it appears that, since the Revolution there, which has invested the Cortes with a principal portion of the sovereign authority, the policy of maintaining Ministers of the Plenipotentiary rank from that Country, has been suspended. A Chargé d'Affaires has been appointed to repair to Washington, but has not yet arrived. In the mean time, that Office has been discharged by the Chevalier Amado Grehon, who had been Secretary of Legation to Mr. Correa, and recently a Mr. Dacosta has been here, and announced himself as attached to the Legation, and to exercise the powers of Consul-General.

The usual diplomatick intercourse between The United States and Portugal has thus been for the last 3 Years in a great measure suspended. Nor is it probable that the Mission of The United States now instituted, will be of long duration. There are objects, political and commercial, which require its most serious attention, and which it is hoped may be adjusted satisfactorily to both Countries, by your intervention.

After the invasion, by the Brazilian Portuguese Government of Monte Video, and the eastern shore of the River La Plata, a Revolutionary Government, under the name of the Oriental Republick of La Plata, and subject to the authority of a Military Chief, named Artigas, for several Years maintained a defensive War, at once against them, and against the rival Revolutionary Republick, styled the United Provinces of La Plata. The latter, the Seat of Government of which was at Buenos Ayres, never came to a state of declared war with Portugal, but the Republick of Artigas did, and that Commander issued Commissions for Privateers and Letters of Marque, against the Portuguese, under which the commerce of that Nation was, for 3 or 4 Years, much annoyed. Of the Captures made by these Privateers, several were brought into the Ports of The United States, and frequent complaints were received from Mr. Correa, that some of the Privateers were fitted out within The United States, and partly manned by their Citizens. To these complaints every attention, compatible with the rights of the Citizens of The United States, and with the Laws of Natious, was paid by this Government. The Laws for securing the faithful performance of the duties of Neutrality were revived and enforced. Decrees of restitution were pronounced by the Judicial Tribunals in all Cases of Portuguese captured Vessels, brought within the jurisdiction of The United States. And all the measures, within the competency of the Executive, were taken by that Department of the Government, for repressing the fitting out of Privateers from our Ports, and the enlisting of our Citizens in them.

These measures, however, do not appear to have been altogether satisfactory to the Portuguese Government, doubtless, because they were not sufficiently understood by them. Shortly before the Chevalier Correa de Serra left The United States, he addressed to this Depart

ment several Notes, Copies of which, as well as of 2 subsequent Notes from Mr. Amado, are herewith inclosed, containing Lists of Portuguese Vessels captured by Privateers, alleged to have been fitted out in The United States, or partly officered and manned by Citizens of this Country. To these Lists were added claims of indemnity to a large amount upon The United States, for the value of these Vessels and Cargoes; and with them was connected a demand for the appointment of a Joint Commission, to be appointed by the two Governments, to determine and assess the amount of damages to be paid by The United States for these Captures. As there was no precedent for the appointment of such a Commission under such circumstances, and as not a single case of Capture had been alleged, for which The United States were justly responsible, this proposal was, of course denied; and nothing further was heard upon the subject, until the 1st of April last, when a Note was received from the present Chargé d'Affaires of Portugal, leading to a Correspondence, Copies of which are now furnished you.

Among the first and most important objects of your Mission, will be the charge of reviewing the whole course of this Correspondence, from the time when the proposition for the appointment of Commissioners was made by the Chevalier Correa de Serra. The President wishes that this service should be performed in the most conciliatory manner, and with all possible regard to the feelings of the Portuguese Government.

It will, however, not be necessary that you should commence the Correspondence with them. The menace of retaliation by commercial regulations favouring the trade of other Nations, it can scarcely be supposed was intended to be carried into effect; for it would not be less impolitick than unjust; and with the experience which they have of the pernicious consequences of granting favours to one Nation to the detriment of others, it is incredible, that, under a Government in which the publick interest is felt through the medium of a popular representation, resentments, in themselves so unfounded, should be indulged, by measures so injudicious and self-annoying.

You will, nevertheless, attentively watch, and forthwith report, any measure which may be adopted, or even specifically contemplated, of that character; and you will observe the disposition and temper of understanding between the Portuguese Government, as now constituted, and those of the other Powers of Europe. It is believed that they have no Ministers, at present, residing in any part of Europe, nor Ministers from any European Government residing with them. Some of the Allies have not yet recognized their revolutionary movement, and all have manifested, in some form, their dissatisfaction with it. These prejudices, it is probable, will gradually subside, and the usual intercourse between them and the rest of Europe will be restored.

While its interruption continues, it is scarcely to be apprehended that they will adopt measures of rigour and injustice towards the Nation which is the first to sympathize with them.

With regard to the Proposal contained in the Letter from Mr. Amado, of the 1st of April, of a Treaty of Commerce, in which special advantages shall be granted to The United States; even if it were offered by itself, and separately from the inadmissible condition connected with it, we should not consider it as desirable, or compatible with the true policy of either Nation. We have never sought exclusive advantages in our Treaties with any Foreign Nation. The policy of The United States, on the contrary, has invariably been, to form its commercial institutions and engagements on the broadest and most liberal principles of reciprocity. We are neither solicitous, nor unwilling to treat with Portugal upon subjects of commerce; but if we do treat, it must be upon those principles, and in conformity with them. The Convention of 3d July, 1815, with Great Britain, so far as it goes, exhibits the system upon which we are desirous of settling our commercial arrangements with other Nations, and the only one upon which we should be inclined to treat with Portugal.

