Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-11-14
from tie .,A7IoNAL INTELLICKNckR.
--<5so---
I o 7 III L PIE OPL E.
THE NEE.
No. w.

| !
This treaty with France has been faith
fully observed so Faithfully that even the
misconsiruction OF party has raised but a
SOLITARY clan1s, and ths not so much on
account OF any failure OF duty towards
france, as from AN oiiedyed excess of il.
he case alluded TO is that cf;he BercSsu,
the facts relative 10 which are these :;
I Or the 9Th OF April, Mr.. Griswuld Of.
Sered i<soIution tLai tie secretary Of
: State pe directed 10 report whclher the
I sum OF 32,@39 dollars and So cents, eX.
peoded 10 the repairs pur upon the corvette
] bercea,,, before Tire delivery 10 the French
Republic, was made 10 equip her FOX th,.
service oi toe United States. or for the
purpose OF delivering her ia good coud;,i-
on TO the French Republic ia conformity
10 the supui&,ions OF the Convention " ith
| France.
/ rs tive measures o. tie executive On
this subject have been yaroualy represent.
ed, 1t meg be proper concisGly 10 state
lhen,
] On the 3olh of September, 1900, a con-
venuon was entered I1to al Paris BY the
consn'esi0ters 81 the Culted Sales ans
France restoring True ant. sincet= friend.
sop between the two iatlous, ,he tb,rd al =
i'cie directed That the public ships which
hau been taken OH one part and tue other,
or which might be taken before Tie ex-
change oil ra!ihcddous, should be restor-
ed' In the mO1th OF the ensuing Feb;u-
ary tbs Senate advised i ratification oc the
cenVehion uncer Certain terms, which /.
was not believed wou.d be ob;,cted 10 by
f'ahce. Previously TO The signing OF hi.
INSTRUMENT, Oh the l2,h of October, 1900
the DcrCeau, a f,ench national shin, hao
been captured by an America frigate, aud
condemned u legal pizc on the l7th @
! November. On the 18th of December
1900, Mr.. S,odde,t, ;he secretary OF N,
navy, directed lis aaent at Boston To eau,
her 10 b. purchased for the United States
ana afterwards, 10 have her placed wher.
I she would be secure, with just as mSuy
men on board as should he necessary &
take care of her; but 20 make no reoail {
! III obedience 10 these instructions she va.
'.'Smai.tlet' on Inc 3Oth OF December aT,.
ca the lsih Of January she was bough.
"a by the navy agent Tor s $40 dollars
| IN March, the EieHch commercial a,ren
/ represented 10 the secretary of s;atc th.
destitute state OF the French prisoner. ia
/ ken on board tie Bercean, no fund; hav
J ing been provided by France for their r..
| lei, and requested advances, rcimburssb,,
! by his government. In consequence e..
this representation, she secretary of the
navy Instracted his agent To furnish e.ch
person, before his delivery. with sue
cheap clothing as would lie sufficient viii
what he had, 20 make him comfortable
and TO pay each officer, 10 enable The
/ discharge Of contracted debts, two dol
lars week for the whole time he had liv
cd at his own expense.
! On me l9,h Of March, the Frencl,
Charge des Af'aiIs, Mr.. Pichon, addressed
a letter to the secretary OF state, stating
that the Fist Consul, DESTROYS of remov-
ing the remembrance OF all differences,
had not waited for Information whether
The government of The United States
would rally the convention. before he per-
formed these stpulaliaDs which were TO
| have eject from The daie Gifts sgnsture
! aud thai reposmg entire confidence In the
United States, he had given instructions
calculated not only TO insure full jds,ice for
the past, IN rnahner CODsOUant To- the
obligations OF the convention, but also 70
I,Prsyent in future Unauthorized measures
towards the commerce and navigation OF
the United States, either on the part of
The administration, or OF individuals. MIR.
Pichon expresses strong assurance that
the notifications Of the coEscntion will
be accepted by the First Consul, and con.
ciudes 10y attracting the attention of the
secretary to that part Of il, which relates
to the restitution of national ships, amopg
which he notices the Insurgente, French
captured trigate, intimalns the probability
OF her being lost. and expressing his mn
preston that it would appear reasonable
TO the President to restore her, or an c
quiyalent, 20 the republic.
On the goth OF March, the executive
animated by the same sentiments cxprcss-
ed by the French government, came To "a
determination Co restore the Berceau end
accordingly on iho, day the secretary oi
tho navy gave the following dire ctions to
his agent -
"The French national ship the Bcrccau
captured by captain L.ttlc, is to be restor
ed under the treaty.