Om den här boken
Mitt bibliotek
Böcker på Google Play
CHAPTER II.
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION OF 1815 WITH G. BRITAIN.
Pitt first proposed a reciprocity of duties-Introduced a bill
into Parliament in 1783 for that purpose-Failed-Eden's re-
marks--1790, date of navigation laws of this country--System
of protection still continued, though application altered-Ad-
ams, Clay and Gallatin negotiate a convention at London with
Robinson, Adams and Goulbourn-Points of laws of nations not
touched-Convention strictly commercial--East but not West
India trade regulated-Remarks on specie--Perfect equality
of importation duties and tonnage rates-Colonial possessions
give England great advantages-Theory of convention une-
qual-Still favourable in practice to U. States--No trade with
Indians allowed-Nor between respective territories on this
continent--Consuls--Adams minister to England-Bagot to
this country,·
CHAPTER III.
COMMERCIAL CONVENTION OF 1818 WITH G. BRITAIN.
Commercial stipulations the same as those of 1815-Re-
newed for ten years-Impressment-Tone of British govern-
ment unfavourable at Ghent-Subject much discussed in 1818
-Propositions of England--Remarks-Parties could not agree
-Will never be adjusted by a Treaty--A question of sove-
reignty to the United States--British propositions in regard to
other maritime rights--Nothing settled--Gallatin and Rush
for United States--Robinson and Goulbourn for England-
Fisheries-Extent and boundaries regulated-Curtailed-
American and British ground as to effect of war on Treaties-
Lord Bathurst's Letter defending British principle--England
renounced right to Navigation of Mississippi-United States
to certain portion of the Fisheries-Boundaries on the North
West settled--To the Rock Mountains-English anxious to
confine United States below the course of the Columbia, and
to divide the Navigation of the river, and the use of the har-
bour-Have ambitious projects in that direction--Possess an
accurate knowledge of the country by means of their hunters
-Americans and English have extended nearly across the
Continent--Rush, King, Gallatin and Barbour, ministers to
England--Canning and Vaughan to this country--Boundaries
-Proceedings on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh Articles
of the Treaty of Ghent-Decisions and Reports of Commis-
sioners Convention in regard to the North East--Advantages
to both parties from a settlement,
CHAPTER IV.
NEGOTIATION RESPECTING COLUMBIA RIVER.
Great distance of mouth of Columbia-Called Oregon-
Reason not given-Seat of a great empire-Rock Mountains
called the limits of the United States-Harbour of Columbia
very important-Fur trade and fisheries-Grounds of Ameri-
can claim-Discovery, examination and possession-Capt.
Gray enters the Columbia in 1790-Lewis and Clarke-Ac-
count of Astoria-Proposition of British commissioners in
1824-Not accepted-Boundaries in north-west remain unset-
tled-Convention of 1818 renewed for ten years-Sir A.
M'Kenzie sees the Pacific in 1793, but mistakes the river-
Great project of the English in regard to their fur grounds-
Their empire founded in commerce,
CHAPTER V.
TREATY OF 1819 WITH SPAIN.
Page
76
. 119
Napoleon releases Ferdinand from Valancay-Letters of
Napoleon and Ferdinand-Erving attempts a negotiation with
Cevallos-Various delays practised by Spain-Burlesque
blockade of part of South America-Pizarro-Grants of land
in Florida to Spanish subjects-Treaty of 1819 negotiated at
Washington between Adams and de Onis-Grants of land, an
evasion of it-Forsyth sent to Spain-King refuses to ratify
treaty-No reason assigned-Warm correspondence-Vives
sent to this country-No authority to ratify-Demands expla-
nations as to privateers and recognition of South American
provinces-United States extremely dissatisfied-Refuse ex-
planation or discussion-European powers endeavour to per-
suade Spain to a ratification-Refuse, on account of unwil-
lingness to have South America acknowledged-Policy of
England, France and Russia-Design on Cuba-Delays again
practised by Spain-Statement of the grant to Alagon, &c.-
Include best part of Florida-Spain, at length, ratifies-And
cancels the grants-Vives complains of Forsyth's letter of pro-
test-Nelson, minister to Madrid-Anduaga to Washington-
Piracies in West India seas-Vexatious and disgraceful-Spain
unable to protect her own coasts-President proposes to Con-
gress to pass a law, authorizing blockade of Cuba--Rejected.
