of a free and well-ordered republic:  but I have not been insensible under the atrocious depredations they have committed on our commerce.  The first object of my heart is my own country.  In that is embarked my family, my fortune, and my own existence.  I have not one farthing of interest, nor one fibre of attachment out of it, nor a single motive of preference of anyone nation to another, but in proportion as they are more or less friendly to us.  But though deeply feeling the injuries of France, I did not think war the surest means of redressing them.  I did believe, that a mission, sincerely disposed to preserve peace, would obtain for us a peaceable and honorable settlement and retribution; and I appeal to you to say, whether this might not have been obtained, if either of your colleagues had been of the same sentiment with yourself.

These, my friend, are my principles; they are unquestionably the principles of the great body of our fellow-citizens, and I know there is not one of them which is not yours also.  In truth, we never differed but on one ground, the funding system; and as, from the moment of its being adopted by the constituted authorities, I became religiously principled in the sacred discharge of it to the uttermost farthing, we are united now even on that single ground of difference.

I turn now to your inquiries.  The enclosed paper will answer one of them.  But you also ask for such political information as may be possessed by me, and interesting to yourself in regard to your embassy.  As a proof of my entire confidence in you, I shall give it fully and candidly.  When Pinckney, Marshall, and Dana were nominated to settle our differences with France, it was suspected by many, from what was understood of their dispositions, that their mission would not result in a settlement of differences; but would produce circumstances tending to widen the breach, and to provoke our citizens to consent to a war with that nation, and union with England.  Dana’s resignation and your appointment gave the first gleam of hope of a peaceable issue to the mission.  For it was believed that you were sincerely disposed to accommodation:  and it was not long after your arrival there, before symptoms were observed of that difference of views which had been suspected to exist.  In the mean time, however, the aspect of our government towards the French republic had become so ardent, that the people of America generally took the alarm.  To the southward, their apprehensions were early excited.  In the Eastern States also, they at length began to break out.  Meetings were held in many of your towns, and addresses to the government agreed on in opposition to war.  The example was spreading like a wild-fire.  Other meetings were called in other places, and a general concurrence of sentiment against the apparent inclinations of the government was imminent; when, most critically for the government, the despatches of October the 22nd, prepared by your