^ \^ ^> IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 'V. /. (./ I /;v^ and pass the night.— Appear- ances of the country. — Opening ( f the negotiation : The points recapitulated. — Last interview with Lord Castlereagh on Im- pressment, prior to his departure for Aix-la-Chapelle Page SOI I CHAPTER XIX. Progress of the negotiation. — A Convention concluded. — Ques- tions arranged by it ; viz. that of the Fisheries — North Western boundary line— -Columbia River and Territory West of the Rocky Mountains. — Commercial Convention of 1815.— Slaves carried off contrary to the Treaty of Ghent 322 CHAPTER XX. Subjects which the negotiation left unadjusted, particularly the West-India Trade and Impressment .... 349 CHAPTER XXI. The English in the Autumn. — Inauguration of the Lord Mayor —Death of the Queen 381 nt! 11'' CHAPTER XXn. Americans abroad.— Cases of Arbuthnot and Ambrister. — Open- ing of Parliament. — Royal Speech by Commission. — Dinner at Mr. Wellesley Pole's.— Chesapeake and Shannon . . .397 NARRATIVE OF A RESIDENCE AT THE COURT OF LONDON. CHAPTER I. VOYAGE, AND ARRIVAL AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT. On the 19th of November 1817, I em- barked at Annapolis in the Franklin seventy- four, as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to the Court of London. The ship was new, built at Philadelphia, and ordered round to Anna- polis to take me and my family on boards The anchors were weighed to the sound of music. We were three days in getting down the Chesapeake, and on the 2Srd found our- selves at sea. The evening sun shone upon the light-house as we left the capes, which jut out towards each other, looking, from the ocean, like a fine natural gateway to the en- trance of this part of our country. I will not stop to describe the minute oc- currences of the voyage, though a large man- URSIDKNCE AT TIIK len i of-war abounds with them, as they strike upon the observation of a person who has never before been at sea. The crew con- sisted of upwards of seven hundred men. The ship was of two thousand tons, and, al- though rated a seventy-four, mounted ninety guns. If silence and cleanliness be proofs of discipline, the ship's company was entitled to that praise. We had one storm, a severe one; so it seemed to a landsman. As it was coming on, the sails were taken in, even whilst it raged, the top-gallant yards sent down, and masts struck, with a quickness that appeared wonderful. " Call a hundred men a^," said the officer on the quarter-deck to a midshipman, when something urgent was to be done. In a moment, a hundred men were there. Occasionally the trumpet was used ; the straining of the voice through which, amidst the roaring of the winds, had a hideous sound. When the storm began to abate, I fell^into conversation with Commodore Stewart. We were holding-on to one of the guns that had been run into the cabin. " Commodore," said I, " this is a new scene to me ; what could you do if we were at war and an enemy of equal force hove in sight ?" — " Chase him,'* he said, gravely "What then,** I replied; "you could not engage, I suppose ? for ten hours your iBl7. COURT OF LONDON. 3 lid >u lal id, Id ship has been tempest-tost ; all your exertions seem to have been required to resist the storm." — " True," he said, " but we could keep the enemy in sight." — "But certainly you could not fight him," I again remarked. — " We could not," he rejoined, " now ; but we should watch each other, and go to it when the storm was over." — "What! all exhausted with the labour it has cost, all dismantled as your ship is !" — " Yes, as quick as possible," he answered, " there would be no time to lose ; the rigging must go up faster than it came down." Such is war. The elements cannot stop it. Their very raging seems akin to it. This was no vain boasting. The Commodore was a modest, unassuming man ; but faithful to his duty in the battle or storm. An incident occurred that may be worth mentioning from its possible bearing upon the theory of the currents along our coast. We left the capes of Chesapeake on a Sunday, .steering for England. On the following Fri- day, to the surprise of all on board, we saw land. It proved to be the Island of Bermuda. But how came we there ? Our Captain had no intention of running down to that latitude. From the first few hours after leaving the capes, the winds had been light, chiefly from the north and north-west, and the weather B 2 HliSIDENCE AT THE 1017. thick. No accurate observations could be taken. We were aware that the ship had ' fallen to the south before entering the gulf- stream, but had counted upon its current, which sweeps from south to north, bringing us sufficiently back again. It happened that, when we entered it, the wind freshened, and car- ried us across very fast, dying away soon after- wards. Thus the current had but little time to act, in drifting us again to the north. This seemed to be, in part, the way of accounting for the situation of the ship. Yet the fact was strange that she should be so far south, as no very strong winds had blown from the north, or any quarter. I am sensible that, to present this fact properly, the precise state of the winds, with the ship's reckoning for each day, ought to be given, which I have not the means of doing. Humboldt, who overlooked nothing connected with the phenomena of nature, re- marks in his Personal Narrative upon the small portion of knowledge which we possess of the absolute position and breadth of the gulf-stream, as well as of its prolongation towards the coasts of Europe and Africa ; and as the true know- ledge of it would be of the highest importance in shortening voyages, he hints that it might be useful if vessels furnished with the best in- struments were instructed to cruise in the 1817. COURT OF LONDON. gulf of Mexico, and in the Atlantic, between the 30th and 54th degrees of north latitude, expressly with a view to determine at what distances, and in what precise directions, the stream is found in different seasons and under the influence of different winds. The same navigators, he remarks, might have instructions to examine whether this great current con- stantly skirts the southern bank of Newfound- land ; and on what parallel between 32 and 40 degrees of w^st longitude the waters which run from east to west, are nearest to those which flow in an opposite direction. The Commodore, who was considered by those who knew him best, to be as skilful a navigator as he was an accomplished officer, inclined to the belief, I thought, that the currents of the ocean, the theory of which we do not yet fully .understand, had exerted some agency in bring- ing the ship into the situation described. On the evening of the 28th, after having had Bermuda in view for a few hours, and no- ticing some signals made to us, the wind springing up, we gladly bade it adieu, and laid our course for England. It was on the Sunday following that we had the storm. From that time the ship went swiftly onward under boisterous winds. On the 14th of De- cember we were in the Channel. The nights 6 UKSIDENCK AT THE IU17. were long and dark ; the days gloomy. We could get no good observation from the sun or stars. We spoke no vessels, saw none; nor any sign of a pilot. The New England pilot boats and those of the Chesapeake, our offi- cers said, would run out to sea twenty and thirty miles to look for vessels; but here, in the English Channel, such a high-way for ves- sels, no pilots were to be seen, and at a season when most wanted. It was somewhat remark- able, that neither the Commodore, who had been twenty years in the navy, nor any of his Lieutenants, though seven in number and some like himself familiar with almost all seas, had ever before been up the English Channel ; nor had the sailing-master, or mate. Cowes or Portsmouth was the port we desired to make. Our midshipmen, two, in particular, whose names I remember, young Powell of Virginia and Cooper of New York, would climb up to the truck of the mainmast ; but neither land, nor light-house, nor pilot-boat, nor any thing could be descried. All was a dreary waste. Throughout the 14th and 15th the Commo- dore's anxiety was very great, especially by night, for the weather was rough, and he be- lieved we were close by the coast. The ship was chiefly steered by soundings ; her situa- tion being ascertained from the appearances of 1817. COURT OF LONDON. the soil which the lead brought up ; a resource when other guides of navigation fail, but tedi- ous and apt to prove deceptive. At length, early in the morning of the iGih, all uneasiness was dispelled. The first gleams of light disclosed land. It was a long blue-looking ridge rising out of the water. A gun was fired, which brought a pilot. We learned, as he stepped on board, that the land before us was the Isle of Wight, and that we were near Cowes. All eyes were upon him as he passed along the deck. The first person that comes on ship-board after a voyage seems like a new link to human existence. When he took his station at the helm, I heard the Com- modore ask how the Needles bore. " Ahead north," he answered. — " Do you take the ship through them ?" — " Ay.'*^ — " Does the wind set right, and have you enough ?" — " Ay." This closed all dialogue, as far as I heard. He remained at his post, giving his laconic orders. In good time we approached the Nee- dles. The spectacle was grand. Our officers gazed in admiration. The very men, who swarmed upon the deck, made a pause to look upon the giddy height. The most exact steer- ing seemed necessary to save the ship from the sharp rocks that compress the waters into the narrow strait below. But she passed easily 8 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. through. There is something imposing in en- tering England by this access. I afterwards entered at Dover, in a packet, from Calais ; my eye fixed upon the sentinels as they slowly paced the heights. But those cliffs, bold as they are, and immortalized by Shakspeare, did not equal the passage through the Needles. There was a breathless curiosity also in the first approach augmenting its intrinsic gran- deur. In a little while we anchored off Cowes. If the Needles were a grand sight, the one now before us was full of beauty. Castles, cottages, villas, gardens, were scattered on all sides. When we left our own country, the leaves had fallen, and the grass lost its green ; but now, although the season was more advanced and we had got to a higher latitude, a general ver- dure was to be seen. This was doubtless the effect in part of exquisite cultivation, and in part of the natural moisture and mildness of the climate of this part of England. As we looked all round after so immediately emerg- ing from the gloom of the ocean, it seemed like enchantment. Boats came off from the shore to look at our ship ; the persons in them, their dress, countenances, the minutest thing, fixed our attention. Our Consul at Cowes came on board, and some officers of the port. 1017. COURT OF LONDON. r |es Three pilots also came. Between these and our pilot words were soon heard. The cause was remarkable. It turned out that our pilot was in fact no pilot. He had been one, but his branch was taken away for habitual drunken- ness. Continuing to own his boat, he sailed about this part of the Channel at his pleasure, like the old man of the sea. Hearing our gun, he came on board, and, making the most of our being a foreign ship, cunningly resorted to the exercise of his old craft. The disappointed pilots declared, and our Consul rather confirm- ed what they said, that at the moment of their dispute he was in a state of intoxication ; so that we were then first made acquainted with the fact of having been brought through the Needles by a drunken steersman ! It appeared singular that such an occurrence should have happened in the English Channel ; yet so it was. It was hinted that he had so good a tact in his business, and knew that part of the coast so well, that he would generally steer right even when drunk. Such was the lucky acci- dent in our case, and, being ignorant, we were not uneasy. His drunkenness taking the form of taciturnity, he escaped detection in the eyes of strangers, though his sulkiness had not been unnoticed. The others stoutly denied his right to any fees ; but as the fact of service 10 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. performed was in his favour, and no one else could claim on that ground, the Commo- dore did not think that it rested with him to settle points of law. Our Palinurus certainly had the advantage in alertness over the sleepy set who would have robbed him of his reward. tt Cassio, I forgive thee ; But never more be officer of mine." [ii r. 1817. COURT OF LONDON. 11 CHAPTER II. LANDING AT PORTSMOUTH AND JOURNEY TO LONDON I STAYED on ship-board two days waiting the proper order from London, for which the Consul had written, to have my baggage pass- ed. During this interval the surrounding scene lost none of its interest : it was further enlivened by visitors coming on board the ship. We got the London newspapers wet from the press. It is a remark of Humboldt, that no language can express the emotion that a Euro- pean naturalist feels when he touches for the first time American land. May not the re- mark be reversed by saying, that no language can express the emotion which almost every American feels when he first touches the shores of Europe ? This feeling must have a special increase, if it be the case of a citizen of the United States going to England. Her fame is constantly before him. He hears of her statesmen, her orators, her scholars, her philo- sophers, her divines, her patriots. In the nur- sery he learns her ballads. Her poets train his / 12 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. imagination. Her language is his, with its whole intellectual riches, past, and for ever newly flowing; a tie, to use Burke's figure, light as air, and unseen; but stronger than links of iron. In spite of political differences, her glory allures him. In spite of hostile col- lision, he clings to her lineage. After Captain Decatur's capture of a British frigate, some one asked him if his forefathers were not French. "No, I beg pardon," he answered, " they were English'' In that spirit would his countrymen generally answer. Walking the deck with two of our lieutenants, while sound- ing up the Channel, " Think," said one of them, " that we may be in the track of the Armada;'' and they talked of the heroine queen at Til- bury. These are irrepressible feelings in an American. His native patriotism takes a higher tone from dwelling on the illustrious parent stock. Places and incidents that Eng- lishmen pass by fill his imagination. He sees the past in conjunction with the present. Three thousand miles, said Franklin, are as three thousand years. Intervention of space seems to kindle enthusiasm, like intervention of time. Is it not fit that two such nations should be friends ? Let us hope so. It is the hope which every minister from the United States should carry with him to England. It 1817. COURT OF LONDON. 13 »> IS fn IS le is the hope in which every British minister of State should meet him. If, nevertheless, rivalry is in the nature of things, at least let it be on fair principles. Let it be generous, never paltry, never malignant. The order for my baggage not arriving at the time expected, I landed vt^ithout it. Pre- ferring to land at Portsmouth, the boats were prepared, and on the 19th I left the ship. The Commodore and some of his officers ac- companied me. A salute was fired, as on em- barking ; the usual ceremony when our minis- ters are received on board, or landed from, the national ships. Approaching Portsmouth, we passed numerous vessels of war. Some were lying in ordinary, some ready for sea. There were docks, and arsenals, and store-houses, and batteries, and fortifications. The day was fair ; the wind fresh. This gave animation to the harbour scene, swelling the sails of vessels in motion, and streaming out the colours of those at anchor. It was a fine naval panorama. Be- sides formidable rows of line of battle ships and frigates, we saw transports crowded with troops. I had before seen ports alive with the bustle of trade ; but never one so frowning and glistening with features and objects of war. When we reached the shore, tide-waiters ad- vanced to take possession of my baggage. They 14 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. were informed of my public character. This did not turn them from their purpose. The national ship from which I had debarked was in view ; her colours flying. Still they alleged, that having received no orders to the contrary, they must inspect my baggage. I said to Com- modore Stewart that, strictly, they were right, and directed my servant to deliver it. There was but little, the principal part having been left on board to await the permit of exemp- tion. It might have been supposed that these guardians of the revenue would have satisfied their sense of duty by a merely formal exami* nation of what was delivered so readily. Not so; carpet-bags were ransacked; the folds of linen opened, as if Brussels lace had been hid- den in them ; small portmanteaus peered into, as if contraband lurked in every corner. No- thing was overlooked. A few books brought for amusement on the voyage were taken pos- session of, and I had to go on without them. I should have been disposed to make complaint of this mock official fidelity and subaltern folly, but from an unwillingness to begin my public career with a complaint. And I remembered to have heard Mr. Adams say, that when the Al- lied Sovereigns visited En^^iaiid after the battle of Waterloo, their baggage was inspected at Dover, the order for exemption having, by an i 1817. This . The 3d was -Ueged, ntrary, )Com- I right, There J been xemp- these tisfied jxami^ Not ds of ihid- into, No- )ught pos- :heni. >laint folly, ublic ed to 3 Al- attle d at y an 1817. COURT OF LONDON. 15 inadvertence, not been sent. There is no pri- vilege, by positive law, of a foreign minister's effects from Custom-house examination ; but by universal comity, it is forborne. The exer- cise of such a claim with the privity of a Go- vernment would become an affront. I must add, that the order for the full delivery of all mine, with every immunity, arrived at Cowes soon after I left the ship. In the sequel the unlucky books found their way back to me. I proceeded to the George Inn in Ports- mouth, where the Commodore and his officers were to give me the favour of their company to dinner. Arrived there, we had every atten- tion from the master, and his servants. Com- fortable apartments were promptly prepared, and the ready-laid fires lighted. We found that careful anticipation of our wants, and orderly arrangement of every thing, for which we had understood English inns were remark- able. Whilst seated round our parlour fire in the evening, fatigued by the excitements we had gone through, and waiting the summons to dinner, we heard the bells. It was a fine chime to which we all listened. My wife was especially fond of their music. Sometimes the sound grew faint, and then from a turn in the wind, came back in peals. We knew not the 1 ' ! 16 RESIDENCE AT THE 1«17. cause. It passed in our thoughts tliat the same bells might have rung their hurras for the victories of Hawke and Nelson ; " May he^^ said one of the party, "^or Sir Cloudesley Sho- veVs too'' Thus musing, an unexpected piece of intelligence found its way into our circle. We were given to understand that they were ringing on the occasion of my arrival ; a com- pliment to my station to which I had not looked. We went in to our first dinner in England under a continuation of their peals. The cloth removed, we had a glass or two to our country and friends, after which we re- turned to our sitting-room. When all were re-assembled there, I had an intimation that " The Royal Bell-ringers were in waiting in the hall desirous of seeing me." They did not ask admittance, I was told, but at my pleasure. I directed them to be shown in at once, begin- ning now to understand the spring to the com- pliment. Eight men with coats reaching down to their heels, hereupon slowly entered. They ranged themselves one after another, in a .so- lemn line along the wall. Every thing being adjusted, the spokesman at their head broke silence with the following intelligible address. He said that they had come, " with their due and customary respects, to wish me joy on my safe arrival in Old England as Ambassador Ex- 1017. COURT OF LONDON. 17 traordinary from the United States, hoping to receive from me the li^ual favour, such as they had received from other ambassadors, for which they had their hook to show.'* Their book was a curiosity. It looked like a venerable heir- loom of office. There were in it, the names of I know not how many ambassadors, ministers, and other functionaries, arriving from foreign parts, throughout the lapse of I know not how many ages, with the donations annexed to each. Magna Charta itself was not a more im- portant document to the liberties of England, than this book to the Royal Bell-ringers of Portsmouth ! I cheerfully gave to the good- humoured fraternity the gratuity which their efforts in their vocation appeared to have drawn from so many others under like circumstances. So, and with other incidents, passed my first day in England. On the following morning, Admiral Thorn- borough, the admiral in command at Ports- mouth, Sir James Yeo, captain in the British navy, and Sir George Grey, chief commissioner of the dock-yard, called upon me. They of- fered their congratulations on my arrival. The Admiral said, that if Commodore Stewart re- quired any supplies for his ship, every facility which the yard afforded would be at his com- mand. He added, that he would be happy in / 18 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. the opportunity of showing him the hospitali- ties of the port. Sir George Grey expressed his regrets that he had not known of my in- tention to land at Portsmouth, saying that he would have sent the Admiralty Yacht to the Franklin to bring me, my family, and suite, on shore ; the more so, as the day was blustering, and he feared we had suffered from exposure in the ship's boats, the distance being several miles from Cowes to Portsmouth. I made the acknowledgments which these courtesies de- manded. If but the natural offspring of the occasion, they tended to show, that whatever had been the conduct of the subordinates of the Custom-house, those who stood higher were likely to be actuated by different feelings towards an official stranger. I estimated pro- perly Sir George Grey's offer, but had a silent feeling thai would have made me prefer under any circumstances the landing from the ship's boats, with my country's flag at the stern. At noon I set out for London. My family consisted of my wife, four small children, young Mr. Taylor, of Washington, attached to my legation, whose name I cannot mention without an allusion to his amiable and gentlemanly qualities, and three servants. As the post- chaises drew up, the master of the inn returned nie his thanks for my custom. The servants 1017. 1817. COU Rf OF LONDON. 19 also formed a line on each side of the entry, thanking us as we passed along. I am aware that this had all been paid for ; still there is a charm in civility. Money owing, says the mo- ralist of Tusculanum, is not paid, and when paid is not owing ; but he who pays gratitude possesses it, and he who possesses, pays it. So, civility for the small things of life is a species of gratitude which we like. We were soon out of Portsmouth, and went as far as Godalming that day, a distance of thirty-eight miles, over roads like a floor. I was surprised at the few houses along or near the road side. I had been full of the idea of the populousnt:;s of England, and although I must needs have supposed that this could not be the case in every spot, it had not oc- curred to me that along such a high road I should find the first and so remarkable an exception. We rarely met waggons, carriages, or vehicles of any sort, except stage-coaches. We did not see a single person on horseback. The stage-coaches illustrated what is said of the excellence of that mode of travelling in England. These, as they came swiftly down the hills or were met in full trot upon the plains, the horses fine, the harness bright, and the inside and out filled with passengers, not only men but women, crowding the tops, had a c 2 20 HKSIUENCE AT TUK iai7. i I I bold and picturesque appearance. The few peasants whom we saw were fully and warmly clad. I'hey wore breeches, a heavy shoe, which, lacing over the ankle, made the foot look clumsy ; a linen frock over the coat, and stout leather gloves, which they kept on while work- ing. They were generally robust men, short, and of fair complexions. We passed a waggon of great size. It had no pole, but double shafts, with a horse in each, and a line of four horses before each shaft horse, making ten in all, of enormous size. Their tails were uncut, and the long shaggy hair hung about their pasterns. The waggon was loaded with bales pile upon pile, higher than I had ever seen. Our posti- lions called it the Portsmouth heavy waggon. We afterwards saw others of like size and con- struction, drawn by like horses, loaded with the produce of agriculture. Whilst the draft- horses were thus enormous and rough, and the stage-coach horses sleek and beautiful, our post- horses were small, gaunt, and unsightly, but with great capacity to go fast. I was looking for a favourable change in their appearance at every relay, without finding it. In good time I discovered that the principle of sub- division applied to horses, with as much strict- ness as to every thing else in England, there being every variety for work and luxury. J 1817. COURT OF LONDON. 21 In regard to population, I had subsequent op[:ortunities of perceiving that there were other parts of England, and of greater extent, where it was much more thin than was gene- rally the case from Portsmouth to Godalming. London, and a circuit of twenty miles round, give more than two millions of inhabitants ; Yorkshire gives one million, and Lancashire about one million. Hence these three portions of territory, so small when compared with all England, embrace nearly one third of her population. This concentration in particular districts seems to have left others relatively bare. It is difficult to believe under such facts, whatever theories we meet with, that England is at present overpeopled. Her soil, it would seem, must be open to further melio- rations, which, with improved systems of policy and agriculture, and further means of internal communication, great as are already the latter, will in time not distant carry her population as far above what it now is, as it now exceeds what it was at the period of her early kings. If we take Holland as an example of successful in- dustry and art, where a nation has been com- pelled to struggle against the disadvantages of a stinted soil, there are great portions of terri- tory in England still like a desert, which after- ages may behold productive. 22 RESIDENCE AT THE 1»17. At Godalming we lost our mocking-bird. We had brought it as a mark of remembrance from Mr. Crawford, formerly Minister of the United States in France, to Lady Auckland, for some kindnesses received from her in Eng- land. We nursed it with all care during the voyage. It drooped, however, at sea, and the night being cold at Godalming, it died. This bird is small, and has no beauty of plumage. Its notes are as melodious as the nightingale's, and of more variety ; but I doubt if they can ever be drawn out in their full extent, and richness, except in its native climates. Mr. Fox, as we learn in the introduction to his James II., thought the notes of the nightingale sprightly rather than plaintive, and refers to the " Floure and Leafe '* of Chaucer as showing him to have been of that opinion, when he speaks of its nierry song. Mr. Fox even calls Theocritus to his aid, who makes the yellow nightingale " trill her minstrelsy'^ in notes re- sponsive to the cheerful blackbird's. Could this British statesman, who in the midst of his graver pursuits was so alive to the beauties of poetry and nature, have heard the American mocking-bird warbling its wood notes wild, he would at one moment have been cheered by their sprightliness ; the next, soothed by their melancholy. V-?; 1817. COURT OF LONDON. 23 On the morning of the 21st we proceeded on our journey. Every thing now began to wear a different aspect. The change was more de- cided after passing Guildford, the county town of Surrey. We saw the traces of a more abun- dant population, and advanced state of hus- bandry. The season did not show the country in its best dress ; but we were enabled to see more of it by the very absence of the foliage. Farms, and common dwellings, with fields beau- tifully divided, and enclosed ; country seats with lodges and stately gates of iron marking the entrance to them ; lawns, fresh and verdant, though it was the winter solstice ; parks and pleasure-grounds munificently enclosed; ancient trees in avenues, standing in copses, or shoot- ing up among the hedges, with shrubbery taste- fully arranged in gardens, and vines and flow- ers clustering about the houses, were among the objects that rose in succession as we passed along. We put frequent questions to the pos- tilions, but they could tell us little. The eye was constantly occupied. None of us had ever before been in Europe. As we got nearer to London, indications multiplied of what had been effected by time, to fill up its vast environs. Unlike the approaches to Rome, some of which are said to be at the present day through partial desolation, all within our view grew more and I I I 24 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. more instinct with life : until, at length, even- ing coming on, at first villages, then rows of buildings, and people, and twinkling lights, and all kinds of sound, gave token that the metro- polis was close by. We entered it by Hyde Park Corner, passing through Piccadilly and Bond Street, beholding the moving crowds which now the town lights revealed. Another turn brought us into Conduit Street, where rooms had been engaged for our accommoda- tion. In a little while we proceeded to the house of Ross Cuthbert, Esq. in Gloucester Place, a Canadian gentleman, married to one of my sisters, at whose hospitable table we dined : where also it was my fortune to meet another sister, wife of Major Manners of the British army. I' i L I A M ■I 1017. COURT OF LONDON. 25 CHAPTER III. FIRST INTERVIEW WITH LORD CASTLEREAGH. — FIRST APPEARANCES OF LONDON. 1 'X 4 December 22, 1817. I addressed a note to Lord Castlereagh, the English Secretary-of- state for Foreign Affairs, informing him of my arrival. I asked v^rhen I might have the hon- our of waiting on him. He immedia^^ely re- plied that he would be happy to see me at the Foreign-office, in Downing Street, to-morrow at four o'clock. December 23. Went to the Foreign-office. A sentry was walking before the door. I was admitted by a porter, and shown by a mes- senger into an ante-room. Another messenger conducted me up-stairs to Lord Castlereagh's apartment. First salutations being over, I said that I should be happy to learn at what time I might have the honour of delivering to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent my letter of credence from the President, constituting 26 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. t ^1 I me Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni- potentiary of the United States, at his Royal Highness's court. I handed his Lordship a copy of the letter. He replied, that the Prince was at Brighton ; that he himself was going there on the day following, expecting to be ab- sent a week ; that he did not know precisely when the Prince would leave Brighton, but was sure he would appoint an early day for re- ceiving me, after he came to town. I said that his Royal Highness's pleasure on the occasion would be mine. His Lordship begged I would consider myself free to call upon him, imme- diately after his own return to town ; remark- ing that he would consider my reception by the Prince as having taken place, if there were any subjects I desired to broach beforehand. He added, that his wish would invariably be to give every facility to the transaction of bu- siness between us, in the hope of results satis- factory to both countries ; for all which I thanked him. He also said that perhaps he might wish to converse with me on matters of business, before my formal reception. He made enquiries for Mr. Adams, my predecessor in the mission, and President Monroe, whom he had also known in England. He spoke of the prosperity of the United States, which he said he heard of with pleasure : remarking that t ii/sl m- i 1817. COURT OF LONDON. 27 - -M 1 the prosperity of one commercial nation contri- buted to that of others. His whole reception of me was very conciliatory. There was a sim- plicity in his manner, the best, and most at- tractive characteristic of a first interview. It lasted about twenty minutes. December 24. — Go through several parts of the town : Bond Street, Albemarle Street, Berkeley Square, Piccadilly, St. James's Street and Park, Pall Mall, St. James's Square, the Strand, and a few others. Well-dressed per- sons, men and women, throng them. In the dresses of both, black predominates. It is nearly universal. This proceeds from the general mourning for the Princess Charlotte, late heiress apparent to the throne, who died in November. The roll of chariots, and car- riages of all kinds, from two until past four, was incessant. In all directions they were in mo- tion. It was like a show — the horses, the coachmen with triangular hats and tassels, the footmen with cockades and canes — it seem- ed as if nothing could exceed it all. Yet I was told that the sight in Hyde Park, any day in May or June, was more striking ; and that if it happened to be on the same day with the Epsom or Ascot races, which keep the roads alive for ten miles with London carriages, a stranger misses none from the Park. Some- ■f! ^11 I'' f 2S RESIDENCE AT THE 1»17. times with this glitter of private equipages, you saw a stationary line of hacks, the worn- down horses eating out of nose-bags ; and sometimes, at a slow, tugging walk, immense waggons, filled with coals, in black sacks, drawn by black horses, large, and shaggy, and fat, as those in the Portsmouth waggon. I am disappointed in the general exterior of the dwelling-houses. I had anticipated something better at the west end of the town ; more sym- metry ; buildings more by themselves, denot- ing the residences of the richest people in the richest city in Europe. But I do not yet see these. I see haberdashers' shops, poulterers' shops, the leaden stalls of fishmongers, and the slaughtering blocks of butchers, in the near vicinity of a nobleman's mansion and a king's palace. This may be necessary, or convenient, for the supplies of a capital too large to admit of one or more concentrated markets ; but the imagination at a distance pictures something different. Perhaps it is to give a hint of En- glish liberty : if so, I will be the last to find fault. Being the day before Christmas, there was more display in the shops than usual. I did not get back until candle-light. The whole scene began to be illuminated. Alto- gether, what a scene it was ! the shops in the Strand and elsewhere, where every conceivable ■4- I 1«17. 1817. COURT OF LONDON. 29 ■m I article lay before you ; and all made in Eng- land, which struck me the more, coming from a country where few things are made, however foreign commerce may send them to us ; then, the open squares, and gardens ; the parks with spacious walks ; the palisades of iron, or enclo- sures of solid wall, wherever enclosures were requisite ; the people ; the countless number of equipages, and fine horses ; the gigantic draft horses ; — ^what an aspect the whole exhibited ! what industry, what luxury, what infinite par- ticulars, what an aggregate ! The men were taller and straighter than the peasantry I had seen. The lineaments of a race descend like their language. The people I met, constantly reminded me of those of my own country — I caught the same expression — often it glided by in complete identity — my ear took in ac- cents to which it was native — ^but I knew no one. It was like coming to another planet, familiar with voices and faces, yet encircled by strangers. December 31. The fog was so thick that the shops in Bond Street had lights at noon. I could not see people in the street from my windows. I am tempted to ask, how the Eng- lish became great with so little daylight ? It seems not to come fully out until nine in the morning, and immediately after four it is gone. 30 RESIDENCE AT THE 1817. King Charles's saying of the English climate is often brought up ; that it interrupts out- door labour fewer days in the year than any other. Did he remember the fogs, and how very short the day is, for labour, during a por- tion of the year ? I i\ I I III X <0 ,1 I '# f-l i 1017. mate out- any how por- 1018. COURT OF LONDON. 81 CHAPTER IV. INTERVIEW WITH LORD CASTLEREAGH. — SLAVES CAR- RIED AWAY FROM THE UNITED STATES CONTRARY TO THE TREATY OF GHENT. — EQUALIZATION OF TONNAGE DUTIES. WEST INDIA TRADE. MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH AND AMERICAN CABINETS. January 3, 1818. Waited on Lord Castle- reagh at eleven in the morning, at his private residence, St. James's Square. It was by his request, in a note received yesterday. I was shown into a room near the hall. Family por- traits were on one side, books on another, and two white bull-dogs lying before the fire. Contradicting their looks, they proved good- natured. In a few minutes, a servant con- ducted me into a room adjoining, where I found Lord Castlereagh. He received me with his former courtesy, renewing his oblig- ing inquiries for the health of my family after our winter's voyage, with the expression of a hope that the fogs of London had not alarmed us. 32 RKSIDRNCE AT THE ini8. ' 1^! t H ''1 iMi r. fi' ii{,i I !!| K I nil I He informed me that he had been to Brigh- ton, and delivered to the Prince Regent the copy of my letter of credence, and that the Prince would receive me as soon as he came to town. In the mean time he had his Royal Highnesses commands to say, that I must look upon myself as already, in effect, accredited. He proceeded to say, that if there were any subjects of business I desired to mention, he would hear me. He remarked, that it had been his habit to treat of business with the foreign ministers in frank conversations ; a course that saved time, and was in other ways preferable, as a general one, to official notes. He intimated his wish to do the same with me. I replied, that nothing could be more agreeable to me than to be placed upon that footing with him. The way being opened for business, I en- tered upon it. I said there were two subjects thiit my Government had charged me to bring to the notice of his Majesty's, without delay. The first had reference to the slaves carried off by the English ships from the United States at the close of the late war, in contravention, as we alleged, of the treaty of Ghent. This subject, already discussed between the two Governments without prospect of an agree- ment, was exciting, I remarked, an interest in -3 181H. LOUKT OF LONDON. Mi en- the United States, to be expected where the property and rights of a large class of their citizens were at stake. It had therefore been made my earliest duty to renew the proposi- tion submitted to my Government, and believed to point to the best if not only mode of satis- factory settlement. The proposition was, that the question be referred to a third power to be chosen as umpire between the parties. This course was recommended by the example of provisions in the treaty of Ghent as to other subjects on which differences of opinion had existed between the two nations ; my Govern- ment therefore had the hope, that Great Britain would accede to it in this instance also. His Lordship said, that he had been much on the Continent, whilst the discussions on this subject v;ere going forward, and inquired if we had precise information as to the number of slaves carried away. I replied, not in hand, but that it would be afforded at the proper time. He next asked, if their dispersed situ- ation would not be an impediment to resti- tution. This was met by saying, that the owners w^ould look to a pecuniary equivalent. Conversation was continued on the general question. In conclusion, he promised to keep it in mind. The next subject grew out of the commer- D i I I til) i.,.|i; '^M'i :^ i 121! i|i 34 RESIDENCE AT THE 1018. cial convention between the two countries, of the 3rd of July 1815. This convention had established a reciprocity of duties and charges of all kinds, upon the vessels of the two nations in each other's ports. Its operation was, by its terms, to begin from the day of its date. The rule of reciprocity ought therefore to have attached, practically, at that time ; instead of which, each nation continued for a while to levy the duties existing before the convention, and Great Britain had not yet abolished them all. My Government desired, I said, to carry back the operation of the convention to the day of its date, and was ready to give this rule effect by retrospective measures, hoping to find a corresponding disposition in his Majesty's Government. This subject being new to his Lordship, he gave no opinion upon it, but promised, as in the other case, to seek the necessary lights for forming one. I may state that, in the end, it was adjusted to the satisfaction of both nations. The foregoing being the only topics which it fell within my purpose to bring to his Lord- ship's notice at this time, he, in turn, drew my attention to a subject on which he desired in- formation. It related to the four articles submitted by i I IHIO. (OURT OF LONDON. ^5 m- by ig the British Government to my predecessor for partially opening the West India trade to the vessels of the United States. His liOrdship wished to know, what probahility there was of my Government agreeing to them. As this trade enters much into future nego- tiations between the two countries, the first mention of the subject calls for a succinct ex- planation of the general question. It stands thus, according to the statement on the side of the United States. They con- tend for a free intercourse in their vessels, with the British West India Islands, and Bri-* tish colonies on the continent of North Ame- rica, whenever the trade to either is opened at all by Great Britain to their flag ; else, they say, that, by navigation acts of their own, they will be obliged to prohibit the trade alto- gether. The steady policy of England has been, to secure as large an employment as possible of her own tonnage, in carrying on her commerce with the rest of the world. Her celebrated navigation acts, commenced in Crom- welPs time, and adhered to in principle ever since, whatever occasional departures there may have been from them in practice, have all had this end in view. They provided that the whole trade between England and the conti- nents of Asia, Africa, and America, should be D 2 i :!! 