nce of the consul, the vice-consul would not be merely useless, but
would be a valuable counsellor to his principal, new in the office, the
language, laws, and customs of the country. Every consul and vice-consul
should be restrained in his jurisdiction, to the port for which he is
named, and the territory nearer to that than to any other consular or
vice-consular port, and no idea be permitted to arise, that the grade
of consul gives a right to any authority whatever over a vice-consul, or
draws on any dependence.

It is now proper I should give some account of the state of our dispute
with Schweighaeuser and Dobree. In the conversation I had with Dobree,
at Nantes, he appeared to think so rationally on this subject, that I
thought there would be no difficulty in accommodating it with him, and
I wished rather to settle it by accommodation, than to apply to the
minister. I afterwards had it intimated to him, through the medium
of Mr. Carnes, that I had it in idea, to propose a reference to
arbitrators. He expressed a cheerful concurrence in it. I thereupon made
the proposition to him formally, by letter, mentioning particularly,
that we would choose our arbitrators of some neutral nation, and, of
preference, from among the Dutch refugees here. I was surprised to
receive an answer from him, wherein, after expressing his own readiness
to accede to this proposition, he added, that on consulting Mr.
Puchilberg, he had declined it; nevertheless, he wished a fuller
explanation from me, as to the subjects to be submitted to arbitration.
I gave him that explanation, and he answered finally, that Mr.
Puchilberg refused all accommodation, and insisted that the matter
should be decided by the tribunals of the country. Accommodation being
at an end, I wrote to Monsieur de Montmorin, and insisted on the usage
of nations, which does not permit the effects of one sovereign, to
be seized in the territories of another, and subjected to judiciary
decision there. I am promised that the stores shall be delivered; but
the necessary formalities will occasion some delay. The King being
authorized to call all causes before himself, ours will be evoked from
the tribunal where it is, and will be ended by an order to deliver
up the stores arrested, leaving it to the justice of Congress, to do
afterwards what is right, as to the demand of Schweighaeuser and Dobree.
I wish I could receive instructions what to do with the stores, when
delivered. The