first attend-he purposely passes by the most interesting questions which it involves, and sends Mr. Gerry a note on the consular convention, of all possible subjects in difference the most insignificant ; &c.

I have the honour to be, &c.

TIMOTHY PICKERING.

The Hon. the President of the Senate of the United States.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONGRESS. JAN. 28, 1799.

AN edict of the executive directory of the French Republick of the 29th of October, 1798, enclosed in a letter from our minister plenipotentiary in London of the 16th of November, is of so much importance that it cannot be too soon communicated to you and the publick.

JOHN ADAMS.

Extract of a Letter from Rufus King, Esq. Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at London, to the Secretary of State, dated November 16, 1798.

"THE annexed arret would appear extravagant and incredible, if it proceeded from any other authority; but mankind is so accustomed to the violence and injustice of France, that we almost cease to express our surprise and indignation at the new instances that she continues to display."

The executive directory, upon the report of the minister of foreign relations, considering that the fleets, privateers and ships of England and Russia are in part equipped by foreigners

Considering that this violation is a manifest abuse of the rights of nations, and that the powers of Europe have not taken any measures to prohibit it. Decrees,

1st. Every individual, native (ou originaire) of friendly countries, allied to the French Republick or neutral, bearing a commission, granted by the enemies of France, or making part of the crews, of ships of war and others, enemies, shall be by this single fact declared a pirate, and treated as such, without being permitted in any case to allege that he had been forced into such service, by violence, threats or otherwise.

2d. The executive directories of the Batavian, Ligurian, Cisalpine and Roman Republicks shall be instructed to this effect.

3d. The provisions contained in the first article shall be notified to those powers which are neutral or allied to the French Republick.

4th. The minister of exterior relations is charged with the execution of the present arret which shall be printed in the bulletin of the laws.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FEB. 15, 1799.

In pursuance of the request in your resolve of yesterday, I lay before you such information as I have received touching a suspension of the arret of the French Republick communicated to your House by my message of the 28th of January last. But if the execution of that arret be suspended, or even if it were repealed, it should be remembered that the arret of the executive directory of the 2d of March, 1797, remains in force; the third article of which subjects explicitly and exclusively American seamen to be treated as pirates, if found on board ships of the enemies of France. JOHN ADAMS.

Extract of a Letter from Rufus King, Esq. Minister Plenipotentiary, &c. to the Secretary of State. London, Nov. 28, 1798.

ANNEXED I send you a copy of a note from lord Gren ville, respecting the French arret transmitted to you with my No. 9. A late French paper contains a second arret which postpones the execution of the first.

Lord Grenville to Mr. King.

THE undersigned, his majesty's secretary of state for foreign affairs, has the honour of communicating to Mr. King, minister plenipotentiary for the United States of America, for the information of his government, that by a decree published officially at Paris, it appears to have been declared in the name of the French directory, that every person being a native of or originally belonging to neutral countries, or to such as are in amity and alliance with the French Republick, who shall bear any commission under his majesty; or who shall form a part of the crews of any British ships of war or other vessels, should, on the proof of that fact alone, be considered and treated as a pirate, and 'that it has been ordered that this resolution shall be notified to the neutral powers and to those in alliance with France..

Even this decree, contrary as it is to the usages of every civilized nation, cannot excite any surprise, as proceeding from those in whose name it has been published. To the different powers who are thus insulted, and whose innocent subjects are exposed to the most cruel treatment on the part of a government professing friendship or alliance with them, his majesty must leave it to adopt such measures as they will, without doubt, judge necessary, in the case of an outrage hitherto unexampled in the history of the world.

The king however feels, that protection is also due from him to those who sail under his flag, either in his majesty's ships of war or in other British vessels; his majesty has therefore not hesitated to direct it to be signified to the commissary for French prisoners in Great Britain, that

the first instance of the execution of this decree, shall be followed by the most rigorous retaliation against the French prisoners whom the fortune of war has already, or may hereafter place at the king's disposal.

It would certainly never be but with extreme reluctance that the king could yield to the painful necessity of exposing so many unfortunate individuals to the fatal but inevitable effects of this atrocious decree; but his majesty will have at least the satisfaction of feeling that nothing has been omitted on his part to prevent its execution, and that the authors of it can alone be considered responsible for all its guilt and all its consequences.

Downing Street, Nov. 27, 1798.

GRENVILLE.

SPEECH

OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

HOUSES OF CONGRESS. DEC. 3, 1799.

Gentlemen of the Senate, and

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

ΤΟ BOTH

It is with peculiar satisfaction, that I meet the sixth Congress of the United States of America.-Coming from all parts of the Union, at this critical, and interesting period, the members must be fully possessed of the sentiments and wishes of our constituents.

The flattering prospects of abundance, from the labours of the people, by land and by sea; the prosperity of our extended commerce, notwithstanding interruptions occasioned by the belligerent state of a great part of the world; the return of health, industry and trade, to those cities, which have lately been afflicted with disease; and the various and inestimable advantages, civil and religious, which, secured under our happy frame of government, are continued to us, unimpaired; demand of the whole American people, sincere thanks to a benevolent Deity, for the merciful dispensations of his Providence.

But, while these numerous blessings are recollected, it is a painful duty to advert to the ungrateful return, which has been made for them, by some of the people, in certain counties of Pennsylvania, where, seduced by the arts and misrepresentations of designing men, they have openly resisted the law, directing the valuation of houses and lands. Such defiance was given to the civil authority as rendered hopeless, all further attempts, by judicial process, to enforce the execution of the law; and it became necessary to direct a military force to be employed, consisting of some companies of regular troops, volunteers, and militia, by whose zeal and activity, in co-operation with the judicial power, order and submission were restored, and many of the offenders arrested. Of these, some have been convicted of misdemeanors, and others, charged with various crimes remain to be tried.

To give due effect to the civil administration of government, and to ensure a just execution of the laws, a revision and amendment of the judiciary system is indispensably necessary. In this extensive country, it cannot but happen, that numerous questions respecting the interpretation of the laws and the rights and duties of officers and citizens, must arise. On the one hand, the laws should be executed; on the other individuals should be guarded from oppression neither of these objects is sufficiently assured, under the present organization of the judicial department, I therefore earnestly recommend the subject to your serious consideration.

Persevering in the pacifick and humane policy, which had been invariably professed, and sincerely pursued by the executive authority of the United States; when indications were made, on the part of the French Republick, of a disposition to accommodate the existing differences between the two countries, I felt it to be my duty to prepare for meeting their advances, by a nomination of ministers upon certain conditions which the honour of our country dictated, and which its moderation had given it a right to prescribe. The assurances which were required of the French government, previous to the departure of our envoys, have been given, through their minister of foreign relations; and I have directed them to proceed on their mission to Paris. They have full power to conclude a treaty, subject to the constitutional advice and consent