The gazette., 1799-02-11
MONDAY, FEBRU1RT II, 1900.
hterGNIng Documents.
Mr.. CERRY's CoMMUNIc ArIoNs.
c'7ti"H 4 froas tie Eaa Ca=sits.]


my reiolution to the contrary, fent him an an,
iwer on the 4'h Of April, (No. Al to which he
made no reply.
On t6e Goth Of april, conflicting the unplea
fant lituation in which was placed, detached
from the other ENJOYS. deaitute of power TO
negotiate, irTecOuCileable to an application for
it, and even 70 an acceptance of it, if offered,
adJreiied t0 the minifer the letter No. {, urged
him TO come forward with proportions for
reconciliation, and to rsleaie me from my con.
finement.
At our next interview, on the zSih Of April,
the mnilter informed me, that lie could not
comply with my Propo9als not knowing the
views OF the United States, in regard to a tre1-
ty. To remove this obaacle gave the iufor-
nation, and in the fllIef extent to the claims
OF The American citizens aganG France, bnt /
was tilent with rtfPe4 to the guIrsnt of the
eleventh article Of the treaty of alliance, and to
what relates TO the Bsrbary powers and left il
with him, in the fri iaitante, to provide for a
liberal cemperce to the French colonies in the
Eat and We9 Indies, and to cxbrcfs the views
Of France in regard to the proPofej treaty.
We afterwards conferred on the neccfityoffcnd.
ing a French miniRer to tie United States &
he Promifed. 10 deliver me, wi:hin three or
four days the Pfojs4 of heaty. On the eve
ming Of the I2;h May, Mr.. Humphreys arrived,
and delivered me your letter Of the 2 "a March;
which, the next morning, was decyphered.-
Our government could not then have been aD-
pr;zed Of he new aate OF affairs bot as it had
f. ned, " that iufpence wa runous," though,
mylef authorized to give immediate iniorma
ton to the miniGer Of foreign affairs, that
fhould return 10 America in the Sophia IS iocn
as ihe could be fitted for the fea an d that it
was nece'iary to expedite the meafures we had
contemplated, for efe6ing treaty. The Exc
cutve Directory, as well as the miniR=r, had
il was fad, during the three preceding weeks,
been indi penlibiy occupied by the new elect
ions and .hefe being fnihed, they could now
proceed on American affairs had The latter
required more time than l had allotted for
them, 1 was dete, mined to have detained the
Sophia a fhort period, rather than 70 have de
tcated the propoed arrangements. This con-
Gjered as my duty for viii 4 The government
rznife1ed in their in3ru6tions, juR indigna-'
zion at the treatment which their envoys had
received, It evincei diiPofiton to peace and
Is far as I could Judge, the fame temper now
exited on The part OF France.
On the z4'h May, the r:inilter ient the pfin-
cipal fecretary of his bureau TO inform me, that
his government did not with to break The Britilh
treaty brt expected in the new treaty, fuch
proyifions as would indemnity France, and put
her on a footing viih that nation: TO this an-
fwered, that the information gave me plcaiure,
that It was irnp0libie for the United States, by
violating that treaty, 10 bccome Perhdious ;'tEat
the treary, itfelf was an evidence OF their good
faith, inasmuch as it contained provilon.
{" that il fhcuid Mt be conirued or operate,
contrary to G1Imar aud ezi4ing public treaties,
with other fovertgns or &ates - that, if in its
contribution or operation, France had luRained
Injuries, Gil he was lure Of redrels by the pro
v;lions thccof as wei as by he: own treaty with
the Uatel States and that the latter enlured
70 her an extenfon Of f4vours, in regarJ to COM
roerce s, nsviga:ion, ii any fuch had been grant
e - Great Britain.
Eie f4d, there was fecond point which ref,
pe6tsd the claims Of American citizens on the
French Republic that if the latter ihould not
re able TO pay them, when adjuRed, and the y.
s. wonld aEume and pay them, France would
reI2burte the amount thereof TO this an
rvered, THAI the meaflre was inPofiibla bnt
thar tic claims might be aduaeJ, funded and
made Transferable by France and be redeemed,
pvrfuant 10 fuch aiPu;ations. as might be agreed
oil let rcen the two government
lie then Rated a third point, which relPetted
IA. coafl,ar convection. ! aafwcred, that
pe.haps it would be heG, as is duration would
Be hort, to lit It expire But if The PreIant war
mou,d foon terminate, and commerce revive -
France, / may be well 10 reviie it in order TO
prevent further dipoes, reiPe6fng tie evidence
ior aPrrrheuiing deferters, tie judicial officers
ior flung warrants, and ha nose oi executing
coniular jeciions< Rating at the fame inle, thai
f. eien tribun Is rould never be atmitedwHhE
;ne jorfailtion Of The Uni ed St~e.. ! ae 'e'
retary reported the conterence ard ntoFmecl
me lie u.6t Ecrh u6, that TIC hin R'r Wou!'I