Notes

The United States had just recovered, under the auspices of their present constitution, from the
debility which their revolutionary struggle had produced, when the convulsive movements of
France excited throughout the civilized world the mingled sensations of hope and fear—of
admiration and alarm. The interest which those movements, would in themselves, have
excited, was incalculably increased, however, as soon as Great Britain became a party to the
first memorable coalition against France, and assumed the character of a belligerent
power...thedifference of the scene would no longer exempt the United States from the
influence, and the evils of the European conflict. On the one hand, their government was
connected with France, by treaties of alliance and commerce; and the services which that
nation had rendered to the cause of American independence....Onthe other hand, Great Britain
leaving the treaty of 1783 unexecuted, forcibly retained the American posts upon the northern
frontier; and, slighting every overture to place the diplomatic and commercial relations of the
two countries, upon a fair and friendly foundation, seemed to contemplate the success of the
American revolution, in a spirit of unextinguishable animosity.