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common cause; and he will be made perfectly acquainted with the orders which I have given, and shall continue to give, that the most strenuous efforts shall be made to attain that safe and permanent peace which is universally desired, by means of a grand display of all the forces and resources of my kingdom, which I can only flatter myself completely to recover by the most powerful means and exertions.

THE PRINCE.

THE CITY ADDRESS TO THE KING, AND HIS MAJESTY'S ANSWER. To the King's most Excellent Majesty. The humble, loyal, and dutiful Address and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the City of London, in Common Council assembled:

"Most gracious Sovereign, "We your majesty's most faithful, loyal, and dutiful subjects, the lord-mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, in common council assembled, most humbly approach your majesty's sacred person, in the perfect assurance that your majesty will graciously condescend to receive the suggestions of your faithful and loyal citizens, on subjects which seriously and deeply affect their interests in common with the rest of your majesty's people.

"We have witnessed with deep regret, the disastrous failure of the late expedition, as the magnitude of its equipment had raised the just hopes and expectations of the country to some permanent benefit.

"And we cannot avoid expressing to your majesty the sorrow and indignation with which we are affected by the unhappy dissentions that have prevailed among your majesty's ministers; and our fears that such dissentions may prove

eminently prejudicial to the best interests of the nation.

"Your majesty's faithful citizens, actuated by loyal attachment to your sacred person and illustrious house, and solicitous for the honour of your majesty's arms, and the dignity and solidity of your majesty's councils, are deeply impressed with the necessity of an early and strict inquiry into the causes of the failure of the late expedition; therefore pray your majesty will direct inquiry to be forthwith instituted, in order to ascertain the causes which have occasioned it."

To which address and petition his majesty was graciously pleased to return the following answer:

"I thank you for your expressions of duty and attachment to me and to my family.

"The recent expedition to the Scheldt was directed to several objects of great importance to the interests of my allies, and to the security of my dominions.

"I regret that, of these objects, a part only has been accomplished.

"I have not judged it to be necessary to direct any military inquiry into the conduct of my commanders by sea or land in this conjoint service.

"It will be for my parliament, in their wisdom, to ask for such information, or to take such measures upon this subject as they shall judge most conducive to the public good."

AMERICAN CONGRESS.

The President's Message, on the opening of the Sessions, November 27.

Fellow-citizens of the senate, and of the house of representatives, At the period of our last meeting,

I had the satisfaction of communicating an adjustment with one of the principal belligerent nations, highly important in itself, and still more so, as presaging a more extended accommodation. It is with deep concern I am now to inform you, that the favourable prospect has been overclouded, by a refusal of the British government to abide by the act of its minister plenipotentiary, and by its ensuing policy towards the United States, as scen through the communications of the ministers sent to replace him.

Whatever pleas may be urged for a disavowal of engagements formed by diplomatic functionaries, in cases where by the terms of the engagements a mutual ratification is reserved; or where notice at the time may have been given of a departure from instructions; or in extraordinary cases, essentially violating the principles of equity; a disavowal could not have been apprehended in a case where no such notice or violation existed, where no such ratification was reserved, and more especially, where, as is now in proof, an engagement, to be executed without any such ratification, was contemplated by the instructions given, and where it had, with good faith, been carried into immediate execution on the part of the United States.

These considerations not having restrained the British government from disavowing the arrangement by virtue of which its orders in council were to be revoked, and the event authorizing the renewal of commercial intercourse having thus not taken place, it necessarily became a question of equal urgency and importance, whether the act of prohibiting that intercourse was not to be considered as remaining in legal force. This question being,

after due deliberation, determined in the affirmative, a proclamation to that effect was issued. It could not but happen, however, that a return to this state of things, from that which had followed an execution of the arrangement by the United States, would involve dif ficulties. With a view to diminish these as much as possible, the instructions from the secretary of the treasury, now laid before you, were transmitted to the collectors of the several ports. If in permitting British vessels to depart, without giving bonds not to proceed to their own ports, it should appear that the tenor of legal authority has not been strictly pursued, it is to be ascribed to the anxious desire which was felt, that no individuals should be injured by so unforeseen an occurrence : and I rely on the regard of Congress for the equitable interests of our citizens, to adopt whatever further provisions may be found requisite for a general remission of penalties involuntarily incurred.

