W ADVERTISEMENT. HEN the publishers petitioned Congress that the Secretary of State might be authorized to subscribe for their second edition of State Papers, they also asked permission to publish such Confidential Documents as, from lapse of time or any other cause, no longer required secrecy. Their petition was committed to the Hon. Messrs. King, Varnum and Fromentin, who made the following report : "IN SENATE Of the united STATES, APRIL 1, 1816. "The committee to whom was referred the memorial of Thomas B. Wait and Sons, of Boston, proposing to publish an improved edition of State Papers of the United States, with instructions to inquire into the expediency of publishing certain documents which have heretofore been deemed confidential....REPORT, That the committee have examined the files of confidential documents in the office of the Secretary of Senate, from the commencement of the government to this time; and have considered the various subjects which they embrace, composed, for the most part, of information which the Executive have, from time to time, communicated to the Senate, relative to the intercourse and negotiations with foreign powers; much of which, they are of opinion, should remain confidential, as the subject matter still remains unadjusted. The documents enumerated in the subjoined resolution may, in the opinion of the committee, be published without publick detriment; the committee therefore submit the following resolution : "RESOLVED, That the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following documents remaining in the office of the Secretary of the Senate : [Here follows a list of the documents contained in this volume.] "And that copies of the said messages and documents be prepared, under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate, and delivered to T. B. Wait and Sons." That the committee might be enabled to make the selection contained in their report, it was necessary that a list should be made out of all the confidential papers which had been communicated to the Senate: the publishers, therefore, have it in their power to gratify their subscribers with the dates and general subjects of those which are not published. See the messages, &c. as chronologically arranged and published in this volume. The loss of papers, proposed to be published, but which could not be found, is attributed to the destruction, or precipitate removal, of the publick records in August, 1814. From the known fidelity of the gentlemen in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, who prepared the copy of this volume, and the care and attention which have been observ. ed in following them, there is reason to hope that no essential errours have escaped unnoticed. While we congratulate the publick on the very complete view which is now given of the foreign relations of the United States, we cannot withhold our respectful acknowledgments to the Committee, who, in examining and arranging the papers which compose this volume, devoted many of those hours which should have been given to relaxation from other important and arduous employments. BOSTON, March, 1817. CONTENTS. MESSAGE, Feb. 9, 1790, relative to eastern boundary of the Report of the Secretary of the United States relative to the Message, Dec. 30, 1790, relative to American prisoners at Message, Jan. 17, 1791, transmitting letter from king of France 67 Message, Feb. 22, 1791, relative to Algiers and Morocco Message, Jan. 11, 1792, relative to Spain, and navigation of the Message, May 8, 1792, relative to prisoners at Algiers Message, Nov. 7, 1792, relative to Spanish interference with Message, Dec. 16, 1793, relative to transactions with Spain Message, Dec. 16, 1793, relative to Algiers and Morocco Message, Dec. 23, 1793, relative to Portugal and Algiers Message, Dec. 30, 1793, transmitting letter from Representa- Message, Feb. 7, 1794, transmitting letters from French minis- ter, and despatches from Guadaloupe Message, Feb. 24, 1794, relative to Great Britain and Spain Message, March 3, 1794, relative to Spain and Algiers Message, Dec. 21, 1795, transmitting original letter from em- peror of Morocco, recognising treaty of peace Message, Feb. 29, 1796, relative to treaty just concluded with Message, Jan. 9, 1797, relative to present situation of affairs Message, Feb. 17, 1800, relative to treaty with Prussia Message, Jan. 13, 1806, relative to war with Tripoli Message, Jan. 17, 1806, transmitting letter from United States' Message, March 5, 1806, relative to ship New Jersey Message, March 7, 1806, relative to ship New Jersey |