At Home May 3^d 1844

(private)

My Dear General,

            I have received your two favors of
the 24^th & 29^th Ult^o and accompanying despatches
which I have read. The Treaty I do not like
but suppose we must "thank God and not look
the gift horse in the mouth." A year since &
we would have been very glad to make
such terms. I expect it will be well in
the event annexation should ultimately fail or
in view of the possibility of such an event to
________ [?] Dr. Smith to bring the matter of
a guarantee against Mexican violation etc.
based upon the assurance from Texas of a
permanent maintenance of the National Unity
at once before the cabinets of St. James & St. Cloud[.] [London and Paris]

Their representatives at Washington could do
nothing in this matter more than to refer
it to their respective governments. But it
is well enough and will answer the purpose
intended no doubt by instructing V.Z. [Isaac Van Zandt] and
[J. Pinckney] Henderson to call upon Mr. Pakenham and
the French Minister in this regard.

            I have attended to your request
about the armistice as you will see by
a letter I have written Mr. Norton to which
I beg to refer you.

            I am too sick yet to
write much[,] consequently cannot