I suppose by this time sober hill is in great glory, at least if your spring has been forward in any measure as ours has. And when we compare our peaceful Towns & happy villages with the garrisons & wasted fields of Europe we ought to bless God who has divided us by 1000 leagues of water. But the question occurs will this distance from that great awful & distressed Theatre of human misery & carnage prevent our embroiling ourselves in their quarrels? I think it will. I think there is a spirit of neutrality predominant as well in our government as our people. Indeed if a new French minister comes with new & strange requisitions from France we may be perplexed; 197 but never can be so destitute of prudence as to engage. Pressed with a heavy debt incurred in the late war, & burdened with a present Indian war, we may we must be excused. And tis reported here I dont know with what truth that Mr. Pinkney has declared the determination of the U States to remain in a state of neutrality. All persons with whom I converse seem of opinion that we shall act the wise part by such conduct.

The people of the US are generally shockd at the murder of Lewis 16th. I really supposed you would turn out not a true prophet, when you predicted that Egaulite would be so bloody. Is thy servant a dog that he should do this great wickedness? Yes.— He’s a d—— l—— But I want words to express my abhorrence of such a set of miscreants— And a day is coming when the solemn question will sound like thunder in their ears’ Had Zimri peace who slew his master? Yes “there is some chosen curse red with uncommon wrath,” ready to fall on this wicked nation.1 But I gladly turn my eyes from so deplorable a prospect and

Felicitate you upon the peaceful & flourish state of our own Country. The President returned this day from mount Vernon, he ask’d after you & family. Looks quite young & easy. Says the Country looks finely &c. I cannot find any probability of a Congress before the time appointed by Constitution. Which I presume you do not regret.—

So Mr G made no head against the golden calf— I am of opinion Aaron fell in with the natural propensities of human nature in general as well as that of the circumcised race in particular.2 We find mankind in all ages setting up these images, and crying, Here are thy Gods!— There’s a mystery however in this business— Unless the unanimity is from an intention in Tommys or George’s friend, to keep every other candidate from view. Your son enjoys a good share of health, tho we do not see him so often as we wish. I sent you by water to the care of my son a copy of the Journals and laws of the last Session.3 I will as usual deliver any copies called for by your order. I presume you have the papers regularly or I will transmit them.

The Treasury find it a more facile method of business to have my Clerks accts made out quarterly, I have accordingly made up Robt Heyshams and John Otis acconts to 31st March inclusive, which shall thank you to sign and return to me, having advanced them the money.

Mrs Otis joins me in kind remembrances to yourself Lady & family.

I am / Sir / Your most huml sert

Captain John [Hobby] of Harvard in the Massachusetts, has been recommended to me, by So many respectable Characters, and in Such handsome terms, that I cannot refuse his request of a Line to the President of the United States in his favour.1 He has the merit of long and early Services, though he is Said to have been lately unfortunate. As his application is entirely out of my Department, and to a Judge of his Pretentions both accurate and impartial I wish this address from me, like all others in similar Cases, to be considered, as entirely Submitted to the Wisdom of the President, to whom I have the honour to be, / with the highest Esteem and the strictest attachment / the most humble & obedient servant

I have received your Favours of April the 5th and 16th upon Subjects of great moment.

The Instruction of Congress, which you mention to their Minister at Versailles I dont remember to have Seen. some Account of it and of the Comte de Vergennes’s Answer to it, I once had: but as both the Instruction and the Answer are perfectly known to the Secretary of State and consequently will be known to the President, I must be excused from relating from Memory Such a private Conversation at Such a distance of time. Indeed I think the Anecdote of no Consequence, except for the Purposes of mere Popularity. The great Questions of American Policy, respecting the Reception of Mr Genet and 199 the fulfillment of the Treaty may be determined upon Principles more Solid and indisputable.

The Question you bring into View concerning the Reception of Mr Genet, can be decided only by the President. I have no Constitutional Voice1 in it. I therefore protest against taking any side in it or having my name or Opinions quoted about it. Whatever I write must be in Confidence.

A Sovereign Nation, whether represented by an hereditary King or an Elective President, is not obliged to receive a public Minister from any, but another Sovereign Nation. The Question is whether the National Convention, when they appointed Mr Genet were entrusted by the Nation with its Sovereign Authority? Whether they were empowered to destroy the Monarchy and put to Death the Monarch? There is now at least a Pretender to the Throne in the Person of Louis the 17th, under the Regency of Monsieur; Is it certain that the Nation are on the Side of the assembly, or of Louis 17th? If this is certain in the Mind of the President, he will decide accordingly.

The American Ministers Franklin, Deane and Lee, waited from December 1776 to February 1778 unreceived, unacknowledged, in Obscurity. at Paris. The American Minister at the Hague, waited from the 19th of April 1781 to the 19th April 1782 before he was acknowledged.2 Where then is the Necessity of haste? To decide this question a Man should read over our Treaties with Holland, Prussia, and England as well as that with France, and consider that all these are belligerent Powers and that We have obligations to fulfill towards them all. He should also have before him all the Dispatches from Mr Morris, Mr Pinkney Mr short Mr Charmichael and Mr Humphries. None of these have I seen. The Reception or Delay of receiving Mr Genet, will lead to Political Consequences, of immense magnitude which no Man can pretend to foresee. Are We to go to War with Germany Prussia, Holland England Spain, Portugal and Italy added to Louis the 17th and his Regent Monsieur, because Monsieur Egalite or the Mountain, or Mr Paine or Mr Condorcet would have Us? Where is our Trade to go? all to France? and all be taken?

A Newtrality; absolute total Neutrality is our only hope. As to the Warranty of the West Indies, and the Articles excluding the Enemies of France from our Ports, reading is not necessary to instruct Us what to do. If you wish to read you may look into Vattell and the Abby de Mablys Principles of Negotiation: but it cannot be necessary to be very learned.

Treaties always Suppose, that the State of Things in both Nations will remain nearly the same, and the Interests of both Parties not essentially changed: not that one Party will turn the World upside down. any total Change of Interests made by the Act of God, or by the act of one of the Parties will discharge the other from all moral obligation to fulfill the Treaty. Was it Suspected by Mortal, when our Treaty was made with France that she could ever treat her Islands as she has done and declare War at once against all the Maritime Powers, and thereby render it impossible for Us to fulfill the Warranty or for her to preserve the Islands.

It is to me a mere Question of Fear: are We afraid to offend the Mountain? I own I am: but at the same time I confess I am afraid to offend Louis 17th and his Friends & allies.

These Ideas are committed to your inviolable Secrecy. I expect they will not be regarded, and that our imprudent Country must be Saved by Interpretations of Providence, against the Effects of her own Enthusiasm.

I am, sir with much Esteem