To your own sense of the importance of the Negotiation with the States of Delaware and Maryland which you are now about to enter upon, Council might have very safely trusted, as well for your abilities in conducting, as for your zeal in bringing it to a favorable conclusion. They however esteem it a duty to impress you with some Ideas, which, in certain Conjunctures, may serve you as leading principles and be pleaded as motives.

You will remember how much the welfare of Pennsylvania depends on her export trade and as a navigable communication between the two Bays of Chesapeake and Delaware will aid our Exports more or less according to the Extent to which the work may be prosecuted, You will herein have a sufficient motive to contend for the Communication upon the largest practicable scale. A like consideration may induce Maryland to press more particularly on the subject of the Susquehanna navigation. In this case that State should know that the Improvements there should correspond in estent with the views entertained with regard to the former navigation.

The States, parties to the negociation have the same general objects, but as each may be attached to ways of accomplishing them particularly favorable to itself, unless a spirit of mutual concession take place among the Negociators, a partial biass may tend to disappoint the main purpose. You will not therefore risque too much on that head, but sometimes yield in points not materially disadvantageous to the State when it may be necessary to procure a general concurrence.

If principles could be established to determine the Comparative benefits to each State from the new Navigation, then the burthen of Expence to be borne by each might be precisely adjusted, but as such accuracy is not attainable Council in this article are not averse to your application of the rule just laid down.

These are the sentiments of Council upon the principal points which you will have to consider; it is nevertheless their desire that you make them frequent communications of the progress of the Negociation in order that you may have the benefit of such advice and direction as circumstances, in their opinion may make necessary. I am, Gentlemen, with great regard, Your obedient humble servant,