The New Hampshire Gazette

FOREIGN.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORY.
PUBLIC SITTINGS.
Citizen Monroe, Minister Plenipotentiary
of the United States of America,
communicated his letter of recall which he
had recently received. He expressed his
attachment to France, to the revolution
and his wishes for our glory. He added
that the President of the United States had
charged him expressly to repeat his assurances
of the interest which the United States
take in our Republic, and of the wishes
which they form for our welfare.
The answer of the President (Barras) is
remarkable:

"On this day presenting your letters of
recall," said Barras to Mr. Monroe, "you
give to Europe a very strange spectacle.
" France, rich in her liberty, encompassed
by her train of victories, strong in
the esteem of her allies, will not abase herself
by calculating the consequences of the
condescension of the American government
to the suggestions of its ancient masters.
" The French Republic hopes, that at
least the successors of Columbus and of
Penn, always jealous of their liberty, will
never forget what they owe to France.
They will weigh in their wisdom, the
magnanimous good will of the French people,
with the calumnies of certain perfidious
persons, who meditate to bring them back
to their former slavery. Assure, Sir, the
good American people, that, like them,
we adore liberty; that they shall always
have our esteem; and that they will find
in the French people, that republican generosity
which knows how to grant peace as it knows
how to make its sovereignty respected.

"As for you, Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary,
you have contended for principles,
you have known the true interests of
your country; depart with our regret. We
give up in you a representative to America,
and we keep the remembrance of a citizen,
whose personal qualities do honor to
that title."