The recall of the disavowed minister having been followed by the appointment of a successór, hopes were indulged that the new minister would contribute to alleviate the disappointment which has been produced, and to remove the causes which had so long embarrassed the good understanding of the two nations. It could not be doubted, that he would at least be charged with conciliatory explanations of the step which had been taken, and with proposals to be substituted for the rejected arrangement. able and universal as this expectation was, it also has not been fulfilled. From the first official disclosures of the new minister, it was found that he had received no authority to enter into explanations relative to either branch of the arrangement

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arrangement disavowed; nor any authority to substitute proposals, as to that branch which concerned the British orders in council: and, finally, that his proposals with respect to the other branch, the attack on the frigate Chesapeake, were founded on a presumption, repeatedly said to be inadmissible by the United States, that the first step towards adjustment was due from them; and the proposals, at the same time, omitting even a reference to the officer answerable for the murderous aggression, and asserting a claim not less contrary to the British laws, and British practice, than to the principles and obligations of the United States.

The correspondence between the department of state and this mi, nister, will shew how incessantly the features presented in its commencement have been varied in its progress. It will shew also, that forgetting the respect due to all governments, he did not refrain from imputations on this, which required that no further communications should be received from him. The necessity of this step will be made known to his Britannic majesty through the minister plenipotentiary of the United States in London: and it would indicate a want of confidence due to a government which so well understands and exacts what becomes foreign ministers near it, not to infer that the misconduct of its own representative will be viewed in the same light in which it has been regarded here. The British government will learn at the same time, that a ready attention will be given to communications, through any other channel which may be substituted. It will be happy, if the change in this respect should be accompanied by a favourable revision of the unfriendly

policy which has been so long pursued towards the United States.

With France, the other belligerent, whose trespasses on our com-mercial rights have long been the subject of our just remonstrances, the posture of our relations does not connect with the measures taken on the part of the United States, to effect a favourable change. The result of the several communications made to her government, in pursuance of the authorities vested by Congress in the executive, iz contained in the correspondence of our ministers at Paris, now laid before you.

By some of the other belligerents, although professing just and amicable dispositions, injuries materially affecting our commerce have not been duly controuled or repressed. In these cases, the interpositions deemed proper on our part have not been omitted. But it well deserves the consideration of the legislature, how far both the safety and the honour of the American flag may be consulted by adequate provisions against that collusive prostitution of it, by individuals unworthy of the American name, which has so much favoured the real or pretended suspicions under which the honest commerce of their fellow-citizens has suffered.

In relation to the powers on the coast of Barbary, nothing has occurred which is not of a nature rather to inspire confidence than distrust, as to the continuance of the existing amity. With our Indian neighbours, the just and benevolent system continued toward them has also preserved peace, and is more and more advancing in habits favourable to their civilization and happiness.

From a statement which will be made by the secretary at war, it will

be

be seen that the fortifications on our maritime frontier are in many of the ports completed, affording the defence which was contemplated, and that further time will be required to render complete the works in the harbour of New York, and in some other places. By the enlargement of the works, and the employment of a great number of hands at the public armories, the supply of small arms, of an improving quality, appears to be annually increasing, at a rate, that with those made on private contract, may be expected to go far towards providing for the public exigency.

The act of congress providing for the equipment of our vessels of war baving been fully carried into execution, I refer to the statement of the secretary of the navy for the information which may be proper on that subject. To that statement is added a view of the transfers of appropriations, authorized by the act of the session preceding the last, and of the grounds on which the transfers were made.

Whatever may be the course of your deliberations on the subject of our military establishments, I should fail in my duty in not recommending to your serious attention the importance of giving to our militia, the great bulwark of our security, and resource of our power, an organization the best adapted to eventual situations for which the United States ought to be prepared.