36 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. li i! I . m lii carried on in English ships, manned by En- glish sailors. They also embraced regulations that placed the trade between England and the European nations upon nearly the same footing. It was against the previous monopoly of Dutch tonnage that these navigation acts were levelled. What more natural, than that other nations should be unwilling to witness the same monopoly in the tonnage of England, that she objected to in that of the Dutch ; more especially since the foreign and colonial dominions of the former, have swelled to an extent that could scarcely have been conceived in the time of Cromwell. The West India Islands being part of the British Empire, her right to interdict all trade between them and any foreign country, could not be denied ; and was not. As a general rule, she did interdict it. I speak of time anterior to this interview. But there were junctures when^ to advance ob- jects of her own, she would throw the trade open to the United States. When she did this, she confined it to her own ships, manned, as by law they must be, by her own sailors. What the United States claimed was, that, whenever the trade existed at all, it should be carried on in their vessels, manned by their sailors, as well as with the vessels and sailors of England. The trade once opened, the United 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 37 States were parties to it; and thence urged their right to a voice in its regulation. This was their doctrine. It had been maintained since the days of President Washington. It contemplated no interference with the colonial rights, or monopoly of Britain. It left her at full liberty to prohibit the importation into her colonies of whatever articles she thought lit from the United States ; and in like man- ner to prohibit exportations. It only asked, that the commercial intercourse, of whatever nature it might be, that was once opened for her benefit, or that of both countries, should be placed upon a footing of equality as to the vessels and sailors of both. This had lately been done in the trade between the United States and the European dominions of Britain, by the convention of July 1815. That con- vention itself, unless the reciprocity were ex- tended to the West Indies, would give undue advantages to British vessels. The latter could sail under its enactments, from Liver- pool to New York, for example, paying, in New York, none other than American duties. Thence, under the English colonial system, they could sail to the English West Indies, and back again to England; making profit from this threefold operation. American ves- sels, on the other hand, were confined to the 'ill ll II 1:1 ^'1 I 5 III 38 RESIDENCE AT THE iai8. direct track between New York and Liverpool. The British ship, as was well expressed by a distinguished American senator, could sail on three sides of the triangle ; the American, only on one. Britain on her part alleged, that she had the right to regulate her trade between her colo- nies and the rest of the world in all respects as she saw fit. This she declared it was proper she should do, not only as regarded the commo- dities entering into the trade, but the vessels carrying them. She said, that to assent to the basis of reciprocity in her trade between these Islands and the United States, would give to the latter inherent advantages, owing to their proximity to the Islands. That she maintain- ed the Islands at great expense for their civil governments and military establishments, and that on these grounds, as well as that of her ge- neral sovereignty over them, not only had the right, but held it necessary to her just interests, to employ, chiefly, if not exclusively, her own vessels and seamen in the trade whenever open- ed, no matter to what extent, or on what in- ducements. Such, briefly, was the British doc- trine. It will come into view again. I will subjoin a brief commentary upon the original Navigation Act of England, as passed by the Commonwealth Parliament in 1652. It is by Jenkinson, from his work on treaties. 1 1 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 39 " Critics in commerce reason variously," says he, " on the benefits or disadvantages of this act. Those who argue in its disfavour, reason on the general principle of its being an error in politics to interrupt the free course of com- merce by any kind of prohibitions whatsoever ; which is generally true, and would be always so, could one be assured of constant universal amity. But as that is very far from being the case, the exception to the general rule in this case holds good, since nothing is more clear than that those who employ most ships will have most seamen, and consequently be best enabled to command the sea. It was but too evident by this short war, [Cromwell's with Holland,] how near a match for us the Dutch were, and continued so for some years after ; and had not this act been made, would very probably before this time have been too potent for us, as they would have had the gross of the European seamen in their service ; so that the act, notwithstanding some inconveniences it might produce in point of commere, was a very happy thought in the making, and shows our judgment in its being continued." This celebrated act may be said to have changed the maritime condition of the world. It continues to this day to affect the legisla- tion of the United States. The four articles of which Lord Castlereagh j'''i 40 RESIDENCE AT THE 18UJ. h '■ spoke, reduced to their essence, may be de- scribed thus. The first extended to the United States the provisions of certain Free Port acts, as they were called, authorizing a trade in the articles which they enumerated, between cer- tain specified ports of the British West Indies, and the colonies of European nations, in ves- sels having only one deck. The second made a special provision for the trade between the United States and the Island of Bermuda, in a larger list of articles, and without limiting the size of the vessel. The third allowed cotton and tobacco to be imported from the United States in their own vessels to Turks Island, and salt to be taken away from that island, also in their vessels. The fourth aimed at re- gulating the intercourse, though under many restrictions, between the United States and the British continental colonies in America, ad- joining the dominions of the former. To his Lordship's inquiry as to the probabi- lity of my Government agreeing to these ar- ticles, I replied, " that the President, when I left Washington, had them under considera- tion ; but I owed it to candour to say, that there was little likelihood of their being accept- ed, so far did they fall short of the reciprocity desired." He afterwards inquired of what na- ture would be our counter projet, in the event 1818. COUHT OF LONDON. 4)1 of their rejection. I said, one that would open this trade fully, and above all give to British vessels no privileges of any kind whatever, di- rect or incidental, over the vessels of the United States. The latter were ready to grant, in their ports, to British vessels coming from the islands, all the privileges which their own vessels enjoyed ; and could not be content with less to their vessels, in the ports of the is- lands. His Lordship here spoke generally of the colonial system of Britain, he said it was interwoven with her whole commercial code, and code of navigation ; and that she owed it to interests which she believed to be important in both connexions, to adhere to the system in the main, however willing to submit to occa- sional or partial relaxations. I rejoined, that, with whatever reluctance the United States would adopt the policy of closing the trade al- together, in the continued absence of the reci- procity for which they contended, they would at last be compelled to adopt it, in necessary justice to their own commercial and navigating interests. I referred him to some acts of Con- gress already passed with that intent. He wound up by remarking, that Britain, consi- dering the nature of her colonial system, had no right to complain of measures of that cha- racter on the part of the United States, how- I'l 42 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. ever she might regret them ; nor would she complain. She had maintained it so long, that she would find it difficult on that as well as other accounts, to change it. Such was the general outline of what fell from him. Before I came away, he said, that the Christ- mas holidays had scattered the members of the cabinet ; they were chiefly in the country ; on the return of some of them to town he would avail himself of an early opportunity of ena- bling me to make their acquaintance by meet- ing them at dinner at his house. I will here give the names of those who com- posed the Cabinet. They were as follow: — The Earl of Liverpool, First Lord of the Trea- sury, and Prime Minister ; Lord Eldon, Lord Chancellor ; the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Pre- sident of the Council ; the Earl of Westmore- land, Lord Privy Seal ; Lord Sidmouth, Secre- tary-of-state for the Home department ; Lord Castlereagh, Secretary-of-state for Foreign Af- fairs ; Earl Bathurst, Secretary-of-state for the Colonial department ; Mr. Vansittart, Chan- cellor of the Exchequer ; Lord Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty ; the Earl of Mulgrave, Master-general of the Ordnance ; Mr. Canning, President of the Board of Controul for the Affairs of India ; Mr. Wellesley Pole, Master of the Mint ; and Mr. C. B. Bathurst, Chan- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 43 cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. These com- prehended the whole list on my arrival in England. No other oflficers of the Goven:ment, however high in station, were then of the ca- binet. The Secretary-of-war was not, nor the Attorney-general. The absence of the former I could not -311 explain, although the Colonial Secretary iicced in the concerns of war at ca- binet councils, seeing that the navy had a stated representative in those councils. Was not the army entitled to equal consideration ? I could even less explain the exclusion of the Attorney- general No acts of government, in a free country, are independent of law. Hence, I should have inferred, that, this officer would have been one of the primary advisers of the Crown. I was aware of the high legal func- tions of the Lord Chancellor ; but in the com- plicated and daily workings of the machine of free government throughout a vast empire, I could still see room for the Attorney-general in the cabinet. During my residence of more than seven years at the English court, this administration remained unchanged. There were resignations that led to new appointments, and some trans- positions. The Duke of Wellington was made Master- general of the Ordnance, on the resig- nation of Lord Mulgrave. Lord Sidmouth 44 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. I I! W f \'i ! ii< retired from the Home department, and was succeeded by Mr. Peel. Mr. Wellesley Pole gave up the Mastership of the Mint for a situa- tion nearer the person of the King, and was created Lord Maryborough. Mr. C. B. Ba- thurst went out of the Chancellorship of the Duchy of Lancaster, into which Mr. Vansittart passed ; the latter being also called to the peerage, under the title of Lord Bexley. Mr. Robinson, afterwards Lord Goderich, was ap- pointed to Mr. Vansittart's place. Mr. Can- ning became Secretary-of-state for Foreign Af- fairs, on the death of Lord Castlereagh, which occurred soon after the latter succeeded to the title of Marquis of Londonderry. Mr. C. W. W. Wynn was made President of the Board of Controul in place of Mr. Canning. Mr. Wallace, afterwards Lord Wallace, became Master of the Mint ; and Mr. Huskisson, ap- pointed President of the Board of Trade, was called to a seat in the cabinet, his office not having before been of that rank. None of the new appointments were under- stood to have grown out of want of concord in the body. The policy, as the premiership of Lord Liverpool, was maintained. He was placed in that post by the Prince Regent, in 1812. The age and infirmities of the reigning monarch had led Parliament two years before to establish 1818. 1818. COURT 01' LONDON. 4.') ap- a regency in the person of the Prince of Wales. The Regent found, and kept, Mr. Perceval at the head of affairs, until he perished by assassi- nation. It was then that Lord Liverpool was called to the helm. History will view his ad- ministration as one of renown to England. In the exertions of Europe against Napoleon from 1812 to 1815, the part which she acted by her arms and resources is before the world. Both were directed by this ministry, until the achieve- ment at Waterloo closed the momentous strug- gle. It was there that the Duke of Wellington, after numerous victories in India, in Portugal, in Spain, that had earned for him the reiterated thanks of Parliament and applauses of the na- tion, ascended to the pinnacle of military glory. One of the English ministers, on entering the House of Commons, bearing in his hand the Treaties of Peace which the triumphant battles of this great commander had done so much to- wards securing, was enthusiastically cheered by all the members. It was a spontaneous burst of public joy. Party differences were forgotten in deeds so overpowering. The same minister — it was Lord Castlereagh — afterwards declared in one of his speeches, that the " British empire had twice dictated the Peace of Europe in the capital of France.'^ The fame of such deeds naturally established in the confidence of the li 111 46 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. British public, the ministry on whose banner they were inscribed. Lord Liverpool was not a person to lose confidence so acquired. Splendour of genius not his characteristic ; but among his was talents was that of assembling able men around him. His cabinet was already strong, when, as we have seen, he enriched it with the names of Wellington, and Peel, and Robinson, and Hus- kisson ; lastly with that of Canning, whom he brought into the Foreign office, vacant by the sudden demise of a powerful incumbent. These, though differing in important points among each other, and from the Premier, remained in harmony under him as leader. Each was made efficient in his sphere, and the power of the whole augmented. If Lord Liverpool was not the ablest man of the body, he was essentially its head. With a sound judgment improved by public affairs, he was fitted for the business of a nation. What he did not take in by promptitude, he mastered by perseverance; not that he was deficient in the former, but that he paused upon his first conclusions. Systematic and grave, educated in maxims which he conscientiously approved, however others may have dissented from them ; cour- teous, yet inflexible ; with a personal character eminently pure, and a high reputation for official probity, his influence, as it rested upon iRin. COURT OF LONDON. 47 -4 practical qualities, went on to increase ; so that, during the whole term of my residence, I never heard that a change of ministry was for one moment seriously in contemplation. Such was the Premier whom I found and left in power. He enjoyed the entire confidence of his so- vereign ; and had the confidence of the coun- try to an extent that made him sure of his measures in hoth Houses of Parliament. Such, too, was the ministry with which I was to con- duct negotiations, and all other business of my mission. It was with a full sense of responsibility that I entered upon its duties. I was sustained by remembering who were at the head of my own Government. In President Monroe, his country recognized a patriot and sage. Time and long service had consecrated his virtues and talents. A chivalrous officer of the revolution, his youth- ful blood had been poured out on the plains of Trenton. To the careful study of history and government, he added a participation in the business of legislative halls, and that of diplomacy, at home and abroad. Perfectly ac- quainted with the foreign policy of the United States as with their domestic concerns ; elevated in all his principles ; just, magnanimous, self- controuled, few countries ever possessed a chief magistrate better qualified to administer its affairs with wisdom, or more exempt from pas- .< I ■l ) ' 48 IlESIDKNCE AT THK lUlH. sions to mislead. First of his cabinet, as re- garded every thing foreign, stood Mr. Secretary Adams ; a statesman of profound and various knowledge. He had received the best educa- tion that Europe and his own country could bestow, and from early life been practised in affairs. Minister at several of the Courts of Europe, favourable opportunities were before him of studying their policy, and a superior capacity enabled him to improve his opportuni- ties. Thus gifted and trained as a statesman, he was accomplished as a scholar, fervent as a patriot, and virtuous as a man. For the remainder of the Cabinet of the United States, there were Mr. Secretary Craw- ford of the Treasury department; Mr. Secre- tary Calhoun of the War department ; Mr. Secretary Thompson, and afterwards Mr. Secre- tary Southard, of the Navy department ; with Mr. Attorney-general Wirt ; men whose abili- ties gave further assurance to those in the foreign service of the country, that her inter- ests would not be overlooked. Such were the counsels whence my instructions were to flow. Of this cabinet I may add, that two of its members have since been called by the people to the high posts of President and Vice Presi- dent of the United States; Mr. Secretary Adams to the former, Mr. Secretary Calhoun to the latter. IHIU. COURT OF LONDON. 49 1 CHAPTER V. LONDON EAST OF TEMPLK BAR. — LONDON NORTH OK OXFORD STREET. '^V •& January 7, 1818. Went through Temple Bar into the cittf. in contradistinction to the West-end of Londo\., alwa v d called town. Pass- ed along Fleet Street, L idgate Hill, St. Paul's, Cheapside, the Pfulry, Corr. ill, and other streets in the direction of the Tov^e*'. Saw the Bank, Royal Exchange, Lord Mayor's house, Guildhall, India House, the Excise buildings. If I looked with any feeling of wonder on the throngs at the West-end, more cause is there for it here. The shops stand, side by side, for entire miles. The accumu- lation of *'r gs is amazing. It would seem impossible that there can be purchasers for them all, until you consider what multitudes there are to buy ; then, you are disposed to ask how the buyers can be supplied. In the middle of the streets, coal-waggons and others as large, carts, trucks, vehicles of every sort, loaded in every way, are passing. They are E H' ii ? ! 1 1' • i« 50 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. in two close lines, reaching farther than the eye can see, going reverse ways. The horses come so near to the foot-pavement, which is crowded with people, that their hoofs, and the great wheels of the waggons, are only a few inches from them. In this manner the whole procession is in movementj with its compli- cated noise. It confounds the senses to be among it all. You would anticipate constant accidents ; yet they seldom happen. The fear of the law preserves order ; moreover, the uni- versal sense of danger if order were violated, prevents its violation. I am assured that these streets present the same appearance every day in the year, except Sundays, when solitude reigns. I must notice as before the dress of the people. A large proportion were of the working classes ; yet all were whole in their clothing: you could hardly see exceptions. All looked healthy ; the more to be remarked in parts of the city where they live in per- petual crowds by day, and sleep in confined places. The Custom House, and black forest of ships below London Bridge, I saw by a glimpse : that was enough to show that the Thames was choked up with vessels and boats of every description, much after the manner that I beheld Cheapside and Fleet Street to be choked with vehicles that move on land. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 51 I went into two shops. One a silversmith's, that of Rundell and Bridge, on Ludgate Hill. Outside it is plain ; you might pass by without noticing it ; but on entering, the articles of silver were piled in heaps, even on the floor. Going further into the building the masses in- creased. In a room up-stairs, there was part of a dinner-service in course of manufacture. The cost of an entire service varied from thirty to fifty thousand pounds sterling, according to the number of pieces, and workmanship ; some- times it was much higher. A candelabra for the middle of a table, had just been finished for a customer, at fourteen hundred pounds. A dress sword for another customer was shown ; the cost was four thousand guineas. Other specimens of luxury might be mentioned, in- cluding ambassadors' snuff-boxes of gold and diamonds. The proprietors were extremely civil ; for I gave trouble only from curiosity. If you purchase but a pin for a few shillings, they return thanks ; if you do not incline to take it away yourself, they readily send it home, no matter how far off. The other shop was Shepherd's, for cut-glass, near Charing Cross. There too I had civility from the proprietor. In place of speaking of his wares, I will relate what he said of the Emperor Alexander. His Imperial Majesty, it seems, when on his visit E 2 ; :' ' 111 1 I • 1 ■ s ' I li " i K ' ! i, ji f ; ! 1 M- '' 1 ; U "1 ■* 1 ♦ ! i; r' f ' 1 i ■ i 1 1 i- ' -. ; 1 1 tij ' 1 \\ 1 ' m ' 1 m i. '1 52 RESIDENCE AT THE laio. to England with the Allied Sovereigns, ho- noured his shop with a call. Pleased with his articles beyond any of the kind he had seen in Europe, he gave an order for a magnificent list for one of his palaces. The pieces arrived in St. Petersburgh. Immediately, a ukase is- sued, prohibiting the future importation of cut glass into Russia. Whether the Emperor most desired to encourage the home manufacture of so beautiful a ware, or enhance the gratifica- tion of his Imperial taste by keeping it ex- clusive, were questions that I had no right to propound. Of all the sights, the one in the middle of the streets, bespoke to me most of causes and effects. Being afterwards in Paris, I saw more of architectural beauty, at first; more of bril- liancy. The Boulevards, the Palais Royal, the Rue Rivoli, which looked into the Tuileries through golden- tipped palisades, and a few other places, were not to be matched by any thing I saw in London. But their compass was small, and soon exhausted. The space be- t^veen Northumberland House and Bishopsgate disclosed more of transportation, more of the operations that proclaim circulation of capital, more of all that laid at the roots of commerce at home and throughout the world, more of all that went to the prolific sources of riches and I. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 5S -I power, than I was able to discover in going about Paris, again and again, in every direction. I am aware how much larger London is than Paris ; but the bustle of business seemed to abound in the English metropolis, in a propor- tion tenfold greater than its superior size. January 19. — I have taken a house. It is situated in Marylebone parish, north of Ox- ford Road, as I hear the latter called by some, probably from its having been an open road within their recollection. Now, it is a street fully built up, and among the longest and widest in London. North of this street lies a part of the town different from any I have hi- therto seen. The streets cross each other at right angles. All are of good width : some a hundred feet and more. Many of them, as Harley Street, Wimpole Street, Baker Street, Devonshire Place, Portland Place, and others, present long ranges of houses built with uni- formity, which gives them a metropolitan as- pect. Through some, you look, as through a vista, into the verdant scenery of the Regent's Park. This commences almost at the point where the buildings, which are lofty, end ; so that you seem to step at once into the coun- try. An air of gloom hangs over these streets, from the dark brick of which most of the houses are built, or which coal smoke gives 54 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. m m i-ii them ; the case, I may add, with nearly every part of London. This part is quite secluded, if so T may speak of a town district of more than a hundred thousand inhabitants. You hear little noise beyond the rumble of equi- pages, beginning at two o'clock, abating in the evening, and returning at midnight. Its quiet- ness, and the number of ready-furnished houses to be hired in it, are probably the inducements for its being much chose by the foreign am- bassadors for their residence. I found that the Russian, Austrian, and French Ambassadors, had here fixed their domiciles. Every house has its area enclosed with iron palisades. The front door-steps are all of brown stone, with iron railings topped with spikes ; so that the eye traced in all directions lines of this brist- ling iron- work. If you add, that on the broad pavements of flag, you perhaps saw nobody before noon, unless a straggling servant in morning livery, or a butcher's boy with tray in hand issuing here and there from an area, you have the main external characteristics of this region when first I beheld it. There is ano- ther town district, a mile or two east, made-up of well-built streets about Russell Square, that had an aspect somewhat similar. It contained, I was told, another one hundred thousand in- habitants, London dissected showing these va- 1R18. COURT OF LONDON. 55 rious circles. " The entire metropolis," says Gibbon, in his memoirs, is " an astonishing and perpetual spectacle to the curious eye ; each taste, each sense, may be gratified by the va- riety of objects which will occur in the long circuit of a morning walk." Of the part I have been describing in its external aspect, I must notice the complexion within. A great number of the houses were to let, and I went through them. From the basement to the attics, every thing had an air of comfort. The supply of furniture was full. The staircases were of white stone. The win- dows and beds in servants' rooms had curtains. No floor was without carpeting. In many in- stances libraries made part of the furniture to be rented with the houses — a beautiful part. The rents varied from four hundred to a thou- sand guineas a year. In some of the squares of the West-end, I learned, that the rent of a furnished house was sixty and sometimes eighty guineas a week. Houses of the first class, with the sumptuous furniture to suit, are not to be hired at all. These, belonging to the nobility or other opulent proprietors, are left in the care of servants when the owners are away. The house I took was in Baker Street, at a rent of four hundred and fifty guineas a- year. The policy of my Government being to ■ II k V I 'l J 'ii I "I 11 56 RESIDENCE AT THE 181R. give to its public servants small salaries, the latter act but in unison with this policy, in having their establishments small. It is not for those honoured by being selected to serve the Republic abroad, to complain. Nor, with the English, do I believe, that the conside- ration attaching to foreign ministers, is depen- dent upon the salaries they receive. However large these may be, and sometimes are, in the persons of tho representatives of the Imperial and Royal governments of Europe, they are still so much below the wealth of the home circles in London, as to be no distinction, supposing distinction to be sought on that ground. The surpassing incomes in the home circles, and habit of expenditure, with the ample accommoda- tions by which the many who possess them live surrounded, incline their possessors to re- gard such official strangers as objects, rather than agents, rf hospitality. It may be other- iw^ise in capitals on the Continent ; but this is the general relationship which the diplomatic corps holds to society in London. UU8. COURT OF LONDON. 57 CHAPTER VI. DINNER AT LORD CASTLEREAGH's. MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS. — THE FIRST VISIT. DINNER AT LORD WESTMORELAND'S. January 20, 1818. Dined at Lord Castle- reagh*s. The company consisted of Lord and Lady Castlereagh, the Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Melville, Lord Mulgrave, Mr. Wellesley Pole, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Burg- hersh, the Ambassador of France and his Mar- chioness, the Austrian Ambassador, the Portu- guese Ambassador and his Countess, the Minis- ter Plenipotentiary from Bavaria, the Marquis Grimaldi of Sardinia, and a few others. Of the foregoing, some were strangers, to whom, as to myself, it was a first dinner. The invitation was for seven o'clock. Our names were announced by servants in the hall, and on the landings. The company had chiefly assembled when we arrived. All were in full black, under the court mourning for the Prin- cess Charlotte. I am wrong — one lady was in 58 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. I ! *l!i white satin ! It would have been painfully embarrassing, but that her union of ease and dignity enabled her, after the first suffusion, to turn her misfortune into a grace. Saluta- tions were in subdued tones, but cordial, and the hand given. Introductions took place at convenient moments. Before eight, dinner was announced. The dining-room was on the floor with the drawing-rooms. As we entered it through a door-way surrounded by a hang- ing curtain that drew aside, the effecf was beautiful. A profusion of light fell uj)on the cloth, and as every thing else was of silver, the dishes covered, and wines hidden in ranges of silver coolers, the whole had an aspect of pure white. Lord Castlereagh sat at the head. On his right was the lady of the French Ambas- sador, with whom, in going in, he had led the way. Lady Castlereagh was on the side, half way down. On her left, was the Duke of Wel- lington, with whom she came in. Between the Duke and the Earl of Westmoreland, was ray wife, who came in upon the arm of the latter. Opposite, was the lady of the Portuguese Am- bassador. She entered with the French Am- bassador, and sat next to him. I was between Lords Melville and Mulgrave. The former gratified me by the manner in which he spoke of the United States ; the latter by what he 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 59 / '] said of President Monroe, who was Minister in England when he was Secretary for Foreign Affairs. He had ever found him, he said, con- ciliatory in business, while steadfast in his duty. Being near to these two noblemen in coming in, I paused to give place, having un- derstood that Cabinet Ministers preceded Mi- nisters Plenipotentiary on these occasions ; but they declined it, and I went first ; Lord Mel- ville remarking, "We are at home." There were twelve servants ; the superior ones not in livery. The general topics related to France, and French society. The foreigners spoke Eng- lish ; nevertheless, the conversation was nearly all in French. This was not only the case when the English addressed the foreigners, but in speaking to each other. Before dinner, I had observed in the drawing-room, books lying about. As many as I glanced at were French. I thought of the days of Charles II. when the tastes of the English all ran upon the models of France. Here, at the house of an English minister of state, French literature, the French language, French topics were all about me; I add, French entrees, French wines ! I was unwilling to believe that the parallel to the days of Charles II. held throughout. By my longer residence in England I discovered, that I i '"^ I ' I ^ I' ' \ I' f -:i 60 RESIDENCE AT THE lUlU. the enlightened classes were more ready to copy from the French what they thought good, than the same classes in France to copy from England. As regards language, the difference is striking. There is scarcely a well-educated person in England who does not speak French, whilst thousands among the best educated in France are ignorant of English. In the com- petition between these great nations, this gives England an advantage. It is no answer that French is the language of intercourse in Eu- rope: the Frenchman may repose upon this, for not acquiring the English ; but it cannot take from Englishmen the advantage of being at home in both tongues. Equally have the English the advantage in travel. They go in great numbers to France; while few of the French, comparatively speaking, visit England. Soon after nine, the ladies left table. Before ten, the gentlemen followed. The company broke into knots, or loitered through the draw- ing-rooms. In one, was a full-length likeness of the Prince Regent, by Lawrence ; in ano- ther, the celebrated portrait of Charles I. by Vandyck, presenting three views of his face ; scattered about in all, were articles of virtii or munificence. Of the latter, were vases of massive porcelain and other memorials, sent as presents to Lord Castlereagh by Me crowned 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 61 heads of Europe, after the treaties of Paris and Vienna. I had now conversation for which op- portunities had not before offered. The Aus- trian Ambassador told me, that his court had appointed Baron Sturmer, Consul-General to the United States. He said, that it was the wish of his court to cultivate amicable rela- tions with the United States; the more, as foreign commerce had become an object with Austria. I replied, that my Government would receive the information with satisfaction. This was the first public officer sent by Austria to the United States, 'and laid the foundation of commercial relations that had not before subsisted between the two nations. I remark- ed, that the commerce of Austria appeared to be doing well in the Black Sea. " For a be- ginning," he replied. I added a hope, that the flag of the United States might find admit- tance into that sea; but it was a point on which he was not prepared to speak. To Lord Castlereagh, I expressed the pleasure I had de- rived from making the acquaintance of his guests ; amongst them, the Duke of Welling- ton's. He spoke of the Duke. He said that his achievements in war were known ; but that his ability in council, his caution, his concilia- tion in dealing with the complicated arrange- ments of the Continent that had followed his ()2 UESIDENCK AT THF. litia. battles, were not so iwu'a kaown ; these formed not less a part of his c; .a^'ter, and had gained for him, perhaps in a higher degree than cen- tered in any other individual in Europe, the confidence of its cabinets and sovereigns. Before parting, his Lordship said, that the Prince Regent would probably be in town by the middle of February, and that I might then expect my audience of reception. At eleven, I came away. The servants were at their stations, and passed the call for my carriage, as when we were announced; forms observed towards all. Having met some of the diplomatic corps, I will subjoin the names of those who composed it, whilst I was in England. There was entire cordiality in the intercourse of its members. The period was one of peace. No acts trans- pired among nations, tending to abridge the harmony of private life among their represen- tatives. From France, there was the Marquis D'Os- mond, among the best specimens of the old French court. From Russia, Count, afterwards Prince Lieven ; from Austria, Prince Ester- hazy ; from Prussia, Baron Humboldt, brother and rival in genius to the celebrated traveller ; from the Netherlands, Baron Fagel, a name known in his country's history; from Spain, Hi 1818. COURT OF LONDON. (J3 i the Duke of San Carlos ; from Portugal, Count, afterwards Marquis Palmella, maintaining un- der all vicissitudes, his reputation for abilities. These were Ambassadors. The chief difference between the ambassador and minister plenipo- tentiary, in common speech often confounded, is, that the former is viewed as representing the person of his sovereign. In that capacity, he takes precedence in matters of form. He has also exaltation, personally, in various ways. For every national end, the attributes of the minister plenipotentiary are the same. France changed her ambassador four times. She sent, after the departure of the Marquis D'Osmond, the Marquis de la Tour Mauberg, the Duke de Cazes, Viscount Chateaubriand, and Prince Polignac. The first was the cele- brated cavalry officer, not more known by his powers as a commander, than his gallant ex- ploits in battle, particularly at Leipsic, where he lost a leg. His manly form thus maimed, was doubly interesting by his habitually ami- able manners. The second, was the distin- guished Minister of the Interior under Louis XVIII. and at that time head of the French administration. The third, was the brilliant author of * France,' — an author admired by the world ; who brings at all times to his page, the most eloquent and touching reflections, whe- 64 RESIDENCE AT THE iai8. ■H ther writing from the deep shades of American forests, from classic Italy, or the sacred banks of the Jordan ; who gives elevation to party strife, investing with instructive and elegant generalities,- what in feebler hands degenerates into common details or personality. The fourth, was the same who was afterwards Pre- sident of the Council and Prime-minister under Charles X. He was fatally conspicuous in the revolution of July 1830 ; but to his personal accomplishments and v/orth all bore testimony. The Netherlands changed her's once, sending, in place of Baron Fagel, called to the home service, Mr. Falk ; whose activity in the cause of Holland has been witnessed at dates more recent. Prussia sent Baron Werter in place of Baron Humboldt; the latter also called to the home service. Spain substituted the Duke de Frias for the Duke of San Carlos ; and afterwards sent Mr. Onis (as minister plenipo- tentiary) in the time of the constitutional government of the Cortes. From Portugal, Count Villa Real succeeded the Marquis Pal- mella, Mr. Olivera interposing (as minister ple- nipotentiary) for a short interval, in the time of the constitutional government of that country. The Ministers Plenipotentiary were Count Munster, from Hanover ; Mr. Bourke, from Denmark ; Baron Stierneld, from Sweden ; 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 65 )le- of Baron Just, from Saxony ; Mr. PfefFel, from Bavaria ; Count Ludolf, from Naples ; Count D'Aglie, from Sardinia. The only change in this order was from Denmark, in the person of Count Moltke for Mr. Bourke. The former was accompanied by his Countess, an accession to the English as to any Court. Italy had her season of constitutional governments, as Spain and Portugal ; but the Austrian troops over- turned them toe rapidly to afford time to Sardinia or Naples to new-model their diplo- macy. France marched her army across the Bidassoa more slowly, but not less decisively. She too overturned constitutional government in Spain ; an attack upon national independ- ence, which Britain, in her state papers and parliamentary speeches, officially disapproved, without resisting, and which the friends of freedom in both hemispheres joined in de- ploring. There were two Ministers Resident, an order below Ministers Plenipotentiary : Baron Langs- dorff, from Badsn ; Mr. Haller, from Switzer- land. There was a Charge-d'affaires from Wir- temburg, Mr. Wagner ; who was succeeded by Count Mandelsloh ; and one from Constanti- nople, Mr. Ramadani. The latter, on official occasions, appeared in his robes and turban ; a dress not more in contrast with all that sur- I 1 i^ ^ N l m i ■m 66 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. rounded him, than the institutions of his coun- try with those of Christendom. The ereden- tiaL of diplomatic agents of this class are to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, not the Sovereign. When Mr. Canning became Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in the fourth year of my residence, plenipotentiaries arrived from three of the new states of Spanish America ; Mr. Hurtado from Columbia ; General Mi- chelena from Mexico, and Mr. Rividavia from Buenos Ayres. The embassies of the great powers were amply provided with secretaries, and had per- sons attached to them in other capacities. The entire aggregate made a large body. Not large when compared with the embassies of other times. Sully brought to England a retinue of two hundred gentlemen. Bassompierre, still earlier, speaks of an " equipage of four hundred persons'' returning with him to France. The former, on reaching London, was saluted with three thousand guns from the Tower. So, D'Es- trades, ambassador to the States General from Louis XIV. tells us, that he was met at Rys- wick by the Deputies, with a train of threescore coaches. Compliments so profuse have wisely gone out of date. But, in all affairs, forms prevail. Govern- ments never dispense with them. Having men- '!"„ ! ■\ 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 67 of tioned the members of the diplomatic corps, I will allude to some of the forms that regu- lated their intercourse. Once, the uncertainty of these led to difficulties, even wars. The congress of Vienna, in 1815, extirpated them all, as far as questions of precedence were con- cerned ; and these had been found the most serious. It declared, that every question of that nature should be settled by the rule of time. He who has been longest at a court or government, is to be first. The relative power of the nation he represents, is to count no- thing. Thio is a rule satisfactory to small states. It is, to the praise of large ones, that they established it. It applies to all intercourse where competition can arise, whether in busi- ness or ceremony ; and therefore regulates visits. The member of tlie corps who has last arrived pays the first. The rule does not over- leap classes, applying only to those of the same class. Its propriety has commanded universal assent. Under its operation, we shall hear no more of personal rudenesses, no disturbances of the public decorum, no cutting of traces that one ambassador's coach may whip up before another ; none of the acts, ill-adapted to such functionaries, of which we catch the glimmer- ings, sometimes the details, in Finett, Digges, Melville, D'Estrades, Wiquefort ; even in the F 2 68 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. 