commissions. I told Mr. Coles I would consult you; and that my own idea was to inquire what was the smallest number ever admitted as a troop or company, and let their commissions have the date of the day on which they had engaged that number. This may be the subject of conversation when we meet.