The French emperor gave satisfactory assurances that the Berlin decree should be withdrawn.

The English government hesitated, equivocated, and showed evident disinclination to take any decided step.
"In this doubtful state of connexion between America and England, an accidental collision took place between vessels of the respective countries, tending much to inflame and widen the existing differences.

An English sloop-of-war, the Little Belt, commanded by Capt.

Bingham, descried a ship off the American coast, and made sail to come up with it; but finding it a frigate, and dubious of its nation, he retired.

The other, which proved to be American, the President, under Capt.