1;) I <:'i later pages of Segur, much as his own good sense discountenanced them. The treaty of Westphalia tried to put a stop to these con- tentions by fixing the relative rank of the prin- cipal powers of Europe ; but in vain. That of Utrecht had the same aim, in introducing the title of Minister Plenipotentiary, the conten- tions before being confined to ambassadors. In vain also. It was reserved for the rule of Vienna, aided by modern manners, at last to get rid of what had so often proved a hin- drance to public business and injurious to in- dividual concord. Although the United States had no agency in making that rule, their mi- nister shared its benefits. But, as far as visits are concerned, it has turned out, that the certainty of the rule leads to its being frequently disregarded. In obedi- ence to it, I was prepared to pay the first visit to all the members of the corps who had arrived before me. But, from several, I had the favour of calls by anticipation, as was common in other cases. Fortunate change ! when the strife of courtesy has supplanted hostile strife* The right of precedence in treaties is of a different nature. These folemn instruments are executed in double original. This gives to each nation the opportunity of being named first, and signing first, in the treaty to be de- i 1 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 69 a posited in its own archives. Such is the rule as between the United States and foreign pow- ers. Formerly it was not so. In the time of President Madison, an occasion arising where the representative of a monarchy questioned the principle of coequality in the United States on the asserted ground of Republics being of secondary dignity, the rule was established and has since been adhered to. January 31. Dined at the Earl of West- moreland's, at his residence, Grosvenor Square. Forms were as at Lord Castlereagh's. The party was small — Sir John and Lady Ann Becket, Mr. and Mrs. Patterson of Baltimore, the Danish Minister, and some of the members of Lord Westmoreland's family. Ihe cheer- ful manner of his lordship promoted conversa- tion. Much of it related to England. Duel- ling was spoken of. His lordship said, that among private gentlemen in England it was very rare ; that if a person from this class had been er^ gaged in a duel, and applied for ad- mission to a club, there would be a scrutiny ; ?ind unless it appeared that he was not quar- relsome, he would be in danger of rejection ; but that if he had been engaged in two, he believed he would be black-balled. His lord- ship did not condemn duelling. He only meant that the occasions of it in private life a 70 RESIDENCE AT THE 181B. were so few in classes where proper restraints existed, that he whose misfortune it was to have had two duels on hi;? hands, would find gentlemen shy of him as an associate in such institutions. It was upon this he grounded his opinion. His lordship's urbanity made the evening very pleasant. It was not until a late hour that we got home. ^f* nts to nd ich led the ate 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 71 CHAPTER VII. INTERVIEW WITH LORD CASTLEREAGH. — SLAVE QUESTION UNDER THE TREATY OF GHENT. NORTH-WESTERN BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH POSSESSIONS. POST AT THE MOUTH OF COLUMBIA RIVER. m February 1, 1818. Had an interview with Lord Castlereagh. He began about the slaves ; expressing the readiness he would ever feel in endeavouring to bring to a satisfactory close all points in dispute between the two countries. That in this spirit he had laid before the Cabinet my proposal of the 3rd of January upon this subject ; and had to inform me that it would be acceded to. But, as the treaty of Ghent had led to the proposal, the assent would be under the rules which that treaty had fixed in rela- tion to other points. That to this end, he was prepared to give effect, substantially, to my proposal, by saying, tl^at his Government was '^ I I 73 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. 1 ■ ! i '! li ii i*/' i !| willing that the question about the slaves should also go before commissioners ; and in the event of their not concurring, that resort should be had to an umpire, as prescribed by the fourth and subsequent articles of the treaty in reference to territorial claims. That an article between the two Governments, supple- mental to the treaty, might be requisite to give the proper authority for this proceeding. That as regarded the commissioners, his Government had no objections to devolving the service upon some of those already appointed under the treaty, unless mine should wish new appoint- ments ; that, in short, the whole machinery of that instrument should be adopted, in settling the conflict of opinion about the slaves. Finishing upon this point, he went to ano- ther. The present, he said, appeared to be a favourable time for putting in train for settle- ment, claims to territory, other than those com- prehended in the treaty of Ghent. That it belonged to forecast, to aim at extinguishing, in a friendly way, seeds of future controversy, while the subjects were of no great present importance, but liable to become so in future. That such considerations led him to hope that the Government of the United States would not b3 disinclined to measures having in view the final settlement of that part of the North- I IBltt. OURT OF LONDON. 73 It V m asm. western boun( y line contemplated in the old treaty between the two countries of 1783 ; he mea*"* the line from the most North-western poiiit lake of the woods to the Missis- sippi. Accordingly, he had to say, that the adop- tion of measures for accomplishing this object would be highly acceptable to the British Go- vernment. The treaty of Ghent, he thought, would form a guide equally convenient for ful- filling the intentions of the parties in this in- stance also. Should his proposal be acquiesced in, another supplemental article might be add- ed to the treaty, to give it effect, and new com- missioners be appointed ; or, as before suggested, those already appointed, perform the duty. Lastly, he came to the affair of the post at Columbia river. A despatch from Mr. Bagot, he said, had informed the British Government that the United States were about to take poc- session of that post, by sending out an armed ship ; and he had to express the regret felt at the measure. It was to have been wished, he remarked, that, before the ship sailed, notice had been given to his Majesty's Minister in Washington of her destination. Great Britain having a claim of dominion over that territory. He proceeded to inform me, that Mr. Bagot had sent in a remonstrance upon the occasion ; to which, at the last dates, no answer had been i: M j2 w '^>' •^ / '/ /A Photographic ^Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4903 ^.>^ '^ 4^ 4^0 c y ^ !'-.;.;fc I j 76 RESIDENCE AT THE lULR. !| ' , i;!t,; ll fi 'HI 1. measure was projected, which enabled me with the less scruple to speak as I did. I left Washington, it was true, before the departure of the ship ; but felt sure that there could have been no alteration in the views that had suggested her voyage to those seas ; and, above all, I knew that the employment of force as a means of reinstating ourselves under the treaty, had in no wise been in contemplation. These assurances appeared to have the pro- per influence in placing the transaction in its true lights. The post came peaceably into our possession, and the case was not subsequently revived as one of complaint. As regarded the North-western boundary line, I remarked, that this subject had no place in my instructions. An article to the effect of his proposal, had once been inserted in a con- vention between the two Governments, but ex- punged by that of the United States. The ground of objection was, that the only line that could be run in the direction proposed under the treaty of 1783, would not, as had been ascertained since the date of the treaty, strike the Mississippi ; and to run it lower down would bring it through territory within the limits of the United States. Great Britain was free to renew the proposal ; all that I could do, would be to transmit it to my Go- I 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 77 vernment, and it would be for his lordship to judge how far the past rejection, with its un- changed ground, was discouraging to another attempt. Finally, as to the slaves. I said, that I had no authority to assent to the proposal as mo- dified from that of my predecessor, which I had done nothing more than renew. That much anxiety continued to exist on this sub- ject in the United States, as might be inferred from the late resolution in the Senate, sub- mitted by Mr. Troup, from Georgia ; and that the fact of each Government having adhered to its own construction of the treaty on this point, afforded little presage of a concurrence in opi- nion by commissioners chosen by each. Still, I had every reason to think that the President would view as friendly, the principle of the proposal ; for whilst it did hold out a prelimi- nary step of no very probable efficacy, it came at last to our own overture. I would gladly therefore transmit it for his consideration, assuming, as I did, that this subject of com- pensation for slaves would be acted upon by itself, in the event of obstacles being found to lie in the way of the two others. To this his lordship did not yield his assent. He hoped that I presupposed an imaginary case, abstaining in this way from a positive 78 RESIDENCE AT THE 181H. :! refusal at first. He afterwards, in effect, em- bodied one in the remark, that as each Go- vernment had objects of its own in view, the three propositions ought, in his opinion, to be classed together, awaiting a common assent or rejection. I combated this doctrine. The carrying off of the slaves involved a case of pal- pable injury, and, as we also contended, of wrong ; one that brought loss to all, and ruin to some of the proprietors. The fundamental laws of the Union guaranteed to our Southern planters as sure a property in their slaves, as in their houses and lands ; and as well might the two last be taken from them as the first. The two other propositions rested upon an- cient, undefined claims ; not pressing in their nature, or any of their consequences. The case of the slaves, moreover, sprang out of the treaty of Ghent, and was peculiarly entitled to the benefit of its equitable example in settling controversies. The other two subjects were wholly extrinsic. Whatever rights or expecta- tions might even justly be coupled with them by Great Britain, it seemed proper that they should stand upon independent ground. It was so that I drew distinctions. But I perceived no change in what were at least his lordship's first impressions, that the three questions ought to be dealt with in the 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 79 same way. The interview was extended to much length, and closed by his saying, that as all the proposals proceeded from his Govern- ment, they would be forwarded to Mr. Bagot for the information of mine, in addition to the communication of them made to me. 80 UESIDENC K AT THE 1818. CHAPTER VIII. RECEPTION BY THE PRINCE REGENT.- THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE LEVEE. I February 9, 1818. Received a note from Lord Castlereagh informing me that the Prince Regent had appointed Thursday the 12th, for my reception, at Carlton House, at a quarter past two, previous to the levee. February 12. Had my reception. A com- petent knowledge of the world may guide any one in the common walks of life ; more es- pecially if he carry with him the cardinal maxim of good-breeding in all countries — a wish to please and unwillingness to offend. But if, even in private society, there are rules not to be known but by experience, and if these differ in different places, I could not feel insensible to the approach of an occasion so My first desire was, not to fail in the new. public duties of my mission. The next, to pass properly through the scenes of official and personal ceremony to which it exposed 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 81 me. At the head of them, was my introduc- tion to the Sovereign. I desired to do all that full respect required, but not more : yet — the external observances — what were they ? They defy exact definition beforehand, and I had never seen them. From the restraints, too, that prevail in these spheres, lapses, if you fall into them, are little apt to be told to you ; which increases your solicitude to avoid them. I had, in some of my inter- course, caught the impression, that simplicity was considered best adapted to such an in- troduction ; also, that the Prince Regent was not thought to be fond of set speeches. This was all that I could collect. But simplicity, all know, is a relative idea. Often it is at- tainable, in the right sense, only through the highest art. I arrived before the hour appointed. My carriage having the entree^ or right to the pri- vate entrance, I went through St. James's Park and got to Carlton House by the paved way, through the gardens. Even this ap- proach was already filled. I was set down at a side-door, where stood servants in the Prince's livery. Gaining the hall, persons were seen in different costumes. Among them yeomen of the guard, with halberds. They had hats of velvet, with wreaths round them, o *• 82 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. and rosettes in their shoes. In the court- yard, which opened through the columns of the portico, bands of music were heard. Car- riages, in a stream, were approaching by this access, through the double gates that separate the royal residence from the street. The company arriving this way, entered through the portico, and turned off to the right. I went to the left, through a vestibule, leading to other rooms, into which none went but those having the entree. They consisted of cabinet ministers, the diplomatic corps, per- sons in chief employment about the court, and a few others, the privilege being in high es- teem. Knights of the Garter appeared to have it, for I observed their insignium round the knee of several. There was the Lord Steward with his badge of office ; the Lord Chamber- Iain with his ; also, gold sticky and silver stick. The foreign ambassadors and ministers wore their national costumes ; the cabinet ministers, such as we see in old portraits, with bag and sword. The Lord Chancellor, and other func- tionaries of the Law, had black silk gowns, with full wigs. The bishops and dignitaries of the Church, had aprons of black silk. The walls were covered with paintings. If these were historical, so were the rooms. As I looked through them, I thought of the scenes 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 83 in Doddington ; of the Pelhams, the BoHng- brokes, the Hillsboroughs. The Prince had not left his apartment. Half-an-hour went by, when Sir Robert Chester, Master of Ceremo- nies, said to me, that in a few minutes he would conduct me to the Prince. The Spa- nish Ambassador had gone in, and I was next in turn. When he came out, the Master of the Ceremonies advanced with me to the door. Opening it, he left me. I entered alone. The Prince was standing ; Lord Castlereagh by him. No one else was in the room. Holding in my hand the letter of credence, I approached, as to a private gentleman, and said, that it was " from the President of the United " States, appointing me their Envoy Extraor- " dinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the " Court of his Royal Highness ; and that I " had been directed by the President to say, " that I could in no way bet^ er serve the Uni- " ted States, or gain his approbation, than by " using all my endeavours to strengthen and " prolong the good understanding that happily " subsisted between the tv/o Countries." The Prince took the letter, and handed it to Lord Castlereagh. He then said, that he would " ever be ready on his part to act upon the " sentiments I had expressed ; that I might " assure the President of this, for that he sin- G 2 ^. 84 nESIDENCE AT THE 1818. i 1' m iM " cerely desired to keep up and improve the " friendly relations subsisting between the " two nations, which he regarded as so much *' to the advantage of both.*' I replied, that I would not fail to do so. The purpose of the interview seeming to be accomplished, I had supposed it would here end, and was about to withdraw ; but the Prince prolonged it. He congratulated me on my arrival. He inquired for the health of Mr. Adams, and spoke of others who had preceded me in the mission, going back as far as the first Mr. Pinckney. Of him, and Mr. King, his in- quiries were minute. He made others, which it gave me still more pleasure to answer — he asked if I knew the ladies from my country, then in England, who had made such favourable impressions, naming Mrs. Patterson, and the Miss Catons. I replied that I did, and re- sponded to his gratifying notice of these my fair countrywomen. A few more remarks on the climate of the two countries closed the audience. It would be out of place in me to portray the exterior qualities of this monarch. The commanding union of them has often been a theme in his own dominions. He was then in his 56th year ; but in fine health, and main- taining the erect, ambitious, carriage of early 1818. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 85 life. The Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from Sicily and Naples, had his reception immediately afterwards. When the Prince came from his apartment, called in the language of palaces his closet, into the entr6e rooms, I presented to him Mr. John Adams Smith, as public secretary of the lega- tion, and Mr. Ogle Taylore, as attached to it personally. Other special presentations took place ; amongst them, that of the Prince of Hesse Romberg, by Lord Stewart, both distinguished in the then recent battles of the Continent. The Prince Regent moved about these rooms, until he had addressed everybody ; all waiting his salutation. Doors hitherto shut, now opened, when a new scene appeared. You beheld in other rooms the company that had turned off to the right. The opening of the doors was the signal for the commencement of the general levee. I re- mained with others to see it. All passed, one by one, before the Prince, each receiving a momentary salutation. To a few he addressed conversation, but briefly ; as it stopped the line. All were in rich costume. Men of ge- nius and science were there. The nobility were numerous ; so were the military. There were from forty to fifty generals ; perhaps as many admirals, with throngs of officers of rank t i; 1 ""^ m r ill! A 86 IlESIDENCE AT THE IDIB. inferior. I remarked upon the number of wounded. Who is that, I asked, pallid but with a countenance so animated ? " Thats Gene- ral Walker,'* I was told, ** pierced with bayonets, lending on the assault at Badajosy And he, close by, tall but limping ? " Colonel Ponswiby ; he was left /or dead at Waterloo ; the cavalry it was thought had trampled upon him.'* Then came one of like port, but deprived of a leg, slowly moving ; and the whisper went, " That *s Lord Anglesea,** A fourth had been wounded at Seringapatam ; a fifth at Talavera ; some had suffered in Egypt ; some in America. There were those who had received scars on the deck with Nelson; others who carried them from the days of Howe. One, yes one, had fought at Saratoga. It was so that my inquiries were answered. All had '* dmie their duty ;" this was the favourite praise bestowed. The great number of wounded was accounted for by re- collecting, that little more than two years had elapsed since the armies and fleets of Britain had been liberated from wars of extraordinary fierceness and duration in all parts of the globe. For, so it is, other nations chiefly fight on or near their own territory ; the Eng- lish everywhere. Taking the whole line, perhaps a thousand must have passed. Its current flowed through 1U1». r of but rene- mets, lose 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 87 the entree rooms, got onward to the vestibule, and was finally dispersed in the <];reat hall. Those who composed it, found themselves there, by a course reverse to that of their entrance ; and went away through the portico, as their carriages came up. The whole ceremony lasted until past five. When it was over, I called upon each member of the Royal Family ; a mark of respect omitted by no foreign minister after being received by the Sovereign. The call is made by inscribing your name in books kept at their several re- sidences. The royal family were, of the male branches — the Dukes of York, Clarence, (now William IV.) Kent, Cumberland, Sussex, Cambridge, and Gloucester. Of the female branches — the Duchess of Gloucester, the Princesses Augusta, Elizabeth, Sophia, and Sophia Matilda. Prince Leopold (present King of Belgium,) husband of the late Princess Charlotte, shared the same attentions ; as did the Duchesses of York and Cumberland. How far it may be necessary for a distant Republic, whose genius is entirely different from the an- cient governments of Europe, to exchange with them diplomatic representatives of the higher class, may be a question ; but it can be none whether, when once sent, they shall offer all the appropriate marks of respect -n , III l J 88 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. which the usages of the world accord to sove* reigns and those in immediate connexion with them. To withhold or stint them, would be in conflict with the purposes of the diplomatic office. It was in this feeling that, during my residence, I thought it proper never to be absent from a levee, or pretermit in any wise attentions to the royal family paid by other foreign ministers ; and I will take occasion to add, that I did not find an insensibility to the just motives of such a course. It will be in unison with my narrative to in- sert a copy of the letter of credence I deliver- ed to the Prince Regent. It followed the established formulary, when the United States send ministers to foreign courts. An eminent individual in England asked me what the form was from republics to monarchies. The answer is easy. The head of a republic, however ap- pointed or chosen, represents, for the time being, its collective power and dignity. To foreign nations, he is the visible image of its sovereignty, and speaks to monarchs, clothed with its attributes. The letter will aflbrd at the same time a specimen of the peculiar style adopted by nations when speaking to each other through the personality centring in their executive heads. It is in these words :— 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 89 " James Monroe, President of the United States of America, to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland : " Great and good Friend : ** I h ive made choice of Richard Rush, to reside near your Royal Highness in quality of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo- tentiary of the United States of America. He is well informed of the relative interests of the two countries, and of our sincere desire to cul- tivate and strengthen the friendship and good correspondence between us ; and from a know- ledge of his fidelity, probity, and good con- duct, I have entire confidence that he will render himself acceptable to your Royal High- ness by his constant endeavours to preserve and advance the interests and happiness of both nations. I therefore request your Royal Highness to receive him favourably, and to give full cedence to whatever he shall say on the part of the United States, and most of all when he shall assure you of their friendship, and wishes for your prosperity ; and I pray God to have your Royal Highness in his safe and holy keeping. Written at the city of Washington, the thirty-first day of October anno Domini ■i ■i^i tii r ! 90 RESIDENCE AT THE a 1818. one thousand eight hundred and seventeen. By your good friend, *' James Monroe." " John Quincy Adams, " Secretary of State." The letter of credence from the King, or Prince Regent, of England, on sending a minis- ter plenipotentiary to the United States, is the same, mutatis mutandis, in its formal com- mencement and conclusion ; and substantially the same throughout. My reception having established me in full ofRcial standing, I left cards at the houses of the cabinet ministers and diplomatic corps. The former have precedence over the latter (though in England they often wave it) be- cause, sharing the confidence and administer- ing the power of the Sovereign, they become identified, so far, with his dignity. I visited also the Lord High Steward, Lord Chamber- lain, the Master of the Horse, and a few others personally attached to the royal household. The only one of the cabinet upon whom I had called previously, was Lord Castlereagh. Ca- binet ministers in England are exempt from returning visits to foreign ministers, as to all others ; nevertheless, the courtesy of Lord Castlereagh had returned mine. o y 4 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 91 It was so that I aimed at going through the obligations of ceremony, as I found them esta- blished at the English court. I may have dwelled on them the longer because they were new to me ; but not too long. I do not dis- cuss their importance. I give them as facts. The philosopher may rail at them ; but, in his philosophy, he may discover, if candid, matter for raillery too. In the machinery of political as social life, the smallest parts are often those that give impulse to the greatest movements. If we visit a strange country, scan its general population, enter its farm-houses, its cottages, its work-shops, we are permitted to speak of appearances and habits that on all sides arrest the eye. May we not, 'vith a guarded free- dom, do the same of the high places of the world ? In the modes of life in each, are beheld component parts of the grand whole. If, from the former, issue the springs of power, it is in the latter, under monarchies, that its agents dwell. Perhaps if the feelings that exist in each could be better known to the other, jealousies might be softened, more fre- quently than increased. It may be thought that the forms I detail, are the [growth only of monarchical soils. Their roots lie deeper. If none but republics existed, other forms would arise, differing in 9ie RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. i! ■.:i I i .« ! . It ■ 4 'IS 4 'lilt ti ^ circumstance, but not in essence. In the genius of the latter governments, there is a sternness peculiarly opposed to giving up claims to outward reverence. The Roman Senate took more offence at Caesar's refusal to rise on an occasion when they intended to do him honour, than at his passing the Rubicon or seizing upon the treasury. The title of Majesty is modern, as applied to Kings. The Romans used it with peculiar fondness, says Dryden,in reference to the people — Majestas PopuLi RoMANi. The first treaty that Crom- well entered into with the United Provinces, had a stipulation that their ships should strike their flags in British seas, to the " Republic" of England. We have seen, in our own day, with how prompt a sensibility President Madi- son, whose life has been a model of dignity as of public and private virtue, stood upon the point of form, when treaties were to be signed. Nor was he less scrupulous, when compli- mentary salutes were to be exchanged with the vessels or batteries of foreign powers. If the individual of just pride respects himself whilst he respects others, natrons will ever be still more quick to the same feeling, and to all its external manifestations. .Tfapniia 1818. In the ere is a ing up Roman fusal to 1 to do ubicon itle of The s, says ESTAS Crom- inces, strike BLIC" I day, Madi- ity as 1 the jned. upli- 1 the rthe hilst still all 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 98 4 CHAPTER IX. ATTEMPT UPON THE LIFE OF THE DUKE OF WELLING- TON. — OLD CUSTOMS ABOUT THE COURT. DINNER AT iHE DANISH MINISTER'S. — PRIVATE AUDIENCE OF THE QUEEN. THE DRAWING-ROOM. DINNER AT LORD CASTLEREAGH'S. February 16, 1818. The late attempt upon the life of the Duke of Wellington in Paris is a topic. He went there on business relating, as is believed, to the evacuation of France by the Army of Occupation, of which the English forms a part. Returning to his hotel at mid- night, a pistol was fired at his carriage. One of his aids was with him. Nobody was hurt. The report collected people, and some gen- darmerie went in pursuit. The Duke made his coachman stop, got out, and looked around. Such is the account I hear. I learn that it was transmitted by a special messenger from the French King, to his ambassador at this court. The ambassador repaired to Carlton House, to express to the Prince Regent the 94 uesidencj: at the 1818. concern felt by his sovereign ; with assurances that all means would be used to discover the offender, and bring him to proper punishment. The ambassador afterwards went to Apsley House, the residence of the Duke of Welling- ton, to express to his family appropriate senti- ments on the occasion. February 21. Since my reception I have had calls from servants of official persons for ^'favours'' I became acquainted with the term at Portsmouth. They had no warrant from their masters ; but came under ancient custom. There have also been to me, fraternities, more nearly allied to the Portsmouth bell-ringers; as the " Palace drums and fifes,'' the " Royal waits and musky' and a third, the derivation of which I could not understand, and which no external signs that I saw bespoke, the " King's marrow-bones and cleavers." Each presented me with a congratulatory address. Each had their ** book to show." They all have something to do with out-door arrangements when levees are held. These contributions upon the di- plomatic stranger, awakened at first my sur- prise. I afterwards heard what, perhaps, may serve as explanatory. Ambassadors on leaving England, receive from the Government a pre- sent of a thousand pounds ; and ministers ple- nipotentiary, five hundred. If then on their !u 1818. ranees er the iment. ipsley elling- senti- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 95 arrival, and afterwards, there are appeals to their bounty by those in menial and such-like situations about the Government, the latter, it seems, pays back again ! I do not hint that it does so in the light of an indemnification ; but the customs harmonize. True, the minister plenipotentiary of the United States never takes the five hundred pounds ; the consti- tution of his country forbidding it. But this is a point which it may be presumed he does not stop to expound to the servants of the foreign secretary, or the " Royal waits and music" It would doubtless be to them a novel plea in bar for not putting his hand in his pocket ! Whenever he pays for music, he must consider himself as having an equivalent in its " silver sounds." If I had calls like these, I am bound to mention others. A great number of persons of the court and other circles paid me visits. Their names I need not recount. Of the list, were those whose acquaintance any one might regard as a source of gratification. In me, the feeling was heightened, as it marked the es^ timation in which my country was held. In* tercourse to which the door thus opened in my favour, was afterwards extended, leading to hospitalities, that can neither pass from the memory, nor grow cold upon the heart. Ill ( i 96 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. February 23. At a dinner at the Danish minister's we had half a dozen gentlemen; among them Sir Humphrey Davy. There were also ladies. One of the latter spoke of Franklin ; he was a captivating writer — so much nature — so much genius ; Mr. Jefferson had said that to see the junction of two of our rivers where one breaks through a mountain, was worth crossing the Atlantic ; but she would think the voyage better undertaken to see Franklin's old china bowl and silver spoon his wife bought for him ; she hoped both were kept ; it would be sacri- lege to let them perish. I was charmed at her manner of saying all this. Sir Humphrey took his share in the conversation. At the first words of this great chemist and philosopher, I was all attention. But he talked of neither chemistry nor philosophy. He agreed to what was said of Franklin. He spoke of the ex- pedition preparing for the North Pole; it was fitted up, he said, with every thing but a philosopher; whether the sailors would have no such non-descript on board, or none would consent to go, he could not say ; the ocean was a noble dominion for nations, but a bad place for landsmen ; worst of all for philoso- phers. He spoke of the case about wager of battle, pending in the King's Bench ; the very argument was so like a burlesque, that, he I IBltt. tOUIlT or LONDON. 97 thought, the parties had better be allowed to fight it out at once, the ''fancy'' forming a ring, while parliament and the judges looked on. His elocution was remarkably prompt and smooth. In society he seems as pleasing, as in the lecture-room he is profound. He told me that the widow of Garrick was alive, at an advanced age, and lived not far from the house I had taken. Mr. Bourke, our kind host, had been much among the courts of Europe. In- clination and opportunity had improved his taste in the arts. In the drawing-rooms after dinner, pictures were talked of, his walls show- ing some fine ones. He said, that in distin- guishing the various productions of the different masters, there was no more difficulty, where the eye had been practised among large col- lections, than in distinguishing the faces and handwriting of your living acquaintances. February 25. Having brought fi-om my Go- vernment a letter of credence to the Queen, I was this day presented to her. It was called a private presentation, and took place at Buck- higham Palace. I got to the palace before the hour fixed. Servants were at the door, and in the hall. Ascending an ample staircase, the master of ceremonies received me in one of the rooms of a suite, all open, but no one else in H f 1^ ' Iw ' M ' ' ||[ j m 98 HKSIDENCE AT THE 1818. them. When five o'clock came, he conducted me to the audience-room, which I entered alone. Immediately before me was the Queen. On her right was one of the Princesses, her daugh- ter; on her left, another. Near them were two ladies in waiting. All were in full court- dresses; and all standing. Jn another part of the room were her Majesty's Chamberlain, and the Duke of Montrose. ^ These made up the whole assemblage. All was silence. Ap- proaching the Queen, I said ; — " Having been accredited by his Royal Highness, the Prince Regent, as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, I have now the honour to present this letter to your Majesty. In executing the duties of my mis- sion, I have it in charge from the President so to bear myself as to give hope of gaining your Majesty's esteem ; and this I beg to assure your Majesty will be my constant ambition." She received the letter. As she took it, she said, that the sentiments I expressed were very obliging, and entered into conversation. Learn- ing I was from Philadelphia she asked ques- tions about it, and others respecting the United States, generally ; all put in a very kind spirit. The interview lasted about fifteen minutes. The Queen was then seventy-six. Her birth- ^ K 1 181R. COUUT OF UJNUON. 99 day was the day following. As I entered the room, and during the whole interview, there was a benignity in her manner, which, in union with her age and rank, was both attractive and touching. The tones of her voice had a gen- tleness, the result, in part, of years ; hut full as much of intended suavity to a stranger. The scene as it first broke upon me ; its novelty, its quiet yet impressive statehness, became, almost immediately, by her manner, one of naturalness and ease. My immediate prede- cessor, Mr. Adams, when presented to her, made an alhision to qualities in her character, which, as I came to learn through a good source that it was advantageously remembered at the English Court, I will 'epeat. His mission commenced in 1815, directly after the w^ar be- tween the two countries. He said, that tlie political relations between them had been sub- ject to the versatility that attended all human affairs; that dissensions had arisen, which however had been removed, and, he ardently hoped, permanently removed ; but that the reverence commanded by her Majesty's private virtues had been subject to no such change; it had been invariably felt by his Government, and he could utter no wish more propitious to the happiness of both countries, than that the future harmony between them might be equally n 2 -> 'i f n ! 100 lUsSIDFNC'F. AT TIIF, iniH. unalterable. The allusion was happy, because it was just. Throughout a long life, she had been uniformly distinguished by her private virtues, and her efforts to imprint them upon the times. I saw her sinking below the hori- zon. But the serenity that I saw, betokened, that as the splendours of her day were setting, she had a consciousness that it was not for them alone she had lived. February 27. Yesterday her Majesty held a drawing-room. It was in celebration of her birth-day. My wife was presented by Lady Castlereagh. Besides being a birth-day cele- bration, it was the first drawing-room of the season, and the first since the death of the Princess Charlotte. The weather was fine, with a brilliant sun. A permit had been sent from the Board of Green Cloth for my car- riage to pass into St. James's Park, through the gate on Constitution Hill. Going through Hyde Park, I found the whole way from Tyburn to Piccadilly (about a mile) filled with private carriages, standing still. Per- sons were in them who had adopted this mode of seeing those who went to court. Tenfold the number went by other approaches, and every approach, I was told, was thronged with double rows of equipages, filled with spectators. I was to be set down with the rest of the diplomatic IRIH. lUlB. tUl KT OF LONDON. 101 corps, ami others having the entr/'e, at a door assigned, within the eourt-yard of the pahiee. Arrived in its vicinity, my carriage was stopped by those licfore it. Here we saw, through the trees and avenues of the Park, other carriages rapidly coming up, in two regular lines from the Horse Guards and St. James's. Another line, that had been up, was turning slowly off, towards the Birdcage Walk. Foreigners agreed, that the united capitals of Europe could not match the sight. The horses were all in the highest condition ; and, under heavy emblazoned harness, seemed, like war-horses, to move proudly. Trumpets were sounding, and the Park and Tower guns firing. There were ranks of cavalry in scarlet, with their bright helmets, and jet black horses ; the same we were told, men and horses, that had been at Waterloo. We were soon set down, and entered the great hall. What a contrast ! The day before, I had gone up the staircase alone. Now, what did I see ? We were not out of time, for, by appointment, my carriage reached the palace with Lord Castlereagh's ; but whilst hundreds were still arriving, hundreds were endeavouring to come a>vay. The staircase branched off at the first landing, into two arms. It was wide enough to admit a partition, which was let in. ■1 'i 103 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. H ■• i The company ascending, took one channel ; those descending, the other ; and both were full. The whole group stood motionless. The openings through the carved balusters, brought all under view at once, whilst the paintings on the walls heightened the effect. The hoop dresses of the ladies, sparkling with lama ; their plumes ; their lappets ; the fanciful attitudes which the hoops occasioned, some getting out of position as when in Addison's time they were adjusted to shoot a door ; the various costumes of the gentlemen as they stood pi- nioning their elbows, and holding in their swords; the common hilarity, from the com- mon dilemma ; the bland recognitions passing between those above and below, made up, alto- gether, an exhibition so picturesque, that a painter might give it as illustrative, so far, of the court of that aera. Without pausing to de- scribe the incidents during our progress up- wards, it may be sufficient to say, that the party to which I was attached, and of which Lady Castlereagh, towering in her bloom, was the pioneer, reached the summit of the stair- case in about three quarters of an hour. Four rooms w^ere allotted to the ceremony. In the second was the Queen. She sat on a velvet chair and cushion, a little raised up. Near her were the Princesses, and ladies in m 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 103 waiting. The general company, as they reached the corridor by one arm of the staircase, passed on to the Queen. Bowing to her, they re- gained it, after passing through all the rooms, by an outlet that led to the other arm ; which they descended. When my wife was presented, her Majesty addressed some conversation to her, as a stranger. This she could not do to all, time not permitting. The Regent was there, and the Royal Family ; cabinet ministers and their ladies ; foreign ambassadors and mi- nisters with theirs. These, having the entr6e remained, if they chose, in the room with the Queen. A numerous portion of the nobility were present, their wives and daughters ; with others distinguished in life, though bearing neither title nor station. Conversation you got as you could, in so great and rich a throng. If the scene in the hall was picturesque, the one upstairs transcended it. The doors of the rooms were all open. You saw in them a thousand ladies richly dressed. All the co- lours of nature were mingling their rays toge- ther. It was the first occasion of laying by mourning for the Princess Charlotte ; so that it was like the bursting out of spring. No lady was without her plume. The whole was a waving field of feathers. Some were blue. ! i I < ' M ' I i I 104 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. like the sky ; some tinged with red ; here you saw violet and yellow ; there, shades of green. But the most were like tufts of snow. The diamonds encircling them, caught the sun through the windows, and threw dazzling beams around. Then the hoops ! I cannot describe these. They should be seen. To see one is nothing. But to see a thousand — and their thousand wearers ! I afterwards sat in the Ambassadors' box at a coronation. That sight faded before this. Each lady seemed to rise out of a gilded little barricade ; or one of silvery texture. This, topped by her plume, and the " face divine" interposing, gave to the whole an effect so unique, so fraught with fe- minine grace and grandeur, that it seemed as if a curtain had risen to show a pageant in an- other sphere. It was brilliant and joyous. Those to whom it was not new, stood at gaze as I did. Canning for one. His fine eye took it all in. You saw admiration in the gravest statesmen; Lord Liverpool, Huskisson, the Lord Chancellor, everybody. I had already seen in England signs enough of opulence and power. Now I saw, radiating on all sides, British beauty. My own country I believed was destined to a just measure of the two first ; and I had the inward assurance that my coun- 1 •■■*r 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 105 you trywomen were the inheritresses of the last. Matre pulchrdfilia pulchior. So appeared the drawing-room of Queen Charlotte. The ceremonies of the day being ena , as far as myself and suite were concerned, ve sought the corridor to come away. In good time we reached the head of the descending channel. Will it be believed ? both channels were full as ever of hoops and plumes. There was something in the spectacle from this po- sition that presented a new image. Positively, it came over the eye like beautiful architec- ture ; the hoops the base, the plume the pin- nacle ! The parts of this dress may have been incongruous ; but the whole was harmony. Like Old English buildings, and Shakspeare, it carried the feelings with it. It triumphed over criticism. We got down stairs in about the same time it took to get up. As we waited in the hall for our carriage, military bands were playing in the court-yard, some mounted, some oil foot ; amidst the strains of which we drove off. In the evening I dined at Lord Castlereagh's. It was a dinner in honour of the birth-day. All were in official costume. The foreign ambassadors and ministers, and several of the English ambassadors at European courts, at 106 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. home on leave, were at it. Among the topics was the beautiful scene of the morning. All gave their voice to its attractiveness. I will say no more of the dinner. Lord Castlereagh, anxious for the pleasure of his guests, diffused his attentions in ways to promote it. We sat down at eight, and rose at ten. By eleven the company dispersed. W I 4 r t A 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 107 CHAPTER X. EMIGRATION. -LITERARY INSTITUTIONS. — CLUBS. — BOOK- SELLERS SHOPS. — ST. JAMES S PALACE. — PARTY AT THE DUCHESS OF CUMBERLAND'S — AT THE RUSSIAN ambassador's — AT THE MARCHIONESS OF STAFFORD'S — AT LORD Melville's. — the duke of sussex. — DINNER AT THE MANSION HOUSE. March 1, 1818.