The gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1798-1799, 1798-10-08

Parttire 81 my colleagues, yet, on ny own by
poth-iIs, | Unght to have referred the qneltion
70 h.y government, AM ii the in.ean TO rave
HxSd with 20 ., by cain and am cable dilcul.
fion, all The contentious points Ct our diff
eil1es. Ii my gov1rnmtnr, as you repeatedly
adefted, WIS applied beffre the 10th 81 Mach
OF the propoti ion 20 treat with me separately,
is evident that il was not difpo(ed to lend ne
new powers ; FOR The Sophia faiiei on the 18th
Of thar month; AM, loving this, yon aill
urged me to make The application. have
been always ready, ani, had you come forward
with til. peoi-3 Of treaty, would have entered
inEo a calm aud srnicsble conference with you,
on every part Of it, 5lt nor into formal epif
tolAry eifcnfIion, which was not propoiei till
fone tins after was ready to embark, was
only relative 10 the Confllar Convention which
viii foon expire, was contrary to my Population
relative to conferences, in which you acqu:efced
and would have required months to be com
pleted. You was The fri, you affirm, to prels
lsriouily tie negotiation I: you will agree with
me, that the nsrt wo4ll have been greater,
had tie meaiu'e been feeble. You frequentlg
remind me Of your ezertions, which | am dif.
poi.d a much As pofible to appreciate regret
On my part, think you viii BE convinced
that every thing has been me, which circun
RANGES herein truly detaile Y would admit.
1t is with pleafure leaTl that the Executive
Directory IS all ready, and Is as much difpofeI
as ever to terminate, by literal negotiation,
the differences which fubhlt between the two
countries. This difpoiGion has always e4iaed
on the part of the government of the UGited
States. A negotiation then, if fet on foot,
free ffom all proportions Of leans and eKpIa
nations Of Speeches, TO BE- held if ncceHasy in 4
city Of me neutral nation, and providi1g for
dscidion by ;hree or five commilionerl, of al
points which may not bejetermined by direa
negotiation, would ftll Be accompanied, il nv
opinion, with fuccefs bat having no authority,
! cannot make the proposition.
A preliminary meaiure appears to be reqni-
fife in which the dignity Of this Government is
as deeply concerned as the nteteR of the Uni.
tel States. The depredaiiens, outrages, and
cruelties committed on our commerce and cit
izcns in The Wet Indies, aud on cur coats, by
Fren,h priva;eers, iome Of which It is faid have
no eommitlions, are perhaps feldom parslleled
among civilized nations. 1t is faid that this
Government has not been early apprized Of
LISlG SV-nISg WHICH nave LC-N great iClrCe or
ir,ilata,ion in the United States, and a piinci.
pal cauie Of the reprelEve neafures adopted BY
them. A recall Of The commili7ns Of the pr.
vateers, and reitraiuing them by fevere penalties
to the proper objeds of capture, cannot fail to
have happy effea.
You claim Promifc Of my good Offices as
private citizen in Ame,ica. Thefe fhall not
be wanting to rep'elent truly every me allure Of
this government, and to render fucoefsful all
fu1h as msy be well adopted to eH-a recon
citation. This is al thar can be expected Of
me, and the duty which owe to roy country
will require it. And now, citizen miniler,
having given you a 'eaimony of mr. eltsem,
frch a. refults from frank and candid con-
dua, BID you adieu. wiihng iin-ere freedy
rcnewal OF amity and commerce between the
two republics.
A,rPt citizen minjf-r, hs gGaran1et of my
Psrfe7 aOsifderatiOn. L GERRY.