Acts of Congress and all the negotiations of the Executive on the subject since.

A Convention for the settlement of important questions in relation to the Northwest Coast of this Continent, and its adjoining Seas, was concluded and signed at St. Petersburg, on the 5th day of April last, by the Minister Plenipotentiary of The United States, and Plenipotentiaries of the Imperial Government of Russia. It will immediately be laid before the Senate, for the exercise of the Constitutional Authority of that body, with reference to its ratification. It is proper to add, that the manner in which this negotiation was invited and conducted on the part of the Emperor, has been very satisfactory.

The great and extraordinary changes which have happened in the Governments of Spain and Portugal within the last two years, without seriously affecting the friendly relations which, under all of them, have been maintained with those Powers by The United States, have been obstacles to the adjustment of the particular subjects of discussion which have arisen with each. A resolution of the Senate, adopted at their last Session, called for information as to the effect produced upon our relations with Spain, by the recognition, on the part of The United States, of the Independent South American Governments. The Papers containing that information are now communicated to Congress.

A Chargé d'Affaires has been received from the Independent Government of Brazil. That Country, heretofore a Colonial Possession of Portugal, had some years since, been proclaimed, by the Sovereign of Portugal himself, an Independent Kingdom. Since his return to Lisbon, a Revolution in Brazil has established a new Government there, with an Imperial title, at the head of which is placed the Prince, in whom the Regency had been vested by the King at the time of His departure. There is reason to expect that, by amicable negotiation, the Independence of Brazil will, ere long, be recognized by Portugal herself.

With the remaining Powers of Europe, with those on the Coast of Barbary, and with all the new South American States, our relations are of a friendly character. We have Ministers Plenipotentiary residing with the Republics of Colombia and Chili, and have received Ministers of the same rank from Colombia, Guatimala, Buenos Ayres, and Mexico. Our Commercial relations with all those States are mutually beneficial and increasing. With the Republic of Colombia a Treaty of Commerce has been formed, of which a Copy is received, and the Original daily expected. A negotiation for a like Treaty would have been commenced with Buenos Ayres, had it not been prevented by the indisposition and lamented decease of Mr. Rodney, our Minister there, and to whose memory the most respectful attention has been shown by the Government of that Republic. An advantageous alteration in our Treaty with Tunis has been obtained by our Consular Agent residing

there; the Official Document of which, when received, will be laid before the Senate.

The attention of the Government has been drawn, with great solicitude, to other subjects, and particularly to that relating to a state of Maritime War, involving the relative Rights of Neutral and Belligerent in such wars. Most of the difficulties which we have experienced, and of the losses which we have sustained, since the establishment of our Independence, have proceeded from the unsettled state of those rights, and the extent to which the belligerent claim has been carried against the neutral Party. It is impossible to look back on the occurrences of the late wars in Europe, and to behold the disregard which was paid to our rights as a neutral Power, and the waste which was made of our Commerce by the Parties to those wars, by various Acts of their respective Governments, and under the pretext, by each, that the other had set the example, without great mortification, and a fixed purpose never to submit to the like in future. An attempt to remove those causes of possible variance, by friendly negotiation, and on just principles which should be applicable to all Parties, could, it was presumed, be viewed by none, other than as a proof of an earnest desire to preserve those relations with every Power. In the late War between France and Spain, a crisis occurred in which it seemed probable that all the controvertible principles involved in such wars might be brought into discussion, and settled to the satisfaction of all Parties. Propositions, having this object in view, have been made to the Governments of Great Britain, France, Russia, and of other Powers, which have been received in a friendly manner by all, but as yet no Treaty has been formed with either for its accomplishment. The policy will, it is presumed, be persevered in, and in the hope that it may be successful.

It will always be recollected that with One of the Parties to those wars, and from whom we received those injuries, we sought redress by war. From the Other, by whose then reigning Government our Vessels were seized in Port as well as at Sea, and their Cargoes confiscated, indemnity has been expected, but has not yet been rendered. It was under the influence of the latter that our Vessels were likewise seized by the Governments of Spain, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Naples, and from whom indemnity has been claimed and is still expected, with the exception of Spain, by whom it has been rendered. With both Parties we had abundant cause of War; but we had no alternative but to resist that which was most powerful at Sea, and pressed us nearest at home. With this, all differences were settled by a Treaty founded on Conditions fair and honourable to both, and which has been, so far, executed with perfect good faith. It has been earnestly hoped, that the Other would, of its own accord, and from a sentiment of justice and conciliation, make to our Citizens the indemnity

to which they are entitled, and thereby remove from our relations any just cause of discontent on our side.

It is estimated that the Receipts into the Treasury during the current Year, exclusive of Loans, will exceed 18,500,000 Dollars, which, with the sum remaining in the Treasury at the end of the last Year, amounting to 9,463,922 Dollars, and 81 Cents, will, after discharging the current disbursements of the Year, the Interest on the Public Debt, and upwards of 11,633,000 Dollars of the principal, leave a balance of more than 3,000,000 Dollars in the Treasury on the 1st day of January next.

A larger amount of the debt contracted during the late war, bearing an interest of 6 per cent. becoming redeemable in the course of the ensuing year, than could be discharged by the ordinary Revenue, the Act of the 26th of May authorized a loan of 5,000,000 of Dollars at 4 per cent. to meet the same. By this arrangement an annual saving will accrue to the public of 75,000 Dollars.

Under the Act of the 24th of May last, a loan of 5,000,000 Dollars was authorized, in order to meet the awards under the Florida Treaty, which was negotiated at par, with the Bank of The United States at 4 per cent. the limit of the interest fixed by the Act. By this provision the claims of our citizens, who had sustained so great a loss by spoliations, and from whom indemnity had been so long withheld, were promptly paid. For these advances the public will be amply repaid, at no distant day, by the sale of the lands in Florida. Of the great advantages resulting from the acquisition of the Territory in other respects, too high an estimate cannot be formed.

