not only be run, with the least delay possible, but be very distinctly marked also, that ignorance may no longer be offered as a plea for transgressions on either side; and it may be ascertained in the interim whether General Pickens will serve as a commissioner.

I hope and expect, that the proposed visit from the Cherokee chiefs will be so managed, as not to take place before the month of November. I have already been incommoded at this place by a visit of several days from a party of a dozen Catawbas, and should wish, while I am in this retreat, to avoid a repetition of such guests. The reason why I name November is, that, between the middle and latter end of August, I shall repair to the seat of government, remain there until between the middle and last of September, and then return to this place again for my family.

The extract, which you enclosed in your letter of the 10th from the Secretary of the Treasury, declaring his inability to furnish money for carrying on commerce with the Indian tribes, renders the appointment of agents for that purpose at present altogether improper; and, whether the act, "To regulate Trade and Intercourse with the Indian Tribes, and to preserve Peace on the Frontiers," does or does not go fully to the points, which are enumerated in your letter of the 12th, there seems under existing circumstances no expedient so proper for executing the requisitions of the above act, and the duties enjoined on the late superintendent of Indian affairs in the southwestern territory, (which have become stagnant by the admission of it as a State into the Union,) as by applying the services, under temporary regulations and proper instructions, of Colonel Henley or Mr. Dinsmore, or both, as the case shall, after duly considering it, appear to

require. But, if this expedient is resorted to, Mr. Dinsmore ought to return immediately.

My ideas, with respect to the most eligible mode of procuring the thirty-six-gun frigate, have already in a former letter been conveyed to you; and your instructions to Mr. Fox do, I perceive, accord therewith; but, lest I may not perfectly understand another part of them, which relates to the timber and plank (both of which certainly come under the description of of perishable articles) in the act discontinuing three of the frigates, and directing such of the materials as are perishable to be sold, I shall give it as my decisive opinion, that all wood not necessary for the retained frigates and the one wanted for Algiers, except the large pieces which have been obtained with difficulty and at a heavy expense, and which would not answer for ordinary vessels and would sell for little, ought to be sold, agreeably to the directions of the aforesaid act. If it is reserved, secured from the weather, and persons employed to take care of it, the expense and imposition will exceed all calculation, and it will be wasted or embezzled notwithstanding. I am, &c.

TO TIMOTHY PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE.

Private.

Mount Vernon, 25 July, 1796.

DEAR SIR, Was Colonel Monroe requested to engage a cannonfounder in behalf of the United States? If so, on what terms? To remove a person with his family will be attended with considerable expense, and, unless with condition to secure his services, it will be done under great uncertainty. With respect to the

engineers, policy requires a further developement of the unfavorable disposition, with which we are threatened, before any encouragement ought to be given to the measure. But, even if that objection was fully removed, there are no funds, within my recollection, that would enable the executive to incur the expense. Therefore, as a law must precede any executive act, the answer to the query is quite easy and plain.

I am glad to find, that more smoke than fire is likely to result from the representation of French discontents on account of our treaty with Great Britain. Had the case been otherwise, there would have been no difficulty in tracing the effect to the cause; and it is far from being impossible, that the whole may have originated in a contrivance of the opposers of the government, to see what effect such threats would work; and, finding none that could answer their purpose, and no safe ground to stand on, if they pushed matters to extremity, the affair may terminate in gasconade. Be this as it may, the executive has a plain road to pursue, namely, to fulfil all the engagements, which its duty requires; be influenced beyond this by none of the contending parties; maintain a strict neutrality, unless obliged by imperious circumstances to depart from it; do justice to all, and never forget that we are Americans, the remembrance of which will convince us, that we ought not to be French or English. With great esteem and regard, I am, &c.

TO TIMOTHY PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE. Mount Vernon, 25 July, 1796.

SIR, If the answer, which you returned to the minister of the French Republic to his inquiry relative to the

prohibition of the sale of prizes brought by French armed vessels into the ports of the United States, should, as it ought, preclude any reply, it would be very agreeable; but it has not been found, that, where the interest or convenience of that nation is at stake, the minister thereof can be satisfied with reasons, however cogent, which are opposed to their views. But in this case, as in all others, the executive must be governed by the constitution and laws, and, preserving good faith and an unbiassed conduct, leave the rest to the good sense of our own citizens, and the justice of the nations with whom we have intercourse.

As it has been resolved, for political considerations, to put an American citizen as consul at Hamburg in place of Mr. Parish, it is fortunate that so eligible a character as Mr. Samuel Williams of Salem presents himself, and I desire he may be commissioned accordingly, and advice thereof, as mere matter of information, given among other communications which may be made to Mr. Monroe. I am, &c.

TO TIMOTHY PICKERING, SECRETARY OF STATE.

SIR,

Mount Vernon, 27 July, 1796.

Your two letters, both bearing date the 21st instant,* with their enclosures, were received by the last mail to Alexandria. It would have been unfortunate, and much indeed to be regretted, if the French government had had as great cause of complaint against the conduct of the United States, as they have shown disposition to complain. It was natural to expect, though it was not easy to conceive on what ground,

* See APPENDIX, No. VI.

that the French discontents, which had been so often announced, accompanied with such terrific threatenings chiefly by anonymous writers, would, in the formal exhibition of them under the authority of the Directory by their minister of foreign affairs, have had something serious, formidable, and embarrassing in their appearance. Instead of which, most if not all the charges seem to have originated either in a misrepresentation, or want of attention to treaties and the laws of nations, or in the want of a just and timely representation of facts, with accompanying explanations, which our minister near the French government had it in his power, and was directed, to make.

Presuming that Mr. Van Polanen is regularly credited by the proper authority of the existing government of the United Netherlands, I see no cause, accordant with the principles which have actuated the government of the United States, why, when I return to Philadelphia, he should not be received as the minister resident from that country. And, if no objection unknown to me should occur to you, Mr. Van Polanen may be so informed. My arrival there will be by the 1st of September.

Instructions from the treasury department to the collectors, relative to the mode of obtaining passports by American seamen, will certainly be as effectual, and probably is as proper, as if they had issued from the department of state, and this was my opinion to the Attorney-General. But he observed, first, that it was not in any degree connected with the revenue of the country; and, secondly, that there were some other provisions in the law, I do not now recollect of what nature, that required the agency of the department of state. I am satisfied, however, with the circular which

VOL. XI.

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