British mission furnishing three copies and the American commissioners furnishing three. These were signed and exchanged, Lord Gambier delivering the three British copies to Adams, and Adams in turn delivering the three American copies to Lord Gambier. Lord Gambier expressed the hope that the treaty would be permanent, and Adams replied that he "hoped it would be the last treaty of peace between Great Britain and the United States."75 Upon the ratification of either copy by the two Governments hostilities were to

cease.

The British ministers at the conference the day before had consented to date the cessation of hostilities from the ratification by the two states, instead of the exchange of ratifications, which before they had demanded. However, they had insisted that such ratifications should be without alteration by either of the contracting parties. They were criticized by their own Government for inserting this clause.

76

It was agreed by the two commissions that the fact of the signing of the treaty should not be made known until noon of the following day, when Baker should be able to make the announcement at London. A carriage was in readiness to convey him, immediately

75 Memoirs of J. Q. Adams, III., 126.

76 Goulburn to Bathurst, Dec. 30, 1814; Wellington's Sup

upon the signing of the treaty, to Ostend, where a vessel was waiting to take him to England."

This eventful day prompted Adams to make the following entry in his diary: "I cannot close the record of this day without an humble offering of gratitude to God for the conclusion to which it has pleased him to bring the negotiations for peace at this place, and a fervent prayer that its result may be propitious to the welfare, the best interests, and the union of my country."78

77 Memoirs of J. Q. Adams, III., 126.

78 Ibid., 127.

CHAPTER IX

RATIFICATION AND RECEPTION OF THE TREATY

At once upon the signing of the treaty Anthony St. John Baker set out for London, carrying with him a copy of the treaty and despatches from the British commissioners to their Government. One of these despatches informed the British Foreign Office that Christopher Hughes, Jr., secretary of the American mission, had been furnished with a certificate of his being the bearer to the United States of one copy of the treaty of peace.1 It was recommended that Henry Carroll, the bearer of a duplicate copy of the treaty, be permitted to proceed to the United States on the same ship which might be assigned to carry to America His Majesty's ratification.

The next day, December 25, the American ministers communicated to their Government the substance of the negotiations since the last despatches were sent on the Chauncey and announced the final result. The joint letter, in giving the account of the proceedings with reference to the fisheries and the Mississippi, stated 1 British Commissioners to Castlereagh, Dec. 24, 1814; MS.,

358

that the offer to exchange the one privilege for the other was that of the majority of the mission." This wording was inserted at the request of Russell, upon the suggestion of Clay.

On the 28th, the American ministers sent a note to the British in reply to the request made by the latter in a note of December 7, which had asked for proofs of the charges made by the American Government with reference to the carrying away and sale of negroes by British officers. The American ministers stated that, not having been instructed to communicate proofs to the British Government for the purpose which the British Government had in contemplation, they would transmit the British note to the American Government to decide upon the propriety of its co-operation in that object which the British now had in view.3

Before leaving Ghent the American ministers gave a public dinner to the British ministers at which the Intendant of Ghent and numerous other officials were present. At the dinner Lord Gambier arose to give the first toast: "The United States of North America," but Adams courteously anticipated him in offering the toast: "His Majesty the King of England." At the same moment the band struck up "God save the King."

2 American Ministers to Monroe, Dec. 25, 1814; American State Papers, For. Rel., III., 732-733; Russell Papers, MS., No. 1110.

3 American to British Commissioners, Dec. 28, 1814; MS., Bureau of Indexes and Archives, "Treaty of Ghent."

When Lord Gambier afterwards arose to give his toast the band played the American patriotic air, “Hail, Columbia." The citizens of Ghent also gave a grand fête to the ministers of the two missions in celebration of the signing of the treaty. This was given in the beautiful Hôtel de Ville of that city.*

Carroll, whom the American ministers had commissioned to be the bearer of a copy of the treaty to the United States, left Ghent for London, December 26. He sailed from London, January 2, in the British ship of war Favorite in company with Baker, who had been authorized to be the bearer of the British copy of the treaty to America, and to act in the name and behalf of His Britannic Majesty for the exchange of ratifications of the treaty." The copy of the treaty which he carried had been ratified by the Prince Regent in council at Carleton House, December 27. This ratification was, however, merely nominal, because full powers had been granted to the British commissioners, unlike those of the American commissioners, to bind the Government to " accept, ratify, and con

4 Adams gave as a toast at this banquet: "Ghent, the city of peace; May the gates of the temple of Janus, here closed, not be opened again for a century!" (Memoirs of J. Q. Adams, III., 131, 139.)

5 Castlereagh to Baker, Dec. 23, 1814; Memoirs and Correspondence of Castlereagh, X., 230-231.