be, on these and every other difference, by a treaty to be concluded either at London or Washington, as on an impartial consideration of existing circumstances shall be deemed most expedient.

As an inducement to G. Britain to discontinue the practice of impressment from American vessels, I am authorised to give assurance that a law shall be passed (to be reciprocal) to prohibit the employment of British seamen in the public or commercial service of the U. States.

It is sincerely believed that such an arrangement would prove more efficacious in securing to G. Britain her seamen, than the practice of impressment, so derogatory to the sovereign attributes of the U. States, and so incompatible with the personal rights of their citizens.

Your lordship will not be surprised that I have presented the revocation of the Orders in Council as a preliminary to the suspension of hostilities, when it is considered that the act of the British government of the 23d of June last, ordaining that revocation, is predicated on conditions, the performance of which is rendered impracticable by the change which is since known to have occurred in the relations between the two countries. It cannot now be expected that the government of the U. States will immediately on due notice of that act, revoke or cause to be revoked its acts, excluding from the waters and harbors of the U. States all British armed vessels, and interdicting commercial intercourse with G. Britain. Such a procedure would necessarily involve consequenses too unreasonable and extravagant to be for a moment presumed.---The Order in Council of the 23d of June last will, therefore according to its own terms be null and of no effect, and a new act of the British government, adapted to existing circumstances, is obviously required for the effectual repeal of the Orders in Council of which the United States complain.

The government of the U. States considers indemnity for the injuries received under the Orders in Council and other Edicts, violating the rights of the American nation, to be incident to their repeal, and it believes that satisfacory provision will be made in the definite treaty, to be hereafter negociated, for this purpose.

The conditions now offered to the British government for the termination of the war by an armistice as above

stated, are so moderate and just in themselves, and so entirely consistent with its interest and honor, that a confident hope is indulged that it will not hesitate to accept them. In so doing it will abandon no right; it will sacrifice no interests; it will abstain only from violating the rights of the U. States, and in return it will restore peace with the power from whom in a friendly commercial intercourse so many advantages are to be derived.

Your lordship is undoubtedly aware of the serious difficulties with which the prosecution of the war, even for a short period, must necessarily embarrass all future attempts at accommodation.-Passions exasperated by injuriesalliances or conquests on terms which forbid their abandonment-will inevitably hereafter embitter and protract a contest which might now be so easily and happily termi

nated.

Deeply impressed with these truths, I cannot but persuade myself that his royal highness, the prince regent will take into his early consideration, the propositions herein made on behalf of the U. States, and decide on them in a spirit of conciliation and justice.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JONATHAN RUSSELL.

Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Russell.

FOREIGN OFFICE, Aug. 29, 1812. SIR-Although the diplomatic relations between the two governments have been terminated, by a declaration of war on the part of the U. States, I have not hesitated, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, and the authority under which you act, to submit to the prince regent the proposition contained in your letter of the 24th inst. for a suspension of hostilities.

From the period at which your instructions must have been issued, it is obvious, that this overture was determined upon by the government of the U. States, in ignorance of the Order in Council of the 23d of June last, and as you inform me that you are not at liberty to depart from the conditions set forth in you letter, it only remains for me to acquaint you that the prince regent feels himself under the necessity of declining to accede to the proposition therein contained, as being on various grounds absolutely inadmissible.

As soon as there was reason to apprehend, that Mr. Foster's functions might have ceased in America, and that he might have been obliged to withdraw himself, in consequence of war having been declared, from the U, States, before the above mentioned Order of the 23d of June, and the instructions consequent thereupon, could have reached himi, measures were taken for authorising the British Admiral on the American station, to propose to the government of the U. States, an immediate and reciprocal revocation of all hostile Orders, with the tender of giving full effect, in the event of hostilities being discontinued, to the provisions of the said Order, upon the conditions therein specified.

From this statement you will perceive that the view you have taken of this part of the subject is incorrect; and that in the present state of the relations between the two coun tries, the operation of the Order of the 23d June, can only be defeated by a refusal on the part of your government to desist from hostilities, or to comply with the conditions expressed in the said Order.

Under the circumstances of your having having no powers to negociate, I must decline entering into a detailed discussion of the propositions which you have been directed to bring forward.

I cannot, however, refrain on one single point, from expressing my surprise; namely, that, as a condition preliminary even to a suspension of hostilities, the government of the U. States, should have thought fit to demand, that the British government should desist from its ancient and accustomed practice of impressing British seamen from the merchant ships of a foreign state, simply on the assurance that a law shall hereafter be passed to prohibit the employment of British seamen in the public or commercial service of that state.

The British government now, as heretofore, is ready to receive from the government of the U. States, and amicably to discuss, any proposition which professes to have in view either to check abuse in the exercise of the practice of impressment, or to accomplish by means less liable to vexation, the object for which impressinent has hitherto been found necessary, but they cannot consent to suspend the exercise of a right upon which the naval strength of the.

empire mainly depends, until they are fully convinced that means can be devised, and will be adopted, by which the object to be obtained by the exercise of that right, can be effectually secured.

I have the honor to be, &c.

CASTLEREAGH.

Mr. Russell to lord Castlereagh.

LONDON, September 1, 1812. My lord-1 have heard with much regret, by your lordship's note, dated the 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 Aug.

It has been matter of surprise to me that my view with regard to the revocation of the Order in Council of 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 had 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 you lordship that it is my intention to embark immediately, at Plymouth, on board the ship Lark, for the U. States, and to request that permission may be granted, a 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 apprize your lordship that I am authorised by the government of the U. States, to leave Reuben Gaunt Beasely, 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 government.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JONATHAN RUSSELL.

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 U. States, and that Mr. Beasely is permitted to remain here as agent for prisoners of war.

Immediately on demanding my passport I addressed to the consnls a circular of which you will also find a copy enclosed.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JONATHAN RUSSELL.

Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Russell.

FOREIGN OFFICE, Sept. 2, 1812. SIR-I have laid before his royal highness, the prince regent, your letter of the 1st inst. in which you announce your intention to embark immediately at Plymouth on board the ship Lark, for the U. States.

I have already had the honor of forwarding to you an Admiralty order for the 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 comformity to your request. The lords commissisners of his majesty's treasury will issue directions to the commis sioners 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. R. G. Beasely, as stated in your letter, to reside in this country, as the U. State's agent for prisoners of war.

I have the honor to be, &c.

CASTLEREAGH.

Sir J. B. Warren to Mr. Monroe.

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 U. States, the sentiments entertained by his royal highness, the prince regent, upon the existing relations of the two countries.