Essay - Would it be proper to instruct Mr. P. should France show a dis= position to enter into new & liberal commercial arran= gements with the U.S., to avail himself of the opportunity. Would it be proper to instruct Mr P. should France shew a disposition to enter into new and liberal commercial arrangements with the U.S. to avail himself of the Opportunity? It would seem probable that the French West India colonists on the return of peace may push the mother country for a freer trade with the U.S. than that which they enjoyed under the old government: That certain wants which must be felt by France, joined to her inability to supply from her own means, for a time, her Colonial wants, may incline her to more liberal commercial stipulations: That the Mercantile principles respecting trade, maintained by her literary men in general may have an action favourable to the same object: and that the apprehension of her loosing [undecipherable: her] hold on the U.S., should she neglect to offer them some commercial attractions may give her mind its final direction. There can be no doubt but that it would afford cause for both regret and chagrin should she or any of these circumstances generate such a dis= position on the part of France in the first moments of peace; and the minister of the U.S. who should be present, have neither authority nor instruction to improve the occasion, to our advantage. It may be presumed therefore, that it might be expedient at least, [strikethrough: grant] that Mr P. should be either particularly or generally instructed on the subject.