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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.

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

76

119

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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

CHAPTER VII.

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,

. . 170

CHAPTER VIII.

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,

RELATIONS WITH PORTUGAL.

Page

Trade in Mediterranean, exposed to Barbary cruisers, first

led to diplomatic intercourse-Humphreys sent to Lisbon in

191

'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,

Page

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

222

CHAPTER IX.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN CONCERNING

PAYMENT FOR SLAVES, AND SLAVE TRADE.

Page

accepted on account of constitutional difficulties-House of

Representatives authorize President to negotiate with Euro-

pean powers-Propose convention to England-That country

declares slave trade piracy-Convention agreed on-Provi-

sions-Allows right of search-Dangerous-Discussion of that

topic-Senate finally reject the convention--Not for right of

search-Reasons-Last official act of the government-Not a

local question,

237

CHAPTER X.

RELATIONS WITH THE NETHERLANDS.

Holland fell in '94-Changes in government-Great trade

with this country-King Louis well disposed-Compelled to

abdicate-Confiscation of American property-Since 1815 ne-

gotiations of slight importance-Attempt to renew treaty of

1782-Not successful-Countervailing duties-Trade of Ne-

therlands confined to export of foreign articles-Principle

of reciprocity established by corresponding laws--Everett,

chargé-Netherlands give 10 per cent. bounty to their ships

-U. States remonstrate-Difficulty removed-Netherlands'

colonial principle very severe-Hughes, chargé-Huygens

minister--Quabeck and Heeckeren, chargés--Commercial

treaty with Hamburgh, Bremen and Lubeck,

CHAPTER XI.

CONVENTION OF 1824 WITH RUSSIA.

Singular controversy-Only point ever in dispute-Ukase

of September 1821, claiming the North West--Letter of Rus-

sian minister--Grounds of claim--Americans on coast in '83--

Russian titles examined--Discovery--Occupation-Possession

-Behring--Tschirikoff--Cook-La Perouse--Dixon--Van-

couvre--Baranoff-No foundation for claim--Renounced by

convention of 1824--Always on best terms with Russia--Very

useful as mediator-No treaty of commerce--Great trade--

American and Russian ministers,

VOL. II.

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