We have seen in the Public Journals, accounts purporting some dissatisfaction in the Island of Madeira, at the rates of duties levied in The United States upon its wines. They are, however, moderate when considered in reference to the comparative prices of the article; and still more so, when compared with the duties levied upon the same article in Great Britain. There is, indeed, no other Country, except Great Britain, which imports and consumes the wines of Madeira, in quantities comparable to those taken by The United States.

The connection between the Kingdom of Portugal and that of Brazil, has already been greatly affected by revolutionary movements in both Countries. It can scarcely fail, within no distant period, to be more so. It is not conceivable that Brazil should ever again be subjected to the Colonial state, nor is it likely long to submit to any direct controul from a Government so distant from it. Information of the proceedings of the Cortes on this subject, especially so far as they may affect our commercial intercourse with Brazil, will be desirable, whenever, and with as much accuracy as you can obtain it. I am, &c.

General H. Dearborn.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

(2.)-Mr. Correa de Serra to the Secretary of State.-(Translation.) SIR, Philadelphia, 4th June, 1820.

MR. JOACHIM BAROZZO PEREIRA, appointed by my Sovereign, Consul-General of Portugal, in these United States, is arrived in Philadelphia, and has shown to me his Commission, accompanied by the Official Communication from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I

have, consequently, the honour of presenting him to this Government, in that capacity, and request the Exequatur of the President to his Commission. I present, also, Mr. Henry Hutton, as Vice-Consul

of Portugal, in the Port of New Orleans, and all the others of The United States in the Gulf of Mexico, and request the necessary Exequatur.

Permit me, Sir, to profit of this occasion, to offer my thanks to this Government for the Law that prohibits the entrance of Privateers in the most important Ports of the Union, and for the other that declares Piracy the landing and committing outrages ashore on Foreign Lands. I acknowledge the salutary influence of the Executive in obtaining these ameliorations. The Courts of Justice also seem to take a more adequate view of the practices about which I have been forced to importunate this Government by my reiterated complaints. At least, henceforward, those who engage in such pursuits will have in prospect a lesser chance of impunity.

Undoubtedly, the aforesaid provisions will diminish the evil, but something remains still to be done to suppress it entirely. In the full persuasion of the sincere wishes of this Government to put a final stop to practices so contrary to the friendly intercourse between our two Nations, I propose to have the honour of submitting to your consideration my views on this subject, in the occasion of personally paying my respects to you, and taking my leave previous to my visit to the Brazils. I beg the acceptance, &c.

(3.)-Mr. Correa de Serra to the Secretary of State.-(Translation.) SIR, Philadelphia, 8th June, 1820.

I THINK it my duty to represent to this Government, that the Portuguese Ship Montalegre was brought to Baltimore 22 months ago, a Prize to a so called Artigan Privateer, and has been all this time the subject of litigation with the Artigan Captors, American Citizens. Past things are not intended to be in any way the object of this Communication, but merely the prevention of future evil. In the 1st of this month this Ship was sold by judicial authority in Baltimore, under the hammer, to Captain Chase, a notorious Privateersman, standing under an indictment of Piracy. It is to be immediately fitted as a Privateer (and a formidable one it will prove by its size and strength, which are those of a good Frigate) to cruise against the Portuguese Indiamen, and the command of it to be given, as it is assured, to the notorious Captain Taylor.

I have not the least doubt that the Supreme Executive of this Nation has both the power and the will of putting a stop to this hostile armament, particularly when, as in this case, he has timely informa

tion, which will be successively put under his eyes, at every stage of this inimical attempt on the Portuguese Commerce.

The Hon. J. Q. Adams.

I beg you to accept, &c.

JOSEPH CORREA DE SERRA.

(4.)-Mr. Correa de Serra to the Secretary of State.-(Translation.) SIR, Wilmington, 16th July, 1820.

I AM ordered by my Sovereign to lay before this Government the names and value of 19 Portuguese Ships, and their Cargoes, taken by private armed Ships, fitted in the Ports of the Union by Citizens of these States. The values have been ascertained by the proper Courts of Justice, and revised with all care and attention by the Royal Board of Commerce. In proportion as the value of the other Ships stolen is in the same manner ascertained, their names, and the amount of losses, will be laid before this Government.

His Majesty, consistently with his friendly and equitable sentiments towards The United States, wishes that this affair be treated with all that candour, and conciliating dignified spirit, that becomes two Powers, who feel mutual esteem and have a proper sense of their moral integrity. In this spirit, I have the honour to propose to this Government to appoint Commissioners on their side, with Full Powers to confer and agree with His Majesty's Ministers in what reason and justice demand. It is not expected that a Government who, in every occasion, has so steadily and nobly protected the just pretensions of his own Citizens, like that of The United States, may have the least difficulty in concurring with such candid views of a Sovereign, who feels equally with them what he owes to himself in the protection of his Subjects.

The Ships are the following: 1. D. Pedro de Alcantara. 2. S. Joao Baptista. 3. D. Miguel Forjaz. 4. Sa. Maria Vencedora. 5. Thalia. 6. S. Joao Protector. 7. Montalegre. 8. Luiza. 9. Logo the Direy. 10. Lord Wellington. 11. Ninfa de Lisboa. 12. General Sampaio. 13. Perola. 14. Paquete de Porto.

15. Conde de Cavalleiros.

16. Globo. 17. Carlota. 18. Flora. 19. Sra. da Piedade.

The amount of their value which is reclaimed is 492,918 milreas, which, at the common and general rate of milreas in your market, is equal to 616,158 dollars.

I am proceeding to an excursion in the mountains, at the end of which I intend having the honour of seeing you in Washington. The reason of my mentioning this is, because a written answer, which you might possibly give to this communication, would naturally miss me. I beg you, &c.

The Hon. J. Q. Adams.

JOSEPH CORREA DE SERRA.