1. The date is derived from the document's position in the Letterbook following JA's letter of 1 June to Genet and preceding that of 6 June to Dumas. It is clearly unfinished, occupying only a quarter of a page that is otherwise blank. Certainly it reflects, although in a more direct fashion, JA's views regarding a peace settlement expressed in various letters and articles, most notably those commenting on Gen. Henry Seymour Conway's speech supporting his bill of 5 May and Lord George Germain's speech attacking it (to Genet, 17 and 28 May, both above). But neither its purpose, whether as a draft of a newspaper article or simply a memorandum for JA's own use, nor the reason for its being left incomplete has been determined.

2. JA referred to “the Loaves and Fishes” in connection with the parliamentary opposition in his first letter of 20 May to the president of Congress (No. 69, calendared, above).