UNITED STATES, December 5th, 1793.

GENTLEMEN of the SENATE, and of the House of REPRESENTATIVES. As the prefent fituation of the feveral nations of Europe, and especially of thofe with which the United States have important relations, cannot but render the ftate of things between them and us, matter of interefting inquiry to the legislature, and may indeed give rife to deliberations, to which they alone are competent, I bave thought it my duty to communicate to them, certain correfpondences, which have taken place.

The reprefentative and executive bodies of France have manifefted generally, a friendly attachment to this country, have given advantages to our commerce and navigation, and have made overtures for placing thefe advantages on permanent ground; a decree, however, of the National Affembly, fubjecting veffels laden with provifions to be carried into their ports, and making enemy goods lawful prize in the veffel of a friend, contrary to our treaty, though revoked at one time, as to the United States, has been fince extended to their veffels also, as has been recently fiuted to us. Reprefentations on the fubject will be immediately given in charge to our minifer there, and the refult fhall be communicated to the legislature.

It is with extreme concern, I have to inform you, that the proceedings of the perfon, whom they have unfortunately appointed their minifter plenipotentiary here, have breathed nothing of the friendly Spirit of the nation, which fent him; their tendency, on the contrary, has been to involve us in war abroad, and difcord and anarchy at home. So far as his acts, or thofe of bis agents, bave threatened our immediate commitment in the war, or flagrant infult to the authority of the laws, their effect has been counteracted by the ordinary cognizance of the laws, and by an exertion of the powers confided to me. Where their danger was not imminent, they have been borne with, from fentiments of regard to his nation; from a fenfe of their friendship towards us; from a conviction, that they would not fuffer us to remain long expofed to the action of a perfon, who has fo little refpected our mutual difpofitions; and, I will add, from a reliance on the firmness of my fellow citizens in their principles of peace and order.

In the mean time, I have refpected and pursued the ftipulations of our treaties, according to what I judged their true fenfe; and have withheld no act of friendhip, which their affairs have called for, from us, and which juftice to others, left us free to perform. I have gone further; rather than emptoy force for the reftitution of certain veffels, which I deemed the United States bound to restore, I thought it more advisable to fatisfy the parties, by avowing it to be my opinion, that if reftitution were not made, it would be incumbent on the United States to make compenfation. The papers, now communicated, will more particularly apprise you of theje tranfactions.

The vexations and fpoliation underflood to have been committed on our vessels and commerce, by the cruifers and officers of fome of the belligerent powers, appeared to require attention. The proofs of thefe, however, not having been brought forward, the defcription of citizens, fuppofed to have fuffered, were notified, that on furnishing them to the executive, due measures would be taken to obtain redress of the past, and more effectual provifions against the future. Should fuch documents be furnished, proper reprefentations will be made thereon, with a just reliance on a redrejs proportioned to the exigency of the cafe.

The British government having undertaken, by orders to the commanders of their armed veffels, to reftrain, generally, our commerce, in corn and other provifions, to their own ports, and thofe of their friends, the inftructions now communicated, were immediately forwarded to our minifter at that court. In the mean time, fome difcuffions on the fubject took place between him and them: Thefe are also laid before you, and I may expect to learn the refult of his fpecial inftructions, in time to make it known to the legislature, during their prefent feffion.

Very early after the arrival of a British minifter here, mutual explanations on the inexecution of the treaty of peace, were entered into, with that minifter; these are now laid before you, for your information.

On the fubjects of mutual interest between this country and Spain, negociations and conferences are now depending. The public good requiring that the present ftate of thefe fhould be made known to the legislature, in confidence only, they fhall be the fubject of a feparate and fubfequent communication.

G: WASHINGTON,

PAPERS &c.

Liquidation of the
Debt of the United

States to France,

SIR,

THE

TRANSLATION.'

PHILADELPHIA, May 22, 1793.
2d year of the French Republic.

The Citizen GENET, Minister Plenipotentiary of the
French Republic, to Mr. JEFFERSON, Secretary of
State of the United States of America.

HE executive council of the French Republic has learnt through my predeceffor, the Citizen Ternant, the readinefs with which the government of the United States of America attended to the facilitation of the purchases which that minifter was charged to make in the United States, on account of the French Republic; as alfo the acquittal of the draughts of the colonies for which imperious circumftances obliged it to provide. The executive council, fir, has charged me to exprefs to the American government, the acknowledg ment infpired by all the marks of friendship which it has given on this fubject to the French nation; and to prove to it the reciprocity of our fentiments, it has determined to give at once a great movement to the commerce of France with America, in drawing henceforth from the United States the greatest part of the fubfiftence and stores neceffary for the armies, fiets and colonies of the French Republic.

The executive council has entrusted me with the direction of thefe great and ufeful operations, and has given me particular powers comprehended in the reports, and in the refolutions now enclofed, in virtue of which I am authorised by the council and by the national treasury of France, to employ the fums of which the United States can effect the payment (towards their debt to France) or those which I can procure on my personal draughts, payable by the national. treafury, in purchafing provifions, naval ftores, and in fulfilling other particular fervices, conformably to the orders which have been given to me by the minister of the interior, of war, of the marine, and of foreign affairs.

The government of the United States is too enlightened, not to perceive the immenfe advantages which will refult from this meafure to the people of America, and I cannot doubt that, knowing the difficulties which different circumftances might oppose at this moment, to the execution of the preffing commiflions which have been given to me, if it should not facilitate to us itill the receipt of new fums by anticipation, it will find in its wifdom, and in the reports now enclosed, of the minifter of the public contributions of France, measures proper to answer our views, and to fatisfy our wants.