1. The enclosed unsigned letter from John Vaughan to GW of 14 May reads: “ ‘America & all that belongs to it is Still viewed with Jealousy in England & be assured that if this war of Kings succeeds, Spain & England will jointly quarrel with America, So as to shake your funds to their roots—Be assured the War will daily open cases of Jeopardy & dispute to compromise your peace. The publick is a little Cooled in its rage for War & adverse events would quickly make it unpopular.’

“The above extract Comes from, & is taken from a letter written by, a warm friend to America, his fears may be too strong but as he is in the way of information, it may be proper not to suffer them to pass by Unnoticed or unreflected upon” (DLC: Jefferson Papers). The letter from which this extract was taken has not been identified, but it may be the one Vaughan sent to GW on 4 May (see also JPP, description begins Dorothy Twohig, ed. The Journal of the Proceedings of the President, 1793–1797. Charlottesville, Va., 1981. description ends 137). The cabinet was currently meeting to discuss the appropriate response to French privateering in American waters (ibid.; Memorandum from Alexander Hamilton, 15 May, n.1).