sary to specify. The President relies that his Britannick majesty will duly estimate the injuries and insults proved to have been committed by captain Home against the United States, and inflict upon him such exemplary punishment as his aggravated offences deserve-as the violated rights of a sovereign state require--and as it will become the justice and honour of his inajesty's government to impose."

The letter before mentioned to governour Fenner was sent from Philadelphia by the post, on Saturday the 5th instant, when it bears date. On the Monday following, intelligence was received that the Medusa had sailed on the first, and that the Africa in two or three hours afterwards got under way to pursue her. I am particular in stating the days when the President's orders to governour Fenner were despatched, and when the first information reached Philadelphia that the Medusa had sailed, because it is not improbable that the suspension of those orders may be represented as calculated to be inoperative; and it may be suggested that they were not issued finally until it was known that the Africa had left the waters of Rhode Island. But the facts are as I have stated them; and the true and only causes of the suspension are those which I have mentioned, and which you will see in the letter to governour Fenner.

The circumstances in respect to wind and weather under which the Medusa sailed, joined with her swift sailing, enabled her to escape from the Africa, which has since returned to her former station at Rhode Island. The President's orders prohibiting all intercourse with her, will now come into operation: and for her additional violation of the rights of a neutral nation, in immediately pursuing the Medusa, a new demand of satisfaction will be made on the British government. A naval force to compel a due respect to our rights on the water you know we do not

possess.

I have the pleasure to inform you, that peace with all the Indians on our frontiers is at length accomplished. Georgia and the South Western territory have for some months past enjoyed tranquillity; and the most prejudiced against the Creeks believe their pacification sincere. On the third of August general Wayne concluded a treaty with all the western Indians. This fact is declared in a letter

of that date from the quarter master general at head quarters to his deputy major Craig, at Pittsburg. So I rely upon it. I suppose general Wayne must have sent off the official account with the treaty by one of his aids, whose arrival I daily expect.

Quiet possession has been taken of Presqu' Isle, where some works are now erecting for the protection of the inhabitants and the security of our garrison.

But for the vexations on our commerce by the belligerent powers, (for they are not confined to the British) we should enjoy perfect repose amidst unexampled prosperity. I am very respectfully, sir, &c.

TIMOTHY PICKERING.

No. 162.

Newport, August 2, 1795.

SIR,-The following is a copy of a letter I received from captain Home of his Britannick majesty's ship Africa, which I take the most early opportunity of forwarding to your excellency. Having the honour to be, &c.

THOMAS WILLIAM MOORE.

His Excellency Arthur Fenner, Esq. Gover.

nour and commander in chief of the state

of Rhode Island, &c. &c. Providence.

No. 163.

Africa, off Rhode Island, July 31, 1795.

SIR,—I did expect to have the pleasure of seeing you on board the Africa, but as that is not the case I am obliged to send an officer to you, under the present circumstances, and to desire that you will lay my letter before the governour or other chief magistrate of this island, which is to. contain these several requests.

First, That there may be delivered up to me, immediately, an officer who was taken out of a British sloop while in Newport and confined on board the French frigate now in Rhode Island; this violent proceeding being contrary to the law of all nations in a neutral port. In the second place, that you may receive the aid of the civil power in

this island to send on board the Africa all British seamen and others, who have been captured in any vessels and set at liberty in these states: not a feigned and pretended aid, but such as our nation have a right to expect from the United States, with whom we are at peace and amity. And thirdly, that I may be permitted to buy such refreshments as my ship's company are in need of; and that in case I send my own boats on shore, my people and officers shall not be liable to insult from any of the inhabitants or other of whatever description, and to represent in plain terms to the governour that my officer who carries this, or any other officer or people whom I may send on their just and lawful occasions receive from any one individual whether in the nature of a mob or otherwise any affront or insult, I will immediately on my part come in with his majesty's ship under my command and protect my own people. And farther, that if the government or states here are in such cases as I have mentioned guilty of such a breach of neutrality, I will then look upon myself in the same manner as not bound to observe the neutrality of these ports: and that I am resolved to be treated in the same manner in all respects whatever, as they do those of the French Republick-and I am more plain in the nature of my present demands, as I have received a hint, that, if I send my people on shore, while the Medusa lies at Newport, they will be considered as spies. In this case I want to spy nothing. I am in full possession of every intelligence regarding that ship, which I want to be possessed of. And I require a written answer from the governour of Rhode Island to these demands, and that without loss of time. I am, sir, &c.

