The Gazette

THE GAZETTE
Portland.
Monday, March 4, 1799.
From Philadelphia, Feb. 19.
The President yesterday sent a message to the Senate, in which he informed them, that he continued faithful to his declaration never to send another minister to France, unless he had assurances of his being received as became a great, free, powerful and independent nation; but as he had received assurances from the French Minister, thro' Mr. Vans Murray, our minister at the Hague, of such a reception, he had nominated William Vans Murray to be that Minister on the part of the United States.
The President further mentioned in his message, that he should instruct Murray not to leave Holland until he received unequivocal assurances that he would be properly received, that a Minister equal in dignity was appointed on the part of the Directory to settle the existing differences, and conclude a treaty.
The Hon. Mr. Murray, who is appointed Minister to the French Republic, is an independent, firm and decided Federal American. He is a native of Maryland, and has long resided in official situations in Europe.
The firmness and magnanimity of the Supreme Executive of the United States, and the preparations for which have been made in our country, have at last brought the proud Rulers of the French Republic to a sense of duty and interest:—who, in their turns, become suppliants for peace. On the wisdom, as well as firmness of the President, the true friends of their country's glory and happiness implicitly rely. These, however, suspect even these last indications of a desire for amity, may be some new artifice of Talleyrand, to lull us into a fatal security, until his masters are ready to act in the United States, the same scenes they have exhibited in Switzerland; and they hope the Government will not relax a single fibre in giving new energies to the preparations for defensive war, and the establishment of a formidable Naval force, until Peace and Amity between the two nations are fully, honorably and permanently established.
[Gent's.]