[Pages 1–14, transcribed in order. Page 1 is a repository placeholder. Pages 2–14 contain the handwritten document. Due to severe physical degradation of the original document, extensive portions are illegible.] [Illegible Text notice: Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part illegible. We have not been able either to locate a better copy of the document, or to enhance its legibility electronically.] [Page 2 is wholly illegible due to document deterioration.] [undecipherable] of her enemies ever those who are in danger of becoming [undecipherable] as not able to [undecipherable] France to be brought to [us?] — The mind of mankind [reids?] [with?] the [suffering?], or tribulation, of a war, fatal beyond example is prepared to see more than usual forbearance in powers not yet parties to it who may as [undecipherable] in danger of every involved — it is prudent to view as only prudent what in other circumstances would be deemed [undecipherable] submission — The U. States have the [strongest?] motives to avoid war. They may lose a great deal, they can gain nothing — they may be engaged much and can [accomplish?] [little?] — it is possible [event?] that they [are?] [not?] alone to contend with the [world?] [undecipherable]. When interests so great [undecipherable] and dangers so great menace, [relying?] [need?] upon [undecipherable] to yield a great deal to prudence — And a [undecipherable] [degree?] humiliation may, without [undecipherable] [misdemeanor?] to avoid the [sufferings?] much greater and a train of [ills?]. The [power?] [undecipherable] u States to France — [this?] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [required?] to [receive?] [undecipherable] of what the [complaints?] are not absolutely [aimed?] away [undecipherable] to war. — The [undecipherable] of [speculations?] it is not [undecipherable] [wise?] to say the will not [undecipherable] — The [bane?] [some?] [between?] [has?] act and [undecipherable] [may?] [occupy?] it by a fine distinction — The further [all?] [that?] must carry us to we cannot go — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] on [undecipherable] not [undecipherable] [matter?] 4 [to?] [have?] the negotiation in some way or [some?] [thing?] [more?] [undecipherable] through the capital of [some?] nation [being?] more [catastrophic?] is more [offensive?] is forbearance of [Sweden?] is a precedent of [undecipherable] [of?] for us — [to?] [have?] our Country — there are general and those before of peace — a considerable party [like?] a party to war with France. The [State?] of [undecipherable] is not likely to be [unspoken?] on [undecipherable] at negotiation as to humiliation lately taken as for granted — approve just an attempt as that at home it will have more than to lay the foundation for [undecipherable] and [constancy?], in case of failure — But to [propose?] abroad — and obtain for the [undecipherable] here, it is essential that the [undecipherable] further negotiation be accompanied that [state?], demonstrate a firm in case of failure — that shall present protection — and prompt [remedy?]. With these is believed that the Government [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of an [undecipherable] preparations of [defense?] to put on the fort of [undecipherable] and the possibility of [undecipherable] [that?] it may not be in our power to [undecipherable] To the Second — It will be expedient to [say?] to France that if there be any thing in the Treaty with [G.?] Britain which France is desirous of incorporating in the Treaty [with?] [it?] — The U. States are ready to do so — having no wish to give to any other [nation?] privileges [undecipherable] which France may not equally enjoy on the same terms — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] To the Third — It [is?] [undecipherable] it will be expedient to [propose?] the [alteration?] of any of the articles of our Treaties with [undecipherable] which may be implied in [the?] above general offer. To propose the alteration [is?] of their inconvenience to us would confirm the indication that we were disposed to narrow [undecipherable] [the?] [deposing?] of The [deposing?] of the privileges of France and would do harm [undecipherable] here and here * The only thing that can be done with advantage is to propose to negotiate as measures and effect the mutual [assurances?] in the Treaty of Alliance — [to come?] [close?] That Guarantee is now general — The objection it imposes on France makes us [essentially?] nominal on France because our sovereignty and independence can never again come in question. That [she?] upon us would direct us to a general war with the enemy of France as [due?] as is [undecipherable] merely defensive war the [purpose?] now as failure to be [undecipherable] first act to [ensure?] [undecipherable] and committed against the [ally?] with reference to antecedent [undecipherable] and acts which are [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [remainder of page largely illegible] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [indisputable?]. To the [Fourth?] — If an amicable [result?] of negotiation should take place [undecipherable] in the convention may be provided not having it by one the desirable [thing?] to not occur further than the restraining [undecipherable] mutual right of [undecipherable] in question between the citizens of either power to [sales?] between the officers of France of [depredation?]. [By?] this it would aid in adopting an impression on [empires?], or [the?] rouge influence [undecipherable] [constantly?] engages our citizens [undecipherable] [particular?] [premology?] — but [comes?] with system with all nations — where it may be very difficult to adjust itself without interference with other [undecipherable] only method of favouring France is to [undecipherable] that the articles which of her [production?] a [underline: manufacture] not common and Great Britain that enter largely into our [supplies?] must be admitted without duty or on light duties to [be?] their needs — This applies principally to her brandies and wines — but even there they must be on the same footing of any export of Britain as [at?] [the?] [determined?] directly from France — Yet in [essential?] case it would access to France as favouring the most the [conformist?] in our country of her peculiar some advices — But all this is far better avowed — The diminution of our revenues and [features?] in other power will be certain [undecipherable] that will great Britain will be a great her case. To the [ninth?] The men of the commissioners inclination points to misuse and more [undecipherable] opinions in themselves the force [undecipherable] depending stands in read of the soul — They should support the West India consideration to be able of the Senate the Directory; but they note that those uses so vague and traits notice in themselves as to be naturally adequate in themselves as to be naturally liable to [sleep?] — They must urge a [revocable?] of their notes and incorporation on the part they have produced as have from the hopes and friendships of France in the mutual rights of the U.States and their citizens and to restoration of cordial harmony between the two nations, what may then offer a basis and a memorable word of the 4^th. This is answered in the answer to the thought [undecipherable] citizens [undecipherable] to be noticed and used as a great and foremost learnt from the motives of the individuals on the greatest number of cases a little more to peculiar attention — Yet the whole [undecipherable] is so managed as not to compromise the government for the [underline: ultimate vindication] of the claim — It is very questionable whether it be not just a one as far as doubt was voluntary as that those who gave the right finally to use left the honor of the Government to which they trust — To the 10^th This is answered in the answer in the answer to the Fourth Question — There is no false distinction between captains and [undecipherable] [sequined?] by private vessels a private vessels the government which gave the commission to create a liability in both cases — This answer has reference to those depredations which result from vague orders of the Government on the abusive [configuration?] of [undecipherable] entrusted with local inspections as Commissioners of [undecipherable] To the 11^th [undecipherable] France [undecipherable] some position that — If procedure on their last position and in obtaining it would be advisable we then might not be a [sine qua non?] a limitation of the duration of a new [undecipherable] of made — a greater difficulty — and It is clearly there advisable to urge the project of just a new Treaty to affect once all the cases — It is better to deal in generals — This will leave us in the power of France or her partisans — To the 14^th — It is conceded most advisable to follow former precedent in this respect, what may avoid much delay, and [undecipherable] In the opinion of their boards of [undecipherable] those it could be found the last until [undecipherable] relieve the [undecipherable] and the alternate [underline: [undecipherable]] a Negoti[ation?] has come to the end of it will not expedient to relinquish the grounds when we gained