John Allen writes to Julius Deming from Philadelphia about political affairs in the context of the deteriorating relations with France; a direct tax seems unavoidable; commissioners will probably be expected by President Adams to serve in volunteer corps, but a Connecticut law prohibiting officials from serving in two capacities will cause difficulties; feels the US needs to prepare for war; and condemns the opposition. The President has not heard back from the commissioners to France, but Allen expects the French to behave in a humiliating fashion; celebrates the Federalist victory in the recent Connecticut elections, equates the Jeffersonians with the Jacobins, and calls to push them out of positions of power; President Adams is very happy with the behavior of the state of Connecticut in the current climate.