I had a good deal of conversation with him, also, on the situation of
affairs between England and the United States: and particularly, on
their refusal to deliver up our posts. I observed to him, that the
obstructions thrown in the way of the recovery of their debts, were
the effect, and not the cause, as they pretended, of their refusal to
deliver up the posts; that the merchants interested in these debts,
showed a great disposition to make arrangements with us; that the
article of time we could certainly have settled, and probably that
of the interest during the war: but that, the minister showing no
disposition to have these matters arranged, I thought it a sufficient
proof that this was not the true cause of their retaining the posts. He
concurred as to the justice of our requiring time for the payment of
our debts; said nothing which showed a difference of opinion as to the
article of interest, and seemed to believe fully, that their object was
to divert the channel of the fur-trade, before they delivered up the
posts, and expressed a strong sense of the importance of that commerce
to us.
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