^ I receive many letters from persons in England, on emigrating to the United States. The writers seek information and advice. I afford neither. The bad sub- jects of Britain we do not want ; the good, it is no part of my province to be instrumental in drawing away. If the majority of the appli- cants be what they profess, they would prove an acquisition to any new country ; where, land being abundant and labour dear, men are the best imports. One, a farmer, represents him- self to have six thousand pounds. Two of the same class say, that they each would carry over about half as much. I learn that another of the applicants, a manufacturer, is reputed to 108 RESIDENCE AT THE lUlO. 1 1 1 ! 4! be worth thirty thousand pounds. The na- turalization laws of the United States give less encouragement to emigrants than is gene- rally supposed ; less than some of their citizens think wise. For one, 1 regard them as injudi- cious. They do not confer citizenship upon terms at all as favourable as Russia and Hol- land have formerly done, and are believed to do still; as England did, for ages, when she even offered bounties to certain classes of foreigners on coming to her shores; and as France has done at periods when her popula- tion, in proportion to her soil, w^as far greater than that of the United States. The latter re- quire a full residence of five years, with regu- lations that put further clogs upon the pri- vil?ge. I should fill many pages were I to detail ap- plications of another description ; I mean from the authors of new projects . One has an im- proved plan for making rockets ; another thinks he has discovered a mode of building ships that will all sail alike ; a third has a model of a gun-carriage, by which a 64-pounder can be worked like a swivel ; a fourth a fire-machine to explode under water, with more Hpstruction to every thing above than Fulton's torpedo. The projectors all desire patronage from the Government of the United States, and will go 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 109 over, on proper encouragement from me. It will be inferred, that if 1 leave farmers and manufacturers to think and act for themselves, I abstain from all interference in the cases of these ingenious persons. In truth, we want them less. Most of their inventions are for destroying life ; as if means enough were not known already. March 2. Visited the Royal Institution in Albemarle Street. Its objects are scientific and literary. A lecture-room, with apparatus, is annexed, where Sir Humphrey Davy, and Professors Brande and Milligan, deliver lec- tures. It has a large library, and is furnished with the current periodical publications. I note it merely as one, though of much repute, among numerous establishments of the kind in London. Another was mentioned to me — the London Institution in Moorfields — founded a few years back, at an expense of upwards of fifty thousand guineas, obtained by subscrip- tion among private individuals in that range of the city. The Clubs also have libraries, and the periodical works. It is so at the Alfred, which is near the Royal Institution. The Club Houses appear to be among the largest in town, judging from those in St. James's Street. Let me here relate what I heard of one of them— White's— the great Tory Club, in a. *■ .!'. n1 l« 110 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. St. James's. Somebody spoke of the lights kept burning there all night : " Yes," said a member, " they have not been out, I should thinks since the reign of Charles IH* The London Clubs of the higher order are not associations for mere conviviality, but for intercourse upon a flir broader scale ; political, literary, scien- tific, dramatic, and objects more diversified. At a subsequent day I visited several, and had the freedom of some bestowed upon me. I was honoured with that of the United Service Club, the Travellers', and the Alfred. The first, for extent and completeness, I may al- most add splendour, surpassed any that came under my observation, though all were more or less striking. None of its members are below the rank of field-officers in the army, or cap- tains in the navy. Through the good offices of Sir Humphrey Davy, I had the privilege of resorting to the library and reading-rooms of the Royal Institution. My gratitude is due for the facilities accorded to me at all times for reading and consulting books there, and at- tending lectures. I have been to several of the great book- sellers' shops ; that of Payne and Foss in Pall Mall, whose collection is said to be very choice ; some in Paternoster Row, and Lackington's, corner of Finsbury Square. A bird's-eye view ■i 1818. COURT OF LONDON. Ill of them shows the amount of capital em- ployed in this great branch of business, the more imposing as it gives the id , of intellec- tual as well as moneyed capital. The mere external arrangement at Lackington's seemed the best, and I should have inferred, but per- haps erroneously, as I did not see tlie whole extent of some in Paternoster Row, that their collection was largest. One of the firm told me, that the number of volumes in two de- scriptions of books, Shakspeare and the peri- odical writers, amounted, as nearly as he could sav, to about one hundred thousand. I should have conjectured that the entire collection could scarcely have fallen short of a million of volumes. Opening cursorily some of the cata- logues, Lackington's appeared to contain the greatest number of works on America ; espe- cially on the early colonial history of the United States. The catalogues are made out with great care, and give the prices. They formed well-sized octavo volumes. Lacking- ton's ran on to a thousand pages. Of books, we expect catalogues. But it is much the habit of English shopkeepers generally to have printed lists of their arti- cles. Stepping into a large hardware-shop, the proprietor handed me a stout pamphlet which presented his whole assortment in print, 112 UESIDENCE AT THE 1U18. H ■s'^ with the prices annexed to each item» no matter how minute. Haberdashers send out their inventories in print, and the dealers in a thousand other thhigs theirs. Their packets come to my house in I know not what quan- tity ; to the advantage of the paper-maker, job-printer, and other handicrafts in the sys- tem of subdivision. March 4. Went the evening before last, to a party at the Duchess of Cumberland's, St. James's Palace. This is among the oldest buildii^gs in Lon- don. It presents on the street, a fortress-like appearance. To what order it belongs would be hard to say. The whole is an irregular pile. But the very confusion in its plan, with its antiquity, and the sentxn^ls pacing day and night about it, minister to the fancy, making amends for its want of good architecture. So says one, who, unaccustomed to the sight of edifices that go far back into time, finds this the ingredient which seizes most upon his first feelings. We drove under a gatehouse leading to a paved court-yard. Here we were set down at the entrance to the Duke of Cumberland's apartments. Directed by servants who lined the way, we passed up to the rooms of en- tertainment. The company was not very large. ' 1818. COURT OF LONDON- 113 In a rich arm-chair, sat the i rince egen' : on one side of him the Duchess of Cumb . land, on the other the Marchioness of Ift t- ford. The rest of the company stood. When we entered, all were listening to music. Mem- bers of the royal family, cabinet ministers, the foreign ambassadors, with their respective ladies, and others, formed the groups. I ob- served among them the Lord Chancellor, Sir William Scott, and Mr. Canning. On a pause in the music, there was conversation. The Duchess of Cumberland spoke kindly of my country, and individuals belonging to it ; par- ticularly Mr. and Mrs. Adams, whom she had known at the court of Berlin. The Duke talked to me of the United States, embracing in his inquiries, language; with a desire to learn how far, if at all, we fell into changes in idiom or pronunciation from the parent stock. I had introductions to several persons. Whilst in conversation with the Earl of Hard- tvicke, a gentleman stood within a few paces. I did not know him. On separating from Lord Hardwicke, he advanced towards me, saying, " I'm going to bring a bill into Par- liament, making it indictable in any stranger, whether ambassador from a republic, kingdom, or popedom, ever to leave his card without his address upon it : how do you do, Mr. Rush, r 114 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. V how do you do ? Fve been trying to find you everywhere — I'm Lord Erskine," In this manner commenced my ac([uaintance with this gifted man. There was no one in England of whose fame I had oftener heard, or whom I more desired to know. He continued — "I had a letter for you from my brother, the Earl of Buchan, but you made me carry it so long in my pocket that I lost it ; it had no secrets ; it was only to congratulate you on your ar- rival ; he was long a correspondent and friend of your father's, and wants to transfer his feel- ings to you, that *s all ; so you can write to him as if you had received it." I assured him of my gratification at meeting him, and made the due apologies for the omission on my card. He inquired for President Monroe, Mr. Pink- ney, and others ; said he had always loved the United States, and hoped to visit them yet, as he was an old sailor and cared nothing for storms. Such was his sprightly strain. He must have been seventy, or near it ; but, as Sir Francis Burdett said, he illustrated the fable of youth peeping through the mask of age. It was a treat to see so much genius with so much play- fulness; such a social flow from one whose powerful eloquence had been felt by the Eng- lish nation, and helped to change, on some fundamental points, the English law. He saun- « I 1818. 1818. t Ol IIT OF LONDON. 115 teretl about with me and looked at tlie paint- ings. There was a full-length likeness of George II. another of George III. and one of Mary of Scots ; a " Royal jade," he feared, •' but verj^ pretty." We ended in a room at the extremity of the suite, where was a table set out with golden urns for tea, and other light refreshments ; to which those went who were inclined. At one o'clock we came away. The music was by professional performers. Not only are the first musical talents of Eng- land engaged for private entertainments at houses of distinction, but the best from Italy, France, and other parts of the continent ; tlie Fodors, the Pastas, the Ambrogettis, the Cata- lanis, who may always be seen in London. March 10. Dined at the Russian Ambassa- dor's. This distinguished diplomatist is under- stood to enjoy in a high degree the good -will of his sovereign, and by all other titles is pro- minent in ofKcial and court circles. To the social assemblages of each, the Princess Lieven, his lady, brings dignity, intelligence, and grace. From the embassy, we experienced at all times the kindness in unison with the good relations subsisting between the United States and Russia. The guests consisted of the diplo- matic corps, their wives, and some other foreigners. General conversation was kept up I 2 m I if t m ^^^ 116 RESIDRNXE AT THE 1810. at table, and revived in smaller circles in the drawing-rooms afterwards. I had some with the Minister Plenipotentiary from Naples. He directed it to the affairs of the United States. Of their commerce and marine he had been observant, particularly in the Mediterranean. With the interests of the countries on this sea, he seemed familiar. He had been minister at Constantinople ; his father had been in the same post before him, and now, it was filled by his son. He asked if my Government did not contemplate opening diplomatic intercourse with the Porte, which led us to talk of the commerce of the Black Sea. He doubted if we could derive benefit from it, unless as carriers, should we even be admitted there. All that we desired, I said, was the opportunity. The nations to whom it was open were, he said, Russia, Austria, England, and France. Naples enjoyed it not ; she was unwilling to pay what the court of Constantinople asked. Prince Lieven expressed to me his hope, that the late appointment by the Emperor of Mr. Poletticca as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States, would improve the friend- ship between our two countries. I joined in the hope; the more, as Mr. Poletticca had been favourably known in the United States 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 117 since the days of Count Pahlen's mission. He spoke of Mr. Adams, and the respect in which he was held when minister in Russia. I said, that his titles to respect at home had been in- creased by his correspondence whilst at St. Petersburgh. Here I stated, that in 1811 and 1812 his despatches relating to the great movements in Europe, w^ere frequent and full ; that he proved himself master of them all, anticipating the political combinations, and military results of that era, with remarkable precision ; above all, confidently predicting the failure of Napoleon's grand expedition to Moscow, from the roused and warlike patriot- ism of Russia, and her abundant resources. Such had been the uniform tenor of his com- munications. They were on the archives of the American government, as monuments of the writer's capacity to handle public affairs of magnitude, with judgment and forecast. The Ambassador heard with satisfaction my nar- rative. March 12. Last night we were at the Mar- chioness of Stafford's. The rooms were full. The Prince Regent, Royal family, many of the nobility, and others thronged them. It was past eleven when we arrived ; yet fresh names were every moment announced. All were in black under an order for a new Court mourn- 118 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. #') ;,„.M ing ^or the late King of Sweden, Charles XIII. ; who however did not die king, Bernadotte — the remnant of Napoleon's royal creations — occupying the Swedish throne. The rooms abounded in ornamental articles. The paint- ings commanded admiration. Under light judiciously disposed, they made a magnificent appearance. There is said to be no such private collection in Europe. It comprehends the productions of the first masters of the dif- ferent schools. A considerable number are from the Orleans collection, procured in France by the late Duke of Bridgewater, from whom the estates of the Marquis of Stafford in part descend. These works of genius glowing from every part of the walls, formed of them- selves a high attraction had the evening afforded no others. It was the beginning of many hospitalities we had from this family. The Marquis is known to his country by the pubUc character his peerage gives him, and the posts he has filled. The Marchioness is not less known by her rank ; for she is of the oldest of the realm. But this is adventitious. She is known by her cultivated mind, her taste in the arts, her benevolence to her tenantry, by virtues unos- tentatious and refined, that commend her to the love of domestic and social circles, and endear her name to strangers. t 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 119 March 17. Dined at Lord Melville's. Lord and Lady Melville, Lord and Lady Mulgrave, Lord Keith, the Ambassador of the Nether- lands, the Danish Minister and Lady, Mr. Barrow, and a few more, made the party. The Polar expedition was talked of. The prevailing opinion was against its success, but Mr. Barrow stood up for it. For every doubt, man of genius like, he had a solution, often in veins of pleasantry. I learned that he was the author of the article on this subject in the thirty-fifth number of the Quarterly Review, which everybody had read with pleasure, at least. Lord Melville said, that nothing would be omitted by the Admiralty to ensure success to the expedition, as far as equipment was concerned ; but I saw that he was not sanguine as to results. I commended some delicious oranges on the table. His lordship asked if we had them in the United States. In the southern parts, I replied; in other parts we got them from the West Indies. Copying Mr. Barrow's good vein I said, that those from the English Islands would have a better relish if his Majesty's Go- vernment would allow us to bring them in our own ships ! In the same spirit his lordship answered, that, for one, he would be most happy to contribute to our enjoyments ; but 'Ii:' 120 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. m must hear what Lord Castlereagh had to say! In the dining-room hung the original paint- ings of the places seen by Cook in his voyages. In the hall was one of Duncan's victory over the Dutch oiF Camperdown. I asked if there was no collection in England representing, in historical series, the victories of the nation gained in fleets, beginning with those in Cromwell's time. His lordship said, none. In the drawing-room was a large vase of alabaster about eight feet high, and of the finest proportions. It stood before a mirror. On the exterior surface, the whole story of Lucretia was represented in figures of demi- relievo. The work was exquisite. The vase was illuminated inside, and cast softened shades through the room. By the reflections of the mirror, all the figures, though on a spherical surface, came under the eye at once. This classic and beautiful ornament, which the size of the room displayed to the best advan- tage, had been imported from Florence. Eng- land, though carrying the manufacturing arts to so high a pitch, is filled with the costly productions of other parts of the world ; the porcelain, the silk damasks, the or-molu, of France ; the finest works in marble from Italy ; the table-linen of Holland and Saxony ; the 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 121 lace of Flanders ; the gems, the cashmeres, of India. No amount of duty shuts out such articles from her opulent classes. Their very costliness brings them into demand. March 18. The Duke of Sussex visited me. He had called when I v^ras out. Seeing the Secretary of Legation at Almack's, he fixed to-day for calling again. I stayed at home to receive him. An ardour for constitutional liberty pervaded his conversation. It rose sometimes to an elo- quent boldness. I had not been prepared for quite as much in a prince of the blood, and prized it the more. Passing in review some of the speakers in parliament, he specially com- mended Lords Grey, Holland, Lansdowne, Grenville, and Erskine; and, of the House of Commons, — Sir Samuel Romilly, Mr. Brougham, and Sir James Macintosh. Gibbon was mentioned. He thought highly of his historical research, but preferred Addi- son's style. The latter never tired. It was adapted to all subjects. He spoke of Mr. Adams, called him his friend, said he had known him on the Continent, where, as in England, he was esteemed by all to whom he was known. In paying a tribute to his ta- lents, he mentioned his knowledge of lan- guages. .** .Jiiiiir * hv m II % HI 122 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. The French was spoken of as the language of conversation in Europe. His Royal High- ness said, that he would not perhaps object to this, as it was established ; but when used as the language of state papers and treaties, he was disposed to make a quaere. The French was acquired by foreigners with sufficient pre- cision for conversation, and general purposes of literature ; but in drawing up treaties, where the employment of words in their nicest shades of meaning was often of national mo- ment, he who wrote in his native language had an advantage ; and however slight, it was enough to lay the practice open to objection. He would suggest as a remedy, that treaties and other solemn state papers, to which two or more nations were parties, should be drawn up in Latin. This would put modern nations upon a par. Each would stand upon the scholarship of their public men. It was to this effect he spoke. I thought it in the na- tural feeling of an English prince. The language of France has been diffused by her social manners, the merit of her writers, the exile of her protestants, and the power of her monarchy. Some of these influences past. Others are shared by contem- are porary nations. Is it right that the mono- poly of her language should last for ever ? I \1 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 123 would be much inclined to his Royal High- nesses remedy, if there were no other, though open to difficulty, perhaps, from modern terms of art. But I venture upon the suggestion of another. Let the language most likely to be predominant throughout Christendom, be the common vehicle of Christendom. If a living language is to be adopted at all, this would be the fairest test. The European dominions of Britain have a population of upwards of twenty-two millions ; the United States count more than twelve, to take no notice of the rapid increase of the latter, or numerous co- lonies of the former. Here is enough to au- thorize the belief, that, already, there are more persons to whom English is the vernacular tongue than French; and that it is destined to gain, not only upon the French, but Ger- man, Spanish, and all others. There is ano- ther fact more applicable. The foreign com- merce of Britain and that of the United States conjointly, exceed that of all Europe. This serves, at the present day, to send forth the English tongue more extensively to all parts of the globe, than the French, or any of Christendom. Malherbe asserted the rights of his native language so strenuously against all foreign usurpation, that he gained at the French court the appellation of " tyrant of ,,ij 1. 124 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. I'i : IWi words and syllables" Very well, in a French- man ! But if treaties and all other interna- tional papers are always to be written in French words and syllables, what becomes of the equal independence of English words and syllables ? The French are too just to dis- parage the language of Milton, and Newton, and Locke ; and why should they insist upon the perpetual preference of their own ? or rather why should England acquiesce ? His Royal Highness, it must be added, is himself an excellent linguist. To his know- ledge of the classics, he adds German, Italian, French, Hebrew, and it may be others, of which I am not informed. March 23. Dined at the Lord Mayor's. It was not Lord Mayor's Day, but a city enter- tainment always given on Easter Monday, at the Mansion-house. This edifice is sometimes called the City palace. In size, it resembles one, and in some points of architecture ; but is badly situated, close by the Bank and Royal Exchange. The streets are so narrow, you can see it but in part, and it is with difficulty that carriages approach it at all. Through the courtesy of the Lord Mayor, the diplomatic corps are annually invited to this entertain- ment. It is a gratifying one to them, for they see at it, the image of a powerful class in the empire ; the commercial class. i 18l». COURT OF LONDON. 125 The Royal Dukes, some of the nobility, and persons in station, were present. These, with the diplomatic corps, occupied seats in a half circle at the upper extremity of the room, on an elevation or dais. The tables in the area below, were filled with the opulent citi- zens of London. It was a fine sight. They might be taken as a representative body from the great ocean of mercantile wealth between Temple-bar and London-bridge. The room was the Egyptian hall, of ample dimensions and brilliantly lighted. A band played as we entered. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress were side by side in the centre of the half circle, at the top of the dais ; the latter in a full court-dress. By her position she faced the whole company ; a trying situation, which she bore with grace. After all the courses were over, toasts were given, the first I had heard in England. Music was kept up, the song rose, and every thing ministered to the festive feeling. On one side of me was Sir Benjamin Bloomfield. At intervals we con- versed. It was principally of the United States. He spoke in a very friendly spirit ; urging the benefit to both countries of mutual good-will and good offices. I listened the more, as he was Private Secretary to the Prince Regent. The entertainment closed with a ball in another part of the building. Throughout the 126 RESIDENCE AT THE 181U. rooms, were insignia of the commerce and riches ot London from an ancient day. The nation that commands the trade of the world, said Sir Walter Raleigh, commands its riches, and consequently the world itself. Whether the saying be true or not, the policy, the laws, the whole conduct of the English, attest that they never forget it. 1-" \ m 1018. COURT OF LONDON. 127 CHAPTER XI. VISIT TO MR. WEST. — DINNER AT MR. LITTLETON'S — AT LORD Holland's. — a day at deptford and Green- wich. — DINNER AT THE AUSTRIAN AMBASSADOR'S — AT EARL BATHURST'S. — MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH. — DINNER AT LORD BAGOT's. March 26, 1818. Visited Mr. West, Presi- dent of the Royal Academy. I found him with his pencil in his hand. The most curious piece in his collection, was one painted when he was eight years old. It was small, and very imperfect, he said ; but added, that the primary colours, blue, red, and yellow, were so justly blended that he could not improve that part of the work. On ask- ing if he had any previous instruction that en- abled him to go right in so important a par- ticular, he replied, no ; he could no more say how his judgment had been formed to it, than how he learned his mother tongue. The piece to which he pointed with most 128 RESIDENCE AT THE 1U)8. I / U ' interest, was the " Continence of Scipio." It had been instrumental in bringing him into notice, forty years before. George III. sent for it, and kept it for some time at his palace. At his Majesty's request, he had painted a series of historical pieces, from the New Testa- ment. They were at Windsor — to be put up in a chapel the King contemplated building. The number of pieces in his rooms was very great. He had been computing the dimen- sions of a gallery, to contain all he had ever painted. He found that it would require one four hundred feet long, fifty broad, and forty high. The piece from Lear, in the Academy of Arts at Philadelphia, was, he said, among those with the execution of which he had been best satisfied. I spoke of his " Christ healing the sick," in the hospital at Philadelphia, re- marking how highly it was prized ; all the town had flocked to see it. He spoke of a criticism upon it in Philadelphia, that had come under his notice ; said it was written in a scholar- like manner, and with a perfect knowledge of the subject. He knew not the author, nor could I inform him. This eminent and venerable artist was then near eighty. A native American, born near Philadelphia, he adverted to scenes of his early life. I was enabled to understand some of 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 129 .." It (I into . sent palace, ited a Testa- lut up ing. ls very limen- 1 ever re one I forty ademy among i been ealing ia, re- 3 town ticism under sholar- dge of r, nor s then (1 near early rnie of I His patriarchal look and his local allusions, character gave me something of the filial feel- ing. What am I to do, I asked, as our con- versation proceeded, to be able to judge of paintings ? Wherever I go, I meet with them ; in palaces, private houses, everywhere ; en- gravings rest in portfolios ; I see nothing but the works of your art, and all persons appear to have a knowledge of them ; I the rather ask, as there is a growing taste for the arts in the United States ; Republics have been cele- brated for them ; we cherish the hope that it may be our lot. He replied that he believed he could not do better, than name to me the discourses of Sir Joshua Reynolds. Those productions, I said, but increased my despair ; we knew them in Philadelphia ; they were in- genious, profound ; but what a universe they opened ! — ^wider than the poets in Rasselas ; it was boundless ; all kind of knowledge was ne- cessary to the painter ; and could we, with less, and without superadding the practice of the eye, become judges of painting ? He agreed that the art was boundless ; said that he every day saw something to learn in it; told the anecdote of the clergyman who preached one of Sir Joshua's discourses from the pulpit, omitting technical words, as a proof of its foundation in the principles of man's K 130 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. m M m «Fl general nature, and admitted that it could only be successfully studied in conjunction with practice ; in other words, that the eye could not gain a quick or sure perception of beauties and defects, but by familiarity with the best models. I said, it was this which gave to the English their facilities; foreign travel was so common with them, that they saw the best models abroad, and then kept the eye in practice at home ; the Vatican, the Louvre, the Museum at the Hague, the galleries of Sans Souci, the collections in the Low Countries and Spain, persons whom you met every day, had more or less seen. It was somewhat the same with books of travels. If you alluded to the latest in France, a gentleman by your side had been over the ground, and knew more than the book ; if you spoke of the Coliseum or St. Peter's, half the company had been at Rome ; and so of other places. He replied that it was true. Englishmen travelled a great- deal ; all did not bring back useful informa- tion in the arts, but so many went abroad, that the number was still great who did ; hence there were more good judges of painting in England, than good painters ; it was rare to meet with a person of leisure and fortune who had not visited Italy and France, if not more countries ; England also contained more paint- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 131 ings than any other country, not in public de- positories, for there were none worth speaking of, but in private houses ; the rich bought up the best upon the Continent, wherever to be had ; he would be glad to point out the private collections ; those of Lord Stafford and Lord Grosvenor stood at the head, but there were others scattered about town, and all over the country. He invited me to call, whenever I had an hour to throw away, and saunter through his own collection, for all that it might be worth to me, saying that he would saunter with me, being always at home. It was thus that he received and talked to me. Once there was a tear, that the early recollections of his native land seemed to have drawn down. I felt in his fame the interest of a country- man. In his whole manner there was a cor- diality which also inspired personal attachment even in a first interview. As often as I saw him afterwards, it was with renewed pleasure and advantage ; but it was not long, before I was summoned to bear his pall. March 27. We were entertained at Jinner by Mr. and Lady Sarah Lyttelton. Mr. Lyt- telton is in Parliament, and heir presumptive to Hagley, with the title of its possessor. I spoke of the letters in the name of one of his family. He said it was an admitted point that K 2 132 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. , M they had not been written by Lord Lyttelton. Sir Humphrey Davy was at table. The news- men had been blowing horns on a false ru- mour of Bonaparte's death. " When that hap- pens," said Sir Humphrey, " Europe will fly up, Compression being off." We had also Lady Davy, Miss Fanshawe, Earl Spencer, Lord Folkstone, and Mr. Luttrel. There was a flow of conversation that gives charm to a dinner- party ; our reception having been as friendly as courteous by this accomplished pair. March 29. Dined at Lord Holland's. His Lordship and Lady Holland, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Morpeth, Lord Maitland, Sir James Macintosh, and Mr. Tierney, were of the company. Lord Holland spoke of the institutions of the United States. Our system, he said, ap- peared suited to our circumstances ; he hoped we would not put it to risk by a fondness for war; was there no fear that the excitements apt to arise under popular forms, and the cou- rage that springs from freedom, might make us prone to war ? I replied, that our reliance was in the checks which our constitution raised up, and chiefly, that the people, who must suf- fer from war, were the power who alone, by their representatives, could declare it. He bore testimony to the merit of President Mon- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 133 roe, whom he had known in personal and offi- cial relations, saying that in such hands our Republic, as far as depended on the chief magistrate, might always be considered safe. I asked Sir James Macintosh, when we were to be favoured with the history the public had been led to hope he was preparing. He spoke doubtfully. Hume was mentioned. He could not always agree with him, he said, but com- mended the general spirit of his history ; the whole, indeed, was masterly ; the best portion, that which comprised the reigns of the Tudors, particularly Elizabeth's. He spoke df Robert- son and Gibbon ; both were careful inquirers into facts ; Gibbon's research was profound, but he saw objections to his style. He spoke of Franklin's style with nothing but praise. It was more than pure; it was classic. It was neither the style of Addison nor Swift ; it had the simplicity of theirs, but an original and graceful playfulness not carried too far, which neither of the others had in so great a degree. Lord Holland asked if it could be true that his works, and especially his style, were not popular in the United States ; he had seen late publications seeming to point that way. My own knowledge and observation, I said, would lead me to a different conclusion as to the opinions of my countrymen. 134 RESIDENCE AT THE 1018. :.is Holland House, where we dined, four miles from London, is a venerable building. Among other associations that go with it, is the name of Addison. He lived here, after his marriage to the Countess of Warwick. After dinner we went into the room that had been his library. It is now Lord Holland's. It is very long. Addison was not happy in his marriage ; and the jocose tradition is, that he kept his bottle at each end of the room, so that in his walks backwards and forwards he might take a glass at each ! It was in this room he wrote his despatches when Secretary of State. The Spec- tator being mentioned, Sir James said, that it had lost its value as a book of instruction, but as a standard of style would always last. I listened with interest to these and other re- marks from him. His speeches and writings, read on the banks of the Delaware as those of the Thames, had taught me to regard his mind as kindred to Burke's ; the same elementary power ; the same application of the philosophy of politics and jurisprudence to practical oc- currences ; the same use of history never hea- vily but always happily brought in ; the same aptitude for embellishment, not so gorgeous, but always chaste ; the same universal wisdom. I resumed the topic of his history. I said, that when he got to the American revolution 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 135 we should, on our side of the Atlantic, open his pages with peculiar interest. That we believed the full and proper account of it had not yet gone forth to the world ; that among us were still left a few who were contemporary with it ; their minds were the repositories of facts and reflections which, if not rescued in time, would perish. I instanced particularly, Mr. Jefferson and the elder Adams. The life of each hung by a thread ; but their faculties were unimpaired. If he thought it worth while to embark in a correspondence with these fathers of our country, who, like himself, could have no object but truth, I would be happy to be the medium of its commencement. Some light he might hope to glean ; and if, examin- ing also for himself, he should find it the light of truth, would it not be worthy of both na- tions to establish this part of their common history, on a basis that both might approve ? He caught at the suggestion, and followed it up with inquiries, saying he would avail him- self of it. But it was not acted upon. I do not believe the omission arose from any di- minished sense of the value of the aid he would probably have derived ; but other causes. His parliamentary engagements took up much of his time ; those at the India College had their claims ; and shall I add, as another and natural PI 4^ I' r k , III V i 1 136 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. hindrance, the claims of daily society upon him in the highest spheres, uniting as he did, the ease of the man of the world, to intellectual stores attractive and inexhaustible. Such men grow into favourites in these spheres in Lon- don. Chains are thrown round them, not easy to break. The conversation from which I have mi- nuted a small part, took place after we had risen from dinner, and were in the library. At table it was suited to the moment, and with the moment passing away. Of hospitality as dispensed by Lord Holland I had heard; of its kindness, its elegance. His standing as a peer is known. Not less, the many attain- ments which he makes subservient to the plea- sures of society and friendship. In his house, opulence and refinement seem to lend their aids to invest letters with glory. The room in which we dined was richly ornamented. I un- derstood that it had been painted and gilded as -I saw, by one of Lord Holland's ancestors in the time of Charles I. on the occasion of a fete given to Henrietta his Queen, when she came over from France. I must mention an incident at one of the Holland House dinners, though I was not pre- sent. Scott's novels became a topic, a new one being out. One or two of the company ex- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 137 pressed preferences among them. Before opi- nion had gone farther, Lady Holland proposed that each person should write down the name of the novel liked best. Paper and pencil were passed, and a slip torn off as each wrote. Nine were handed to her, and each had the name of a different novel ! — a happy illustration of the various merit of this f^sdnating writer. April 1. Went to Deptford with Sir Hum- phrey Davy. His carriage was at the door when I drove up at an early hour to his house. An accident happening to it, he took a seat in mine. Our conversation was chiefly about the United States, he leading it by h;s rapid, intelligent inquiries. One object of our ex- cursion was, to see the ships fitting out for the Polar voyage. We went on board the Isa- bella. Outside she looked like any common merchant-vessel equipped for boisterous seas. There was double planking round her bow and sides to resist ice. The interior arrange- ments embraced whatever science could devise and mechanical skill effect to promote the ob- jects of the expedition and comfort of the officers and men. Flues for diffusing heated air through the ship, nautical and philoso- phical instruments, with a library that seemed to contain the accounts of all former voyages of discovery, were to be seen. Parliament, to 138 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. increase the zeal of the officers, had included them within the promise of reward to those who ascertained most nearly the longitude. After going through nearly all parts of the ship, we went into the Naval Dock-yard, and afterwards to Greenwich to see the Hospital. Deptford is the smallest of the English dock- yards. We saw but few ships-of-war. Only one of the line, and three frigates were build- ing. There were docks for repairing as well as building. We saw several royal yachts; among them, a very old one, the same that had conveyed Caroline Matilda, sister of George III. to Denmark, on the occasion of her mar- riage to the King of that country. The Danes sent it back to England ; refusing to keep it after the attack upon their capital, and cap- ture of their fleet by Britain, in 1801. Al- though this is the smallest of the yards, it is not without importance, from being so near London. The business of supplying the navy with provisions is, or until lately was, carried on from a depot adjoining it. Sir Humphrey spoke of their excellent quality, remarking how much the strength and courage of seamen depended upon food. They got, he said, bread and beef of the best quality, and in full quantity ; an ample allowance of malt liquor ; wine and cocoa, with all other things proper 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 139 for the sea ration. In the timber piled up in the yard, I observed mahogany. The Com- missioner said, it was used, not merely for decks, as in the royal yachts, but with ad- vantage, as knees and beams in heavy ships. The timber of all kinds on hand in the yard, generally amounted to a supply for three years. It consisted of English oak chiefly ; but they also got supplies of foreign timber. A quan- tity was soon expected from the forests of Croatia and Dalmatia, under contracts with the Government of Vienna. They also obtained it from the Baltic. This they thought good when cut from the southern shores. From their North American possessions ihey did not get much, except for large masts. The attachments of George III. to the navy were spoken of, his feelings as monarch being se- conded, as was said, by a personal fondness for naval architecture and affairs of the sea. He had first evinced them in promoting the voyages of Byron and Cook, as soon as he got to the throne. It was added, that at Bucking- ' ham Palace, he was furnished with models of the dock-yards, and, occasionally, of the vessels building ; which he took an interest in examining. These modes f exerting a su- perintendence over the navy, seem better in themselves, and, it must be owned, more be- \Jk U V/V/tXU8 IIKSIUENCE AT THK 181R. not always at command but in the libraries of public men. Great Britain, as a measure of state policy, impresses her seamen to serve on board her ships-of-war ; in other words, takes them by force. The practice is one with which other nations have nothing to do, as lon^' as it is confined to British seamen, the British domi- nions, and the decks of British vessels upon the seas. It may seem at variance with the high standard of personal rights upon which her laws are set in other respects ; but that consideration is wholly for herself. But she claims the right of searching the vessels of other nations upon the seas, for her seamen ; and here begins the cause of com- plaint. For, how can the claim ever be en- forced consistently with what is due to other nations ? Let the steps by which the enforcement proceeds be attended to. A British frigate, in time of war, meets an American merchant vessel at sea, boards her, and, under terror of her guns, takes out one of the crew. The boarding-lieutenant asserts, and, let it be ad- mitted, believes, the man to be a Briton. By this proceeding, the rules observed in deciding upon any other fact where individual or na- tional rights are at stake, are overlooked. The i8ia. COURT OF LONDON. 