. They had then only to look forward to your return for such
information, either through the executive, or from yourself, as might
present to our view the other side of the medal. The despatches of
October 22nd, 1797, had presented one face. That information, to a
certain degree, is now received, and the public will see from your
correspondence with Talleyrand, that France, as you testify, 'was
sincere and anxious to obtain a reconciliation, not wishing us to break
the British treaty, but only to give her equivalent stipulations; and in
general, was disposed to a liberal treaty.' And they will judge whether
Mr. Pickering's report shows an inflexible determination to believe no
declarations the French government can make, nor any opinion which you,
judging on the spot and from actual view, can give of their sincerity,
and to meet their designs of peace with operations of war. The alien and
sedition acts have already operated in the south as powerful sedatives
of the X. Y. Z. inflammation. In your quarter, where violations of
principle are either less regarded or more concealed, the direct tax is
likely to have the same effect, and to excite inquiries into the
object of the enormous expenses and taxes we are bringing on. And your
information supervening, that we might have a liberal accommodation if
we would, there can be little doubt of the reproduction of that general
movement which had been changed, for a moment, by the despatches of
October the 22nd. And though small checks and stops, like Logan's
pretended embassy, may be thrown in the way, from time to time, and
may a little retard its motion, yet the tide is already turned and will
sweep before it all the feeble obstacles of art. The unquestionable
republicanism of the American mind will break through the mist under
which it has been clouded, and will oblige its agents to reform the
principles and practices of their administration.

You suppose, that you have been abused by both parties. As far as has
come to my knowledge, you are misinformed. I have never seen or heard a
sentence of blame uttered against you by the republicans; unless we were
so to construe their wishes that you had more boldly co-operated in a
project of a treaty, and would more explicitly state, whether there was
in your colleagues that flexibility, which persons earnest after peace
would have practised. Whether, on the contrary, their demeanor was not
cold, reserved, and distant, at least, if no