be necessary. I hinted to him that I thought the English capable of
administering aid to the Algerines. He seemed to think it impossible,
on account of the scandal it would bring on. I asked him what had
occasioned the blockade by Monsieur de Massiac: he said, an infraction
of their treaty by the Algerines.

I had a good deal of conversation with him, also, on the situation of
affairs between England and the United States: and particularly, on
their refusal to deliver up our posts. I observed to him, that the
obstructions thrown in the way of the recovery of their debts, were
the effect, and not the cause, as they pretended, of their refusal to
deliver up the posts; that the merchants interested in these debts,
showed a great disposition to make arrangements with us; that the
article of time we could certainly have settled, and probably that
of the interest during the war: but that, the minister showing no
disposition to have these matters arranged, I thought it a sufficient
proof that this was not the true cause of their retaining the posts. He
concurred as to the justice of our requiring time for the payment of
our debts; said nothing which showed a difference of opinion as to the
article of interest, and seemed to believe fully, that their object was
to divert the channel of the fur-trade, before they delivered up the
posts, and expressed a strong sense of the importance of that commerce
to us. I told him I really could not foresee what would be the event of
this detention; that the situation of the British funds, and the desire
of their minister to begin to reduce the national debt, seemed to
indicate that they could not wish a war. He thought so, but that neither
were we in a condition to go to war. I told him, I was yet uninformed
what Congress proposed to do on this subject, but that we should
certainly always count on the good offices of France, and I was sure
that the offer of them would suffice to induce Great Britain to do us