Independence, in the true light, hinted at the end of his fine work that a close union might some day again ensue. At any rate we can say this, quoting the wise words of Peace-Commissioner Hartley: It may be that the Americans will never want an ally, but if they do "it is still in Great Britain; at least it is certain that in looking around Europe, no other is to be found."

Materials for the study of the diplomatic relations of Great Britain and the United States exist, not merely in published memoirs and similar works, but also in the well-known British Parliamentary Papers, which are issued irregularly, as occasion seems to require, and in the voluminous American State Papers, which are published in Washington annually. The bulk of American diplomatic papers of political importance has always been frankly published by the United States Government since its origin.

In the British Public Record Office there is much material among the papers deposited by the Foreign Office, and still unprinted. This is especially so for the years from 1860 to 1878, of which the documents have only recently been made accessible to the public. Many of these documents are, naturally, of surpassing importance, especially those which refer to any crisis, such as that of the Trent. But most of the hundreds of volumes of British diplomatic correspondence concerning the United States since 1783 deal merely with routine affairs, with the day-to-day business of the Chancery of the Legation at Washington. Volume after volume treats of certificates of appointment of consular officials, discharges of British subjects serving in United States regiments, leave of absence to officials of the Legation, extradition of criminals, statistics of American Commerce, distressed seamen, a thousand and one items which make up the difficult, busy and responsible duty of the diplomatist, the small adjustments on which good relations depend, as much as on the more picturesque qualities of tact and prescience by which the great crises are solved.

In addition to the documents at the Public Record Office I have, through the kindness of All Souls' College, been able to use the valuable collection of Vaughan Manuscripts which are the property of the College.

CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE,

OXFORD.

August, 1925.

R. B. MOWAT.

II

.

THE PEACE OF VERSAILLES

III GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES AFTER THE

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

IV RIGHT OF SEARCH AND EMBARGO

PAGE

1

9

14

29

Lord Grenville (1791-1801) George Hammond (1791–5)

Lord John Russell (1846-52) Lord Palmerston (1846-51)

William H. Seward (1861-9) Charles F. Adams (1861-8)

Rutherford B. Hayes (1877- William M. Evarts (1877–81) 81)

James A. Garfield (1881) James G. Blaine (1881) (died July)

Chester A. Arthur (vice-pres.) Frederick T. Frelinghuysen

Stephen Grover Cleveland Thomas F. Bayard (1885-9) E. J. Phelps (1885-9)