It is estimated that the receipts into the Treasury, during the year 1825, will be sufficient to meet the disbursements of the year, including the sum of 10,000,000 of Dollars, which is annually appropriated by the Act constituting the Sinking Fund, to the payment of the principal and interest of the public debt.

The whole amount of the Public Debt on the 1st of January next, may be estimated at 86,000,000 of Dollars, inclusive of 2,500,000 Dollars of the loan authorized by the Act of the 26th of May last. In this estimate is included a stock of 7,000,000 Dollars issued for the purchase of that amount of the capital stock of the Bank of The United States, and which, as the stock of the Bank, still held by the Government, will at least be fully equal to its reimbursement, ought not to be considered as constituting a part of the Public Debt. Estimating then, the whole amount of the Public Debt at 79,000,000 Dollars, and regarding the annual receipts and expenditures of the Government, a well-founded hope may be entertained, that, should no unexpected event occur, the whole Public Debt may be discharged in the course of ten years, and the Government be left at liberty thereafter, to apply such portion of the revenue as may not be necessary for current

expences, to such other objects as may be most conducive to the public security and welfare. That the sum applicable to these objects will be very considerable, may be fairly concluded, when it is recollected, that a large amount of the public revenue has been applied since the late war, to the construction of the public buildings of this City; to the erection of fortifications along the coast, and of arsenals in different parts of the Union; to the augmentation of the Navy; to the extinguishment of the Indian title to large tracts of fertile territory; to the acquisition of Florida; to pensions to revolutionary officers and soldiers, and to invalids of the late war. On many of these objects the expence will annually be diminished, and cease at no distant period on most of them. On the 1st of January, 1817, the Public Debt amounted to 123,491,965 Dollars and 16 Cents; and notwithstanding the large sums which have been applied to these objects, it has been reduced since that period, 37,446,961 Dollars and 78 Cents. The last portion of the public debt will be redeemable on the 1st of January, 1835; and while there is the best reason to believe that the resources of the Government will be continually adequate to such portions of it as may become due in the interval, it is recommended to Congress to seize every opportunity which may present itself, to reduce the rate of interest on every part thereof. The high state of the public credit, and the great abundance of money, are at this time very favourable to such a result. It must be very gratifying to our fellow-citizens to witness this flourishing state of the Public Finances, when it is recollected, that no burthen whatever has been imposed upon them.

The Military Establishment in all its branches, in the performance of the various duties assigned to each, justifies the favourable view which was presented of the efficiency of its organization, at the last Session. All the appropriations have been regularly applied to the objects intended by Congress; and, so far as the disbursements have been made, the accounts have been rendered and settled, without loss to the public. The condition of the Army itself, as relates to the officers and men, in science and discipline, is highly respectable. The Military Academy, on which the Army essentially rests, and to which it is much indebted for this state of improvement, has attained, in comparison with any other institution of a like kind, a high degree of perfection. Experience, however, has shewn that the dispersed condition of the corps of Artillery, is unfavourable to the discipline of that important branch of the Military Establishment. To remedy this inconvenience, eleven Companies have been assembled at the Fortification erected at Old Point Comfort, as a School for Artillery Instruction, with intention, as they shall be perfected in the various duties of that service, to order them to other posts, and to supply their places with other Companies, for Instruction, in like manner. In this mode, a complete knowledge of the science and duties of this arm, will be

extended throughout the whole Corps of Artillery. But to carry this object fully into effect, will require the aid of Congress; to obtain which, the subject is now submitted to your consideration.

Of the progress which has been made in the construction of Fortifications for the permanent defence of our Maritime Frontier, according to the plan decided on, and to the extent of the existing appropriations, the Report of the Secretary of War, which is herewith communicated, will give a detailed account. Their final completion cannot fail to give a great additional security to that Frontier, and to diminish proportionably, the expence of defending it in the event of war.

The Provisions in the several Acts of Congress of the last Session, for the improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi and the Ohio, of the harbour of Presqu'isle, on Lake Erie, and the repair of the lymouth Beach, are in a course of regular execution; and there is reason to believe, that the appropriation, in each instance, will be adequate to the object. To carry these improvements fully into effect, the superintendence of them has been assigned to Officers of the Corps of Engineers.

Under the Act of 30th April last, authorizing the President to cause a survey to be made, with the necessary plans and estimates, of such roads and canals, as he might deem of national importance, in a commercial or military point of view, or for the transportation of the mail, a Board has been instituted, consisting of two distinguished Officers of the Corps of Engineers and a distinguished Civil Engineer, with assistants, who have been actively employed in carrying into effect the object of the Act. They have carefully examined the route between the Potomac and the Ohio Rivers; between the latter and Lake Erie; between the Alleghany and the Susquehannah; and the routes between the Delaware and the Rariton, Barnstable and Buzzard's Bay, and between Boston harbour and Narraganset Bay. Such portion of the corps of Topographical Engineers, as could be spared from the survey of the Coast, has been employed in surveying the very important route between the Potomac and the Ohio. Considerable progress has been made in it, but the survey cannot be completed until the next season. It is gratifying to add, from the view already taken, that there is a good cause to believe, that this great national object may be fully accomplished.

It is contemplated to commence early in the next season, the execution of the other branch of the Act, that which relates to roads, and with the survey of a route from this City through the Southern States to New Orleans, the importance of which cannot be too highly estimated. All the Officers of both the Corps of Engineers, who could be spared from other services, have been employed in exploring and surveying the routes for canals. To digest a plan for both objects, for the great purposes specified, will require a thorough knowledge of