The more ready faith was given to these declarations, because it was believed that France might derive advantages from the neutrality of America, which would be a full equivalent for any services which she could render as a belligerent.
Before the ambassador of the republic had reached the seat of government, a long catalogue of complaints, partly founded on his proceedings in Charleston, had been made by the British minister to the American executive.
This catalogue was composed of the assumptions of sovereignty already mentioned;--assumptions calculated to render America an instrument of hostility to be wielded by France against those powers with which she might be at war.
[Sidenote: Illegal proceedings of the French cruisers.] These were still further aggravated by the commission of actual hostilities within the territories of the United States.

The ship Grange, a British vessel which had been cleared out from Philadelphia, was captured by the French frigate L'Ambuscade within the capes of the Delaware, while on her way to the ocean.
The prizes thus unwarrantly made, being brought within the power of the American government, Mr.Hammond, among other things, demanded a restitution of them.
On many of the points suggested by the conduct of Mr.Genet, and by the memorials of the British minister, it would seem impossible that any difference of opinion could exist among intelligent men, not under the dominion of a blind infatuation.

Accordingly it was agreed in the cabinet, without a dissenting voice, that the jurisdiction of every independent nation, within the limits of its own territory, being of a nature to exclude the exercise of any authority therein by a foreign power, the proceedings complained of, not being warranted by any treaty, were usurpations of national sovereignty, and violations of neutral rights, a repetition of which it was the duty of the government to prevent.
It was also agreed that the efficacy of the laws should be tried against those citizens of the United States who had joined in perpetrating the offence.
[Sidenote: Opinions of the Cabinet in relation thereto.] The question of restitution, except as to the Grange, was more dubious.

The secretary of state and the attorney general contended that, if the commissions granted by Mr.Genet were invalid, the captures were totally void, and the courts would adjudge the property to remain in the former owners.

In this point of view, therefore, there being a regular remedy at law, it would be irregular for the government to interpose.
If, on the contrary, the commissions were good, then, the captures having been made on the high seas, under a valid commission from a power at war with Great Britain, the original right of the British owner was, by the laws of war, transferred to the captor.
The legal right being in the captor, it could only be taken from him by an act of force, that is to say, of reprisal for the offence committed against the United States in the port of Charleston.
Reprisal is a very serious thing, ought always to be preceded by a demand and refusal of satisfaction, is generally considered as an act of war, and never yet failed to produce it in the case of a nation able to make war.
[Illustration: Martha Washington _From the portrait by James Sharples_ _This is one of the three Sharples portraits of the Washington family and the only good profile of Martha Washington that was painted from life.