151) lieutenant is accuser and judge. He decides upon his own view, instantly. The impressed man is forced into the frigate's hoat, and the case ends. No appeal follows. There is no trial of any kind. More important still, there is no remedy, should it appear that a wrong has been committed. Different is the mode of proceeding if an American merchant- vessel be stopped and ex- amined at sea under circumstances subjecting her to suspicion as prize of war. In the latter case, the boarding-officer sends the vessel into port under accusation. Facts are inquired into judicially. Both parties are heard. Both have ample opportunities of bringing forward proofs. Should the tribunal decide that no lawful cause of seizure existed, the vessel is restored, the captors are answerable in damages, and there are adequate modes of making them pay. If, on the other hand, the man seized be in fact no Briton, the most he can ever hope for is, merely to be released. This can only take place after he has been kept an indefinite length of time on board the frigate, put to duty, and perhaps made to fight. He may be slain in battle. If this fate does not await him, his subsequent liberation, from the nature of the case, can only be effected at a distant day, and is not certain at last. He may not Iff 160 RESIDENCE AT THE 181 K. 'V. be able, whilst on board the frigate, to obtain documents to show that he is not a Briton. He may be transferred to some other vessel of war. Even to trace him through a navy scattered over all seas, must become to his country or friends a difficult, often a hopeless task. Should the chances, multiplied as they are against him, all turn out in his favour, and the order for his discharge be obtained, where is his action for damages ? where his remedy for loss of liberty ? — He has none ! A claim so ea^ parte in the whole enforce- ment, so intrinsically open to error, and the error so fatal, cannot, it should seem, rest upon public law. The United States say that it does not. They have never denied to Great Britain the 7'ight of search. They allege, however, that this means search for enemy's property, or articles contraband of war, not search for men. They say that no public code, or other adequate authority, has ever esta- blished the latter as an international right. If its exercise by any other State than Great Britain can be shown, the instances are averred to be too few, and too devoid of the evidences of general consent, to have made it part of the law of nations. Great Britain places her claim on the ground of natural allegiance. She alleges that, by a in IB. LOUIIT or LONDON. 161 principle of universal law, a man owes this kind of allegiance to the country of his birth. That he never can shake it off. That as his country protects him, so it may demand his services in return ; especially in time of war. The United States reply, that the principle of natural allegiance, however cherished by some states, is not universal. Sir William Blackstone, in his Commentaries, so able for the most part, lays it down as universal. But he refers for support, only to the writers of England. PufFendorf holds that allegiance may be put off. So do Grotius and Bynkers- hoek. If we choose to go as far back as the Justinian code, we shall there find the same doctrine. The principle of perpetual allegi- ance may be held sacred by Britain ; it may be of the highest practical importance under her own system ; but the United States say, that its operation should be confined to her own territorial dominions, and decks of her own merchant- vessels. There is scarcely an im- portant principle of public law that has not, at one time or other, had place in treaties among European States, tiie better to define or regu- late it. This is especially the case with prin- ciples that belong to maritime affairs. Would a right of such concern to all nations using the sea, as a sovereign's to enforce the alle- M 162 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. giance of his own subjects in neutral vessels on its broad highway, have escaped notice in these solemn instruments between States ? Yet no treaty contains any thing in relation to it. I'he United States have been exposed to grievances from the exercise of the claim by Britain, heavier perhaps than ever fell to the lot of an independent nation. It springs from a cause rooted in nature, and irreversi- ble ; the resemblance of their seamen to those of England. Their language, dress, sea- phrrbes, every thing, are alike. To discrimi- nate, is in most cases impossible. Of this, the proof is incontestable. It here follows. Britain disavows, unequivocally, all claim to impress fi\yxii American ships, any other seamen than her own. Her sense of justice would not allow her to set up any pretence of claim to take Americans; yet these she unavoidably does take, and in numbers suf- ficient to surprise those not informed upon the subject. Fx^om a report made to Congress by the Secretary of State in April 1816, it appeared, that the impressed American scan en on board of British armed ships at the ccmmencement of the war of 1812, a war occasioned chiefly by this cause, amounted to one thousand four 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 108 hundred and twenty-two. Here is no exag- geration. The fact comes from the archives of Britain. It is taken from official lists, fur- nished by functionaries of the British Govern- ment to the American agent for prisoners of war in London. These men had been trans- ferred from English shipy to English prisons, on the breaking out of the war, or during its progress. Furthermore. Britain, at a former period, liberated one thousand one hundred and thirty-two Americans who had been impressed prior to the month of September 1801. This fact also rests upon the authority of British archives, and was included in the same report to Congress. On the impressment of all these Americans, the British boarding-officers must have believed they were taking their own sub- jects ; else tliey took them knowing them to be Americans. Hence the difficulty not to be surmounted, of distinguishing American from British seamen. What then do we learn ? more than two THOUSAf^ii SIX HUNDRED AMERICAN CITIZENS, confessedly, the sufferers under this practice ! and this by no means the whole list. All were native Americans. No British seaman, natu- ralized in the United States, was ever, if im- pressed, given back again. Can Britain, whose M 2 I 164 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. sK *'i H pride and spirit have raised her to greatness, and who must know how to respect such qualities in other nations, — can she, for a mo- ment, wonder, that a practice leading to such consequences should excite the deepest sen- sation in the United States ? She complains, that she is aggrieved by the number of her seamen who get into the mer- chant-service of the United States, through naturalization laws and other our <3 causes. This takes from her, she alleges, the right arm of her defence. Without her navy, her existence, no less than her glory, might be endangered. It is therefore vital to both, that, when war comes, she should reclaim her seamen from the vessels of a nation where they are so frequently found. I have incidentally remarked in another place, that the naturalization laws of the United States are less favourable to foreign- ers than is generally supposed, and less than those of some of the principal states of Eu- rope. England has statutes, unless recently repealed, under which foreigners serving only two years in her iiiivy, become naturalized; which is going much beyond any facilities aiforded bv the United States. As to other causes that may bring her seamen to their vessels, the United States can only reply, that , ^i &!f»i' %di 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 165 i^'*^, ?i they do not entice them. Seamen are birds of passage ; now under one flag, then another. Those of the United States often seek volun- tarily the service of other nations, as those of other nations voluntarily seek theirs. The British navy, it is well known, is manned by a large proportion of foreign seamen. Some go there of their own accord. The decks of all nations show, more or less, an intermin- gling of the seamen of all. But no country is more desirous of employing their native seamen than the United States. They know^ the value of British seamen ; nevertheless, they prefer their own. And why should it be thought that they have not enough of their own, as any other country whose inter- ests and pursuits have long been maritime? New England alone is more populous than was Holland, when her sailors swarmed ; and as maritime. " Her farms are upon the ocean," said one of her statesmen, " and she gathers her harvests from every sea." How numerous her sailors were as long ago as when she made part of the British empire, British sta- tistics of that day may attest. This great nursery, passing by all other districts of a country with a vast sea coast, is perhaps suf- ficient to give to the United States as large a stock of seamen as they require. The supply. W m 'with A' I ti 166 RESIDENCE AT THE 1H18. Ill M m i\ fl as in other fields, meets the demand. If ever interrupted by temporary causes, things soon return to this natural basis. The United States not only desire to foster their own seamen, but have gone farther. In the hope of terminating the dissension about impressment, they have shown a willingness, as the progress of this work will make known, to exclude British seamen entirely from their service. They do not desire to hide the fact that they come, often in large numbers. It is a fact, however, which British records will also attest, that the number of British seamen regained by impressment out of the vessels of the United States, falls far behind the num- ber of Americans taken in their stead. Under this view alone of the practice, apart from all others, the injury to the United States is greater than the benefit to Britain. It is not immaterial to remark, that im- pressment, as a measure merely under the English laws and as exercised only in Eng- land, has a tendency to drive her seamen into the merchant-service of the United States on the breaking o at of war. Obedient as the impressed British seaman may be to disciplire when once on board a man-of-war of his cv^antry, it is not in human nature that he should like to be impressed. It is notorious 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 167 that he does not. He dreads it. He tries to hide from the press-gang. His bold spirit would resist if he could ; and sometimes he seeks foreign decks to get out of the way. There is another heavy evil resulting to the United States. The voyages of their mer- chant-vessels are sometimes broken up by impressment. It is not to be supposed that they carry extra hands. Hence, when men are taken out of their vessels upon the high seas, it may happen, and has happened, that not enough are left for their safe navigation : and they have been compelled to make ports, other than of their first destination. The foregoing is an outline of the question, in its main features. It may serve to give some idea of the manner in which it operates upon the United States. As between the two nations, it is a question sui generis. To both it is of the last importance. The diplomatic history of the United States will show how repeated and earnest have been their endea- vours to settle it. The joint mission to Lon- don in 1806, when Mr. Monroe and Mr. Pinkney were our negotiators, could effect nothing on this point ; and Mr. King's effort in 1803, successful in all other respects, was at last frustrated by Great Britain insisting on reserving her right to impress within the 168 HESIDKNCE AT THE IBIB. narrow seas. To this doctrine of the mare dausum of her Selden, in opposition to the mare liberum, of Grotius, the United States were not prepared to assent. I return to my interview with Lord Castle- reagh. He remarked, that intrinsic as were the difficulties respecting impressment, his de- sire was sincere to see them removed, and his efforts would be given with earnestness to re- move them. I assured him, that, under all my instructions, my efforts would be equally sin- cere and earnest. The conversation proceeded. We adverted to the principles maintained by our respective countries. He said, that the abuse of the practice, for he freely admitted its abuse, had been the result of the peculiar state of the world, all Europe having been at war, iind America neutral. He did not believe that the desire to enforce their right to the same extent, would exist in future ; or that it would be drawn into exercise at all, if means could be devised to keep their men out of our ves- sels. I said, that the question never could be put to rest as long as a British naval officer was allowed to muster an American crew upon an American deck, to look for British seamen. Besides the indignity, so felt by all America, the inevitable consequences to which it must lead of subjecting America,ns to seizure instead lUIU. COLRT OF LONDON. 169 of Britons, would preclude for ever all hope of adjustment. The best mode we could devise of keeping British officers from our vessels on such errands, was that which he had hinted at ; namely, to keep British seamen away altoge- ther. This we were desirous to do, as far as in our power. I promised tc furnish him with a proposal to this effect ; and he, that it should have a liberal consideration. His lordship nr spoke of the Slave-trade. The Government of Great Britain felt, he said, an increasing desire, that the Government of the United States should lend itself to mea- sures of regulation going forward in Europe for its extirpation. These were, mainly, a recipro- cal submission to the right of search for slaves, and a limited number of the armed vessels of each of the maritime states, to be empowered to search. It was contemplated to form out of an association of these, a species of inter- national police in the African seas, from which the best effects were anticipated. No unusual structure or appearances in the vessel searched ; no presence of irons or other presumptions of guilty intention ; nothing but the actual find- ing of slaves on board, was to authorize a sei- zure and detention. Great Britain had lately urged France on this subject ; but her consent could not, for obvious reasons, be made known, *, ^ .«.ii^ ^■Vs^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ^ ^^;^ 1.0 I.I UilZB 125 *^ iiii 122 lAO 12.0 m 1.25 III ,.4 ||,.6 ^ 6^' » ^ ^/^^' ■^ '/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. U5S0 (716) •72-4503 '^ 170 RESIDENCE AT THE 181». until the military occupation of her territory ceased. A recent vote, however, in both her chambers, on the principle of abolition, his lordship added, might safely be taken as a pledge of future co-operation. I replied, that I was destitute of instructions on the subject, but would transmit to my Government all that he said. The United States had long been awake to the evils of the slave-trade. They had been the first nation to abolish it, un- less Denmark led the way, and had directed against it the penalties of their own laws. Before we separated, his lordship spoke of the late offer of Britain, through her minister at Washington, to mediate in our affairs with Spain Although the offer had been refused, he desired to assure me that the refusal was taken in no unfriendly part ; the less, from its conciliatory manner. Britain had in like man- ner refused the mediation of Russia, offered during the late war with the United States, without any unfriendly feeling towards Russia, or any question of her impartial dispositions. He was about to say something farther on the affairs of Spain, but, the hour being late, de- ferred it. April 12. After my interview with Lord Castlereagh yesterday, I dined at Mr. Wilber- force's. Of the company, were Lord Teign- 181U. 1»18. COURT OF LONDON. 171 mouth, Lord Rocksavage, Lord Gambler, Mr. Babington of the House of Commons, Mr. Neal, with others, ladies as well as gentle- men. Many inquiries were made about the United States ; their commerce, revenue, population, literature, and state of religion. A friendly spirit characterized the inquiries and remarks. Mr. Wilberforce's fame as a philanthropist and Christian had been known to me. His par- liamentary labours, and those of his pen, had probably been more diffused over the United States than any country out of England. I expected to find him grave. He was full of animation. He led, without engrossing the conversation. His manner gave point to all that he said, and in his voice there were pe- culiarly eloquent intonations. He spoke of Mr. Pitt. They had been at school together. He was remarkable, he said, for excelling in mathematics; there was also this peculiarity in his constitution, that he required a great deal of sleep, seldom being able to do with less than ten or eleven hours ; he would often drop asleep in the House of Commons ; once he had known him do so at seven in the evening, and sleep until day-light. The ease with which some persons wrote, and the labour it cost others, were spoken of. Burke, Pitt, Wind- 172 RESIDENCE AT THE IttlU. \ I I' ham, and Lord Ellenborough, were all great blotters, he said ; Burke had begun a history of England, but gave it over ; Windham's pow- ers of conversation exceeded those of Fox, Pitt, and all his contemporaries ; he even went be- yond Sheridan in wit. One of the company mentioned the name of a gentleman who had large possessions in the West Indies. There is, said Mr. Wilberforce, in grammar, what they call a disjunctive conjunction ; so there is in society. It is thus with that gentleman and me, he is so great a slave-holder ; but we do very well when we meet ; we pass by topics we should not agree upon, and exchange the small shot of conversation. The income-tax being mentioned, he remarked, that having borne it once, they could bear it again ; it yielded fif- teen millions a-year, which would be good for a new loan of three hundred millions. These things all flowed from him happily. Lord Teignmouth and others made their con- tributions. We were invited and arrived at an early hour. It was midnight when we got home, so agreeably had the time passed. Most of the company were public professors of reli- gion ; always the more attractive when in alli- ance with genius and accomplishments. April 13. Dined at the Earl of Hardwicke's. Lord Somers was of the party. The English luin. COURT OF LONDON. 173 historical names as met in daily society, vividly arrest the attention of Americans. On this occasion I could not forget that I was with those of renown in the law ; Lord Hardwicke heing the grandson of the Lord Chancellor of that title, and Lord Somers a descendant of Lord Chief Justice Somers. The interest was heightened by portraits of the two ancestors hanging in view, the families having intermar- ried. We had also Lord and Lady Caledon, Lady Somers, Lady Catharine Halket, Admiral Sir Joseph Yorke, and Mr. Montagu. The conversation turned upon France. Commendation was freely bestowed. Before coming to England, I had adopted an im- pression that the people were not prone to speak of the merits of their neighbours on the other side of the Channel. I remark the con- trary in the circles I frequent. Another ob- servation continues to force itself upon me ; thjir taste for foreign things. Among the embellishments of the table this evening, were some beautiful ornaments in silver, from France. Although the French take the lead in many of the finer manufactures, I had supposed that English plate was preferred, from the more copious use of it in England leading to superior excellence in its manufac- ture. The French use more abundantly the 174 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. 1^ h 'i sumptuous porcelain. The English import that, in all its variety and costliness ; but French plate, it seems, is also imported. So it will always be with nations that are opulent. Tired even of their own forms of superiority, they seek novelty from abroad. Sir Joseph Yorke had been reading some of the official documents published by Congress, that treat of our navy. He made its condition the subject of complimentary remarks. It is not uncommon to hear, that at enter- tainments there were all the luxuries of the season. In this metropolis, I witness con- stantly those out of season ; as, on this oc- casion, strawberries and pine -apples, recalling the " winter roses and summer snows " of the Roman poet ; (estivcB nives, hybernce roses. We had also tokay that had been thirty years in his lordship's cellar ; and, better than all, respectful things said of our country, with other attractive conversation. April 16. We were at Almack's last night. The younger part of the company danced. They were not the most numerous part. Statesmen, cabinet ministers and their ladies, peers, peeresses and their daughters, foreign ambassadors, and others, were present. In these circles, if all classes do not intermingle, all ages do. Gibbon, writing to Lord Sheffield 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 175 from Paris, says, that Horace Walpole gave him a letter to Madame du Deffand, " an agreeable young lady of eighty-two,'' who had constant suppers at her house, and the best company. There may be seen in society in London, and as part of its ornaments, ladies whom I should set down as not much short of that youthful age. It would be doing in- justice to the stronger sex, to suppose that they give up sooner. We got to Almack's after having been at Covent Garden theatre to see Miss O' Neil's Bianca. In like manner, it is after the Opera, that we go to the weekly parties of Lady Cas- tlereagh, the invitation specifying that time. Neither the Opera nor Covent Garden break up until twelve. Parties beginning at that hour, last until two and three. Most of those who have been at them, do not rise until towards noon next day. About two, commences the roll of carriages. At six in the evening, the morning ends. Then, scarcely sooner, the throngs of carriages, with gentlemen and la- dies on horseback, disappear from the streets and parks, the hour of preparation for dinner being at hand. This is no overdrawn account, but the daily routine. It seems strange that health can be preserved, with such habits ; yet the men look hale, the women blooming. 17G UKSIDENCK AT TIIK IHIH. !^ ( I Chiefly, they are of a class whose riches leave them at perfect leisure ; but mixed in with them, are others, men of affairs, whose duties are arduous, and whose fame must be kept up by exertion — cabinet ministers, parliamentary orators, even chancellors and vice-chancellors — the last being seen on the bench next morn- ing by nine. How these go through it all, seems more strange. This kind of life opens by degrees in February, gets to its crisis in May and June, and ends with July. On the drop-curtain at Covent Garden, are seen the flags of nations with whom England has been at war. They are in a shattered state, and represented as in subjection to England. That of the United States is among them. The symbols are not historically true. If they were, they are misplaced at such an exhibition. Foreign nations do not take of- fence at such things now, and show good sense. The age is not remote when their sensibility was quicker. In the time of Charles II. one of the reasons given by England for a rup- ture with Holland was, that a picture of the burning of the English ships at Chatham by the Dutch, was permitted to be hung up in the Town House at Amsterdam. England has fame enough, military and of all kinds, with- out straining in small ways after what does not belong to her. IHI». COURT OF LONDON. 177 CHAPTER XIII. WAGER OF BATTLE. — INTERVIEW WITH LORD CASTLE- REAGII. — IMPRESSMENT. — COURSE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES, AS BETWEEN SPAIN AND HER COLONIES. — AFFAIRS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN. — SAFETY OF DIPLOMATIC COR- RESPONDENCE. THE DRAWING-ROOM. BIRTH-DAY DINNER AT LORD CASTLEREAGH S. April 16, 1818. Went to the Court of King's Bench to hear the argument in the case of wager of battle. The parties were pre- sent. Through the courtesy of the Judges, I had a seat on the bench, next to Mr. Justi :>: Bayley. On his left was Lord Chief Justice Ellenborough, occupying the seat of the Cokes, the Hales, the Mansfields. To the left of Lord Ellenborough were Mr. Justice Abbot and Mr. Justice Holroyd. If at Lord Hardwicke's I was awake to the associations which the great legal names of England call up, the feeling could not be less here. The room was ex- N 178 llESIUENCK AT THE 18in. i tt;< tremely full. The case was so remarkable as to have become a topic in general society. By the ancient law of England, when a per- son was murdered, the nearest relative of the deceased might bring what was called an ap- peal of death, against the party accused of the murder. Under this proceeding, the accuser and accused fought. The weapons were clubs. The battle began at sun-rise, and was in presence of the Judges ; by whom also the dress of the combatants, and all other formali- ties were arranged. Part of the oath was, that neither combatant would resort to witchcraft. If the accused was slain, it was taken as a proof of his guilt ; if the accuser, of his inno- cence. If the former held out until star-light, that also attested his innocence. If either yielded whilst able to fight, it worked his con- demnation and disgrace. Those who wish a full description of the proceedings, may seek it in Sully, or continental writers of an earlier day, as Froissart, the custom having been im- ported into England by the Normans. My summary will give the general idea. It was a mode of trial for dark ages. Ash- ford the appellor, had accused Thornton the appellee, of the murder of one of his relations, and the latter desired to fight. In the highest tribunal of the most enlightened country in Europe, I was listening to a discussion whe- UlUt. COURT or LONDON. 179 Ash- 1 the ions, rhest ther or not this mode of trial was in force in the nineteenth century ! It was difficult to persuade myself of the reality of the scene. Sir Humphrey Davy's remark was fresh in my mind. Mr. Chitty, a lawyer of eminence, ar- gued against the right of battle. Mr. Tindall had argued on the other side, on a former day, Fleta, Bracton, the Year-books, and other repositories of ancient law, were ransacked. Abundant ability was displayed on both sides. The greatest order prevailed ; even gravity. The Judges were in their robes. About seventy lawyers sat in front of them ; all in gowns and wigs. Finally, the Judges decided that trial by battle was in force. It had never, it seems, been repealed. To repeal laws, belongs to the legislature. Courts expound and apply them. Free go- vernment is complex, and works slowly ; ty- ranny is simple, and does its work at once. An absurd law may sleep in a free code, be- cause overlooked ; but, whilst there, it is the law. It is so, I suppose, that we must reason ; and generally the reasoning would be right. Yet it might have been thought, that, in a case like this, long disuse added to obvious absur- dity, would have worked the silent repeal of the law ; according to the doctrine of desuetude under the Roman code. N 2 «' 180 HESinF.N( K AT THK IBIB. In the end, no battle was fought. A tech- nical flaw interposed to prevent it, and Parlia- ment passed a repealing statute. But the case marks an incident in English jurisprudence, having come near to converting the Court of King's Bench into another Lyceum of Men- doza. April 18. Had an interview with Lord Cas- tlereagh. My object was, to submit a proposal for abolishing impressment. Its nature will be seen in the paper subjoined. It is not my ge- neral design to insert copies of official papers, meaning to content myself, when they come into view, with making known ther substance and results. But there may be exceptions, and the subject of impressment is one. I therefore give the paper in its words, as follow : — " Great Britain alleging a right to impress her seamen out of American vessels upon the high seas, it follows, that whenever a mode can be devised for their previous exclusion from American vessels, the motive for the practice must be at an end. It is believed that this may be effected by each nation imposing re- straints upon the naturalization of the seamen of the other, and reciprocally excluding from their service all seamen not naturalized. If Great Britain be allowed to naturalize Ameri- can seamen, the United States must be allowed lUUt. COURT OF LONDON. 181 to naturalize British seamen. Each should he at liberty to afford the same facilities, or bound to interpose the same restraints. The greater the difficulty in acquiring the right of citizen- ship, the easier will it be to avoid imposition, and the more complete the desired exclusion. The law of Congress of the third of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, of all the provisions of which Great Britain may com- mand the benefit, will prove how sincerely the United States desire to settle this controversy on conditions satisfactory to Great Britain. By that law it is made indispensable for evei'y British subject who may hereafter be- come a citizen, to reside five years in the United States without intermission, and so many guards are interposed to prevent frauds, that it seems scarcely possible they should be eluded. No British subject can be employed in a public or private ship of the United States, unless he produce to the commander in the one case, and to the collector of the port in the other, a certified copy of the act by which he became naturalized. A list of th.^ crew, in the case of a private ship, must be taken, certified, and recorded by the col- lector; and the consuls or commercial agents of Great Britain may object to the employ- ment of a seaman, and have the privilege of w 1812 RESIDKNCE AT TIIK 181R. attending the investigation relative to his citi- zenship. The commander of a public ship receiving a person not duly qualified, is to forfeit a thousand dollars, and the commander or owner of a private ship, five hundred. It is also made a felony punishable by fine and imprisoinnent, for any person to forge or coun- terfeit, or to pass, or use, any forged or coun- terfeited certificate of citizenship, or to sell or dispose of one. The United States will also be willing to provide, that every British subject desiring to become a citizen, shall be bound to appear in person before the proper tribunal, once a year, for the term of five years, until his right shall be completed, or adopt any other more practical and satisfactory evidence that his residence within their ter- ritory was bond fide and uninterrupted, it being their sincere desire to employ their own seamen only, and exclude British. By re- quiring five years' uninterrupted residence as the condition of citizenship, it is confidently believed that, from considerations readily sug- gesting themselves, few if any British seamen would be found to take advantage of it. The nature of a seaman's life stands opposed to a different conclusion. If, in some instances, a residence should be commenced with a real intention, at the time, of submitting to this '*-#■ iBin. COUUT OF LONDON. 183 condition, the presumption is strong that, at the expiration of the term, such a change of habits and prospects would be superinduced, as to lead to the abandonment for ever of the sea as an occupation. If the proposal be ac- cepted, the United States would farther agree, that none of the British seamen who might be within their territory when the stipulation to give it effect was entered into, without having already become citizens, should be ad- mitted into either their public or private ships, until they had acquired the right, ac- cording to all the above regulations. In re- turn for them, a clear and distinct provision to be made by Great Britain against impress- ment out of American vessels." I accompanied the delivery of the paper with renewed assurances to his lordship of the President's desire to see this cau&e of dissension for ever removed, and the expression of a hope that Great Britain would see in the proposal no surrender of any right or interest, whilst its acceptance would guard the United States against wrongs that were palpable. He replied, that he would lay the proposal before the cabinet ; that it should have all the consideration due to its im- portance, and, I might be assured, in a con- ciliatory spirit. i:i 184 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. Leaving this subject in his hands, I re- minded him of his intention to speak on Spa- nish affairs. He resumed the thread. Great Britain, he said, lamented the long continu- ance of the contest between Spain and her colonies. She had done all in her power to heal it. She would not relinquish her efforts, always desiring that Spain should pursue a liberal course, not a narrow or exclusive one ; he meant a course that would look largely to the commercial emancipation of the colonies. Great Britain, in particular, would not be instrumental to a settlement of the contest upon terms which, drawing to herself pecu- liar advantages, would exclude the United States, or any other nation, from a just par- ticipation in the trade of South America. He hoped he might hear from me, that the United States would be governed by similar prin- ciples. I replied, that they were the principles which had invariably governed the United States. They desired, as ardently as Great Britain, the termination of the contest. They considered it in the light of a civil war, in- jurious to other nations, and, from geogra- phical and other causes, especially injurious to the United States. The latter lent aid to neither party, in men, money, nor ships. lOlB. COURT OF LONDON. 185 Spain made complaints ; but they were un- founded. The United States maintained as strict a neutrality as was possible ; they con- sidered each party as having all the rights of war as between themselves, and as against other powers. If any of their seafaring or mercantile inhabitants gave illegal aid to either party, they did it at their peril ; they were subject to belligerent capture by the party injured, and to prosecution under the laws of the United States ; who, the bet- ter to enforce neutral conduct upon their citizens, had special statutes annexing penal- ties to a departure from it. If the colonies finally prevailed, the United States not only did not seek, but would not, by treaties or other compacts, accept, any exclusive advan- tages ; these, they knew, would create jea- lousy in other nations ; all that they desired was, fair competition. Such were the maxims of the United States ; they had been made known to the world, and there was no reason to think they would be departed from. His lordship asked if I knew whether my Government had given notice to Spain of its intention to take possession of Amelia Island. I said that I did not; nor did I know that it would have been practicable. That island had been taken, not from Spain, but those who if i f^ 186 UESIUENCE AT THE lUiB. •IP. I had previously wrested it from her. It ad- joined territories of the Union ; an expedition had been set on foot against it, ostensibly by the public enemies of Spain, viz. some of her colonies warring against her ; but, in fact, by an irregular force from all countries, with such aid as could clandestinely be drawn from the United States in spite of prohibitory laws. This force took the island, and the Spanish authorities at the Havanna strove, but without success, to get it back. It became a rendez- vous for freebooters, smugglers, and renegado slaves ; and an entrepot for fresh slaves from Africa. To put a stop to these and other enormities upon their border, the United States sent a small naval and military force to take possession of the island. They held it subject to a proper accountability, not doubting that the world would see in the measure nothing beyond a necessary precaution for the security of their commerce, and maintaining the au- thority of their laws. His lordship assented to the strength of these motives. He inquired, lastly, if I was acquainted with the intentions of my Government as to the reception of deputies from the colonies of Spain. I replied, that up to the time of my leaving Washington, no ^representatives of the colonies 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 187 had been received in any official capacity. In- formal agents had arrived, and been »nformally listened to. Spain complained of this, and had even demanded that the United States should exclude from their ports the flags of Mexico, Carthagena, Buenos Ayres, and other provinces in resistance. The demand was thought unreasonable, especially whilst the United States had, as they conceived, long and just causes of complaint against Spain. Some, I recapitulated. 1. Questions of territory, growing out of the purchase of Louisiana from France, by the United States, in regard to which Spain still failed to do them justice. 2. Her sudden and violent interruption of the trade of the United States descending the Missis- sippi, by cutting off the right of deposit at New Orleans, before Louisiana belonged to the United States. 3. Her neglect to award compensation to the citizens of the United States for spoliations during the wars of the French Revolution, although a treaty had at- tested their title to it ; a treaty signed by her own minister at Madrid, but from which her Government withheld its ratification. These things I brought into view, that the forbearing policy of the United States towards Spain might be the better appreciated. His lord- ship expressed a hope that all our differences 188 RESIDENCE AT THE IttlB. i.y with that power might be satisfactorily accom- modated. I joined in the hope, saying that the desire of my Government not to disturb the general peace, was steady and sincere, and that it would leave nothing undone in the way of further negociations, earnest as had been its past endeavours. April 21. Count called on me. He had requested an interview. After introduc- tory words, he asked if I was aware that the English Government watched foreign ministers. I asked, how? He said, by having persons m its service. Watched them in what ways ? In all ways ; was I sure of my servants ? did I lock up my manuscripts? did I send my letters through the post-office ? I said, yes, as to the two last. As to my servants, I hired them, as others did, after learning their cha- racters. Was I sure they were not in secret pay ? Not sure, I said ; did he know it ? Not positively ; he could bring no proof; it was a business that kept proof out of sight. Had he heard any thing ? I asked. No, but he had been long in London, and heard much on this subject ; the Government with an out- side of candour, knew how to work under ground ; it thence became an adept in intrigue by lulling suspicion. But would he let me into the grounds of his suspicion in my case ? what whispers were there? History enlight- 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 189 ened us much, he said ; — did not Walpole ex- pend a million in secret-service money — had the English Government so changed since, as to be above all similar practices ? I replied that little would be gained by watching me. My Government was not one of mystery. Those in its service had to act and write under the responsibility of publi- cation at home. Their secrets would thus come back to England, more fully than ser- vants, or the post-office, could detail them. Nevertheless, he rejoined, the American and Russian legations were the two most watched ; he believed so, and desired to render me a service by putting me on my guard. I thank- ed him, but said I was slow to believe. The English Government had its faults, but not of that kind. Why not ? Because it was against the genius of the Government and people ; they openly debated all that they did, and printed all that they said ; twenty folios would scarcely hold the matter annually sent forth by Parliament about their finances, trade, fo- reign relations, army, navy, every thing ; into their public offices any one might go ; into their barracks, arsenals, or any other depot. Their press was everywhere, ferreting out every thing. But what did all that prove ? No- thing, I said, if he had special facts to make good his suspicion ; but, in the absence of 190 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. J;t .^ them, it led me towards the conclusion, that a nation so devoid of concealment in its own affairs, would be little inclined to bribe the servants of a foreign minister. What then had Walpole done with his million sterling? That was more than I could say ; every Go- vernment, however open, had a secret fund; the Government of the United States had ; some of Walpole*s went to pay newspapers, we were told, which would be foolish in these days, if not in his. I do not know that I changed the opinions of my visitant. He spoke on other subjects and left me, after having staid an hour. April 23. Went to the Drawing-room. We had the hoops and plumes, the same spectacle in the hall, up-stairs, and going to the palace. It was one to bear repeating. The company was even more numerous. The Queen was on her velvet elevation as before. I stood next to the Duke of Sussex. He named to me those who passed before her. The anxious countenances as the line slowly advanced ; the dresses ; the silence, increasing as the moment of presentation approached; the graceful timidity when at last the youthful fair curtsied before the Queen,' gave to this real scene whatever imagination might picture. Close by me was the Duke of Bourbon ; pale, 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 191 silent, accustomed to Chantilly, to Versailles — even he stood gazing in admiration. It was the fine sensibility of a Conde, touched by the female beauty of England. Pensive though placid, it seemed, even at such a time, as if the remembrance of his son, the Duke d'En- ghien, w^as stealing into his thoughts. Among the attractions of the day were Lady Elizabeth Leveson Gower, Miss Seymour, Lady Georgiana Fane, Lady Emily Bathurst. It was their first presentation at Court. The Queen cor- dially welcomed them, dispensing her accus- tomed kindness. This drawing-room was in honour of the birth-day of the Prince Regent. It comes in August, but is not then celebrated. The con- jecture ran that not fewer than two thousand persons were present. We got down stairs as we could, through tulle, gold net, hoops, and other glittering entanglements with which beauty obstructed the way. In the evening. Lord Castlereagh gave a grand dinner. He was himself unwell, and not at table. His brother. Lord Stewart, did the honours. At the foot, were the Earl of Clanwilliam and Mr. Planta ; the former, pri- vate secretary of Lord Castlereagh, the latter, under secretary of state. Lord Stewart gave the Prince Regent as a toast. The company .4 fi 192 IIRSIDENCR AT THE 181U. all rose. A few minutes afterwards, Prince Esterhazy gave Lord Castlereagh, which was received in like manner. In each case, the name alone was mentioned. Among the wines were dry champagne non mousseux, said to have been the favourite wine of Napoleon ; and tokay, a present to Lord Castlereagh from one of the crowned heads. # # * # # said to me, that he believed the United States might obtain an island in the Mediterranean if desired. I said, that our interests were not European. Did we not keep a squadron there ? he asked. I replied that we did ; only, however, to guard our commerce from African pirates. How long would we continue that policy ? Always, I remarked, rather than pay tribute. Had we no treaty with Algiers by which our com- merce was to go free, without tribute ? Yes, but the Dey gave us to understand, what might have been inferred, that he would abide by it no longer than he could help it ; he had signed the treaty to save his fleet from attack ; an enterprise resolved upon by the United States prior to Lord Exmouth's bombardment of his tov/n ; from that time we had kept a naval force in the Mediterra- nean strong enough, as was believed, to check his. Then, would not this policy make it de- 181B. (OrnT OF LONDON. 