1. The previous Saturday was 2 July.

2. Silas Talbot was assigned to the West Indies to obtain the release of impressed Americans (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 30 May, and Pickering to GW, 12 June, and n. 1 to that document). British minister Robert Liston wrote Pickering on 8 July with a circular letter to the governors and naval commanders in the West Indies dated 7 July (both DNA: RG 59: Notes from the British Legation). Writing from Philadelphia, Liston explained in the circular letter that he complied with the request because of his “principal duty … to cultivate a good understanding between Great Britain and America, and that the examination and removal of these grievances alluded to is essential to this important end. I am farther persuaded that the penetration of Mr Talbot will discover that the complaints which have made so unfavorable an impression in this Country have frequently been false or exaggerated.” Liston further expressed a belief that Talbot’s mission “will have a tendency to promote the great object of reconciliation.” Liston wrote in his letter to Pickering: “My professions of a desire to effect reconciliation and to establish good humour between the two countries are thoroughly sincere. My wishes on that head are so ardent that I have complied with your request in granting Letters of recommendation to Mr Talbot, without any instructions on the subject from home; without knowing how far the establishment of a foreign agent in the West Indies (contrary to the receivd usage) may be approved of by our Government; and upon the whole with a feeling in my own breast that I have perhaps gone beyond the line of my duty. The rectitude of the motive will justify it is to be hoped the hazard I incur” (see also Pickering to GW, 27 July, postscript).

On 24 Aug., Liston advised Pickering that the British government considered “the residence of a public agent of the United States in any of the British West India Islands” as “inadmissable.” Pickering then wrote: “I expressed my regret that the disposition of the British Government should be opposed to the conciliatory measure he had adopted: that if it were known, it would be ascribed to their unlawful desire still to retain a multitude of American Citizens in bondage … I could not but express my satisfaction that he had taken a measure so unequivo[ca]lly right. And that if the British Administration were influenced by the like maxims of sound policy, all difficulties between the two Countries would be removed” (substance of a conversation with Liston, DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters).

3. For Liston’s visit to Mount Vernon, see James McHenry to GW, 5 July, and n.1 to that document, and GW’s first letter to McHenry, 22 July, and n.2 to that document.

Portuguese minister Cipriano Ribeiro Freire subsequently postponed his visit to Mount Vernon (see McHenry to GW, 7 July).

4. At this point on the draft Pickering wrote and struck out an additional paragraph: “The news-papers of last week informed us that the Spanish minister had arrived at Baltimore, and meant to set out for Philadelphia on Thursday last. If he is charged with any business which requires the early delivery of his letters of credence, it has occurred to me that he might conveniently accompany his friend the Chevalier de Freire to Mount Vernon. In this case I would have the copy of his letters of credence previously translated & sent to you. But I shall not suggest the idea of his going to Mount Vernon without your directions.”

5. For Spanish minister Carlos Martinez Yrujo’s visit to Mount Vernon, see GW to Pickering, this date, and n.1 to that document.