'
And he adds notes proving by instances, &c. This is the whole section.
Notwithstanding all these appearances of peace from France, we are,
besides our existing army of five thousand men, and additional army
of nine thousand (now officered and levying), passing a bill for
an eventual army of thirty regiments (thirty thousand) and for
rigimenting, brigading, officering, and exercising at the public
expense our volunteer army, the amount of which we know not. I enclose
you a copy of the bill, which has been twice read and committed in
Senate. To meet this expense, and that of the six seventy-fours and six
eighteens, part of the proposed fleet, we have opened a loan of five
millions at eight per cent., and authorize another of two millions: and,
at the same time, every man voting for these measures acknowledges
there is no probability of an invasion by France. While speaking of the
restoration of our vessel, I omitted to add, that it is said that our
government contemplate restoring the Frenchmen taken originally in the
same vessel, and kept at Lancaster as prisoners. This has furnished the
idea of calling her a cartel vessel, and pretending that she came as
such for an exchange of prisoners, which is false. She was delivered
free and without condition, but it does not suit to let any new evidence
appear of the desire of conciliation in France.
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