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those which have been already stated. Among those are the following: The committee are persuaded that it will considerably augment the publick revenue, and thereby maintain the publick credit; that it will enhance the price and promote the circulation of our produce, in lieu of specie, which has, of late, become so much the object of speculations tending to embarrass the government.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE

UNITED STATES, TO THE
APRIL 16, 1814.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I TRANSMIT to the House of Representatives a report of the Secretary of State complying with their resolution of the 13th instant.

REPORT.

JAMES MADISON.

THE Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 13th instant, requesting information touching our relations with France, has the honour to submit to the President an extract of a letter from the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Paris, which contains the latest, and the only material information received by this department on that subject. All which is respectfully submitted. JAMES MONROE. Department of State, April 16, 1814.

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Crawford to the Secretary of State. Paris, January 16, 1814.

"On the 29th ult. I had an interview with the minister of exterior relations, who informed me that he had made to the emperor a detailed report of the negotiation, and

that he would inform me of his majesty's decision, the moment it should be made known to him. His conversation during this interview was as conciliatory as it could be, and his expressions, though still general, admitted that indemnity was determined upon. The address of the senator count Segur to the inhabitants of the 18th military division of the empire, published in the Moniteur of the 15th instant, stated that his majesty was going to place himself at the head of his troops. Knowing that I should not be able to advance a single step in the negotiation during his absence, unless he should before his departure from Paris decide upon the classes of cases for which indemnity should be made, I determined to address a note to the duke of Vicence, with a view to impress more strongly upon his mind the necessity of an immediate decision.

"The day on which I intended to present this note I was informed that the duke of Vicence had set out from Paris at 4 o'clock, A. M. for the head quarters of the two emperors, which was then said to be in Switzerland. The general impression in Paris that day was that the emperor would set out immediately for Metz, where his army of reserve has been forming ever since he crossed the Rhine. This circumstance induced me to believe that the note would not produce any good effect; I therefore determined not to present it. The emperor is still in Paris, and I regret extremely that I did not adhere to my first determination, notwithstanding the absence of the minister of foreign relations. From the situation of affairs here, it is impossible to foresee the delays to which this perplexing business will yet be subject. In the first and only interview which I had with the duke of Bassano, he said expressly that the obstacles which his absence had thrown in the way of the negotiation should not occur again. Two months have not clapsed before the same obstacles are presented."

SIR. A. COCHRANE'S PROCLAMATION.

By the Honourable Sir Alexander Cochrane, Knight of the Bath, &c. &c. &c. &c.

PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS admiral the right honourable sir John Borlase Warren, did by virtue of the power and authority to him given, by his proclamation bearing date at Halifax, the 16th day of November, 1813, declare that not only the ports and harbours of the Chesapeake, Delaware, New York, Charleston, Port Royal, Savannah, and the river Mississippi, in the United States of America, were and still continued in a state of blockade, but also that part of Long Island Sound, being the seacoast lying within Montaug Point and the point of land opposite thereto, commonly called Black Point, together with all the ports, harbours, creeks and entrances of the North and East rivers of New York, as well as all other the ports, creeks, and bays along the seacoast of Long Island and the state of New York, and all the ports, harbours, rivers and creeks lying and being on the seacoast of the states of East and West Jersey, Pennsylvania, the lower counties on the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and all the entrances from the sea into the said river Mississippi, were blockaded :-And whereas, since the institution of the said blockade, the enemy availing himself of the supplies which have been furnished by means of neutral communication to those ports and places of the said United States which were left open and unrestricted, hath already fitted out numerous vessels of war, and is now engaged in constructing and setting forth several ships of the line as well as frigates and other armed vessels, for the purpose of prosecuting the war with Great Britain, and frustrating the object of the said blockade :

I do therefore, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, declare, in addition to the said ports and places blockaded as aforesaid, all the remaining ports, harbours, bays, creeks, rivers, inlets, outlets, islands and seacoasts

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of the said United States of America, from the point of land commonly called Black Point to the northern and eastern boundaries between the said United States and the British province of New Brunswick in America, to be in a state of strict and rigorous blockade. And I do further declare that I have stationed off the said ports and places, herein before mentioned, a naval force adequate to maintain the said blockade, in the most rigorous and effective manner. And I do hereby require the respective flag officers, captains, commanders and commanding officers of his majesty's ships and vessels employed and to be employed on the North American station, and all others whom it may concern, to pay the strictest regard and attention to the execution of this proclamation. And I do caution and forbid the ships and vessels of all and every nation in peace and amity with the crown of Great Britain, from entering or attempting to enter, or from coming out, or attempting to come out of any of the said ports, harbours, bays, creeks, inlets, outlets, islands and seacoasts, after due notification of the said blockade under any pretence whatever: And that no person may plead ignorance of this proclamation, I have caused the same to be published.

Given under my hand at Bermuda, the 25th day of April, 1814.

ALEXANDER COCHRANE. To the respective Flag Officers, Captains, &c. &c. &c. By Command of the Vice Admiral.

WM. BALHETCHET, Secretary.

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS it is manifest that the blockade, which has been proclaimed by the enemy, of the whole Atlantick coast of the United States, nearly two thousand miles in extent, and abounding in ports, harbours, and navigable inlets, cannot be carried into effect by any adequate force

actually stationed for the purpose; and it is rendered a matter of certainty and notoriety, by the multiplied and daily arrivals and departures of the publick and private armed vessels of the United States, and of other vessels, that no such adequate force has been so stationed: And whereas a blockade thus destitute of the character of a regular and legal blockade, as defined and recognised by the established law of nations, whatever other purposes it may be made to answer, forms no lawful prohibition or obstacle to such neutral and friendly vessels as may choose to visit and trade with the United States: And whereas it accords with the interest and amicable views of the United States, to favour and promote, as far as may be, the free and mutually beneficial commercial intercourse of all friendly nations disposed to engage therein, and with that view, to afford to their vessels destined to the United States, a more positive and satisfactory security against all interruptions, molestations, or vexations whatever, from the cruisers of the United States: Now be it known, that I, James Madison, President of the United States of America, do, by this my proclamation, strictly order and instruct all the publick armed vessels of the United States, and all private armed vessels commissioned as privateers, or with letters of marque and reprisal, not to interrupt, detain, or otherwise molest or vex, any vessels whatever belonging to neutral powers, or the subjects or citizens thereof, which vessels shall be actually bound and proceeding to any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States; but, on the contrary, to render all such vessels all the aid and kind offices which they may need or require.

Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at the city of Washington, the 29th day of June, [L. S.] in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, and of the independence of the United States, the thirty-eighth.

By the President.

JAMES MADISON.

JAMES MONROE,

Secretary of State.

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