the object to be obtained by the exercise of that right, can be effectually secured.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

J. Russell, esq. &c.

CASTLEREAGH.

Mr. Russell to Lord Castlereagh.

18, Bentinck-street, 1st September, 1812. My lord, I have learnt, with much regret, by your lordship's note, dated the 29th ult. which I did not receive until this morning, that the prince regent has thought proper to decline to accede to the proposition for a suspension of hostilities, contained in my note of the 24th of August.

It has been matter of surprise to me, that my view, with regard to the revocation of the orders in council on the 23d of June last, should have been considered to have been incorrect, when it appears, by your lordship's note, that the British government itself has deemed it necessary to give powers to the British admiral to stipulate for its full effect, and thereby admitted that a new act was required for that purpose.

It now only remains for me to announce to your lordship, that it is my intention to embark immediately at Plymouth, on board the ship Lark, for the United States, and to request that permission may be granted, as soon as may be, for the embarkation of my servants, baggage, and the effects of this legation, and that the necessary passports may be furnished for my own and their safe conduct to that destination.

I avail myself of this occasion to apprise your lordship, that I am authorized by the government of the United States to leave Reuben Gaunt Beasley, esq. as its agent for prisoners of war in this country, and to desire that every necessary facility may be afforded him in the exercise of that trust, by the British govern

ment.

I have the honor to be, my lord, your lordship's most obedient humble servant, JONA. RUSSELL.

The right hon. lord viscount Castlereagh, &c.

Mr. Russell to Mr. Monroe.

London, Sept. 3, 1812. Sir, I enclose herein a copy of a note, received yesterday from lord Castlereagh, which will acquaint you that I have obtained my passports to return to the United States, and that Mr. Beasley is permitted to remain here as agent for prisoners of war.

Immediately on demanding my passports, I addressed to the consuls a circular, of which you will also find a copy enclosed.

The Swiftsure packet sailed on the 31st of last month from Falmouth for America, and it is very probable that she takes out instructions, suggested by the overture made here, but there is no reason to believe that they can be of a nature to satisfy the United States.

I have the honour to be, with great consideration, your faithful and obedient servant,

The hon. James Monroe, &c.

JONA. RUSSELL.

Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Russell.

Foreign Office, September 2, 1812, Sir, I have laid before his royal highness, the prince regent, your letter of the 1st instant, in which you announce your intention to embark immediately, at Plymouth, on board the ship Lark, for the United States.

I have already had the honour of forwarding to you an admiralty order for protection of that ship, as a cartel, on her voyage to America, and I herewith enclose to you a passport, for the free embarkation of yourself and family, in conformity to your request. The lords commissioners of his majesty's treasury will issue directions to the commissioners of the customs, to give every facility to the embarkation of your effects.

If, previous to your departure from England, you can point out to me any particular manner in which I can facilitate your arrangements, I beg that you will command my services.

His royal highness has commanded me to signify to you, for the information of your government, that there will be no difficulty in allowing Mr. Reuben Gaunt Beasley, as stated in your letter, to reside in this country, as the United States agent for prisoners of

war.

I have the honour to subscribe myself, with great truth and consideration, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

7. Russell, esq. &c.

CASTLEREAGH.

Correspondence between sir J. B. Warren and the Secretary of

State.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sept. 30, 1812. Sir, The departure of Mr. Foster from America, has devolved upon me the charge of making known to you, for the information of the government of the United States, the sentiments entertained

by his royal highness the prince regent, upon the existing relations of the two countries.

You will observe, from the enclosed copy of an order in council, bearing date the 23d of June, 1812, that the orders in council of the 7th of January, 1807, and the 26th of April, 1809, ceased to exist nearly at the same time that the government of the United States declared war against his majesty.

Immediately on the receipt of this declaration in London, the order in council, of which a copy is herewith enclosed to you, was issued on the 31st day of July, for the embargo and detention of all American ships.

Under these circumstances, I am commanded to propose to your government the immediate cessation of hostilities between the two countries, and I shall be most happy to be the instrument of bringing about a reconciliation, so interesting and beneficial to America and Great Britain.

I therefore propose to you, that the government of the United States of America shall instantly recall their letters of marque and reprisal against British ships, together with all orders and instructions for any acts of hostility whatever against the territories of his majesty or the persons or property of his subjects; with the understanding, that, immediately on my receiving from you an official assurance to that effect, I shall instruct all the officers under my command to desist from corresponding measures of war, against the ships and property of the United States, and that I shall transmit without delay, corresponding intelligence to the several parts of the world where hostilities may have commenced. • The British commanders in which, will be required to discontinue hostilities from the receipt of such notice.