19li sirable to have a station for our ships, and for supplies ? I replied, that our squadron readily obtained supplies from friendly ports, paying in specie which it took out, or bills on London ; was not this safer than to run the risk of exciting jealousy, perhaps of ex- posing our purpose itself to frustration, by attempts to get footing in the Mediterranean ? He said that he was under the belief that we might obtain Lampedosa in a manner to avoid objection ; he meant the use and occu- pation of that island, Naples retaining the sovereignty. To such a transfer he did not see that Spain, England, France, or any power, could object. That might change, I said, some aspects of the question ; still there might be stumbling-blocks. Here our con- versation closed. After we came out from dinner. Baron de Gerning, attached to the suite of the Prince of Hesse Homberg, spoke to me of the great and good Washington. So he called him. The United States were far removed, he said, from his part of Germany ; but virtue was of all countries, and all revered it in the illustrious founder of mine. I had conver- sation with Admiral Van der Capellen, who commanded so ably the Dutch ships that fought with Lord Exmouth at Algiers. He o w 194 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. had been on board the United States sc^uad- ron in the Mediterranean, under Commodore Chauncey. There was, he said, throughout every part of it, a discipline that excited his admiration. It is always grateful to hear the things of one's country so spoken of abroad. 11. i M w IHIH. (OUUT or I.ONliON. 195 CHAPTER XIV. THE DAILY PRESS. ANNUAL EXHIBITION AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY. — PUHLIC SOCIETIES. — DINNER AT THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE's. EVENING ENTERTAIN- ment at carlton house. dinner at dr. pinck- ard's. April 29, 1818. A country is not to be understood by a few months' residence in it. So many component parts go to make up the grand total, where civilization, and freedom, and power, are on a large scale, that the judgment gets perplexed. It pauses for re- examination. It must be slow in coming to , conclusions, if it would be right. Often it must change them. A member of the diplo- matic corps, an enlightened observer, said to me a few days ago, that, at the end of his first year, he thought he knew England very well. When the third had gone by, he began to have doubts ; and that now, after a still longer time, his opinions were more unsettled than ever. o 2 M *3 I ■1 t I'M I ■ 7 I ■ iifc r*-" J.., 5^ .»< 196 RKSIDENCE AT THE 181B. h Some he had changed entirely ; others had undergone modification, and he knew not what fate was before the rest. There was reason in his remark. If it be not contradictory, I would say, that he showed his judgment in appearing to have at present no judgment at all. The stranger sees in England, prosperity the most amazing, with what seems to strike at the roots of all prospe- rity. He sees the most profuse expenditure, not by the nobles alone, but large classes be- sides ; and, throughout classes far larger, the most resolute industry supplying its demands and repairing its waste ; taxation strained to the utmost, with an ability unparalleled to meet it; pauperism that is startling, with public and private charity unfailing, to feed, clothe, and house it; the boldest freedom, with sub- mission to law ; ignorance and crime so widely diffused as to appal, with genius and learning and virtue to reassure ; intestine commotions predicted, and never happening; constant complaints of poverty and suffering, with con- stant increase in aggregate wealth and power. These are some of the anomalies which he sees. How is he at once to pass upon them all ? he, a stranger, when the foremost of the natives after studying them a lifetime, do nothing but differ ! t I #^. 'i 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 197 One of the things that strike me most, is their press. I live north of Portman Square, nearly three miles from the House of Com- mons. By nine in the morning, the news- papers are on my breakfast-table, containing the debate of the preceding night. This is the case, though it may have lasted until one, two, or three in the morning. There is no disappointment ; hardly a typographical error. The speeches on both sides are given with like care ; a mere rule of justice, to be sure, without which the paper would have no credit, but fit to be mentioned where party-feeling always runs as high as in England. This promptitude is the result of what alone could produce it; an unlimited command of subdivided labour of the hand and mind. The proprietors of the great newspapers employ as many stenographers as they want. One stays until his sheet is full. He proceeds with it to the printing-office, where he is soon fol- lowed by another with his ; and so on, until the last arrives. Thus the debate as it ad- vances, is in progress of printing, and when finished, is all in type but the last part. Some- times it will occupy twelve and fourteen broad closely-printed columns. The proprietors en- list the most able pens for editorial articles ; and as correspondents, from different parts of pi'< ik t- AU \Wi 198 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. Europe. Their ability to do so may be judged of from the fact, that the leading papers pay to the Government an annual tax in stamps, of from twenty to fifty thousand pounds sterling. I have been told that some of them yield a profit of fifteen thousand sterling a-year, after paying this tax, and all expenses. The profits of " The Times," are said to have exceeded eighteen thousand a-year. The cost of a daily paper to a regular subscriber is about ten pounds sterling a-year. But subdivision comes in to make them cheap. They are circulated by agents at a penny an hour in London. When a few days old, they are sent to the provincial towns, and through the country at reduced prices. In this manner, the parlia- mentary debates and proceedings, impartially and fully reported, go through the nation. The newspaper sheet is suited to all this service, being substantial, and the type good. Nothing can exceed the despatch with which the numerous impressions are worked off, the mechanical operations having reached a per- fection calculated to astonish those who would examine them. What is done in the courts of law, is dis- seminated in the same way. Every argument, trial, and decision, of whatever nature, or be- fore whatever court, goes immediately into the 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 199 ed ay of newspapers. There is no delay. The follow- ing morning ushers it forth. I took the liberty of remarking to one of the Judges, upon the smallness of the rooms in which the Courts of King's Bench and Chancery sit, when the pro- ceedings were so interesting that great num- bers of the public would like to hear them. " We sity said he, *' enery day in the news- •papers'' How much did that answer compre- hend ! What an increase of responsibility in the Judge ! I understood from a source not less high, that the newspapers are to be as much relied upon, as the books of law reports in which the cases are afterwards published ; that, in fact, the newspaper report is apt to be the best, being generally the most full, as well as quite accurate. If not accurate, the news- paper giving it, would soon fall before com- petitors. Hence, he who keeps his daily London paper, has, at the year's end, a volume of the annual law reports of the kingdom, be- sides all other matter. In the discussions of the journals, editorial or otherwise, there is a remarkable fearlessness. Things that in Junius's time would have put London in a flame, pass almost daily without notice. Neither the Sovereign nor his Family are spared. Parliament sets the example, and the newspapers follow. Of this, the debates ij<^ ^»s 200 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. on the royal marriages in the course of the present mcfnth, give illustrations. There are countries !n which the press is more free, by law, than with the English ; for although they impose no previous restraints, their definition of libel is inherently vague. But perhaps nowhere has the press so much latitude. Every thing goes into the newspapers. In other countries, matter of a public nature may be seen in them ; here, in addition, you see perpetually even the concerns of indivi- duals. Does a private gentleman come to town ? you hear it in the newspapers ; does he build a house, or buy an estate ? they give the information ; does he entertain his friends ? you have all their names next day in type ; is the drapery of a lady's drawing-room changed from red damask and gold to white satin and silver ? the fact is publicly announced. So of a thousand other things. The first burst of it all upon Madame de Stael, led her to remark that the English had realized the fable of living with a window in their bosoms. It may be thought that this is confined to a class, who, surrounded by the allurements of wealth, seek emblazonment. If it were only so, the class is immense. But its influence affects other classes, giving each in their way the habit of allowing their personal inclinations and objects 18L8. COURT OF LONDON. 201 to be dealt with in print ; so that, altogether, these are thrown upon the public in England to an extent without parallel in any coun- try, ancient or modern. When the drama at Athens took cognizance of private life, what was said became known first to a few listeners ; then to a small town; but in three days, a London newspaper reaches every part of the kingdom, and in three months, every part of the globe. Some will suppose that the newspapers govern the country. Nothing would be more unfounded. There is a power not only in the Government, but in the country itself, far above them. It lies in the educated classes. True, the daily press is of the educated class. Its conductors hold the pens of scholars, often of statesmen. Hence you see no editorial per- sonalities ; which, moreover, the public would not bear. But what goes into the columns of newspapers, no matter from what sources, comes into contact with equals at least in mind among readers, and a thousand to one in num- ber. The bulk of these are unmoved by what newspapers say, if opposite to their own opi- nions ; which, passing quickly from one to another in a society where population is dense, make head against the daily press, after its first efforts are spent upon classes less en- 202 EESIDENCE AT THE 1818. If lightened. Half the people of England live in towns. This augments moral as physical power ; the last, by strengthening rural parts through demand for their products — the first by sharpening intellect through opportunities of collision. The daily press could master opposing mental forces, if scattered ; but not when they can combine. Then, the general literature of the country, reacts against news- papers. The permanent press, as distinct from the daily, teems with productions of a com- manding character. There is a great class of authors always existent in England, whose sway exceeds that of the newspapers, as the main body the pioneers. Periodical literature is also effective. It is a match at least for the newspapers, when its time arrives. It is more elementaryj; less hasty. In a word, the daily press in England, with its floating capital in talents, zeal, and money, can do much at an onset. It is an organized corps, full of spirit and always ready ; but there is a higher power of mhid and influence behind, that can rally and defeat it. From the latter source it may also be presumed, that a more deliberate judg- ment will in the end be formed on diflicuit questions, than from the first impulses and more premature discussions of the daily jour- nals. The latter move in their orbit by re- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 203 fleeting also, in the end, the higher judgment by which they have been coiitrolled. Such are some of the considerations that strike the stranger, reading their daily newspapers. They make a wonderful part of the social system in England. Far more might be said by those having inclination and opportunity to pursue the subject. May 3. Yesterday the Royal Academy gave their anniversary dinner at Somerset House. It was the fiftieth celebration. Frois- sart, when he found himself on the English coast, said, that he was among a people who " loved war better than peace, and where stran- gers were well received'' If the latter were true in the time of Edward III, diplomatic stran- gers must say that it is, still. Invitations crowd upon them. If they did not decline more than they accept, there would be a poor account of their public business. The Royal Academy is an institution for the encouragement of the arts. Professorships of painting, sculpture, and anatomy, are annexed to it. The first Pre- sident was Sir Joshua Reynolds. In that ca- pacity he delivered his celebrated Discourses ; a work invaluable to the student in painting, and to be read with scarcely less advantage by the student of any science or profession. The author, says Burke in his beautiful obituary r — ■'WA M 204 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. notice of him, was the first Englishman who added the praise of the elegant arts, to the other glories of his country. Yesterday I had the satisfaction to see, as his successor in the chair, my venerable countryman Mr. West. There were present, the royal academicians, a large collection of the nobility, many of the cabinet ministers, the Lord Chancellor, the Bishops of London and Salisbury, artists and others, high in the walks of genius and taste ; the foreign ambassadors, and an array of pri- vate gentlemen. Five of the rooms had their walls hung with paintings. There were more than four hundred. The rule being to receive none formerly exhibited, this number was there- fore to be taken as the year's production of pieces deemed by the Academy worthy of ex- hibition. Additional rooms were open, con- taining architectural designs and specimens in sculpture. The collection was rich in portraits. The English in this line do not perhaps fall behind any part of Europe. The productions of Law- rence, Beechey, Phillips, Davis, Newton, Jack- son, and many others, were seen all around. The piece that excited most attention from the interest of the subject in- British eyes, was a full-length likeness of the Duke of Wellington on the horse he rode, and in the dress he wore. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 205 "A at the battle of Waterloo. It was by Sir Tho- mas Lawrence. There was a fine piece by Mr. West, founded on an interview between the great Mogul and Lord Clive. But one was seen of surpassing charm ; the family of Walter Scott, by Wilkie. The great author is seated on a bank, his wife and daughters near him in cottage dresses. If we had Sbakspeare in a family scene on the Avon, by a distinguished artist of Elizabeth's time, how would it be prized now ! In going through the rooms, it was not easy to avoid the reflection, that a day of fame in the arts awaits Britain. She is still in her youth in them. She has made hardly any efforts. Busy in climbing to the top of every thing else, she has not had time. The useful arts have occupied her. At the head of these in Europe, she is now at a point for em- barking in the fine arts. And are not these useful too, when all ages pronounce that they enlarge the understanding, and improve the heart, as much as they refine the taste ? To suppOdC the English climate not favourable to the fine arts, is strange. A climate where beautiful appearances of nature abound ; that has been favourable to every kind of mental eminence, as mechanical skill ; where the infe- rior animals are seen in full size and strength, and the human form in all its proportions and 206 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. iKl beauty, not a climate for painters and sculp- tors ! But it is said there must be a certain delicacy of thought and feeling to appreciate the world of nature, and deck it with the glo- ries of art ! Is not then the country of Shak- speare and Scott, of Milton, and Byron, and Moore, one for painters ? How came the Dutch with a school of painting of their own, and an eminent one ? Is their sky more ge- nial ? And will not the English, with political institutions and social manners of their own, try new fields of art? An American adopts the anticipation the rather, because he clings to the belief that his own country, like repub- lics of old, is by and by to take her stand in the arts. Her students even now go to Italy for instruction. They hold, that in the great world of art, there is still immeasurable room for originality, and this under the strictest rules of art. We dined in the principal exhibition-room ; a large one. Two tables ran down the sides, connected by another at the top. In the mid- dle of the latter, sat the President ; on one side of him, the Duke of Sussex, on the other, the Duke of Norfolk. The walls were so co- vered that every position commanded the paintings ; and, through vistas, the eye could steal into the other rooms. The whole was 1B18. COURT or LONDON. 207 'MiiM extremely attractive. I enter into no criticism. I give general impressions. It is not, as I know, the habit of the Enghsh, fastidious from their familiarity with the exquisite models of the Continent, to value themselves much on this home exhibition ; but for myself, bursting upon me as it did all at once, I thought it highly worthy to be extolled. I could have made bold to suggest a subject for a piece that I did not see in the collection ; viz. *' The President and Royal Academy at the anniver- sary dinner with their guests." The members of the diplomatic corps had seats near the head. After the Prince Regent and Royal family had been given as toasts, ac- cording to the custom at public festivals in England, the President gave the " Foreign Ambassadors and Ministers," who, as he was pleased to add, " had done the Academy the honour to be present." The toast was cheered with great courtesy. The corps looked to me as the organ of acknowledgment, English be- ing my native tongue. Obeying their wishes, I returned thanks, adding that I was authorized to express the gratification we all derived in partaking British hospitality, surrounded by so many memorials of British art. Speeches were made by several of the nobility and gentlemen, but chiefly the Duke of Sussex and Lord 208 RESIDENCE AT THE laiH. ■ U:'i Chancellor Eldon. They were in commenda- tion of the arts, and on the unefulness of that institution towards their advancement in Eng- land. Dinner was served at six. Until past seven, we had the sun through sky-lights. Af- terwards, there fell gradually from above, light from numerous shaded lamps in hanging cir- cles. They were burning, unobserved, when we sat down, and emerged from ambush only as night came on. Dependent lychni laquearibus aureis Incensi : et noctem fiammis funalia vincunt. May 6. This is the season for public socie- ties to hold their meetings. It would be next to impossible to ascertain the number, charita- ble, religious, literary, dramatic, philanthropic, and of all descriptions. I made some attempts, but ceased from their hopelessness. A public- spirited individual, who is also a member of parliament, handed me a printed list contain- ing the day and place of meeting of between fifty and sixty of those only with which he was connected. The Egyptian Hall, City of Lon- don Tavern, Crown and Anchor, or some other large building is chosen, and a round of din- ners begins ; this being most commonly the form of celebration. Persons who were toge- ther at the principal schools, as Eton and Har- 181U. COURT OF LONDON. 209 row ; and fellow graduate's of the different col- leges in the Universities, have also their annual dinners, to keep alive early friendships. Many of the associates come up to town from their homes at a distance in the country, on purpose to attend them. The English are very remarkable for din- ners. I do not allude to the kind last named, or those in private life ; but to their habit of giving them in connexion with objects exclu- sively public. These, charitable ones among them, they constantly advance in this manner. " The veins unfill'd, our blood is cold, and then We pout upon the morning, are unapt To give or to forgive ; but when we have stufTd These pipes and these conveyances of our blood With wine and feeding, we have suppler souls Than in our priest-like fasts." If the English meant to go by this doctrine of their great bard, they have done well, for their charities are stupendous. A newspaper can hardly be opened that does not hold up a long list of subscriptions, amounting to sums that are sometimes enormous. I have now re- ference to some for building churches and es- tablishing schools, that within a few days have met my eye. So, in various parts of London, hospitals and other asylums for the distress- ed, arrest attention, bearing the inscription, p ! -i r 1, 210 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. ' FOUNDED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION. They would be less remarkable, were they not beheld in connexion with poor taxes to an amount such as no nation ever before paid. The buildings devoted to these charitable pur- poses, are often more spacious than the royal palaces, and show an exterior more imposing. A grand annual dinner seems an indispen- sable adjunct to an English charity. Here is a " Samaritan Society ;" or an " Infirmary for diseases of the Eye ;" a society for the " relief of decayed Artists ;" another forreHeving "poor Authors ;" a fifth for the " indigent Blind ;" a sixth for " Foreigners in distress ;" a seventh for the ** Deaf and Dumb ;" a society for ** pro- moting Christian knowledge ;" a " Medical be- nevolent society," and I know not how many more, for I merely take examples, all of which have their anniversary dinners. Whatever the demands upon the charitable fund, there seems always enough for a dinner fund. Eating and drinking are not the sole objects of this festi- vity. Business is transacted, reports on the state of the charity made, and speeches de- livered, in the course of which the pocket is appealed to. Feeling rises as the inspiriiig glass passes, and the evening generally closes with an increase of the treasurer s store. No- blemen, including royal dukes, take part. They 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 211 »> often preside at the dinners, and otherwise give their personal instrumentahty, and freely their purses, towards the objects of the socie- ties. In France, before the Revolution, the noble- families were computed at thirty thou- sand. In England, they may perhaps be com- puted at six or eight hundred. This handful does more of the every-day business of the country, than the thirty thousand in France. In France, they did the work of chivalry ; they fought in the army and navy. In England, besides this, you trace them not merely as pa- trons of the arts, but in road companies, canal companies, benevolent and public institutions of all kinds, to say nothing of their share in politics ; in the latter, not simply as cabinet ministers, but speakers, committee-men, and hard-workers otherwise. I have to-day been at a meeting of the Bri- tish and Foreign Bible Society. Lord Teign- mouth was in the chair. Lord Harrowby, President of the Council of cabinet ministers ; Mr. Vansittart, Chancellor of the Exchequer ; the Bishops of Norwich and Gloucester, with several other bishops ; Lords Gambier and Calthorpe, Mr. Wilberforce and others dis- tinguished by character, title, or station, were present. A report was read, by which it ap- peared that the society had been the means p 2 ;v;ia \mM§ *' :• I- ■i! : ' '-i 212 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. of distributing two millions of bibles ; had caused it to be translated into twenty-seven languages, and that since the last annual meet- ing, there had been collected in aid of the society's funds by private subscriptions in Britain, ninety-nine thousand pounds sterling. The report contained some complimentary allusions to Bible Societies in the United States. These passages were loudly cheered. Several speakers who addressed the meeting mentioned the United States in a similar spirit ; amongst them, the Chancellor of the Exche- quer, and Bishop of Gloucester. The former spoke of Great Britain and the United States, as the " two greatest maritime nations of the world ; " the Bishop of Gloucester called the latter " a great and growing sister country." I was requested, after entering the hall, to move a vote of thanks to the distinguished President, liord Teignmouth. A resolution to this effect was put into my hands, which I moved accordingly. In fulfilling the duty, whilst joining in the tribute that all had ren- dered to the objects of the society, I was happy in the opportunity of responding as national courtesy demanded, to the notices taken of my country. May 10. Dined at the Marquis of Lans- downe's. His name had been familiar to me 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 213 with every prepossession. In the House of Lords I had already Hstened to his disciplined eloquence. The company consisted of Lord and Lady Lansdowne, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, the Earl of II Chester, the Earl of Rosslyn, Lord Holland, Lord Erskine, the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Russian and Austrian ambassadors, the Vice- Chancellor, and the ladies of several of the guests. In the dining-room were ancient statues. They were in ancient costumes, standing in niches. These time-honoured master-pieces of genius and art, had been obtained from Rome. As we walked into dinner through a suite of apartments, the entire aspect was of classic beauty. Conversation was various. The Floridas being mentioned in connexion with the rumour of their intended transfer to the United States, Lord Erskine said, we ought to have them; that is, he added, " if I belonged to the United States, I would maintain that doctrine." There was the same vein about him as at the Duke of Cumberland's ; a youthfulness of imagination that imparted its sprightliness to every thing. The Duke of Gloucester spoke of General Washington. It was with the praise always annexed to his great name. He commended irffiti? i 214 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. his farewell address. Lord Erskine called him an august and immortal man. Architecture being a topic, Lord Holland said that it did not yet flourish in England. Italy, France, and other parts of the Continent, had better public edifices : specimens of domestic architecture were not wanting in England ; but these were too often spoiled by putting the door in the middle ; by this custom, good ar- rangement inside was sacrificed to external appearance, and he was not sure that a gain always followed in this respect ; on the Conti- nent, the entrance to ihe best private build- ings, was generally at the side. The architec- ture of the ancients was spoken of, and other subjects touched as they arose. After we came from table, I had more con- versation with Lord Erskine. He spoke of the Emperor Alexander. He had seen La Harpe, his tutor, at Paris, who showed him letters from the Emperor, written soon after his acces- sion to the throne. One of them ran thus ; " My dear friend : I feel the load of my re- sponsibility ; I feel how incompetent my youth and inexperience are, to wield the sceptre of such an empire ; all that I can hope is, that I may be guided by the precepts you have taught me ; I pray you, if ever you find me departing from them, to remind me of them ; 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 215 i\ do not wait for me to send for you ; this I pro- bably shall not do when I act in opposition to them ; but write to me, come to we, to recall me from my errors." All will agree, that such a letter was creditable to both pupil and pre- ceptor. His lordship said that La Harpe told him the Emperor was fond of reading works on the institutions of the United States. Before separating, he said he intended to call on me soon, not by leaving a card, the common way, he believed, of visiting foreign ministers, but by coming in. I assured him he could in no way make me more happy. May 19. Last evening we were at Carlton House. This seems the season for large routs by night, as the meeting of public societies by day. We have been to a number. I could give little description of them, unless to speak of their crowds, and the difficulty of getting to them and from them through phalanxes of carriages. The entertainment last evening was different. The company found space in the ample rooms, although there was an array of all the principal persons of the court, a very full number of peers and peeresses, the foreign ambassadors and ministers, and many others. I caught conversation as I could. Lord Sidmouth, Home Secretary, assured me of the earnest 216 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. \i, » ,i:.sl3. ^•>ii desire of His Majesty's Government to strengthen the friendly relations between our two countries. He spoke of the United States with great cordiality. He inquired for Mr. King, saying that he had earned the lasting respect and good will of many persons in Eng- land. Nor did the Prince Regent conclude his salutations to me, without renewing his inquiries for him. The scene was magnificent. The golden plate in display, is said to be unrivalled in Europe. It includes some that belonged to Charles the First. One of the rooms led, through doors of reflecting glass, to a rich gothic conservatory, partially illuminated with coloured lamps. It was filled with flowers, than which there can be nothing more beau- tiful even in palaces. The effect was height- ened by music from the Prince's band, which was stationed here, and played at intervals throughout the evening. It was not at an early hour that we got away from such a scene. May 21. Dr. Pinckard, an eminent physi- cian of Bloomsbury Square, entertained us at dinner. He was formerly attached to the Bri- tish army, and on service in the West Indies. Thence he visited Philadelphia, where I made his acquaintance ; listening, at my father's V^y 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 217 table, to his various and intelligent conver- sation. We had a pleasant party. Of the guests, were Lieutenant-general Sir Charles Green. Advanced in life, he was still a fine-looking man, with little of age in his manner. He had been distinguished by his services in the wars of the French Revolution. I found that his military career took an earlier date. He was a captain in Burgoyne's army, had been cap- tured at Saratoga in 1778, with that army, and marched as a prisoner from Albany to Boston. He related anecdotes of the campaign, and of his march; it need scarcely be added, with urbanity and good humour. I mention the incident, because although the first, it was not the only instance in which I met in England those who had shared in the war of the American Revolution, and who spoke of its events in the same spirit. Belong- ing to an age gone by, it seems no longer to be recalled in any other spirit than that of history. jjLl. I" " "'I ^ h ' ,.. <^- 218 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. CHAPTER XV. THE UNITED STATES AND IONIAN ISLANDS. AFFAIRS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN. — MONU- MENT TO BURNS. BRITISH INSTITUTION. — PALL MALL. DINNER AT MR. CANNING'S. LORD ERSKINE. tn - 'Si I m May 24, 1818. * * * * from the Ionian Islands called upon me. He had a communi- cation to make of interest, as he said, to his country, and he hoped I would think it so to mine. By a treaty concluded at Paris in 1815, the seven Ionian Islands had been formed into an independent state, denominated ** The United States of the Ionian Islands," and placed under the protection of Great Britain. It was a protection the Islands did not like. Did the constitution of my country prohibit our acquiring foreign possessions ? I said, no. He asked if it would accord with our policy, to have a connexion with the seven Islands ; such a measure, he believed, would be practicable, if the United States would consent. In short, he thought that the Islands, particularly Corfu, 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 219 Zante, and Cephalonia, would be willing to place themselves under the protection of the United States, if the terms could be arranged. I asked what England would say, and Rus- sia, and Europe generally ? He replied, that he did not see what ground of objection there could be, if the Islands desired it ; remarking that he had perceived by the newspapers that my Government had protested against Great Bri- tain exercising sovereignty over them any longer. I was little prepared for his communication. I cannot say that I was an entire stranger to the publication he alluded to, for I had seen it. I had considered it in the light of a bur- lesque upon a previous newspaper paragraph, stating that Great Britain had protested against the United States acquiring the Floridas. But what is penned in mirth, it seems, may pass for earnest. I assured * * * * that there was no foundation for the account. He appeared to have believed it fully, until this interview. He did not urge the less that my Government should take into consideration the expediency of assuming the protectorship of the Islands. He enlarged on the prospects of commercial advantage it would open to us by an inter- course with the Morea, Albania, Constantino- ple, and the Ottoman dominions generally. I replied, that it was no part of the system of mi ?p'" ' 220 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. the United States to get into European poli- tics, and least of all, to interfere in the rela- tionship between Great Britain and these Islands. This was the amount of the inter- view. He was attended by two other persons from the Islands. As the English newspapers have lately abounded in vituperative articles against the United States in connexion with their affairs with Spain, without understanding them, or exhibiting only the Spanish side, I will here insert a letter I addressed to the President. It bears upon the foregoing interview. My regu- lar weekly despatches, and oftener when neces- sary, w^ere addressed to Mr. Secretary Adams. These went on the public files of the Depart- ment of State. I wrote to him, also on public matters, in a way not designed for those files, it being my good fortune to enjoy his confi- dence ; and, not unfrequently, I wrote to the President in the same nmnner. The commu- nication in question was dated the 20th of this month. Its material parts are as follow : '* Since my last, no steps that were practi- cable have been omitted to ascertain from what source the letter, a copy of which I transmit- ted, proceeded; or how far the information which it disclosed, is to be relied upon. The writer states himself to be in connexion with a 1818. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 221 person high in station, but declines an inter- view. Since the tenth instant, he has ad- dressed several letters to the Legation. I would send copies, but that all are to the same effect, and the one already sent, will be to you a sufficient sample of his style and manner. Keeping to points that are essential, I will con- dense the information they purport to convey, thus saving your valuable time. ** He continues to assert, that Great Britain has secretly determined to support Spain in a contest with the United States ; that the cabi- net of the former has resolved that our terri- tory shall not be extended, and more than all that the Fltridas shall not be added to it, as bringing us too near to Cuba. That Spain is to begin the contest, not by a formal declara- tion, but by letting loose her privateers ; that she will take the step as soon as the armament now preparing at Cadiz to go against South America, shall have sailed, and that this is the opinion of the Spanish Ambassador at this court, founded on communications from Ma- drid. That the manifesto of Spain will soon appear, calling upon all other powers who have colonies to assist her in her struggle ; that an officer high in the Spanish embassy, was sent off* express to Paris on these objects last week, and that a Spanish secretary lately sailed from 222 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. «.( V \--% It: '* ■/i'' li) ' i'ui"". the Thames with definitive instructions to the Spanish minister at Washington, Mr. Onis, under the crisis that is approaching. That Spain is to have no quarrel with Portugal, such a measure not falling in with the views of England, and that Olivenza will be given up. That five of the daily newspapers of London have their columns open to the Spanish em- bassy, and that the Spanish Government is ac- tively employed in buying up vessels to be fitted out and manned in England, to cruise under the Spanish flag against our trade. That Spain has her agents at work in several of the ports of equipment in this kingdom ; also in France, Holland, and the Netherlands, expect- ing, under cover of her own flag, to enlist the privateering means of half Europe against the commerce of the United States whilst every- where exposed, and that the vessels will be fitted out under pretence of acting against South America. That a person lately arrived here from Madrid, with full powers from the King to the Spanish Ambassador to act at his discretion in procuring the instruments and means of striking at our commerce ; that the ambassador, who is represented as having large private resources, which he spends Hbe- rally in addition to his public allowances, has the unbounded confidence of his King, who will I i 3 '< itin f "%'• ''M' f ii: 254 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. of another country, the right of Great Britain to look for her subjects upon the high seas, into whatever service they might wander. The proposal thus rejected, having declared the readiness of the United States to impose further restraints upon the naturalization of British seamen, and exclude from their ships all not naturalized, I asked his lordship what difference it would make if the United States would agree to exclude from their ships of war and merchant-vessels, all natural horn subjects of Great Britain 9 He replied, that this indeed would be going a step farther, but that it would still leave the proposal within the principle of their objec- tion. That the objection rested upon an un- willingness to concede by treaty or convention, whatever its terms, the right of entering the vessels of a foreign power to search for their subjects. I said, that I heard this determination with regret. I had been ready, otherwise, to submit a proposal to the effect last mentioned. My regret was the stronger, as it would exhaust all the offers the United States could make. I requested him, in fact, to consider such an offer as actually male, under full authority from my Government. I now inquired if any proposals would be 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 255 submitted on the part of Great Britain. His lordship was prepared with none which did not assume, as a basis, the right of entering our vessels. For the exercise of this right in a manner not to injure the United States, Great Britain was willing, he said, to come into the most effective regulations ; such as restricting the boarding officers to those of rank not below lieutenants ; giving responsible receipts for the men taken out, or any other safeguards that the Government of the United States might propose as better adapted to the end ; that she would receive, and in the most friendly manner discuss such proposals, in the hope of some sa- tisfactory arrangement. I said that the United States never could admit the right to enter their vessels fo" such a purpose as impress- ment. Besides the objection to it in principle, the practice, however attempted to be softened, must be liable, from causes altogether insur- mountable as between the two nations, to per- petual and fatal abuse. This had been shown by past experier^e, and it was impossible to remain blind to it. His lordship again ad- mitted the evils of which it had been the parent, expressing his hope that they might never recur. He next spoke of the Slave-trade. Great Britain, he said, had concluded treaties with M - u I $:''W^ m 256 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. "4 p?i"^ ' three of the powers of Europe on this subject ; Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands. Portugal had agreed to abolish the trade, except in cer- tain specified places on the coast of Africa, south of the equator ; Spain, north of the equator, from the ratification of her treaty, and in all other parts, after May 1820. To these powers Bri- tain had paid, from first to last, 700,000/. as in- ducements to the treaties. The clauses stated the money to be as compensation to Spanish and Portuguese subjects, for the loss of the trade. The Netherlands had agreed to abolish, immediately and totally, without pecuniary in- ducement. The purport of the treaties, speak- ing more particularly of the last, was, that the contracting parties were to authorize a limited number of the ships of their ":i^y to search the merchant vessels of each other, found under circumstances to raise suspicion of being en- gaged in the trade ; and in case of slaves being actually on board, to send the vesse)s in for trial ; the tribunals to consist of mixed courts, composed of judges, or commissioners, ap- pointed by each power; the courts to hold their sittings within the territories or depend- encies of each power, but one always to be established on the coast of Africa ; no search to be permitted in the Mediterranean, or any of the European seas north of latitude 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 257 37, or within and eastward of longitude 20. These were some of the main provisions of the treaties. There were various others de- signed to guard against irregularity in the exercise of a right which the contracting par- ties had mutually conceded for the common object. The period had arrived, his lordship continued, when it was the wish of Great Bri- tain to invite the United States to join in these measures, and it was his design to submit, through me, proposals to that effect. It had occurred to him to send me, with an official note, authentic copies of the treaties them- selves ; they would best unfold in all their de- tails, the grounds on which a concert of action had been settled with other powers, and it was on similar grounds he meant to ask the acces- sion of the United States, anticipating large benefits from their maritime co-operation in this great work of humanity. Whilst it had occurred to him to make the overture to my Government m this manner, he said that, if any other course presented itself to me as better adapted to the end, he would be happy to listen to it. I replied, that 1 knew of none better. 