-Dangerous measure-Navy very active and successful in
suppressing piracies-Everett, minister in Spain-Tacon in
U. States-Negotiations with Spain next in importance to
those with mother country-Mississippi-Floridas-Louisiana
-Indemnity of $5,000,000, to U. States-Spain in a state of
decay-Diplomatic intercourse for the future, probably of
slight moment,
129
CHAPTER VI.
CONVENTION OF NAVIGATION AND COMMERCE OF
1822 WITH FRANCE.
American and Ottoman Legations only asylums in Paris in
1814-Restoration of Bourbons led to slight suspension in
intercourse-Crawford-De Neuville-France unwilling to
make a Commercial Convention-Great advantages from state
of Trade-French commerce once very extensive-Gallatin
-State of Trade causes great uneasiness in United States-
Convention-Throws freights into American vessels-Claim
under 8th article of treaty of Louisiana-Extraordinary-Ac-
count of that business-First employed by France to delay
Convention, then to resist Claims-Diplomacy simplified in
modern times-Executive men now more important-Argu-
ment on the claim under the Louisiana treaty-Remains with-
out settlement-Brown, Minister-Menou, Chargé,
CHAPTER VII.
. . 170
ACCOUNT OF THE CLAIMS ON FRANCE AND NAPLES.
Very perplexing though important subject-Difficulty began
in 1778-French in 1793 captured American vessels-First
class of claims-Embargo at Bordeaux-Convention of 1800-
Claims of two governments respectively renounced-United
States responsible to their own citizens-Convention of 1803
-Second class of claims-French credit very bad-Conven-
tion of 1803 defective on subject of claims-Livingston in-
structed to negotiate an additional one-France declines-
Claims amount to from 8 to 11,000,000 dollars-Continental
system-Third class-History of those claims-French govern-
ment have never answered statement of American government
-Paid every body in Europe-Refuse even to liquidate-
Seek to couple them with business of Louisiana-Nothing in
fact done since 1816-Naples-Pinckney sent to that court in
1816-Discusses the claim with the marquess di Circello--
Long letter Vindicating the principle of the demand-Cir-
cello refuses the application-Denies that Naples is responsi-
ble-No other European government gone so far--Nothing
more done,
191
CHAPTER VIII.
RELATIONS WITH PORTUGAL.
Trade in Mediterranean, exposed to Barbary cruisers, first
led to diplomatic intercourse-Humphreys sent to Lisbon in
'91-Freire to this country-Legation suspended in 1801-
Smith in '97-Portugal, small possessions in Europe-Brazil,
an empire-In time of Pombal, court had design of going
there-Portuguese, maritime people-Court prepared to
leave Europe in 1802-Finally sailed in 1807, for Rio, just as
French were entering Lisbon-Coronation of Don Pedro in
Brazil-The first in the New World-Relations with Portu-
gal-Sumpter and Graham ministers--Privateers--Correa de
Serra-Dearborn appointed to Lisbon-Commercial treaty-
Attempts a negotiation-Treaty with England and state of
kingdom delay it-Ultra royal revolution in Portugal-Eng-
land and Holy Alliance antagonists-Dearborn's account of
Don Miguel's revolt and submission-Singular transaction-
Obtains permission to return to United States-Offer of box
with brilliants-Brent, Chargé-Constancio and Pereira Por-
tuguese Charges,
CHAPTER IX.
222
NEGOTIATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN CONCERNING
PAYMENT FOR SLAVES, AND SLAVE TRADE.
Singular controversy respecting first article in Ghent treaty
concerning the removal of slaves-Very difficult to make a
treaty not leading to controversies-Explanation and discus-
sion of the subject-Parties disagree-Referred in 1818 to
Emperor of Russia-Decides for the United States-Number
of slaves removed-Average and total value-England paid
$124,960 as indemnity-Cheves and Pleasants, commissioners
--Parts of United States first to abolish slave trade-United
States first to declare it piracy--Proceedings of American go-
vernment on this subject very honourable-England negotiates
with powers of Europe for abolition-Efforts at Vienna and
other congresses-Declaration of the eight powers-Evasive
-No slave trade permitted in 1820 north of the Equator-
Only by the Portuguese south-Still, great trade-80,000
slaves removed in one year-French flag much employed--In
1818 England proposed a convention to United States-Not