1. The dispatches Pickering received from John Quincy Adams, U.S. minister to the Netherlands, and James Monroe, U.S. minister to France, have not been identified. Monroe’s letters dated 6 and 22 Dec. 1795, 26 Jan., and 16 and 20 Feb. were acknowledged by Pickering on 13 June. For those letters on various diplomatic subjects concerning France, but most notably the troubled reaction to the Jay Treaty, see Papers of James Monroe, description begins Daniel Preston et al., eds. The Papers of James Monroe. 5 vols. to date. Westport, Conn., and Santa Barbara, Calif., 2003–. description ends 3:534–36, 547–49, 581–83, 590–91, 594–95). The most recent dispatch received from Adams probably was that dated 1 Jan., which discussed a proposal from Lord Grenville for the arbitration of American claims about ship captures and suggested that it might be the best offer available. Other dispatches that may have been enclosed were dated 5, 15, and 19 Dec. 1795 (all, DNA: RG 59, Despatches from U.S. Ministers to the Netherlands).

In a letter to American agent Samuel Bayard written on this date, Pickering acknowledged the receipt of “many” letters, the most recent dated 6 and 9 Feb. (DNA: RG 59, Diplomatic and Consular Instructions). Those probably were enclosed to GW along with Bayard’s letter to Pickering dated 4 Feb., the duplicate of which the secretary of state received on 29 March. In the letter dated 4 Feb., Bayard reported that Thomas Pinckney would soon discuss with Lord Grenville “the principles that must govern the largest proportions of the American appeals” and urge an “early hearing” of the American cases. Noting that the British government “may have wished to be satisfy’d as to the measures that would be pursued by the House of Representatives of the U.S. respecting Mr. Jay’s treaty,” Bayard commented that the House reply to GW’s annual address led him “to believe that we shall experience considerable aid in the amicable adjustment of our contr⟨o⟩versies with G.B. particularly in the settlement of the clai⟨ms⟩ and appeals under my direction.” He also reported a favorable decision in the case of the Relief and mentioned that he was consulting with Pinckney on other “cases of cost & damage” and would report further.

On 6 Feb., Bayard enclosed to Pickering a memorial that he had sent to the Lords of Appeal. Bayard claimed that the memorial had “an effect that will operate highly in favor of our interests.” Hearings on some American cases were to begin on 13 February.

In the letter dated 9 Feb., Bayard enclosed a duplicate of the 6 Feb. letter and added that he and Pinckney would postpone further action on the cases of cost and damage pending further instructions from Pickering. “In the mean time we shall urge on every suitable occasion the hearing & determination of our appeals at as early a day as possible. It is a matter of no small importance to us to obtain decisions on the commercial & political questions involved in our appeals prior to the period of a general peace” (all Bayard letters in DNA: RG 59, Communications from Special Agents).