1 was altogether devoid of instructions on the subject, as already stated, but would transmit the trea- ties for the consideration of the President. s 258 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. MlM i The United States, from an early day, had regarded this traffick with uniform disapproba- tion. For many years it had been altogether prohibited by their statutes. The existence of slavery in several of the states of the American Union, had nothing to do, I remarked, with the slave-trade. The former grew up with the policy of the parent country anterior to the independence of the United States, and re- mained iacorporated with the domestic laws of the particular states where it had been ko in- V oduced, and always existed. Yet, those who « ouIJ not allow their laws in this respect to be t >uci)£ V vent hand and heart with the rest of their ieiiow-eitizens in desiring the abolition of the slave-trade. Lastly, his lordship spoke of the commercial convention of 1815. He reminded me that it had but little more than a twelvemonth to run, asking if I knew the views of my Government in regard to its renewal. 1 said, /lot precisely, but expected s^jon to ascertain them. June 12. Dined at the Marquis of Stafford's. I am no votary of the ro /♦. The private dinner- party shows society diiffeiently. Tif' diplomatic stranger can hardly command other opportuni- ties of seeing it at all. Evening visits he can- not make ; the late hour of dining is an obstacle. Morning calls are a mere ceremony performed 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 259 tt by his card. Midnight crowds are not society. It is only at dinners that he finds it. These seem the chosen scenes of English hospitality. They are seldom large. Mr. Jef- ferson's rule was, not fewer than the Graces, nor more than the Muses. At the London dinners, from twelve to sixteen seem a favourite number. Sometimes they are smaller. Individual cha- racter and accomplishments, reserved at first in these classes, here begin to open. Sully, after Paulus iEmilius, said, that to marshal an army and an entertainment, were equally difficult. Those of which I would speak, present no dis- cordant feelings or topics. All obey forms, with which all are familiar. Conversation moves along under common contributions and restraints. There is no ambition of victory. To give pleasure, not try strength, is the aim. You remark nothing so much as a certain sim- plicity, the last attainment of high education and practised intercourse. Such are some of the characteristics of these private dinners. Beginning with such, i must proceed a little far- ther. The servants are so trained, as to leave to the master and mistress no care but of look- ing to the guests. The arrangements of the table are orderly and beautiful. All are alike, yet vary ; alike in general conformity ; varying ns taste varies where there is selt-confidence in rM sit s 9. ifH^! 260 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. its indulgence, where all have large means, and all are on the same level. The word fashion I have not heard ; nor seen its principle, in mere imitation. The services of silver strike me as among the evidences of a boundless opulence. All forms of it, for use or embel- lishment, are seen, and in surpassing lustre. Not unfrequently, the romantic patterns and fretted workmanship of past ages, still remain. Foreigners from whatever part of Europe, are in like manner struck with this profusion of solid and sumptuous plate upon English tables, as unknown in any other capital to an extent at all approaching to comparison. The pos- sessors, long accustomed to it, seem uncon- scious of its presence ; but the foreigner sees in it all, national as individual riches. Whence propped, he asks himself, the incomes, so large, so increasing, that retain, and acquire in fresh accumulation, luxuries so costly, but from the land ? and what would be the land with all the works upon it, what the crops on its sur- face, the mines underneath, but for the manu- factures and trade which bring all into value by a vast and ever increasing demand ; in- creasing at home as abroad, increasing in war as in peace ? Our dinner to-day illustrated, as one inst rnce might, the characteristics alluded to. It was 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 261 not large. Lord and Lady Stafford, the Earl and Countess of Surrey, Lady Elizabeth Leve- son Gower, Lord Francis Gower, and a few more, made the party. The country life in England was much spoken of; also the lite- rary publications of the day, this family being distinguished by the literary accomplishments of its members. The paintings of the masters were all around us. Our hospitable enter- tainers invited Mrs. Rush and myself to visit them at their seat, Trentham, in Staffordshire, than which we could not have known a higher gratification. Another topic, always grateful, was not passed by ; our country. Cordial things were said of it, and enlightened wishes expressed that two nations so connected as England and the United States, might long see their way to mutual good-will. Leaving the table, we were an hour in the drawing-rooms, always an agreeable close to English dinners. Ladies make part of them, and rise first, the gentlemen soon following and rising all to- gether. On no occasion have I observed any one gentleman leave the table, until all rise. We had music from St. James's Park, into which the windows of Stafford-house look. Its notes were the softer from the stillness of that scene, and the breezes of a charming sum- mer night. 4 1^ »1>;1 •I m % ( ) l' th.-r *^'- iV'\ m m «ical, a pro- vision to be inserted authorizing cue United States, if so disposed, to dispense with the obligations it would impose on their own seamen, whenever the latter may choose of their own accord to enter the British ser- vice; this power of dispensation to be reci- procal, if desired. " Should the above proposal be accepted, it will follow, that all British seamen or sub- jects now in the United States, and not here- tofore naturalized, will be excluded from their sea service ; and that all who arrive in future will be excluded. Great Britain, on her part, to come into a distinct stipulation not to im- press men out of American vessels. R. R." I handed this paper to his lordship. The proposal had, as I knew, been rejected; but I knew the President's desire to settle this great question, and believed that I should be more •.Mi S' IN a iT4\ \^ ;;:^. 1, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A ^.■ n k£4 ill i"y 288 RESIDENCE AT THE iniH. sociate of Mirabeau, were all who sat down to table. Mr. Bentham did not talk mucli. He had a benevolence of manner, suited to the philanthropy of his mind. He seemed to be thinking only of the convenience and pleasure of his guests, not as a rule of arti- ficial breeding, as from Chesterfield or Ma- dame Genlis ; but from innate feeling. Bold as are his opinions in his works, here he was wholly unobtrusive of theories that might not have commanded the assent of all present. Something else was remarkable. When he did converse, it was in simple language, a contrast to his later writings, where an in- volved style, and the use of new or unusual v\rords, are drawbacks upon the speculations of a genius original and profound, but with the faults of solitude. Yet some of his ear- lier productions are distinguished by classical terseness. Mr. Brougham talked with rapidity and energy. There was a quickness in his bodily movements indicative of the quickness of his thoughts. He showed in conversation the universality and discipline that he exhibits in Parliament and the Courts of Law. The af- fairs of South America, English authors, John- son, Pope, Swift, Milton, Dryden, Addison, (the criticisms of the last on Paradise Lost, 1U10. COURT OF LONDON. 289 he thought poor things) • anecdotes of the living Judges of England ; of Lord Chancel- lors, living and dead ; the ( irors in Burrow's Reports, not always thos*' of tlu re])orter, he said ; the Universities of Oxford and Cam- bridge ; the Constitution of the United States — these were topics that he touched with the promptitude and power of a master. He quoted from the ancient classics, and poets of modern Italy, (the latter in the original also,) not with the ostentation of scholarship, which he is above, but as if they came out whether he would or no amidst the multi- tude of his ideas and illustrations. He han- dled nothing at length, but with a happy brevity; the rarest art in conversation, when loaded with matter like his. Sometimes he despatched a subject in a parenthesis ; some- times by a word, that told like a blow. Not long after this my first meeting with him, one of his friends informed me that a gen- tleman whose son was about to study law, asked him what books he ought to read. " Tell him to begin with Demosthenes and Dante." — " What, to make a lawyer ?" said the father. — " Yes," he replied, and " if you don't take, we won't argue about it." Mr. Mill, M. Dumont, and Sir Samuel Romilly, did their parts in keeping up the ball of u 290 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. conversation. Sheridan being spoken of, Sir Samuel Romilly, who had often heard him in the House of Commons, said, that " nothing could be more marked than the difference between the parts of his speeches previously written out, and the extemporaneous parts. The audience could discover in a moment when he fell into the latter. It was well known," he added, "that all the highly wrought passages in his speeches on Hastings' impeachment, were prepared beforehand and committed to memory." After we rose from table, Mr. Bentham sought conversation with me about the United States. " Keep your salaries low," said he ; " it is one of the secrets of the success of your Government. — But what is this," he in- quired, " called a Board of Navy Commis- sioners that you have lately set up? I don't understand it." I explained it to him. "I can't say that I like it," he replied ; " the simplicity of your public departments has heretofore been one of their recommendations, but hoards make skreens : if any thing goes wrong, you don't know where to find the offender; it was the board that did it, not one of the members; always the board, the board. ''^ I got home at a late hour, having witnessed a degree of intellectual point and 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 291 strength throughout the whole evening, not easily to have been exceeded. July 30. The French Ambassador gave a dinner to the Prince Regent. There were present all the foreign ambassadors and minis- ters, Lord Castlereagh, Lord Melville, Lord Stewart, Lord Binning, the Vice-Chancellor, and other official characters, the company being large. The arrangements were on the models of France ; for wines, we had Burgundy, To- kay, St. Julien, Sillery Champagne, and others in esteem at such tables. The fruit course displayed the mingled fruits of France and England ; from the gardens of the former, and hot-houses of the latter. In England it is only by heat so obtained, that fruit can have its full flavour; yet so numerous all over the island are these receptacles of artificial heat, that they become as another sun to the Eng- lish climate. Beautiful as was the appearance of the table, the chief attraction did not lie there ; but in the distinguished entertainers, the Marquis and Marchioness D'Osmond. French society has always been celebrated ; the Sevign^s, the du Deffands, the de Leviss, and a thousand others, have told us of it. The manners of the French of those days, in spite of the alloy mixed with them, command admiration. They u 2 rri 292 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. are embalmed in the literature of the nation. Their influence survives in France; for even those who discard totally the politics of the same ages, cherish the example of personal accomplishments that gave grace and orna- ment to social life. The memory of them was recalled on this occasion. But among personages of the class assem- bled, exterior attractions are not all that en- gage the thoughts. In the drawing-rooms of London as the saloons of Paris, intervals are found for other topics. " What is it ?" whis- pered to me in the course of the evening an ambassador from one of the great powers — " what is it we hear about Pensacola ? are you going to have difficulty with Spain ?" I re- plied that I hoped not. " May I hear from you the circumstances — I should be glad to inform my court what they are." I said they were simply these : The United States were at war with the Seminole Indians, a tribe dwelling partly in Florida ; Spain was bound by treaty to restrain their hostilities from within her own line ; nevertheless, they cross- ed the line, attacked our people, and fell back into Florida; there, they recruited for new attacks, and when pursued, found shelter, it was hoped without the knowledge of Spain, in the Spanish posts of St. Mark's and Pensacola. 8. 1. n le 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 293 Such were the facts on which General Jackson, commander of the United States troops, had acted. He had accordingly taken possession of those fortresses ; not as an act of hostility to Spain, but in necessary prosecution of the war against the Indians, and defence of our own frontier. The ambassador said, that Europe would look with interest upon the progress of the affair. I gave the same information to one of the ministers plenipotentiary. The latter remarked, that the diplomatic corps were full of the news ; for, said he, " we have had nothing of late so exciting — it smacks of. war." I said that I had no belief the United States would detain the posts an hour after the necessity that led to their being taken, ceased. Mr. Poleticca, appointed minister from Rus- sia to the United States, was of the company. He spoke of the friendly dispositions he should carry with him to my country, by command of his sovereign. So strongly, he said, were his instructions, imbued with this spirit, that he would not scruple to read them to Mr. Adams, when he got to Washington. I learned,/ not from Mr. Poleticca, but otherwise, that they related in part to the United States joining the Holy Alliance. This may seem strange. It may be explained by the remark, that there m 294 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. was nothing objectionable in the ends pro- posed on the face of this alliance. Religion, peace, and justice among nations, were its pro- fessed objects. It was, however, a sufficient objection to any free Government becoming party to it, that it sprang from the wills of irresponsible sovereigns, was perfected by their autograph signatures, and susceptible, from its very nature, of being interpreted and enforced to their own ends. The Emperors of Russia and Austria, and the King of Prussia, first signed it. England declined ; on the ground , that by the forms of her constitution, no treaty or league of any kind was ever signed by the monarch in person, but by ministers responsi- ble to the nation. A representative of one of the second-rate powers of Europe remarked to me on the mortification which such powers felt at having all their movements brought under the inspection and control of this alliance. He told in this connexion the anecdote of the Dutch ambassador who was sent to make peace with Louis XIV, after his first successes against Holland ; but who, on hearing the extravagant terms demanded by Louis, swooned away, as being of a nature never to be yielded, and which he knew not how to resist. The Prince Regent sat on the right of the French Ambassador. The whole entertain- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 295 ment was sumptuous. The company remain- ed until a late hour in the drawing-rooms, un- der the spell of French affability and taste. July 31. Had an interview with Lord Castlereagh, by appointment ct the French Ambassador's yesterday. He informed me that the Court of Madrid had made propositions to Great Britain to mediate between Spain and her colonies, and invited the European Al- liance to join. The invitation was given in a note from the Spanish Ambassador in Lon- don, written early this month. He had not known of it at the time of our interview on the 16th, having then just got back from Ire- land, and a convenient opportunity of noticing it had not offered when we were together afterwards. He had therefore sought this in- terview. He could not better unfold the sub- ject than by putting into my hands the notes that had passed ; first, the one from the Span- ish Ambassador ; next, the answer of the Bri- tish Government, drawn up a few days ago; thirdly, as coupling itself with the subject, a note of the British Government of the 28th of August 1817, addressed to the Allied Powers and made known to Spain, containing the sen- timents of Great Britain as to a mediation at that time. I read each note. The introductory matter m 296 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. of the Spanish Ambassador's, spoke of the re- bellious nature of the war in the colonies, of the past clemency of Spain, and her continued willingness to terminate the quarrel. It then laid down the following as the basis on which a mediation was asked. 1. An amnesty to the colonies on their being reduced. Lord Cas- tlereagh explained this word, which was a translation from the Spanish, by saying that Spain did not mean conquered,, but only that her colonies must desist from hostility. 2. The King of Spain to employ in his public service in America, qualified Americans as well as European Spaniards. 8. The King to grant the colonies privileges of trade adapted to the existing posture of things. 4. The King to ac- quiesce in all measures the mediating powers might suggest to effect the above objects. The British answer approved the proposi- tions, as general ones, but called for explana- tions by which the meaning of some of them might be rendered more definite. It expressed an opinion that the dispute ought to be healed without taking away the political supremacy of the parent state. It declared that the trade of the colonies ought to be free to the rest of the world, the mother- country being placed upon a footing of reasonable preference. Last- ly, it made known, that Great Britain would 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 297 do no more than interpose friendly offices, using no compulsion should they fail. The British note of August 1817, related chiefly to the commercial freedom of the co- lonies and the non-employment of force. It was very explicit on the first point, going the length, as the United States had done, of saying that Great Britain would accept no pri- vileges of trade at the hands of the colonies not open to other nations ; and on the second point unequivocally disavowing all intention of forcing the colonies by arms, into any mea- sures whatever. The proffered mediation at this period, went off on the question of the slave-trade, Britain insisting on its abolition by Spain on terms to which the latter would not then assent. These state papers, the purport of which I give succinctly, record the opinions of Great Britain on the settlement of this contest at the epochs indicated. When I had finished reading them, his lord- ship asked if I was in possession of the views of my own Government as to a basis of set- tlement. I replied in the affirmative ; informing him that the desire of my Government was, that the colonies should be completely emancipated from the parent state. It was also of opinion. I "^j lip' 3 *! m 298 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. that the contest never would, or could, be set- tled otherwise. I added, that the United States would de- cline taking part, if they took part at all, in any plan of pacification, except on the basis of the independence of the colonies. This was the determination to which my Government had come on much deliberation, and I was bound to communicate it in full candour. It had hoped that the views of Great Britain would have been coincident. His lordship appeared to receive the com- munication with regret. He admitted that the United States stood in different relations to the contest, from those which Great Britain held ; as well by reason of the European en- gagements of the latter, as other causes. Still, he sincerely desired that our two Governments should have acted in full harmony of opinion. He perceived the extent of interest which the United States had in the whole question ; on which account their concurrence with Europe on all the grounds of mediation, although they took no part in it, would not have been with- out an influence in rendering it effectual. The fundamental point of difference was farther discussed between us ; but I gave his lordship no reason to suppose that the determination of the United States would undergo a change. 18 IB. COURT OF LONDON. S99 The conversation was conducted and termi- nated in a spirit altogether conciliatory. The policy of the United States on the great question of Spanish American independence, could not have been different. They owed it to the actual position of the colonies ; to their future destinies ; to the cause of human liberty in the new hemisphere. The determination of the United States to act upon the policy, v/as accelerated by the exertions of a distinguished patriot and statesman of the Republic, Mr. Clay ; whose comprehensive forecast outran the doubts of others, and whose ardent, com- manding eloquence, never tiring in this cause, made its impression on the legislative counsels and public opinion of the nation. It was a noble spectacle to see the United States stretch out their powerful hand to these infant com- munities, anticipating the freest government of Europe in announcing the decree of their independence. Mr. Canning, at a subsequent day, earned a brilliant portion of his fame, by throwing the mighty aegis of Britain over their freedom ; which but enhances the fame of their American champion, who was foremost in the competition. When we had done with this subject, his lordship asked if I had any accounts from my Government of the capture of Pensacola. I § ^' ■tli' 800 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. said, none that were official. I improved the opportunity, as in other cases at the French Ambassador's, of giving him an outline of the transaction. He expressed a hope that it would not lead to a breach of our peaceful re- lations with Spain, adding that nothing had yet been received on the subject from the British Minister at Washington. August 12. Called at the Foreign Office, to inform Mr. Planta that Mr. Gallatin would pro- bably arrive in England in a few days by way of Dover, on the business of the negotiation. I requested that the necessary passports might be forwarded for according to him every fa- cility in landing and coming to London ; which were promised. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. SOI CHAPTER XVIII. INTERVIEW WITH LORD CASTLEREAGH. IMPRESSMENT CASES OF ARBUTHNOT AND AMBRISTER. MR. GALLATIN ARRIVES IN LONDON. — PREPARATORY CON- FERENCE AT NORTH CRAY, THE SEAT OF LORD CAS- TLEREAGH, IN KENT, WHERE THE NEGOTIATORS DINE AND PASS THE NIGHT. APPEARANCES OF THE COUN- TRY.— OPENING OF THE NEGOTIATION. THE POINTS RECAPITULATED. LAST INTERVIEW WITH LORD CAS- TLEREAGH ON IMPRESSMENT, PRIOR TO HIS i>5:- PARTURE FOR AIX LA CHAPELLE. August 14. 1818. Called on Lord Castle- reagh by his invitation. He informed me that causes had occurred to prevent the Congress of Sovereigns assem- bling at Aix la Chapelle as soon as had been expected. The time was now fixed for the 20th of September; he was the better pleased, as it ensured him the opportunity of being present at the commencement of the ne- gotiation. I expressed my satisfaction at the communication, and in turn informed him, that 302 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. the full powers and instructions to Mr. Gal- latin and myself had arrived, and that I expected the former from Paris in a day or two. He next surprised me agreeably by reviving the subject of impressment. I feared that it had been expunged from our conferences. He premised, that what he was going to say, was, for the present, without the knowledge of his colleagues in the administration. He had reflected upon my late proposals ; they had, it was true, been rejected, as they stood ; but feeling the great importance of this subject, and willing to avoid, if possible, shutting it out from the general negotiation, it had occurred to him to offer some suggestions to me. He thought that my proposals might perhaps be rendered acceptable by some modifications important to Great Britain, without affecting, as he hoped, the primary object of the United States. The modifications were these : 1. That any treaty or convention founded on my proposals, should be limited to eight, ten, or twelve years, with liberty to each party to be absolved from its stipulations on a notice of three or six months ; as in the existing arrangement between the two countries for the reciprocal dismantlement of their flotillas on the lakes. 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 303 2. That the British boarding-officer entering American ships at sea for a pur])ose agreed by both nations to be justifiable under the laws of nations, should be entitled to call for a list of the crew ; and if he saw a seaman known to him, or on good grounds suspected, to be a British seaman, should have the further privi- lege of making a record, or proces verbal, of the fact, in such manner as to bring the case under the notice of the Government of the United States, but not to take the man out of the ship. The latter regulation, his lordship observed, would operate as a further incentive to the faithful execution of our home prohibitions for excluding British subjects from our vessels ; the former, guard against any irrevocable relin- quishment by Great Britain of what she be- lieved to be her right of impressment — a re- linquishment which the feelings of the country might not on trial be found to bear. To the first modification I saw no insur- mountable objection. The second I viewed very differently. But as, in the progress of the negotiation, a hope might reasonably be entertained of getting rid of the second if the first were adopted, I said to his lordship, that although I would express no opinion on the proposed modifications, apart from niy col- ) *^ <:\i -r 304 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. league, whose arrival was so soon expected, I saw enough in tlie suggestion of them to bring the subject again within the pale of our dis- cussions. * His lordship passed to a new subject, his manner showing the interest he felt in it. It was the execution, by order of General Jack- son, of two British subjects, Arbuthnot and Ambrister. This transaction grew out of the war against the Seminole Indians. Ambrister was taken in the field, fighting on their side against the forces of the United States. Ar- buthnot was made prisoner in the Spanish fort of St. Mark's, and charged with instigating the Indians to war against our troops and people. His lordship inquired if I had any intelligence from my Government respecting these execu- tions, saying that his Majesty's Government had none as yet from Mr. Bagot. I replied, that neither had I any from my Government. He said that he could have no complaint to make at present, the case not being officially be- fore the British Government ; but assuming the rumours to have any foundation, the execution of these men under the mere authority of the commanding general, without any reference to the Government of the United States, seemed an extreme measure. He asked if I could account for it. I replied, that I could only 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 305 account for it by supposing the offences to have been extreme. This, combined with the distance of the i;ommanding general from Washington, had probably presented the whole case to his mind, as one for his own discretion ; the Indians, when waging war, destroyed their prisoners, sparing neither age nor sex, which necessarily exposed those who took side with them to their own rules of warfare, if cap- tured ; a momentary humanity might regret this kind of retaliation ; but perhaps the perma- nent interests of humanity would be promoted, as its tendency would be to deter others from instigating the Indians to attack our people. It was so that I spoke. His lordship made no other commentary than to express a hope that every thing would be well explained, the oc- currence being of a nature to excite unusual sensibility in England. I remarked that I saw with concern the inflammatory comments of the public journals, before the occurrence could be rightly understood in England ; not that the press in either country should be left to any other influence than its own will, but from the fear that it might forerun, in this instance, the real nature of the case, and raise up difli- culties not intrinsic to it. He replied by dis- avowing all connexion on this as on other oc- casions, between the Government and such of U 4' k#' m Ik H m *! M 306 RESIDENCE AT THE loia. the public prints as were said to propagate its opinions ; remarking that the Government formed its own views of subjects without fol- lowing those of newspapers, or dictating them. He said at parting, that it was his intention to go out of town to-morrow, to be back on the 25th. August 16. Mr. Gallatin arrives ia London. August 17. Address a note to Lord Cas- tlereagh, informing him of Mr. Gallatin's ar- rival, and that we were ready to open the negotiation. August 19. Receive an answer. His lord- ship being still out of town, says, that he will be happy to see us at dinner at his country resi- dence, on the 22nd. We are asked to come early, to give time for a conference before din- ner, and remain all night. August 20. Employed to-day and yester- day in going with Mr. Gallatin to leave our cards at the houses of the members of the cabinet and diplomatic corps. As minister last arriving, he makes the first call, though only in transitory relations with this court. August 23. We arrived at Lord Castle- reagh's country seat. North Cray, Kent, sixteen miles from town, yesterday at three o'clock. We found there, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Goulburn, the two British plenipotentiaries. 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 307 After a courteous welcome, we all withdrew to his lordship's cabinet. An informal begin- ning was made in the negotiation. His lord- ship said, that this first meeting was one in which he took much interest, though its prin- cipal design was to bring the plenipotentiaries together, and fix the subjects, rather than dis- cuss them. The negotiation was important to both countries ; he sincerely felt it so to Great Britain; his Majesty's Government earnestly desired that every question which had led to past misunderstandings, might be amicably ad- justed at this season of peace, so as to lay a foundation of stable harmony for the future ; he trusted that the aim of each country would be to advance, as far as compatible with its own rights and interests, the just rights and interests of the other. In short, let us strive, said he, so to regulate our intercourse in all respects, as that each nation may be able to do its utmost towards making the other rich and happy. These were among his introduc- tory remarks. Mr. Gallatin and I reciprocated their good spirit. His lordship proceeded to specify the points the negotiation was to com- prehend. Next, he spoke of impressment. The mo- difications suggested to the proposals I had submitted for excluding British seamen from X 2 (.'s of the Foreign Office were con- fided, du ' ^ his absence, to Earl Bathurst. He received, and corresponded with, the fo- reign ministers. The chief purpjse of the Congress of Aix la Chapelle was, to determine whether the armies of the allied powers should be withdrawn from France this autumn, or re- main two years longer. Besides other consi- derations galling to France in the occupation, the expense, which she was made to bear, pressed upon her. Other European topics were to engage the attention of the Congress ; and the business of Spanish America was not to be passed by, as Lord Castlereagh had, on a former occasion, intimated to me. 322 RESIDENCE AT THE 18l». CHAPTER XIX. PROGRESS OP THE NEGOTIATION. A CONVENTION CON- CLUDED QUESTIONS ARRANGED BY IT, VIZ. ; THAT OF THE FISHERIES — NORTH-WESTERN BOUNDARY LINE — COLUMBIA RIVER AND TERRITORY WEST OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. — COMMERCIAL CONVENTION. — SLAVES CARRIED OFF CONTRARY TO THE TREATY OF GHENT. The Plenipotentiaries assembled again at Whitehall, according to appointment. Having given an account of the first stages of the negotiation in the order of dates, it is no longer my design to proceed in that way. It has been seen that the subjects were multi- farious. All demanded attention ; some, co- pious discussions. These, with the documents at large, the protocols, the projets and coun- ter-projets, debated and modified by the scru- tiny of each side, would present a mass of matter through which the diplomatist or poli- tician might perhaps wade ; but be little at- tractive to any one else. My endeavour will be to present an intelligible history of the % t«J5nS/ »'- lain. COURT OF LONDON. 328 negotiation by giving results rather than de- tails. The latter are deposited in the archives of the two Governments. I will draw upon them to no greater extent than may be ne- cessary to illustrate principles upon which the negotiation turned in its success or failure. Some of these principles are important to both nations. To record them with impartiality, is the aim I propose to myself. Throughout September and October, meet- ings were as constant as was compatible with maturing in a proper manner the various sub- jects. By the 20th of October all appeared to have been fully discussed. The points were ascertained on which there could be agreement, as well as those on which it was hopeless in the existing disposition of the two Govern- ments, to continue the negotiation longer. Accordingly, on that day, a convention was signed which comprehended the following subjects : I. That of the Fisheries. This, although not first in the order of discussion, came first in the convention. The points of misunderstand- ing had not risen to much height practically ; but it is scarcely going too far to say, that they menaced the peace of the two countries. They therefore merit special notice. By the third article of the treaty of Sep- Y 2 n T^^s 324 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. tember 1783 between the United States and Great Britain, the people of the former had the right to take fish on the Grand Bank, and all other banks of Newfoundland ; in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and all other places in the sea, where the inhabitants of both countries had been used to fish before ; and the liberty to fish on such part of the coast of Newfound- land as British fishermen used, (but not to dry or cure fish there) and on the coasts, bays and creeks of all other British dominions in Ame- rica. American fishermen had also the liberty to dry and cure fish in any unsettled bays, harbours, and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands, and Labrador ; but as soon as any of them were settled, this liberty was to cease, unless continued by agreement with the in- habitants. These were rights and liberties of great mag- nitude to the United States. Besides affording profitable fields of commerce, they fostered a race of seamen, conducive to the national riches in peace, as to defence and glory in war. After the peace of Ghent, the fishing-vessels of the Union proceeded as formerly to fish off the British coasts, and use the unsettled shores for curing and drying, according to the stipula- tions of the above treaty. They were imme- diately ordered off by the British naval forces. 1»18. COURT OF LONDON. S25 Some were captured. The ground alleged was, that the treaty was no longer in existence. The Government of the United States obtained a suspension of these apparently hostile orders and proceedings, until the two Governments could make efforts for adjusting a question of so n'uch moment. The British doctrine was, that the • eaty of 1783, not being re-enacted or confirmed by the treaty of Ghent, was annulled by the war of 1812. The United' States wholly dissented from this doctrine. They did not deny the general rule of public law on which Britain relied ; that a war puts an end to previous treaties ; but they insisted that the rule was not appli- cable to the treaty of 1783. That treaty, was peculiar in its nature and objects. It had no analogy to common treaties, and was not to be judged by their rules. It was a treaty by which Great Britain had acknowledged the independence of the United States after a seven years* contest in arms. It made two em- pires out of one. It was a treaty of separation. The rights of each party were laid down as primary and fundamental, in the act of dis- memberment which the treaty established. So much of territory and incidental rights in America were allotted to one, so much to the 326 RESIDENCE AT THE 1U18. other. The entire instrument implied per-, manence. Hence, all the fishing rights se- cured under it to the United States, were placed by Great Britain uprn the same foun- dation with their independence itself, i- Was her acknowledgment of the latter revoked by the war of 1812? or were the boundaries of the United States as fixed by the treaty of 1783, annulled by that war? So far was this from being the case, that the treaty of Ghent, in making provision for ascertaining with fur- ther accuracy some parts of the boundary line, constantly referred to the treaty of 1783 ; thus manifesting a tacit conviction on each side, that this treaty was regarded as the funda- mental law of the relations between the two countries. By what rule then was the war to destroy the treaty in some parts, and leave it whole in others ? The use of the word right in one place, and liberty in another, could make no difference. A liberty of unlimited duration, secured by so elementary and solemn a deed, was as much a right as if stipulated by any other term. In speaking of rights and liber- ties in a national sense, both terms were alike efficacious. Liberty might have seemed the more appropriate term where an enjoyment was guaranteed to one party, of a thing adjoin- ing territory allotted to the other ; but it took 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 327 nothing from the permanence of the allotment. In point of principle, the United States were pre-eminently entitled to all these fisheries ; and in point of fact they had enjoyed more of them than any other portion of the British Empire, before the separation. The people of New England, from their proximity, had been earlier led to the discovery and improvement of the best fishing-grounds, and had also, with other parts of the Union, contributed amply in blood and treasure towards winning from France provinces, on the coast of which some of the fisheries were situated. Apart from the question of right, the claim of the United States had high sanctions. These fisheries afforded subsistence to a numerous class of their inhabitants. By the usages of nations, fishermen were a portion of human society whose occupations, contributing to the general welfare of the species, were always regarded with favour. Sometimes they were even ex- empt from the effects of war whilst it raged ; as when England herself allowed the Dutch to fish upon her coasts at such seasons. The foregoing is a synopsis of some of the material arguments by which the claim of the United States was defended. Whatever could shed light upon it, had been urged by Mr. Adams when in the English mission, with an ability 3'28 RESIDENCE AT THE 1UI8. and fulness that left little to be said after him. The claim was resisted by Great Britain in a manner to give proof of her equal sincerity in opposite doctrine. She denied that the treaty of 1783 had anything in its nature to exempt it from abrogation by a war. She knew of no exception to this rule of inter- national law ; and could not consent to give to her diplomatic relations with one State, a different degree of permanence from that on which her connexion with all other States de- pended. She did not admit that this treaty was to be regarded as in force because the treaty of Ghent had referred to it on the sub- ject of boundaries. One object of the latter treaty was, the mutual restoration of territory taken by either party from the other during the war. As a necessary consequence of such a stipulation, each party reverted to their boun- daries as before the war; and the treaty of 1783 having fixed these, the treaty of Ghent had referred to them as facts, nothing more. She contended that it was not unusual for trea- ties containing recognitions and acknowledge- ments of perpetual obligation, to contain like- wise grants of privileges liable to be revoked. The treaty of 1783 contained provisions of different characters ; some in perpetuity, others. as ini8. COUIIT 01' LONDON. Si-M) from their nature, temporary. If it were in- ferred that because some of the advantages specified, would not terminate by a war, there- fore all were designed to be permanent, it ought first to be shown that the advantages themselves were the same, or of similar cha- racter. But what necessary connexion was there between a right to national independ- ence, and a liberty to fish within British juris- diction, or use British territory ? Liberties within British limits were as capable of being exercised by a dependent, as an independent State ; they could not, therefore, be the neces- sary consequence of independence. The in- dependence of a nation was that which could not be correctly said to be granted by a treaty, but to be acknowledged by one. In the treaty of 1783, the independence of the United States was acknowledged by Great Britain, as it had already been by the powers of Eu- rope ; and by Britain herself, in her pre- vious consent in November 1782 to enter into provisional articles. Their independ- ence might have been acknowledged with- out either the treaty or provisional articles ; but by whatever mode acknowledged, the ac- knowledgment was, in its nature, irrevocable. A power of revoking or even modifying it, would be destructive of the thing itself, and :m RESIDENCK AT THE 1818. was therefore necessarily renounced when the acknowledgment was made. She urged as corroborative of her reasoning, notwithstand- ing the explanations suggested by the Ameri- can Plenipotentiaries, the use of the word inght when the United States were to take tish on the banks, and other places from which Great Britain could not pretend to exclude any in- dependent nation, and liberty when they were to cure and dry within British territory. The latter was also made to depend on agreements with the proprietors of the soil, whenever the territory might become settled. As to the origin of the iishing-privileges in point of fact, she admitted that whilst the United States made part of the British dominions, their in- habitants had the enjoyment of them in com- mon with other British subjects ; but they had at the same time, like British subjects every- where, duties to perform. When therefore the United States, by their separation from Great Britain, became released from the duties, they became excluded also from the privileges of British subjects.