342 Documoiis Adams to the Secretary of State N. 70. St. Petersburg, 3. October 181 1. The Secretary of State of the United States Sir : I have furnished the French Ambassador, as he requested, with a list of the American vessels which have arrived this year at Cronstadt, and have sailed again for the United States. I have also sent a copy of the same list to Mr. Russell at Paris, by a courier despatched last Monday by Count Lauriston ; and have mentioned to Mr. Russell in a letter the mo- tive upon which it was requested — to obtain a more speedy liberation of any of them which might be captured by the French privateers said to be stationed at the passage of the Sound. When the Courier was despatched I had already heard that Mr. Barlow had sailed from Annapolis for France, and I learn this morning that he arrived the 6th of last month at Cher- bourg. Having understood from Mr. Russell that it was his intention to leave Paris immediately after the Minister should arrive, I have requested that Mr. Barlow would in that case open the letter, addressed to Mr. Rus- sell. I hope there will be no capture of any of the vessels, to make the interposition of either of those gentlemen, with the French Government, necessary to obtain their release. But if there should, I shall be happy to find the good intentions of the Ambassador in asking for the list rea- lized, by its contributing to their immediate liberation. I am not in- clined to suspect any unfriendly intention towards us, as having con- tributed in the slightest degree to this request. There is a frankness and good humor in the character of the Ambassador, in which deep dis- simulation is not congenial. He has often very freely and explicitly avowed to me his wish for a war between the United States and England. Having in my own nature as little dissimulation, as I think observable in his, I have never pretended in this respect to coincide with him in sentiment ; [but I have more than once suggested to him that if his Government really wished that war should be the result of English ill- usage towards the United States, it was a strange way of manifesting that desire to rivalize with England in acts of the like ill-usage, and I have not scrupled to avow to him that so long as France should continue to hold towards us such a course of conduct, it was my opinion that neither the people nor the Government of the United States would engage themselves in a war which would be so conformable to her views and policy.] He has assured me in strong terms of his oiun wish that his Government should do us justice, and his disposition to write anything that might be proper to promote the same temper there ; and I am willing to be- lieve that this was his real and principal inducement for asking the information contained in this list. [At the same time T am aware that it might be for purposes of an opposite nature and I know that the French Minister of Foreign Affairs has informed the French Consul here that he
