of both nations enjoy a perfect equality in our ports: 1st. In cases of urgent necessity; 2d, in cases of comfort or convenience; and, 3d, in the time they choose to continue. And all a friendly Power can ask from another is, to extend to her the same indulgence which she extends to other friendly Powers. And though the admission of the prizes and privateers of France is exclusive, yet it is the effect of treaty, made long ago for valuable considerations, not with a view to the present circumstances, nor against any nation in particular, but all in general, and may. therefore, be faithfully observed, without offence to any; and we mean faithfully to observe it. The same exclusive article has been stipulated, as was before observed, by Great Britain, in her treaty with France; and, indeed, is to be found in the treaties between most nations.

With respect to the usurpation of admiralty jurisdiction by the consuls of France, within these States, the honor and right of the States themselves were sufficient motives for the Executive to take measures to prevent its continuance, as soon as they were apprized of it. They have been led, by particular considerations, to await the effect of these measures, believing they would be sufficient; but finding, at length, they were not, such others have been lately taken, as can no longer fail to suppress this irregularity completely.

The President is duly sensible of the character of the act of opposition made to the service of legal process on the brig William Tell; and he presumes, the representations made on that subject to the minister of France, will have the effect of opening a free access to the officer of justice, when he shall again present himself with the precept of his court.

TO ST. GEORGE TUCKER.

J. MSS.

PHILADELPHIA, September 10, 1793.

DEAR SIR,-Your favor of June 14 came to hand some time ago, and nothing but a load of business has prevented my sooner acknoleging it. No per

son on earth heard with more sincere regret the tales which were the subject of it, nobody lamented more the torture thro' which their victim must have passed. For myself, when placed under the necessity of deciding in a case where on the one hand is a young and worthy person, all the circumstances of whose education and position in life pronounce her virtuous and innocent, and on the other the proneness of the world to sow and spread slander, there is no hesitation in my mind. I needed no evidence therefore on this question, and could at any time have conscientiously appeared as one of her compurgators,-what an ocean is life! And how our barks get separated in beating through it! One of the greatest comforts of the retirement to which I shall soon withdraw will be its rejoining me to my earliest and best friends, and acquaintance. I shall hope to be in your way in some of your tacks, and to be able to assure you personally of the sincere respect and esteem with which I am, dear sir, your friend and servant.

TO THE FRENCH MINISTER.

(EDMOND CHARLES GENET.)

J.MSS.

PHILADELPHIA, September 12, 1793.

SIR, I have the honor of your letter of the 6th inst. and can assure you with real truth of the readiness and zeal with which the Executive will concur in preventing, within the limits of the United States, any preparation of hostilities against France or her colonies, as far as this can be effected by the extension of that portion of the public power, with which they are invested by the laws. Your letter requests the arrest and delivery of Tanguy,

Galbaud, Conscience, and Bonne, escaped from the ship Jupiter, and from the punishment of crime committed against the republic of France; and also that necessary measures be taken to prevent the carrying into execution certain plots formed by them and others against their country. These two requisitions stand on different ground. The laws of this country take no notice of crimes committed out of their jurisdiction. The most atrocious offender, coming within their pale, is received by them as an innocent man, and they have authorized no one to seize or deliver him. The evil of protecting malefactors of every dye is sensibly felt here, as in other countries; but until a reformation of the criminal codes of most nations, to deliver fugitives from them, would be to become their accomplices; the former therefore is viewed as the lesser evil. When the consular convention with France was under consideration, this subject was attended to; but we could agree to go no further than is done in the 9th article of that instrument, when we agree mutually to deliver up "captains, officers, mariners, sailors, and all other persons being part. of the crews of vessels" &c. Unless, therefore, the persons before named be part of the crew of some vessel of the French nation, no person in this country is authorized to deliver them up ; but, on the contrary, they are under the protection of the laws. If they are part of the crew of a vessel, they are to be delivered up; but then it happens that the district judge of each State is, by the law of Congress, made the competent person to execute this article of the convention, and consequently each within his own State, and no one over all the States; so that as criminals they cannot be given up, and if they be of the crew of a vessel, the act of Congress has not given authority to any one officer to send his process through all the States of the Union. The other branch of your request is more completely provided for by the laws, which authorize coercions as to expeditions formed in the territory of the United States against nations with whom they are at peace. If, therefore, you will be pleased to give me such information as to persons and places as may indicate to what points the vigilance of the officers is to be directed, proper measures will be immediately taken for preventing every attempt to make any hostile expedition from these States against any of the

dominions of France. The stronger the proofs you can produce and the more pointed as to persons, the stronger will be the means of coercion which the laws will allow to be used.

I have not yet laid this matter before the President, who is absent from the seat of government; but to save delay, which might be injurious, I have taken the liberty, as the case is plain, to give you this provisory answer. I shall immediately communicate it to the President, and if he shall direct anything in addition or alteration, it shall be the subject of another letter. In the mean time, I may venture to let this be considered as a ground for your proceeding.

SCHUYLKILL, September 13, 1793.

DEAR SIR, AS all the world is flying, I think to fly too in two or three days, but I am money-bound. IV shall have 215. dollars free out of moneys to be received for me at the Treasury between two and three weeks hence. But, to pay some matters to people in want, and to carry me home also I have occasion for 100. Doll. more. Having never had any money connection at Philadelphia, I take the liberty of applying to you rather than to any other person, to enable me to receive immediately the amount of the enclosed order on mr. Bankson (one of my clerks who is to receive the money at the treasury for me) and of my own note for 100. D. which I cannot get by discount from the bank till Wednesday next, and my wish is to go on Sunday or Monday. I expect to be absent 7. weeks, but for fear any accident might delay me a few days, I have left the date of my note blank to be

1 Cashier of the United States Bank.

filled on the day it shall be lodged in the bank, that I may be the less hurried by this circumstance in my return. I will assuredly see that it be taken up in time. If you can, for this paper, furnish me a check on the bank or its amount otherwise, you will enable my wheels to get into motion, which otherwise stand still. I have the honor to be with great esteem and respect dear sir your most obedient servant.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

J. MSS.

SCHUYLKILL, September 15, 1793.

DEAR SIR, I have duly received your 2. favors from Chester and Elkton, and have now the honor to enclose you an address from the town and vicinity of Petersburg, which in a letter from mr. Peachey I was desired to deliver you.

I also enclose you a letter from mr. Genet on the subject of Galbaud, and his conspiracies, with my answer sent to him. My hurry of business has prevented my translating the former, but if it cannot be done in your family, I shall be in time to do it myself.

I enclose also mr. Hammond's reply to my letter of ye 9th. mr. Pinckney's letter of July 5. mr. Hammond's letter of Sep. 12. communicating the English instructions for the seizure of corn, and the answer I propose to send him if approved by you. I expect also to receive from the office a blank commission for the collector of Annapolis in time to enclose it herein.

Having found on my going to town, the day you left it, that I had but one clerk left, and that business could not be carried on, I determined to set out for Virginia as soon as I could clear my own letter files. I have now got through it so as to leave not a single letter unanswered, or anything undone, which is in a state to be done, and expect to set out tomorrow or next day. I shall hope to be at Mount Vernon on the 5th day to take your orders.