mine their action upon the governments such measures are meant to have an influence. Upon the supposition that a correspondence upon the politics of the two countries might not be disagreeable to your Lordship, I avail myself of the opportunity of my nephew, Mr Grenville Temple, of laying its first foundation. To keep up a good understanding between this country and Great Britain upon principles of reciprocity and mutual advantage has ever been my wish; to look for a connexion upon other terms would be as impolitick, as unjust; unjust as it would bestow unequal advantages, and impolitick as such a connexion would be only of short continuance. For whatever may be pretended to the contrary, there is no doubt but the commercial and political interests of this country, if not already, will shortly be as well understood as those of any of the European powers. I take it for granted that the knowledge of Great Britain with respect to its foreign connexions is perfectly understood; although in some instances of it with respect to this country some have been led to doubt it. It is but justice however to say that the goodness and cheapness of the English fabricks, the honesty and good faith of English merchants have given Great Britain a deserved pre-eminence in the commerce of this country. How long this superiority will remain is to be determined by the future wisdom, justice, and moderation of the two countries. Great Britain should recollect that y° people of the United States are her best customers for her manufactures. An open liberal policy looking beyond the advantages of the moment would probably secure to her a permanent influence in the politics and commerce of this country. Mr Grenville Temple, the bearer of this letter, is a young gentleman of understanding and information, has been bred to the bar, and by the short visit he has lately paid his friends in this country, will be able to give your Lordship much local information. He returns to Engla with a view of taking passage for Calcutta in India, to follow his proffession: a few lines from your Lordship to some of your Lordship's friends in India would render an eminent service to a deserving and intelligent young gentleman. Would your Lordship permit me to hope for this favour to my nephew, in whose welfare I feel myself interested; whilst I can assure your Lordship that his gratitude, prudence, and good understanding will not discredit your patronage. Be assured, my Lord, of the high respect and esteem with which I subscribe myself, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obed' servant. JAMES BOWDOIN. TO THE MOST HONOURABLE GEORGE GRENVILLE, ESQR, GEORGE HAMMOND TO THE NAVAL COMMANDER AT HALIFAX.* [Copy.] PHILADELPHIA, 27 April, 1793. SIR, I think it my duty to communicate to you by the most expeditious means in my power the following intelligence, and it will remain with you to determine on the measures that may appear the most efficacious for giving immediate protection to the commerce and property of his Majesty's subjects in these seas. On the 9th curt the French frigate Ambuscade arrived at Charleston from Rochefort in France, having on board * George Hammond was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1763, and at the age of twenty went to Paris as secretary to David Hartley, then negotiating the treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States. Subsequently he served as chargé d'affaires at Vienna, Copenhagen, and Madrid; and in 1791 he was made minister plenipotentiary to the United States. He returned to England in 17.05. He finally retired from public life in 1828, and died in London April 23, 1853, at the age of ninety. See Dictionary of National Biography, vol. xxiv. pp. 241, 242. — Eds. Mr Genêt, the new French minister to the United States. In the course of her voyage to Charleston the Ambuscade captured two British brigs. After remaining some days at Charleston, she sailed from thence, and on Wednesday evening last, the 24th, appeared off Cape Henlopen, near to which she took the British brig Little Sarah, from this port to Jamaica. On the following morning she captured in Delaware Bay the British ship Grange bound to Liverpool. The Ambuscade is now at Chester in the Delaware, about fifteen miles from hence, and is expected here every hour with her prizes. The Ambuscade is pierced for 36 guns, but mounts 32 only. She is commanded by a Captain Bompart, and carries two hundred and fifty men. Exclusive of this vessel a pilot was about a week ago put on board another French armed ship, but of what force I have not been able as yet to ascertain. It is also currently reported here that a third French armed vessel is now hovering upon these coasts. As the captures made in the Delaware are unquestionably illegal, being contrary to the law of nations, I shall as soon as the prizes arrive demand their restoration. The discussion consequent upon this demand will most probably detain the Ambuscade here for some days at least. And as the captain's instructions from the French Executive Council are to cruize along the American coasts, there can, I think, exist little doubt that she will continue in the pursuit of that object for some time longer, previous to either her return to France or to her proceeding to the West Indies. I have the honor to be, Sir, with great respect, le Your most obedt hum1 servt. GEO. HAMMOND. TO THE OFFICER COMMANDING HIS MAJESTY'S SHIPs of war, STATIONED IN HALIFAX. GEORGE HAMMOND TO JOHN TEMPLE. ノ PHILADELPHIA, 27th April, 1793. 4 o'clock, P. M. SIR, I should have transmitted to you the enclosed interesting intelligence last night, had I not waited to ascertain precisely the fact of the Ambuscade's being in the river. She will, I think, be detained so long here that I hope my information to Halifax will arrive in time to prevent her further depredations being carried to any considerable extent. As I understand from the master of a vessel who left Halifax the 12th curt that the frigates Winchelsea & Hussar were not to sail from thence until the arrival of the relief from England consisting of the Centurion of fifty guns and some frigates. I am so much pressed for time that I can only send you a copy of my letter to the commanding naval officer on the Halifax station. I shall be much obliged to you if you will forward the original immediately by a pilot boat to Halifax. You will make such uses of the information I now transmit to you as may appear to you, Sir, the best calculated for preventing any British vessels sailing from New York for some days to come at least. You will also be so kind as to accompany my letter to the officer at Halifax with any information on the subject which you yourself may have received. The purport of the annexed letter to Mackaness is to delay the departure of the packet, as I shall detain her until the conclusion of my negociations with this government for procuring the restoration of the prizes taken in the Delaware in defiance of the rights of neutral nations. I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant. GEO. HAMMOND. P. S. I send this by express, but under cover to a private person at New York, in order to obviate any sus picion which might arise from my letter being addressed immediately to yourself. Excuse the haste under which this has been written. SIR JOHN TEMPLE, BART, &c., &c., &c. G. H. JAMES BOWDOIN TO LADY TEMPLE. DORCHESTER, Octo 31st, 1793, MY DEAR SISTER, — I embrace y° first leisure oppy of answering your affectionate letter by Capt Barnard, and to thank you for your care in sending me the trees & strawberry roots woh I have rec. James & Augusta will doubtless be arrived before this reaches you, who will acquaint you with ye local circumstances of your mother's my family. & I observe Sir Jn° has wrote for & expects leave of absence to go to Engla, that it is not yet rec, and I am apprehensive from y° present state of affairs in Europe that he will hardly obtain it. In a time of war, when y object of contention is principles of government originally founded on the prospect of assimulating y° interests and politics of France with those of this country, to rival ye commerce of England by infusing into a new order of things y spirit of commerce, & to lay its foundation by reforming those feudatory claims wch were its principal impediment. The French Revolution had its origin in ye rivalship between France & Engl. The trade of this country, wch was & is a source of so much profit, advantage, & naval strength to G. Britain, was of sufficient importance to engage y° attention of principal characters in France to reform the military principles of their governm1, and to accommodate it to ye more effectual admission of commerce. The Marquis de la Fayette and all ye thinking part of y° principal French officers who were here in y° course of our Revolution used to lament |