Should the American government accede to the above proposal for terminating hostilities, I am authorised to arrange with you as to the revocation of the laws which interdict the commerce and ships of war of Great Britain from the harbours and waters of the United States; in default of which revocation within such reasonable periods as may be agreed upon, you will observe by the order of the 23d June, the orders in council of January, 1807, and April, 1809, are to be revived.

The officer who conveys this letter to the American coast has received my orders to put to sea immediately upon the delivery of this dispatch to the competent authority; and I earnestly recommend that no time may be lost in communicating to me the decision of your government, persuaded as I feel that it cannot but be of a nature to lead to a speedy termination of the present differences.

The flag of truce which you may charge with your reply will find one of my cruisers at Sandy Hook, ten days after the landing of this dispatch, which I have directed to call there with a flag of truce for that purpose.

I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient and most faithful humble servant,

JOHN BORLASE WARREN,

Admiral of the Blue, and Commander in Chief, &c.

Mr. Monroe to Sir 7 B. Warren.

Department of State, Oct. 27, 1812.

Sir, I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 30th ult. and to submit it to the consideration of the president.

It appears that you are authorized to propose a cessation of hostilities between the United States and Great Britain, on the ground of the repeal of the orders in council, and, in case the proposition is acceded to, to take measures in concert, with this government, to carry it into complete effect on both sides.

You state, also, that you have it in charge, in that event, to enter into an arrangement with the government of the U. States for the repeal of the laws which interdict the ships of war and the commerce of Great Britain from the harbours and waters of the U. States. And you intimate, that if the proposition is not acceded to, the orders in council (repealed conditionally by that of the 23d of June last) will be revived against the commerce of the United States.. :.

I am instructed to inform you, that it will be very satisfactory to the president to meet the British government in such arrangements as may terminate without delay the hostilities which now exist between the United States and Great Britain, on conditions honourable to both nations.

At the moment of the declaration of war, the president gave a signal proof of the attachment of the United States to peace. Instructions were given at that early period to the late charge des affaires of the United States at London, to propose to the British government an armistice, on conditions which it was presumed would have been satisfactory. It has been seen with regret that the proposition made by Mr. Russell, particularly in regard to the important interest of impressment, was rejected, and that none was offered through that channel, as a basis on which hostilities might cease.

As your government has authorized you to propose a cessation of hostilities, and is doubtless aware of the important and salutary effect which a satisfactory adjustment of this difference cannot fail to have on the future relations between the two counVOL. I. PART I.

[E]

tries, I indulge the hope that it has, ere this, given you full power for the purpose. Experience has evinced that no peace can be durable unless this object is provided for. It is presumed, therefore, that it is equally the interest of both countries to adjust it at this time.

Without further discussing questions of right, the president is desirous to provide a remedy for the evils complained of on both sides. The claim of the British government is to take from the merchant vessels of other countries, British subjects. In the practice, the commanders of British ships of war often take from the merchant vessels of the U. States, American citizens. If the United States prohibit the employment of British subjects in their service, and enforce the prohibition by suitable regulations and penalties, the motive for the practice is taken away. in this mode that the president is willing to accommodate this important controversy with the British government, and it cannot be conceived on what ground the arrangement can be refu sed.

A suspension of the practice of impressment, pending the armistice, seems to be a necessary consequence. It cannot be presumed, while the parties are engaged in a negociation to adjust amicably this important difference, that the United States would admit the right or acquiesce in the practice of the opposite party; or that Great Britain would be unwilling to restrain her cruizers from a practice which would have the strongest tendency to defeat the negociation. It is presumable that both parties would enter into the negociation with a sincere desire to give it effect. For this purpose it is necessary that a clear and distinct understanding be first obtained between them, of the accommodation which each is prepared to make. If the British government is willing to suspend the practice of impressment from American vessels, on consideration that the United States will exclude British seamen from their service, the regulations by which this compromise should be carried into effect would be solely the object of negociation. The armistice would be of short duration. If the parties agreed, peace would be the result. If the negociation failed, each would be restored to its former state, and to all its pretensions, by recurring to war.

Lord Castlereagh, in his note to Mr. Russell, seems to have supposed, that, had the British government accepted the proposition made to it, Great Britain would have suspended immediately the exercise of a right, on the mere assurance of this government that a law would be afterwards passed to prohibit the employment of British seamen in the service of the United States, and that Great Britain would have no agency in the regu