The committee then taking notice of what the Minister had said concerning a tacit assurance of the independence of these States, and the reluctance of the King of Great Britain to make an express acknowledgment thereof, requested to know his sense concerning the manner in which such tacit assurance could be given. To which, he premising that what he should now say ought to be considered only as his private sentiments, replied, that the British Court would probably endeavor to avoid an express acknowledgment, by imitating precedents, that had occurred in Europe on similar occasions, instancing the cases of the Swiss cantons, and the United Provinces of the Netherlands; that the mode adopted in the latter case had been for the Archduke, to whom the King of Spain had transferred his right of sovereignty, to treat with them "as with free and independent States." And that with respect to the cantons, France had not been able to obtain for them in the treaty of Munster any other than a declaration, that they should be in possession of as full liberty and exemption from the empire, and be in no manner subject to the jurisdiction thereof. But that in his opinion the circumstances of these States, and the manner in which they had conducted their opposition, would justify their expecting a more full declaration.
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France has received with gratitude the permission, which the Congress of the United States has been pleased to grant him, for the expedition of the ship Defence. His Court will be very sensible of the regard, which Congress have been pleased to pay to the situation of the vessels of war stationed at Cape François.
The said Minister takes the liberty of reminding Congress of the request, which he made in one of his Memorials, dated the 5th of this month, relative to the accusations, which have been made before the whole House, of frauds which were thought to have been practised with regard to the cargo of the ship Defence, and of other vessels loaded with provisions for the French squadron. The undersigned has, by writing, on the 17th of this month, urged the committee intrusted with this verification, to be pleased to hasten its report, and he takes the liberty of addressing the same request to the Congress of the United States itself. Congress is also referred to the reflections contained in his said Memorial of the 5th instant.