retaliation bill, of which
I enclose you a copy. This was the more remarkable, as the bill was
founded expressly on the _Arret_ of October the 29th, which had been
communicated by the President as soon as received, and he remarked,
'that it could not be too soon communicated to the two Houses and the
public'. Yet he almost in the same instant received, through the same
channel, Mr. King's information that that _Arret_ was suspended, and
though he knew we were making it the foundation of a retaliation
bill, he has never yet communicated it. But the Senate knew the fact
informally from the Secretary of State, and knowing it, passed the bill.

The President has appointed, and the Senate approved, Rufus King,
to enter into a treaty of commerce with the Russians, at London,
and William Smith (Phocion), Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, to go to Constantinople to make one with the Turks. So
that as soon as there is a coalition of Turks, Russians, and English,
against France, we seize that moment to countenance it as openly as we
dare, by treaties, which we never had with them before. All this helps
to fill up the measure of provocation towards France, and to get from
them a declaration of war, which we are afraid to be the first in
making. It is certain the French have behaved atrociously towards
neutral nations, and us particularly; and though we might be disposed
not to charge them with all the enormities committed in their name in
the West Indies, yet they are to be blamed for not doing more to prevent
them. A just and rational censure ought to be expressed on them, while
we disapprove the constant billingsgate poured on them officially. It
is at the same time true, that their enemies set the first example of
violating neutral rights, and continue it to this day: insomuch, that it
is declared on all hands, and particularly by the insurance companies,
and denied by none, that the British spoliations have considerably
exceeded the French during the last six months. Yet not a word of these
things is said officially to the legislature.

Still further, to give the devil his due (the French), it should be
observed that it has been said without contradiction, and the people
made to believe, that their refusal to receive our Envoys was contrary
to the law of nations, and a sufficient cause of war: whereas every
one who ever read a book on the law of nations knows, that it is an
unquestionable right in every power