entre les deux peuples le bonheur et les avantages reciproques de la paix.

Si par les bons offices de S. M. Imperiale cette proposition seroit accepté, le prince regent prefereroit que les conferences puissent se tenir à Londres à cause des facilités qui en resulteroit pour les discussions.

Mais si se choix rencontreroit des obstacles insuperables, S. A. R. consenteroit á substituer Gothenbourg comme l'endroit le plus rapproché de l'Angleterre.

Le Soussigné, &c.

(Signed)

CATHCART.

The Secretary of State to Lord Castlereagh. My Lord,

Department of State, 5th January, 1814. I have had the honour to receive by a flag of truce, your lordship's letter of the 4th of November last, and a copy of a note which his Britannic majesty's ambassador at the court of St. Petersburg presented to the Russian government, on the first of September preceding.

By this communication it appears, that his royal highness the prince regent rejected the mediation offered by his imperial majesty to promote peace between the United States and Great Britain, but proposed to treat directly with the United States at Gothenburg, or London; and that he had requested the interposition of the good offices of the emperor in favour of such an arrangement.

Having laid your lordship's communication before the president, I am instructed to state, for the information of his royal highness the prince regent, that the president has seen with regret this new obstacle to the commencement of a negociation for the accommodation of differences between the United States and Great Britain. As the emperor of Russia was distinguished for his rectitude and impartiality, and was moreover engaged in a war as an ally of England, whereby it was his interest to promote peace between the United States and Great Britain, the president could not doubt that his royal highness the prince regent would accept the mediation, which his imperial majesty had offered to them. It was the confidence with which the high character of the emperor inspired the president, that inclined him, disregarding considerations which a more cautious policy might have suggested, to accept the overture with promptitude, and to send ministers to St. Petersburg to take advantage of it. It would have been very satisfactory to the president, if his royal highness the prince regent had found it compatible with the views

of Great Britain to adopt a similar measure, as much delay might have been avoided in accomplishing an object which it is admitted is of high importance to both nations.

The course proposed as a substitute for negociations at St. Petersburg, under the auspices of the emperor of Russia, could not, I must remark to your lordship, have been required for the purpose of keeping the United States unconnected, against Great Britain, with any affairs of the continent. There was nothing in the proposed mediation tending to such a result. The terms of the overture indicated the contrary. In offering to bring the parties together, not as an umpire but as a common friend, to discuss and settle their differences and respective claims, in a manner satisfactory to themselves, his imperial majesty showed the interest which he took in the welfare of both parties.

Wherever the United States may treat, they will treat with the sincere desire they have repeatedly manifested of terminating the present contest with Great Britain, on conditions of reciprocity consistent with the rights of both parties, as sovereign and independent nations, and calculated not only to establish present harmony, but to provide, as far as possible, against future collisions which might interrupt it.

Before giving an answer to the proposition communicated by your lordship to treat with the United States, independently of the Russian mediation, it would have been agreeable to the president to have heard from the plenipotentiaries of the United States sent to St. Petersburg. The offer of a mediation by one power, and the acceptance of it by another, forms a relation between them, the delicacy of which cannot but be felt. From the known character, however, of the emperor, and the benevolent views with which his mediation was offered, the president cannot doubt that he will see with satisfaction a concurrence of the United States in an alternative, which, under existing circumstances, affords the best prospect of attaining speedily what was the object of his interposition. I am accordingly instructed to make known to your lordship, for the information of his royal highness the prince regent, that the president accedes to his proposition, and will take the measures depending on him, for carrying it into effect, at Gottenburg, with as little delay as possible; it being presumed that his majesty, the king of Sweden, as the friend of both parties, will readily acquiesce in the choice of a place for their pacific negociations within his dominions.

The president is duly sensible of the attention of his royal

highness the prince regent, in giving the orders to the admiral commanding the British squadron on this coast, which your lordship has communicated.

I have the honour, &c. (Signed)

JAS. MONROE.

Message from the President of the United States, transmitting information relative to the reception of Mr. Crawford, the Minister from the United States to the Court of France by that Court, in obedience to a Resolution of the 11th instant.

To the House of Representatives of the United States.

I transmit to the House of Representatives a report of the secretary of state complying with their resolution of the 11th instant.

January 18th, 1814.

JAMES MADISON.

REPORT.

