£04] 
position. Having taken it, I de. 
termined, as far as sroaid depend 
upon me, to Maintain it wrth mo. 
eration, perseverance: and firm. 
ness. 
The considerations which respect 
the ri; he to hold this conduct it is 
not necessary on this occasion te 
detail, I will only observe, that 
nccording to my uiderstanding of 
the matter, that righ*, sofar from 
being denied by any of the -belli. 
ger nt powers, has been virtually 
admitted by all. 
‘bhe duty of holding a neutral 
worduct may be interred, without 
any thing more, trom the obliga- 
tion which justice and hamanity 
impose on every nation in cases in 
which it is “free to a@, to maintain 
inviolate the reiations of peace and 
‘amity towards other nations. 
/ “She inducements of interest for 
ebserving that conduét will best be’ 
teferred to your own reflections and 
experience, With me a predomi. 
thant motive has been to endeavour 
‘to gain time to ovr country ‘to 
settle and mature its yet recent 
Anstitutions, and to progress with- 
out interruption, to that degree’ of 
strength and consistenty, which is 
necessary to give it, humanly speak. 
ing, the command of its own tor: 
tunes.” 
Though in reviewing the inci- 
dents of administration I am on- 
conscious of intentional error, I am 
nevertheless too sensible of my de- 
feGis, not to think it probable that 
J may have committed many errors. 
Whatever they may be, I fervently 
beseech the Almighty to avert @r 
mitigate the evils to which they 
may tend, TI shall also carry with 
me the hope that my country will 
never cease to view them with in- 
duigence ; and that after: forty. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
five vears of my life dedicated to 
its service, with an upright zeal, 
the faults of incompetent abilities 
will be consigned to oblivion, as 
myself must soon be to the mansions }, 
of rest. 
Relying on its kindness in this as 
in other things,:and actuated by 
that fervent love towards it, which 
is so natural to a man who views 
in it the native soi! of himself and 
his provenitors for several generas 
tions, IT anticipate with pleasing 
expettation that retreat, in whick | 
I promise mysclf to realizes without 
ailoy, the sweet enjoyment of pars 
taking, in the midst of my feilow 
citizens, the benign influence of 
good laws, under a free govern. 
ment, the ever favourite objet of 
1 
my heart, aid the happy teward, as 
J trust of our mucual cares, labours, 
and dangers. 
G, Wasi InGTONg 
United States, Sept. 17, 1796. 
Note frim the French Enwoy, Citizert 
Adet, to the Bxecutive Goverument 
of America. 
THE undersigned minister ple- |, 
nipotentiary of the French republic, 
in conformity to the order of his 
government, has the ‘honour ‘of © 
‘transmitting to the secretaty of 
state of the United States; a reso- 
lution taken by the executive go- 
‘vernment of the ‘French repsblic, | 
‘on the 14th Messidor, qth year, 
yelative to the condu& which the 
ships of war of the republic are to 
hold towards neuttal vessels; “The 
flag of the republic will -treat the 
flag of neutrais in’ the same manner 
as they shal] suffer it to be treate 
by the English. 
The sentiments which the Ame- 
rican government have manifested 
to the undersigned minister pleni- 
y potentiary, 