The sums which had been previously accumulated in the treasury, together with the receipts during the year ending on the 30th of September last (and amounting to more than nine millions of dollars), have enabled us to fulfill all our engagements, and to defray the current expenses of government without

recurring to any loan. But the insecurity of our commerce, and the consequent diminution of the public revenue, will probably produce a deficiency in the receipts of the ensuing year, for which, and for other details, I refer to the statements which will be transmitted from the treasury..

In the state which has been presented of our affairs with the great parties to a disastrous and protracted war, carried on in a mode equally injurious and unjust to the United States as a neutral nation, the wisdom of the national legislature will be again summoued to the important decision of the alternatives before them. That these will be met in a spirit worthy the councils of a nation, conscious both of its rectitude and of its rights, and careful as well of its honour as of its peace, I have an entire confidence. And that the result will be stamped by an unanimity becoming the occasion, and be supported by every portion of our citizens, with a patriotism enlightened and invigo rated by experience, ought as little to be doubted.

In the midst of the wrongs and vexations experienced from external causes, there is much room for congratulation on the prosperity and happiness flowing from our situation at home. at home. The blessing of health has never been more universal. The fruits of the seasons, though in particular articles and districts short of their usual redundancy, are more than sufficient for our wants and our comforts. The face of our country every where presents the evidence of laudable enterprize, of extensive capital, and of durable improvement. In a cultivation of the materials, and the extension of useful manufactures, more especially in the general application to house

hold

hold fabrics, we behold a rapid diminution of our dependence on foreign supplies. Nor is it unworthy of reflection, that the revolution in our pursuits and habits is in no slight degree a consequence of those impolitic and arbitrary edicts, by which the contending nations, in endeavouring each of them to obstruct our trade with the other, have so far abridged our means of procuring the productions and manufactures, of which our own are now taking place.

FRANCE.

Speech of the Emperor Napoleon. at the opening of the meeting of the Legislative Body. December 3, 1809.

they would display. My hopes have not been deceived-I owe particular thanks to the citizens of the departments of the Pas de Calais,, and the North. Frenchmen! Every one that shall oppose you, shall be conquered and reduced to submission. Your grandeur shall be increased by the hatred of your enemies. You have before you long years of glory and prosperity. You have the force and energy of the Hercules of the ancients. I have united Tuscany to the empire. The Tuscans were JAMES MADISON. worthy of it by the mildness of their character, by the attachment their ancestors have always shewn us, and by the services they have rendered to European civilization. History pointed out to me the conduct I ought to pursue towards Rome: the Popes, become sovereigns of part of Italy, have constantly shewn themselves enemies of every preponderating power in the peninsula-they have employed their spiritual power to injure it-it was then demonstrated to me, that the spiritual influence exercised in my states by a foreign Sovereign, was contrary to the independence of France, to the dignity and safety of my throne. However, as I acknowledge the necessity of the spiritual influence of the descendants of the first of the pastors, I could not conciliate these grand interests, but by annulling the donative of the French Emperors, my predecessors, and by uniting the Roman States to France.→→ By the treaty of Vienna, all the kings, and sovereigns my allies, who have given me so many proofs of the constancy of their friendship, have acquired and shall acquire, fresh increase of territory. Illyrian provinces stretch the frontiers of my great empire to the Save. Contiguous to the empire

"Gentlemen, deputies of departments to the legislative body.Since your last session I have reduced Arragon and Castille to submission, and driven from Madrid the fallacious government formed by England. I was marching upon Cadiz and Lisbon, when I was under the necessity of treading back my steps, and of planting my eagles on the ramparts of Vienna. Three months have seen the rise and termination of this fourth Punic war. Accustomed to the devotedness and courage of my armies, I must nevertheless, under these circumstances, acknowledge the particular proofs of affection which my soldiers of Germany have given me. The genius of France conducted the English army-it has terminated its projects in the pestilential marshes of Walcheren. In that important period I remained four hundred leagues distant, certain of the new glory which my people would acquire, and of the grand character

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