To Thos. Wm. Moore, Esq.

RODHAM HOME.

His Brit. Maj. Vice Consul, Rhode Island.

State of Rhode Island, &c.

The preceding contains a true copy of an original letter from Thos. Wm. Moore, and of a copy of Rodham Home's letter to him accompanying it, duly compared. HENRY WARD, Secretary.

Witness,

REPORT

OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON THE MEMORIAL OF SUNDRY CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, RESIDING IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, REFERRED TO HIM, BY ORDER OF THE HOUSE, ON THE SEVENTH OF MAY LAST. FEB. 27, 1797.

The Secretary of State, in pursuance of an order of the House of Representatives of the 7th of May, 1796, on the memorial and petition of sundry citizens of the United States residing in the city of Philadelphia, relative to the losses they had sustained by the capture of their property by French armed vessels on the high seas, or in consequence of the forced or voluntary sales of their provisions and merchandise to the officers of the colonial administrations of the French Republick, having examined the same, together with accounts of similar losses sustained by American citizens from the French, in the European seas, or in the ports of France, which in the details were necessarily connected with the former, respectfully reports:

THAT Since the commencement of the present war, various and continual complaints have been made by citizens of the United States to the Department of State, and to the ministers of the United States in France, of injuries done to their commerce under the authority of the French Republick and by its agents. These injuries were

Ist. Spoliations and maletreatment of their vessels at sea by French ships of war and privateers:

2d. A distressing and long continued embargo laid upon their vessels at Bordeaux, in the years 1793 and 1794:

3d. The non-payment of bills and other evidences of debts due, drawn by the colonial administrations in the

West Indies:

4th. The seizure or forced sales of the cargoes of their vessels, and the appropriating of them to publick use, without paying for them, or paying inadequately, or delaying payment for a great length of time.

5th. The non-performance of contracts made by the agents of the government for supplies :

VOL. III.

6

6th. The condemnation of their vessels and cargoes under such of the marine ordinances of France as are incompatible with the treaties subsisting between the two countries and

7th. The captures sanctioned by a decree of the National Convention of the 9th of May, 1793, (hereto annexed and marked A.) which, in violation of the treaty of amity and commerce, declared enemy's goods on board of their vessels lawful prize, and directed the French ships of war and privateers to bring into port neutral vessels laden with provisions and bound to an enemy's port.-It may be proper to remark here, that this decree of the Convention, directing the capture of neutral vessels laden with provisions and destined for enemy ports, preceded by one month the order of the British government for capturing "all vessels loaded with corn, flour or meal, bound to any port in France, or any port occupied by the armies of France."

Such was the general nature of the claims of the citizens of the United States upon the French Republick, previous to the departure of Mr. Monroe, as minister plenipotentiary to France in the summer of 1794, and since his residence there. To him were intrusted the documents which had been collected to substantiate particular complaints; and he was instructed to press the French government to ascertain and pay what might be found justly due. From time to time, as additional cases rose, they were transmitted to him, with the like view. In September of that year, he assigned to his secretary, Mr. Skipwith, (with the provisional appointment of consul for Paris) the charge of stating the cases, and placing them in the proper train of settlement; reserving to himself the duty of fixing general principles with the government, and of patronizing and superintending his proceedings.

In conformity with the direction of the minister, Mr. Skipwith, shortly afterwards, made a general report on the injuries and difficulties and vexations to which the commerce of the United States was subjected by the regula-. tions and restraints of the French government, or by the abuses practised by its agents: to which he added a number of particular cases. A copy of the whole, marked [B,] is hereto annexed.-This report was laid before the French government; and added to the various representations of Mr. Monroe and his predecessor, it produced a