were authorized to offer, being to this, but as a drop to a bucket,
our conferences were repeated, only for the purpose of obtaining
information. If the demands of Algiers and Morocco should be
proportioned to this, according to their superior power, it is easy to
foresee that the United States will not buy a peace with money. What
principally led me to England was, the information that the Chevalier
del Pinto, Portuguese minister at that court, had received full powers
to treat with us. I accordingly went there, and, in the course of six
weeks, we arranged a commercial treaty between our two countries. His
powers were only to negotiate, not to sign. And as I could not wait, Mr.
Adams and myself signed, and the Chevalier del Pinto expected daily the
arrival of powers to do the same. The footing on which each has placed
the other, is that of the most favored nation. We wished much to have
had some privileges in their American possessions: but this was not
to be effected. The right to import flour into Portugal, though not
conceded by the treaty, we are not without hopes of obtaining.

My journey furnished us occasion to renew our overtures to the court
of London; which it was the more important to do, as our powers to that
court were to expire on the 12th of this month. These overtures were not
attended to, and our commission expiring, we made our final report to
Congress; and I suppose this the last offer of friendship, which will
ever be made on our part. The treaty of peace being unexecuted on either
part, in important points, each will now take their own measures for
obtaining execution. I think the King, ministers, and nation are more
bitterly hostile to us at present, than at any period of the late war.
A like disposition on our part, has been rising for some time. In what
events these things will end, we cannot foresee. Our countrymen are
eager in their passions and enterprise, and not disposed to calculate
their interests against these. Our enemies (for such they are, in fact)