University of Virginia Library

FRIDAY 3d. JANY.

The vote of thanks to the Minister of France which passed
yesterday was repealed in consequence of his having expressed to
the President a desire that no notice might be taken of his conduct
as to the point in question & of the latter's communicating
the same to Congress. The temper of Congress here again manifested
the transient nature of their irritation agst. France.

The motion of Mr. Howel, put on the Secret Journal gave
Congress a great deal of vexation. The expedient for baffling his
scheme of raising a ferment in his State & exposing the foreign

transactions was adopted only in the last resort; it being questioned
by some whether the articles of Confederation warranted it.

The answer to the note of the French Minister passed unanimously
& was a further testimony of the Abatement of the effects
of Mr. Jay's letter &c.

The proceedings of the Court in the dispute between Cont. &
Pa. were after debates as to the meaning of the Confederation in
directing such proceeding to be lodged among the acts of Congress
entered at large on the Journals. It was remarked that the Delegates
from Cont. particularly Mr. Dyer were more captious on the occasion
than was consistent with a perfect acquiescence in the decree.