of the Senate. The characters of these gentlemen, are sure pledges to their country, that nothing incompatible with its honour or interest, nothing inconsistent with our obligations of good faith or friendship to any other nation, will be stipulated.

It appearing probable, from the information I received, that our commercial intercourse, with some ports, in the island of St. Domingo might safely be renewed, I took such steps as seemed to me expedient to ascertain that point. The result being satisfactory, I then, in conformity with the act of Congress on the subject, directed the restraints and prohibitions of that intercourse to be discontinued, on terms which were made known by proclamation. Since the renewal of this intercourse, our citizens trading to those ports, with their property have been duly respected, and privateering from those ports has ceased.

In examining the claims of British subjects by the commissioners at Philadelphia, acting under the sixth article of the treaty of amity, commerce and navigation, with Great Britain, a difference of opinion, on points deemed essential, in the interpretation of that article has arisen between the commissioners appointed by the United States, and the other members of that board, from which the former have thought it their duty to withdraw. It is sincerely to be regretted, that the execution of an article produced by a mutual spirit of amity and justice, should have been thus unavoidably interrupted. It is, however, confidently expected, that the same spirit of amity and the same sense of justice in which it originated, will lead to satisfactory explanations. In consequence of the obstacles to the progress of the commission in Philadelphia, bis Britannick majesty has directed the commissioners appointed by him, under the seventh article of the treaty, relating to British captures of American vessels, to withdraw from the board sitting in London: but with the express declaration of his determination to fulfil with punctuality and good faith, the engagements, which his majesty has contracted by his treaty with the United States; and that they will be instructed to resume their functions, whenever the obstacles, which impede the progress of the commission at Philadelphia, shall be removed. It being in like manner, my sincere determination, so far

as the same depends on me, that with equal punctuality and good faith, the engagements contracted by the United States, in their treaties with his Britannick majesty, shall be fulfilled, I shall immediately instruct our minister at London to endeavour to obtain the explanations necessary to a just performance of those engagements, on the part of the United States. With such dispositions on both sides, I cannot entertain a doubt, that all difficulties will soon be removed, and that the two boards will then proceed and bring the business committed to them respectively, to a satisfactory conclusion.

The act of Congress, relative to the seat of the government of the United States, requiring that on the first Monday of December next, it should be transferred from Philadelphia, to the district chosen for its permanent seat, it is proper for me to inform you, that the commissioners appointed to provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of Congress, and of the President, and of the publick offices of the government, have made a report of the state of the buildings designed for those purposes in the city of Washington; from which they conclude that the removal of the seat of government to that place, at the time required, will be practicable, and the accommodation satisfactory. Their report will be laid before you.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,-I shall direct the estimates of the appropriations necessary for the service of the ensuing year, together with an account of the revenue and expenditure, to be laid before you. During a period, in which a great portion of the civilized world, has been involved in a war, unusually calamitous and destructive, it was not to be expected, that the United States could be exempted from extraordinary burdens. Although the period is not arrived, when the measures adopted, to secure our country against foreign attacks can be renounced, yet it is alike necessary for the honour of the government, and the satisfaction of the community, that an exact economy should be maintained. I invite you, gentlemen, to investigate the different branches of the publick expenditure :-the examination will lead to beneficial retrenchments; or produce a conviction of the wisdom of the measures, to which the expenditure relates.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,-At a period like the present, when mo

mentous changes are occurring, and every hour is preparing new and great events in the political world; when a spirit of war is prevalent in almost every nation with whose affairs the interest of the United States have any connexion; unsafe and precarious would be our situation, were we to neglect the means of maintaining our just rights. The result of the mission to France is uncertain: but however it may terminate, a steady perseverance in a system of national defence, commensurate with our resources, and the situation of our country, is an obvious dictate of wisdom. For, remotely as we are placed from the belligerent nations, and desirous as we are by doing justice to all, to avoid offence to any; nothing short of the power of repelling aggressions, will secure to our country a rational prospect of escaping the calamities of war, or national degradation. As to myself, it is my anxious desire, so to execute the trust reposed in me, as to render the people of the United States, prosperous and happy. I rely, with entire confidence, on your co-operation in objects equally your care; and that our mutual labours will serve to increase and confirm union among our fellow citizens and an unshaken attachment to our government.

JOHN ADAMS.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS. DEC. 5, 1799.

I TRANSMIT to Congress, certain documents which have relation to the communications made on Tuesday, on the subject of the insurrection of Pennsylvania, the renewal of commerce with St. Domingo, and the mission to the French Republick.

JOHN ADAMS.

RENEWAL OF COMMERCE WITH ST. DOMINGO.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS by an act of the Congress of the United States, passed the 9th day of February last, entitled" an act further to suspend the commercial intercouse between the United States and France, and the dependencies thereof," it is provided, That at any time after the passing of this act, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, if he shall deem it expedient and consistent with the interests of the United States, by his order, to remit and discontinue for the time being, the restraints and prohibitions by the said act imposed, either with respect to the French Republick, or to any island, port or place, belonging to the said Republick, with which a commercial intercourse may safely be renewed; and also to revoke such order, whenever in his opinion the interest of the United States shall require: and he is authorized to make proclamation thereof accordingly.

And whereas the arrangements which have been made at St. Domingo for the safety of the commerce of the United States, and for the admission of American vessels into certain ports of that island, do in my opinion, render it expedient and for the interest of the United States to renew a commercial intercourse with such ports.

Therefore, I John Adams, President of the United States, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the above recited act, do hereby remit and discontinue the restraints and prohibitions therein contained, within the limits and under the regulations here following, to wit:

1. It shall be lawful for vessels which have departed or may depart from the United States, to enter the ports of Cape Francois, and Port Republicain, formerly called Port-au-Prince, in the said island of St. Domingo, on and after the first day of August next.

2. No vessel shall be cleared for any other port in St. Domingo, than Cape Francois and Port Republicain.

3. It shall be lawful for vessels which shall enter the said ports of Cape Francois and Port Republicain, after

the thirty-first day of July next, to depart from thence to any port in said island between Monte Christi on the North, and Petit Goave on the West; provided it be done with the consent of the government of St. Domingo, and pursuant to certificates or passports expressing such consent, signed by the consul general of the United States, or consul residing at the port of departure.

4. All vessels sailing in contravention of these regulations, will be out of the protection of the United States, and be moreover liable to capture, seizure, and confisca

tion.

Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at Philadelphia, the twenty-sixth day of [L. s.] June, in the year of our Lord 1799, and of the Independence of the said States, the twenty-third. JOHN ADAMS.

By the President,

TIMOTHY PICKERING, Secretary of State.

MISSION TO FRANCE.

Letter from Patrick Henry, Esq. to the Secretary of State. Charlotte County, in Virginia, April 16, 1799.

SIR,-Your favour of the 25th ult. did not reach me till two days ago. I have been confined for several weeks by a severe indisposition, and am still so sick as to be scarcely able to write this.

My advanced age and increasing debility, compel me to abandon every idea of serving my country, where the scene of operation is far distant, and her interests call for incessant and long continued exertion. Conscious as I am of my inability to discharge the duties of envoy, &c. to France, to which, by the commission you send me, I am called, I herewith return it.

I cannot, however, forbear expressing on this occasion, the high sense I entertain of the honour done me by the President and Senate in the appointment :-and I beg of you, sir, to present me to them in terms of the most dutiful regard, assuring them that this mark of their confidence in me, at a crisis so eventful, is a very agreeable and flattering proof of their consideration towards me, and that nothing short of absolute necessity could induce me to