In 1834–35, the subject of French spoliations came before congress, in considering which, Mr. Clay rendered valuable services. A treaty had been concluded with France, stipulating for indemnification, the first instalment of which was not promptly paid, whereupon the president, with injudicious precipitancy, recommended the passage of a law authorizing reprisals upon French property, unless at the next session of the French chamber provision should be made for its payment. The tendency of this recommendation was most deleterious upon our commercial interests. The subject was referred to the committee on foreign relations, at the head of which the senate had placed Mr. Clay. On the sixth of January, 1835, he read a lengthy and most able report, which detailed, with great minuteness and perspicuity, the facts connected with the subject of the spoliations, which was received with great applause, and twenty thousand copies printed and circulated through the country, which soon restored commercial confidence. The doctrines of the report were such as commended themselves to every patriotic heart――simple, just, exacting to the last tithe our demands on France, but yet deprecating rashness in obtaining them. The committee did not doubt the power of the United States to enforce payment, but deemed it inexpedient to exercise it, until other means had been exhausted. They coincided with the president in a determination to have the treaty fulfilled, but desired to avoid too great haste. They concluded by recommending the senate to adopt a resolution, declaring it ‘inexpedient to pass, at this time, any law vesting in the president authority for making reprisals upon French property, in the contingency of provision not being made for paying to the United States the indemnity stipulated by the treaty of 1831, during the present session of the French chambers.’ On the fourteenth of January, in accordance with previous arrangement, Mr. Clay called for the consideration of the report and its accompanying resolution. It being expected that he would address the senate, the members of the house generally left their seats to listen to him, nor were they disappointed; for he spoke nearly an hour, in strains of eloquence that thrilled the hearts of all who listened to him. After being slightly modified, the resolution passed the senate unanimously, and thus, mainly through the efforts of Mr. Clay, a hostile collision with France was averted, and that pacific intercourse which had previously existed between her and the United States reëstablished, and the consummation of the treaty greatly accelerated. As he justly deserved, his country awarded him sincere praise, for his magnanimous course in achieving this.