The secretary of state, to whom was referred the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 11th instant, requesting the president to communicate to the house any information in his possession, and which it may not be improper to divulge in relation to the omission or refusal of the French government to accredit the minister plenipotentiary sent by the United States to that court, or of his reception if accredited, of the time when he was so accredited, and of the progress of his negociation, has the honour to communicate to the president, for the information of the house, the following letters in relation to that subject, viz.:

A letter from Mr. Crawford to the secretary of state of the 15th August, 1813, enclosing one to the duke of Bassano of the 27th July, and his answer of the 1st August; and an extract of a letter from Mr. Crawford to the secretary of state of the 8th of September, 1813.

Respectfully submitted,

JAMES MONROE.

Paris, 15th August, 1813.

On the 27th ult. I wrote to the Duke of Bassano, to in

inform him of my arrival in Paris, in quality of minister plenipotentiary of the United States. On the 8th instant, I received an answer dated at Dresden on the 1st. Copies of my note and of his answer are herewith enclosed.

With sentiments of high respect, I remain yours, &c. &c, (Signed) WM. H. CRAWFORD,

Hon. James Monroe, Secretary of State.

Mr. Crawford to the Duke of Bassano.

My Lord, Paris, 27th July, 1813. I have the honour to inform your excellency that I have been appointed by the president of the United States of America, minister plenipotentiary to the court of his imperial and royal majesty, the emperor of the French, and king of Italy. I wait the pleasure of your excellency as to the time and manner of presenting my official credentials, preparatory to my reception by the government of his imperial and royal majesty as the accredited minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America.

I seize on the present occasion to assure your excellency of the distinguished consideration with which I have the honour to be your most obedient and very humble servant, WM. H. CRAWFORD.

(Signed)

His excellency the Duke of Bassano.

Translation of a Letter from the Duke of Bassano to Mr. Crawford, dated Dresden, August 1st, 1813.

Sir, I have had great pleasure in hearing of your safe arrival in France, and I have received the letter which you did me the honour to address to me on the 27th of July, on your nomination in quality of minister plenipotentiary of the United States to his imperial majesty the emperor of the French, and king of Italy. The choice which your government has made of a person so distinguished in his own country, and so worthy of this honourable mission, cannot but be agreeable to his imperial majesty; and though he is at this time absent from Dresden, I can give you this assurance in his name. I will have the honour to communicate to you his intentions respecting the presentation of your letters of credence and your reception. Without waiting even for this, I will receive all the communications which you may think proper to make to me as the minister plenipotentiary of your government, and the delay of a formality will produce no delay in the exercise of the mission confided to you, or in the correspondence which it will procure for me the benefit of holding with you.

VOL. III.

4

Accept, sir, the assurance of my high consideration.

(Signed) His excellency Wm. H. Crawford, &c. &c. &c.

THE DUKE OF BASSANO.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Crawford to Mr. Monroe, dated Paris, September 8th, 1813.

"I have just received an answer to the note which I addressed to the duke of Bassano, requesting Mrs. Barlow's passports. On the subject of recognition he says, that he is very solicitous I should present my letter of credence to the emperor in Paris. He does not repeat his invitation to communicate with him. The operations of the war will probably detain the emperor in the north [until] the winter. It is believed that the duke of Bassano will not return before him. If this opinion should be realised, the winter will be far advanced before I shall be able to draw the attention of the French government to the subjects of discussion between the two nations.'

Message from the President of the United States transmitting a Report from the Secretary of State, complying with the Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 12th instant. To the House of Representatives of the United States.

I transmit to the house of representatives a report of the secretary of state, complying with their resolution of the 12th instant. JAMES MADISON.

January 19, 1814.

REPORT.

The secretary of state, to whom was referred a resolution of the house of representatives of the 12th instant, requesting the president to lay before the house any correspondence with or communication in writing from the late minister of France, on or about the 14th June, 1809, or by his successor since, prescribing or declaring the conditions on which their sovereign would consent to treat of amity and commerce with the United States, if such information was in the possession of the executive, and if it was not, to inform the house, unless the public interest forbade such disclosure, whether there has not been such a correspondence or communication, which was withdrawn from the archives of the department of state, and if so, when, and how the same was withdrawn, has the honour to make to the president the following report:

That of the transactions which took place in the department of state, before the secretary of state came into office,