My letter of May the 13th acknowledged the receipt of yours of November
the 30th. Since writing that, I have received yours of April the 29th
and June the 30th, addressed to myself, and of July the 14th, to Mr.
Remsen. As none of these acknowledge mine of May the 13th, I now enclose
you a duplicate of it, fearing the first has miscarried. In this,
you will find the sentiments of our government on the subject of your
recognition. Subsequent circumstances have rendered it an object still
less proper to be pressed. In the present divisions of that country, we
wish to avoid every measure which may excite the jealousy of any party,
being sincerely the friends and well-wishers of all. As to my writing to
the Governor, as pressed in your letter of April the 29th, it would be
contrary to the usage established among nations, and therefore cannot be
done. We have received Consuls from France, England, Portugal, Sweden,
with no other credential but their open commissions; we have sent
Consuls to most of the countries of Europe with nothing more. There has
never been an instance of a special letter demanded.

Though we have not received an authenticated copy of the decree of the
National Assembly of France, extending the repeal of the law of _Droit
d'Aubaine_, by name, to their colonies, yet we know it has been so
extended, and doubt not that a notification thereof has been sent to the
colonies, so as to relieve us from that oppression.

As Congress have not, as yet, allowed any emoluments to the Consuls of
the United States, and perhaps may not mean to do it, we do not expect
that any of those gentlemen will think themselves confined to their
residence a moment beyond their own convenience. These appointments
are given to gentlemen who are satisfied to perform their duties, in
consideration of the respect and accidental advantages they may