This volume covers part of Monroe's (1751-1831) term as US minister to France; documents from his final at the post there will be in the next volume. France was at war with Britain at the time, and the US treaty with Britain raised a bit of a controversy in Paris, as well as a number of difficulties such as people being detained and ships being seized, that the diplomat had to deal with. Foremost among the issues was the detention of inflammatory American pamphleteer Thomas Paine (1737-1809) because of his English birth; Monroe secured his released, then put him up until his health improved. Some of the documents have been published elsewhere, and others are archival, in some cases surviving only in rather dubious copies. Notes after each document explain references. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)