tions contained in the minister's letter to me, I have this day made application to the minister of police in favour of the American seamen, who, by means of one of the publick authorities at L'Orient, had been arrested as Englishmen, and are at present confined at Orleans as prisoners of war. In a few days, I expect to obtain their liberation, and shall procure their passages home. I have likewise the pleasure of forwarding to you an of ficial copy of an arrete of the directory for raising the em bargo, imposed by government on all vessels belonging to the United States, in the ports of this Republick. I deem it my duty to observe, that from informal com munications, which I have recently and repeatedly had with some of the best informed individuals of the govern ment on the subject of American vessels and property, now under trial before the different tribunals of this Republick, I have derived such informations of the present disposition and intentions of the directory, as to be satisfied myself, that they will ere long endeavour to provoke in the legislature a revision of their maritime laws, and that such a system will be organized as will secure the most important rights of neutrality upon the seas: this pleasing event is generally expected, and will, I am persuaded, arrive before this can reach you. Though many of the late arretes of the directory have certainly encou raged the tribunals in the most pernicious applications of existing laws in regard to neutral property captured and brought in for adjudication, yet it may not be unimportant to remark to you, sir, that the directory, however well disposed, cannot change the conduct of the tribunals in regard to American and other neutral vessels now before them, without legislative interference; and that owing to particular circumstances, it appears evidently that some time is necessary for them to prepare and dispose that body to alter some laws and make others, which shall cause the tribunals and privateers to respect neutrals in general, and the flag of the United States in particular: but from the present manifest dispositions and endeavours of the directory to produce that end, I am happy to add, that the tribunal of cassation, before whom appeals have been made on most of the American property condemned in France, appear disposed to procrastinate pronouncing upon them until the sentiment of the legislature shall be declared upon the laws which are operating against their success. I have the honour to be, &c. LIBERTY. FULWAR SKIPWITH. TRANSLATION. EQUALITY. The Minister of Foreign Relations to Mr. Fulwar Skipwith, Consul General of the United States to the French Republick. Paris, 3d Fructidor, 6th year of the French Republick. (August 20, 1798.) I SEND you, sir, copies of two letters written by the minister of marine to all the principal officers civil and military of the ports of the Republick. Their contents will prove to you the attention of the government to remedy the abuses committed against its intentions. With respect to the persons detained in the civil prisons of Orleans, because they are not possessed of papers to prove that they are not English, and who claim to be' Americans, be pleased to call upon the minister of general police, to whose functions belong all the measures of safety. The minister of marine informs me, that he has transmitted their petition to him, and I am going to write to him myself, in order to request him to admit your declaration in their favour, in the absence of other proofs. Receive, sir, the assurance of my consideration. CH. MAU. TALLEYRAND. TRANSLATION. Copy of a Circular Letter, written by the Minister of Marine and the Colonies, to all the principal Officers of the Ports, Civil and Military, on the 29th Thermidor, 6 year (16 August, 1798.) OUR political situation with regard to the United States, citizen, not having as yet undergone any change which can affect the respect due to neutral nations, I do not think I have need to remind you, that no injury should be done to the safety and liberty of the officers and crews of any American vessel found to be in order, and that the same conduct ought to be observed towards all passengers and other citizens of the United States, furnished with the necessary passports or protections. You will be pleased to use a vigilant attention, that the intentions of the government in this respect may be pursued by all those under you, and when any of them has departed from them, you will do justice upon the complaints which may be addressed to you, after ascertaining their validity. The Minister of Marine and of the Colonies, For a true copy, E. BRUIX. The Minister of Exterior Relations, TRANSLATION. Copy of the Circular Letter written by the Minister of Marine and the Colonies, to the Agents of the Marine in the ports of the Republick. Paris, the 24th Thermidor, 6th year (11th August, 1798.) I OBSERVE, citizen, by the correspondence of the greater part of the administrators of the ports, that the embargo recently laid upon the American vessels has occasioned the detention of the crews. The intentions of the government were very badly understood, when a measure was adopted, which, in the first place, hazards the safety of these vessels, and in the second place appears to place us in a hostile attitude with respect to the United States, whilst the acts of the government evince, on the contrary, that it desires a good understanding between the two republicks. I therefore charge you, citizen, immediately upon the receipt of this, to order the discharge of all the Americans who may have been considered as prisoners of war, in consequence of the embargo of their vessels. You will be pleased to render me a prompt account of the execution of this order. The Minister of Marine and of the Colonies, The Minister of Exterior Relations, For a true copy, CH. MAU. TALLEYRAND. True and exact copies, FULWAR SKIPWITH. TRANSLATION. DEPARTMENT OF EXTERIOR RELATIONS. LIBERTY. EQUALITY. Copy of a Decree. Extract from the Register of the Decrees of the Executive Directory, of the 29th Thermidor, 6th year of the French Republick, one and indivisible, (16th August, 1798.) THE executive directory considering, that notwithstanding the hostile manifestations of the government of the United States, which have occasioned a momentary embargo upon their vessels, it must be believed that unless abandoned to the passions of the British cabinet, that government, faithful to the interests of the American nation, will take measures conformable to the pacifick dispositions of the French Republick, after it shall receive a confirmation of them : And wishing to pursue the friendly and fraternal habits of France towards a people whose liberty it defended; Decrees as follows, Art. 1. The embargo laid upon the American vessels shall be immediately raised. Art. 11. The minister of marine and of the colonies, is charged with the execution of the present decree, which shall not be printed. For a true copy, As President of the Executive Directory, By the Executive Directory, MERLIN. As Secretary General, J. M. REVEILLERE LEPEAUX. For a true copy, The Minister of Exterior Relations, CH. MAU. TALLEYRAND. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS. JAN. 21, 1799. ACCORDING to an intimation in my message of Friday last, I now lay before Congress a report of the Secretary of State, containing his observations on some of the documents which attended it. JOHN ADAMS. To the President of the United States. THE Secretary of State respectfully submits the following report on the transactions relating to the United States and France, since the last communications to Congress on that subject. Department of State, Jan. 18, 1799. TIMOTHY PICKERING. REPORT Of the Secretary of State on the Transactions relating to the United States and France, since the last communications to Congress on that subject. THE points chiefly meriting attention are the attempts of the French government, 1. To exculpate itself from the charge of corruption, as having demanded a douceur of fifty thousand pounds sterling (222,000 dollars) for the pockets of the directors and ministers, as represented in the despatches of our envoys: 2. To detach Mr. Gerry from his colleagues, and to inveigle him into a separate negotiation; and 3. Its design, if the negotiation failed, and a war should take place between the United States and France, to throw the blame of the rupture on the United States. 1. The despatches of the envoys published in the United States, and republished in England, reached Paris towards the last of May: and on the 30th of that month, the |