^ The above is a summary of the reasoning in its chief parts against our claim. It was embodied in a paper by Lord Bathurst in October 1815, prepared with the force and zeal that the subject demanded. The views of each party on the question, had to Wl IBM). COURT OF LONDON. im not been left out of sight in negotiating the treaty of Ghent. To the distinction so much insisted on by Great Britain between liberty and right it was replied for the United States, that the former, if construed to imply limitation of time or precariousness of tenure, would de- feat the whole meaning of the article as ga- thered from the context. The restriction itself at the close of the article, stamp 3d per- manence upon it. The intention was, that the people of the United States should con- tinue to enjoy all the benefit they had for- merly enjoyed from the fisheries, with the ex- ception of drying and curing on the shores oi Newfoundland; but when other shores on which they were to have this liberty, became settled, then its exercise was to be conciliated with the propriety rights of the owners of the freehold. This was precisely the restriction to which British fishermen would be liable. Whence it followed, that the argunr^nt against permanence on account of the word liberty being used, if applicable to the inhabitants of the United States, would also be applicable to the subjects of Britain. The principles of mu- nicipal law in England, which were the same in the United States, corroborated the inter- pretation for which the latter contended. By V 332 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. these, the property of a fishery was not neces- sarily in the owner of the soil. The right to the soil might be exclusive ; the fishery free or in common. Thus, whilst in this partition of the national possessions in America, the jurisdiction ovei* the shores where the fisheries were situated was reserved to Great Britain, the fisheries themselves and accommodations essential to their prosecution and enjoyment, were, by the mutual compact, agreed to be in common. How different the course in the treaty of Utrecht on a similar point. By the twelfth article of that treaty. Nova Scotia was ceded to Britain ; yet the subjects of France were expressly excluded from fishing within thirty leagues of the coast. This prohibition was renewed in the fifth article of the treaty of Paris 1763. By the eighteenth article of the same treaty, the subjects of Spain were ex- cluded from all fishing-rights in the neigh- bourhood of Newfoundland. The treaty of 1783 was therefore, it was again insisted, alto- gether unlike common treaties. It contem- plated a permanent division of co-equal rights, not a transient grant of mere privileges. The acknowledgment of independence, the esta- blishment of boundaries, and the guarantee of the fisheries, each rested upon the same im- mutable footing. 1B18. COURT OF LONDON. 333 Neither side yielded its convictions to tlie reasoning of the other. This being exhausted, there was no resource left with nations dis- posed to peace, but a compromise. Great Britain grew willing to give up something. The United States consented to take less than the whole. After various proposals by the former which the latter rejected as inadequate, we at length, as their Plenipotentiaries, ac- ceded to the following : viz. That the United States should have, for ever, in common with British subjects the liberty to fish on the southern coast of New- foundland from Cape Ray to the Rameau Islands ; and from that cape to the Quir^jn Islands on the western and northern coasts 5 and on the shores of the Magdalen Islands j and on the coasts, bays, harbours, and creeks from Mount Joly, on the southern coast of Labrador, through the Straits of Belleisle, and thence indefinitely along the coast, northward- ly; but without prejudice to any exclusive rights of the Hudson's Bay Company. Also the liberty, for ever, to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbours, and creeks of the southern coast of Newfoundland, as above described ; and of the coast of Labrador; subject, after settlement, to agreement with the proprietors of the soil. In consequence 'm 334 RF.SI PENCE AT THE 181B. of the above stipulations, the United States renounced for ever the liberty of fishing within three miles of any other part of the British coasts in America, or of curing or drying on them. But American fishermen were to be permitted to enter bays or har- bours on the prohibited coasts for shelter, repairing damages, and obtaining wood and water, subject to restrictions necessary to pre- vent abuses. Such was the article finally agreed upon. The most difficult part of our task, was on the question of permanence. Britain would not consent to an express clause that a future war was not to abrogate the rights secured to us. We inserted the words ybr ever, and drew up a paper to be of record in the negotiation, purporting that if the convention should from any cause be vacated, all anterior rights were to revive. The insertion of any words of per- petuity, was strenuously resisted by the Bri- tish plenipotentiaries. They said that in case of war, the only effect of their omission would be, the necessity of providing in the treaty of peace, for the renewal of the right. We replied, that we could agree to no article on the subject, unless the words for ever were re- tained ; or if any counter record was made on the protocol impairing its effect. ^ It was by our act that the United States 1018. COURT OF LONDON. 335 renounced the right to the fisheries not gua- ranteed to them by the convention. That clause did not fi.i.i a place in the British counter-projet. We deemed it proper under a threefold view ; 1, to exclude the implica- tion of the fisheries secured to us being a new grant ; 2, to place the rights secured and renounced, on the same footing of perma- nence ; 3, that it might expressly appear, that our renunciation was limited to three miles from the coasts. This last point we deemed of the more consequence from our fishermen having assured us, that the whole fishing- ground on the coast of Nova Scotia extended to a greater distance than three miles from land; whereas along the coast of Labrador it was almost universally close in with the shore. - To the saving of the exclusive rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, we did not object. The charter of that Company had been granted in 1670, and the people of the United States had never enjoyed rights in that bay that could trench upon those of the Company. Finally, it is to be remarked, that the liberty of drying and curing on certain parts of the coast of Newfoundlana, as secured in the article, had not been allotted to the United States even under the old treaty of 1783. When the convention was made public, it ii •y 336 UUSIDENCE AT THE 1»10. underwent criticism in Britain as too favour- able, throughout, to the United States. But this article on the fisheries was assailed with peculiar force. The leading presses of Lon- don opened upon it. The claims of the Uni- ted States were described as of alarming mag- nitude ; the concessions, as of a character cor- responding. Important maritime interests of the British empire were said to have been sacrificed. > Complaints poured in from the colonies. The legislative assembly and coun- cil of Nova Scotia sent forward remonstrances, with which were mixed up, not unsparingly, denunciations of American ambition and en- croachment. The tide of complaint was swelled by the recollection of similar alleged sacrifices under the treaty of Paris of 1814. Britain by that treaty, said the journals, had given back, and this when she was at the height of influence and power, to France, her great European rival, the enjoyment of the Newfoundland fisheries, from which twenty years of victorious warfare upon the ocean had totally driven her ; and now the calamity was to be doubled, by a like gift to her rival in the other hemisphere ! British statesmen, more calm, thought and acted otherwise. They had not been^ deterred by the anticipation of clamour from entering 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 387 into the article. They felt that, if they had a duty to fulfil by guarding British interests, they were not released from the obligation of looking to the just rights of an independent nation. It was in this spirit that a formidable cause of collision was removed, without impair- ing the honour, or, as is believed, the essential interests of either country. II. The second article related to the Boun- dary line, from the Lake of the Woods. This line had been originally laid down in the treaty of 1783. It proved defective, and fur- ther provision was made for running it, in the treaty of 1794. Several attempts for effecting this provision came to nothing. The cession of Louisiana by France in 1803, gave to the United States new and extensive territory west of the Mississippi. This altered the relative position of Great Britain and the United States in this quarter, and the hitherto unsettled boundary was now arranged. It was provided, that a line drawn from the most north-western point of the Lake of the Woods along the forty-ninth degree of latitude, due west, should be the line of demarcation, forming the south- ern boundary of the British territories and the northern boundary of the United States, from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky Moun- tains. In case such a line would not run along ,i»^< Z 338 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. the forty-ninth degree, but fall above or below it, then the line was to be traced by first draw- ing one from the same point, north or south as the case might be, until it struck forty-nine; from which point of intersection the western line was to begin. Thus it was definitively settled. An attempt was made by the British pleni- potentiaries to connect with this article, a clause securing to Great Britain access to the Mississippi, and right to its navigation. They made a similar claim at Ghent, but withdrew it. We said that we could consent to no clause of that nature. Its omission having, in the end, been agreed to, that subject was also put at rest. Britain, under the treaty of 1783, had the right of navigating the Mississippi. It was then the western boundary of the United States. Their northern boundary, by the same treaty, was to have been a line running due west from the most north-western point of the Lake of the Woods to the Mississippi, It was after^ wards ascertained that a line so drawn, would not strike the Mississippi ; Its head waters not being within British limits as first supposed. Hence all reason for Britain to claim the right of navigating a river which touched no part of her dominions, ceased. The United l&itates have claimed in a subsequent negotiation, the right 1018. COURT OF LONDON. 339 of navigating the St. Lawrence, from its sources to its mouth. The essential difference in the two cases, is, that the upper waters of the St. Lawrence flow through territory belonging to both countries, and form a natural outlet to the ocean for the inhabitants of several states of the American Union. IIL The third article effected a temporary arrangement of claims beyond the Rocky Moun- tains and to Columbia river. I have related what passed relative to the settlement at the mouth of this river, in my interview with Lord Castlereagh in February. That settle- ment, called Astoria, made by Americans, was broken up by the British during the war, but fell back to the United States by the treaty of Ghent, on the principle of status ante bellum. The British plenipotentiaries manifested a strong desire to connect this subject with that of the boundary line. They appeared unwill- ing, except under such a connexion, to agree to the line in any shape. We proposed its ex- tension to the Pacific Ocean. The treaty of Utrecht had fixed the forty-ninth degree of la- titude as the line between the possessions of Britain and France, including Louisiana since ceded to the United States. If, therefore, the United St^es and Britain arranged their claims westward, the same line, carried on to the Pa- z2 t i\ 840 RESIDENCE AT THE 181B. cific, seemed the naturil one. We contended that, as far as prior discovery could give the right to territory, ours was complete to the whole, on the waters of the Columbia. It de- rived its name from the American ship that first entered its mouth. It was first explored from its inland sources under the express au- thority of the Government of the United States. The British traveller, Mackensie, had mistaken another river for a branch of the Columbia ; the American travellers, Lewis and Clarke, as was now fully ascertained, having been the first to trace the Columbia from the interior to the ocean. Astoria had, as incontestably, been the first permanent settlement at its mouth. The British plenipotentiaries asserted that earlier voyages of English navigators, amongst them Cook's, gave to Britain the rights of prior discovery on this coast. They spoke also of purchases of territory from the natives south of this river, before the American revolution. They made no formal proposal of a boundary in these regions, but intimated that the river itself was the most convenient, and said they could agree to none that did not give them the harbour as its mouth, in common with the United States. To this we could not assent, but were willing to leave things west of the mountains, at large for future settlement. To II 1818. COURT OF LONDON. fi4.1 this they objected, and made in turn proposi- tions objectionable in our eyes. Finally it was agreed, that the country on the north-west coast of America westward of the Rocky Moun- tains, claimed by either nation, should be open to the inhabitants of both, for ten years, for purposes of trade ; with the equal right of na- vigating all its rivers. This whole subject was discussed more fully by both nations in a separate negotiation that it fell to my lot to conduct on behalf of the U.iited States, in 1824. Their rights on the north-west coast had been materially enlarged by the treaty of the 22nd of February 1819 with Spain. By that treaty the Floridas were transferred to the United States, and a surren- der made to them of all the rights of Spain on that coast, above the forty-second degree of north latitude. Under this branch of the discussion, might be seen power seeking its own augmentation. How strong the case for this reflection ! A nation whose dominions in Europe, established her in the front rank of power ; whose fleets predominated on the ocean ; who had subjects in Asia too numerous to be counted; whose flag was planted at the Cape of Good Hope and other posts in Africa ; who had Gibraltar, and Malta, and Heligoland, enabling her to rrf^'i :U2 RESIDENCK AT THE 1818. watch the Mediterranean and Baltic ; who had an empire in the West Indies as the East ; and, added to all, vast continental colonies in Ame- rica — this nation was anxiously contending for territorial rights in deep forests beyond the Rocky Mountains and on the solitary shores of the northern Pacific ! In the time of Queen Mary, when the communication with Muscovy was first opened by the discovery of a passage to Archangel, the English ventured farther into those countries than any Europeans had done before. They transported their goods along the Dwina in boats made of one entire tree, which they towed up the stream to Wologda. Thence they carried their com- modities a long journey over-land, and down the Volga to Astracan. Here they built ships, crossed the Caspian sea, and introduced their manufactures into Persia. It makes a parallel passage in their history, to see them at the pre- sent day pressing forward to supply with rifles and blankets savage hordes who roam through the woods and paddle their canoes over the waters of this farthest and wildest portion of the American continent. IV. The fourth article prolonged for ten years the existing commercial convention. By its provisions a reciprocal liberty of com- merce is established between the United States lUlU. COUllT OF LONDON. 34:i and the British dominions in Europe. Im- portations and exportations into or from either nation, are to be the same as permitted to other nations, and chargeable with no higher duties. The vessels of each nation, pay equal tonnage duties in each other's ports ; and duties upon merchandize imported into, or exported from either, are the same, whether conveyed in vessels of the one nation, or the other. Other clauses give to vessels of the United States the right of trading with the principal British settlements in the East Indies, viz. Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, andPrince of Wales's Island ; but it is only the direct trade between these settlements and the United States, that is opened. The vessels of the United States pursuing this trade, or going to China, may also touch for refreshment at the Cape of Good Hope, St. Helena, or other possessions of Great Britain in the African or Indian seas. These are the principal enactments of this commercial convention. It was originally negotiated in the summer of 1815, by three of the public men of the United States long signalized in the home and foreign service, Mr. Adams, M:. Clay, Mr. Gallatin. Between the time of its signature in London and exchange of ratifica- tions at Washington, an event occurred to mo- dify one of its provisions. It was determined 344 KKSIDENCE AT THE ItilB. by the Allied Powers, that Napoleon whose reign and dynasty closed at Waterloo, should end his days at St. Helena. As a consequence, the ratifications were exchanged with an excep- tion of the right of touching there, the sen- tence against the deposed Emperor containing a clause that neither British nor any other vessels, should stop at that island, whilst his prison. " The parts of this convention which establish an equality of duties, are liberal and wise. That the interest of nations is best promoted by discarding jealousies, is a truth which, in the abstract, few will question. But they should be discarded reciprocally, without any of the reservations for which favourite interests will always plead. Whether such reciprocity will ever be found compatible with the sepa- rate existence of communities, and all their se- parate rivalries, is the problem. The doctrine hitherto has been known but little in the prac- tice of the world. The United States, as one of the family of nations, did their part, at the commencement of their history, towards giving it currency ; not always however with the suc- cess that attended this convention. Its pro- visions' seemed to serve as a model. Within short periods after it went into operation, Den- mark, Prussia, the Netherlands, Hanover, Swe- lOlB. COURT OF LONDON. 315 den, and the Hanseatic cities of Hamburg, Lubec, and Bremen, formed treaties with Bri- tain, adopting wholly, or in part, its regula- tions. In some of the instances, I have reason to know that it was specially consulted as the guide. France too, always slow to enter into compacts of this nature with Britain, at last consented to a similar arrangement. Such ap- pears to have been the influence of its example. The United States have long desired to place their intercourse with the colonies of Britain, on the basis which this convention establishes with her dominions in Europe; but as yet ineffectually. V. The fifth article related to the Slaves. I stated in the last chapter, the nature of this question. All attempts to settle it by discus- sions proved fruitless. It was no question of international law, but of sheer grammar. In the end, we came to an agreement which this article embodied, to refer it to the umpirage of a friendly sovereign. The Emperor Alexander was chosen. It will be proper to state the issue. The case was submitted to him in full form. His de- cision was : — That the United States were entitled to claim from Great Britain a just indemnifica- tion for all slaves that the British forces had 346 RESIDENCE AT THE 1U18. carried away from places and territories of which the treaty stipulated the restitution ; and that the United States were entitled to consider as having been so carried away, all slaves w^ho had been transported from the above-mentioned territories to British ships within their waters, and who for that reason might not have been restored. This was the construction for which the United States had contended. The Emperor caused it to be officially made known, that he had devoted " all his attention to the examination of the grammatical question,'' and that his de- cision was founded ''on the signification of the words in the text of the article,'' The broad principle of right under the treaty of Ghent, was thus settled in our favour ; but much remained to be done. The number of slaves carried away, their value, and the right- ful claimants in every case, were to be ascer- tained. To effect these objects a convention was entered into at St. Petersburgh between the United States and Great Britain, Russia lend- ing her mediation. By this instrument vari- ous provisions were adopted for settling, thro' commissioners and other fit tribunals, the above and all other matters necessary to be adjudged. The tribunals were organized at Washington, and proceeded to the execution of their duties. 1818. COURT or LONDON. 347 Difficulties and delays arose. To get rid of all, another convention was concluded at London between the United States and Great Britain, by which the latter agreed to pay twelve hundred thousand dollars in lieu of all further demands. This sum was accordingly paid into the Trea- sury of the United States, thence to be dis- tributed among the claimants ; Great Britain being absolved from all further responsibility. In this manner the dispute was finally and sa- tisfactorily closed. VI. The sixth and last article was merely one of form, with the usual stipulations for the exchange of ratificationa. Looking at the convention as a whole, it must be judged by the nature, rather than number, of its articles. In settling the con- troversy about the fisheries, the calamity of a war was probably warded off. In fixing a boundary line long uncertain, the seed of future disputes was extinguished at that point. In the temporary arrangem.ent of conflicting claims beyond the Rocky Mountains, something was gained. In regard to those interests m the remote west, time is, for the United States, the best negotiator. They are not unaware how they bear upon their fur trade ; their fisheries and commerce in the Pacific ; their prospective relatioi. V with new foreign states in this hemi- 348 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. sphere; and their intercourse with nume- rous tribes of the aborigines. In the renewal for ten years of the commercial convention, limited at first to four, a further and more encouraging example was set of liberal terms of navigation between the two greatest navi- gating powers of the world. It may be hoped that it will ripen into permanence as between themselves, and continue to shed its influence more and more upon other states. Already it has been again prolonged for another term of years. Lastly, in the ar- ticle about the slaves, a foundation was laid for the indemnification awarded to the citizens of our southern states for heavy losses they had suiFered. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 349 CHAPTER XX. SUBJECTS WHICH THE NEGOTIATION LEFT UNADJUSTED, PARTICULARLY THE WEST INDIA TRADE AND IM- PRESSMENT. 1818. Having given the subjects which the negotiation arranged, the task, scrrcely se- condary, remains to state those that v^ere not. I. First, as to the West India trade. Ample discussions were had on this head. I will endeavour to make it intelligible within as short a compass as its nature will allow. The general question must be borne in mind as explained in the fourth chapter. Details will be pursued no farther than is indispen- sable. It was a cardinal purpose under our instruc- tions, that entire reciprocity should be the basis of any regulations by treaty, for opening this trade. We offered the following pro- posals as essential to the groundwork of our plan : — That the vessels of the United States be permitted to import into the principal ports h-' 350 RESIDENCE AT THE 1010. 1010 of the British West Indies, which we enu- merated, and into British ports on the conti- nent of South America, naval stores, live stock, provisions of all kinds, tobacco, lumber, and other productions of the United States, the importation of which was allowed from other places. And also that they be permitted to bring back cargoes of sugar, coffee, molasses, rum, salt, and other productions of the fore- going ports or islands, the exportation of which was allowed to other places. The vessels of Great Britain to be confined to the same ar- ticles of trade, fu that they might have no advantage over those of the United States. The tonnage duties on the vessels of each na- tion, to be the same ; and each to be allowed to touch during the voyage, u,*. one or more ports of the other, to dispose of inward or ship out- ward cargoes. Duties of import and export to be the same on all cargoes, whether carried in American or British vessels, and neither party to charge higher duties upon the pro- ductions of the other, than were charged on similar productions in their trade with other places. Regarding the colonies of Britain in North America, we proposed that both Ame- rican and British vessels be allowed to import into them from the United States, the same productions as allowed above, and bring back 5S^5E5S^F5^^^'---.\" ',-' '7 ■< ■' "•■' "'*.?*,*?"j*w 1818 COURT OF LONDON. 351 any productions of those colonies admitted into the United States from other places. Tonnage duties upon the vessels of each na- tion, to be equal here also ; and the duties on all cargoes to be the same, whether carried in the vessels of the one nation or the other. The British plenipotentiaries, on receiving these proposals, declared them to be inadmis- sible. They amounted, they said, to a much greater departure from the colonial system of Britain, than she was prepared to sanction. They alleged the impossibility of breaking down the system, favoured as it still was by public opinion, and leagued in with va- rious interest, national and individual. The trade of their North American colonies in salted fish and lumber, the export trade in beef, pork, and flour, from Ireland, the British shipping interest, aiid the interests of non- resident West India planters, were among those to vhich they referred. Tliey were willing to admit reciprocity in tiie trade be- tween the United States and West Indies, to a certain extent ; as far, indeed, as the trade was opened. But our plan opened it too far. They were willing to open, for example, all the ports we had enumerated, (Bermuda being of the number,; except St. Christopher's, St. Lucia, Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice ; the If! 352 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. III I > w exception of the three last growing out of their engagements with Holland. But if they admitted a specified number of articles in the direct trade with the Islands, they thought that we ought to consent to a larger list in the trade with Halifax and St John's on the North American continent ; and also with Bermuda. We ought not- to ask that the trade be confined to the '.ame articles with all ibelr possessions, insular and continental. They claimed also a right for their vessels coaiirtf^ from Great Britain, to touch at any port of the United States and take cargoes for the I'V est Indies ; alleging tfiat, without this right, the proximity of the United States to the Islands would give our vessels an advan- tage. They would agree to a provision that our vessels should have the same right ; a provision, however, the reciprocity of which would have beer; only nominal. In the end they remarked, that one of our proposals went the length of restraining Great Britain from laying hi;^her duties upon articles imported into her Islands from the United States, than on similar articles coming from her own pos- sessions in North America. To this they de- cidedly objected. They spoke of the natural right of Great Britain to resort to discriminat- in,«^ duties for the purpose of favouring the :^^'Sfffr^ 1818. (OIJRT or LONDON. 353 productions, agricultural or otherwise, of any part of her own dominions. We did not pretend to deny this last prin- ciple; but remarked, that truth in abstract propositions did not always bear enforcement internationally. We contended that the ap- plication of this principle to the trade in question, would prove altogether unjust to the United States. Britain made a distinction, which of course she had the right to do, in her commercial intercourse between her home dominions and colonies. She even drew a distinction in the regulations of trade be- tween her North American colonies, and West India Islands. The United States were there- fore, in a commercial view, obliged to con- sider each of these portions of her empire, as so many distinct countries. To the United States, they were distinct, as well by geogra- phical situation, and nature of their produc- tions, as by this policy of the parent country. This was not mere theory. In the business of trade, it led to positive results. The United States made an offer to lay no higher duties on productions imported into their pons from British Islands, than on similar productions from other foreign countries. Britain met this by apparent, but owing to the division ^ A m I 354 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. W i of her dependencies into separate countries for commercial purposes, not real justice. She offered to lay no higher duties on productions imported from the United States into her Islands, than were charged on similar ones from other foreign countries. The offer would be reciprocal in words only, unless it went farther ; it ought to add, upon similar pro- ductions from any other place. The reason was obvious. The British Islands were sup- plied with similar productions from no other foreign country than the United States. The only similar ones, in amount deserving to be mentioned, would go from the North Ameri- can colonies of Britain. The only competition in the supply would therefore be, between these latter colonies and the United States ; whei c^,s, there would be a real foreign com- petition on the productions imported into the United States from the British Islands ; similar ones being imported from the Islands or colonies of other foreign powers. Hence the clause would be operative for Great Bri- tain, and nominal for the United States. It was plain that the former could turn it to her own account. Ixer vessels might come to the United States from her Islands, with the productions of the Islands ; whilst the vessels of the United States would find little IBIU. C'Ol'UT 01' LONDON. 355 encouragement in going to the Islands with the productions of the United States, because the same kind would get there in British vessels from Halifax, St. John's, or Bermuda^ under duties sufficiently low to vanquish Ame- rican competition. Such was our answer to this objection. At first sight the objection wore a fair appearance. It seemed unreason- able to say that Britain must not be left at liberty to foster, by high duties, as she saw fit, the productions of any part of her own dominions. But unless the United States took this ground, they could secure no sub- stantial reciprocity to their own vessels in carrying on the trade to be arranged. We alleged also the inexpediency of con- senting to a limited number of articles as the objects of a direct trade between our ports and the Islands, and allowing an indefinite or even larger list to go circuitously. The effect of this would in like manner be, what the United States aimed at preventing — a dis- proportionate employment of British tonnage. The articles not allowed to go to the Islands directly, would be sent through Halifax, St. John's, or Bermuda. To these ports, it is true, they might go in American vessels ; but, ar- rived there, they would be transferred to Bri- tish vessels, and carried to the Islands exclu- t) » cy *^ A •■< 1 il \ > ^ »l lil II I 856 IlKSIDENXE AT THE ini8. sively in the latter. It was a main point with the United States to guard their shipping from this source of danger. It was so that we reasoned. Nevertheless, it was our duty to pay a just regard to the considerations which Great Britain had pre- sented. We expressed a desire to listen to any specific proposals she would make. We asked for a scale of duties that would exhibit the maximum of those intended for the pro- tection of the produce of her own dominions ; but no such document was prepared for our consideration. In further reply to this Bri- tish doctrine about duties, we naturally re- marked, that, if enforced against the United States, the latter ought certainly to retain the option of laying higher duties on the pro- ductions of the British Islands, than on those of countries where their productions were, or might be, received on better terms than in her Islands. We also declared that we could agree to no proposals for regulating the in- tercourse with Nova Scotia, and New Bruns- wick, unconnected with the Islands. After these and other particulars had been fully canvassed, it became evident that the parties were too wide asunder to give hope of meeting on ground that would satisfy both. The British plenipotentiaries candidly ex- 1UI8. COURT OF LONDON. 357 pressed themselves to this effect. But as we invited proposals, they gave them. Their pro- posals adhered to the principle of protecting the productions of their North American co- lonies, by levying higher duties on similar productions from the United States. They also claimed the right for British vessels from her European dominions, to touch at ports of the United States to take in cnrgoes for the West Indies. In other respe , as these wo- rninally, they admitted the principle of reci- procity, as far as the trade was to be open. But they restricted it in a way to be little acceptable to the United States. Neither sugar, nor coffee, was allowed to be among the direct exports to the United States from the Islands, although we would have consented to a limited amount of each. Nor were salted provisions of any kind, including fish, nor lumber generally, for under the last head there were slight exceptions, to be allowed among the imports into the Islands from the United States. Yet it was proposed, that not only sugar and coffee, but all articles of the produce or manufacture of any of the British dominions, and even East India articles, should be admitted into the United States through the circuitous channels of Bermuda, Halifax, and St. John's. It was also asked, that, in 4;; IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 12.8 1^ ■so ^ li£ 12.0 i i£ 1.25 II , .4 |, .6 < 6" ► V] 7] \^ > ^ / ^ /A ^ '/ Hiotc^'aphic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4303 fi IS' I 358 HKSIDENCK AT TIfE IH18. the whole trade, Britain, hy all the regulations of the United States, should stand upon as good a footing in their ports, as any other foreign nation. Such were the principal fea- tures of their proposals. Britain would agree to no arrangement of the intercourse by land, or inland navigation, with her possessions bordering on the United States, different from the one rejected with the four articles submitted by Lord Castle- reagh. Nor would she let us take our pro- duce down the St. Lawrence as far as Mont- real, or down the Chambly as far as the St. Lawrence. On referring her proposals to our Govern- ment with all the views elicited from her i^enipotentiaries, they were rejected. In pro- gress of time renewed negotiations were held between the two Governments, some whilst I remained at the British court, some after- wards. Each Government gave up some of the ground taken in this negotiation; but no arrangement by treaty has ever yet been made upon the subject. The trade stands upon regulations adopted by the statutes of each nation, which each is at liberty to modify or recall. Until opened by these regulations^ the prohibitory laws of the Union would not allow supplies from the British West Indies t t I ^ \ \ 1818. COUKT or LONDON. 359 to come directly to the United States, or go directly from the United States to the Islands, in the vessels of either power. The reason was, that as Britain would not allow them to come and go in this direct manner on terms that the United States deemed of equal advantage to their vessels, they preferred that the direct intercourse should cease altogether. It is obvious that the dispute was about tonnage^ not the productions or merchandize of either party. These were still permitted to be con- sumed in the territories of each ; but it was necessary to import them in roundabout ways into each. On a Spanish ambassador repre- senting to Cromwell that the Inquisition, and colonial trade, were his master's two eyes, Cromwell replied, " Then I must trouble your master to put out his two eyes." We cannot address England in that style ; but we may remark, that to whatever extent she enforces her colonial system in her intercourse with other nations, the latter will, so far, lose the advantage of full and equal competition as respects their tonnage. II. I come, secondly, to Impressment. Faithful as were our labours on this subject, disappointment was their portion. A recapi- tulation of the causes has claims to the atten- tion of both nations. 3()0 IIKSIDKNCE AT THE 1810. Ml It will be remembered that I delivered to Lord Castlereagh two propositions, which, taken together, embodied an offer by the United States to exclude, by all the means in their power, British seamen, native born, as natu- ralized, from their service. As an equivalent, they demanded that impressment from their vessels should be totally relinquished. The stipulation for excluding seamen, was to be reciprocal. The United States agreeing not to employ British seamen, it was no more than just that Britain should agree not to employ American seamen. The exclusion was to ex- tend to the public and private marine of both nations. It cannot escape remark, that the United States, by such an offer, overlooked the esti- mate of pecuniary advantage to their mer- chants, for the prospect of durable harmony with Great Britain. Wages were higher in their merchant-service, than the British. To exclude British seamen from it, would be like- ly to raise them still higher. On the other hand, the stipulation of Britain would have been remote in its practical operation. It was necessarily contingent upon the event of a maritime war with other powers, as she does not impress from American vessels in time of peace. Hence, the onerous part of the en- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 3()l gagement would have been to us immediate; the benefit distant. Our offer of exclusion, it will also be re- membered, was at first rejected. It was after- wards agreed that it should be considered. Two conditions were annexed to it by Lord Castlereagh. One, that any treaty containing the mutual stipulations, should be revocable on short notice by either party. This would serve, he thought, to pacify persons in Eng- land who would otherwise be disposed to think the arrangement derogatory to the rights of England ; whilst the treaty, as he hoped, would be sliding into permanence. The other con- dition was, that the British boarding -officer entering American vessels at sea for purposes agreed to be lav^ful in time of war, and finding British seamen, or men suspected to be such, should be allowed to make a proces verbal of the fact, to be presented to the notice of the American Government ; but the officer to be prohibited taking away the men This latter condition seemed to imply dis- trust of America. It breathed suspicion, that the regulations for excluding British seamen would not be fully executed. If objectionable on this ground, it was more so on others. It did not ask, in terms, that the boarding- officer calling for a list of the crew, should have the 4, A- H p r*' ii [y 362 RESIDENCE AT THE 181R. power of mustering them ; but the mere view of the paper would be useless without that power. The men must have been inspected for the purpose of comparison with the list. Such inspections had been found among the most insupportable aggravations of impress- ment. Their tendency, in every instance, was to produce altercation between the foreign officer and the master of the American vessel. If the officer made a record of his suspicions, the master, and seaman, must have the pri- vilege of making a counter record. Where then would be the end, or what the good, of these tribunals of the deck ? We did not desire the first condition, but were willing to come into it. To the second, we declared our utter repugnance and unequivocal dissent. It will be farther remembered, that Lord Cas- tlereagh withdrew the second ; which brings me to the footing on which the subject was taken up in the negotiation. Repeated advances having been made by the United States, the understanding was, that Britain should now bring the subject forward in a shape matured for discussion. The leading principles seemed to have been settled. It remained, as we thought, only to settle details. At the third conference, the British plenipotentiaries submitted a projet IBIU. (JOUHT UF LONDON. •se'i of six articles designed for the regulation, by a separate treaty, of the whole subject. I have abstained almost wholly from present- ing documents of the negotiation at large, supposing that I could cause their essential matter to be sufficiently understood by de- scription. But the interest attaching to this question, renders it proper to set forth the British projet in its precise terms ; a course the more proper as I inserted in the same way the American propositions. It here fol- lows : — " His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the President of the United States of Ame- rica, being animated with an equal desire to remove by amicable regulations the inconve- niences which have arisen from the difficulty of discriminating between the subjects and citizens of the two powers respectively, have determined to proceed, without prejudice to the rights of either power, to frame such conventional arrangements as may obviate the evils which might hereafter again result from the circumstances above stated, to the public service, the commerce, or the subjects or citi- zens of either of the contracting parties. In pursuance of so desirable an object, his said Majesty and the President of the United 364 HESIDIiNCE AT THE IH18. In ! HI I States have nominated Plenipotentiaries to discuss and sign a treaty to this effect. His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, has nominated the Right Honourable Frederick John Robin- son, and Henry Goulburn, Esquire, and the President of the United States has nominated Albert Gallatin and Richard Rush, Esquires, who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and true form, have agreed upon the following articles. " 1. The high contracting parties engage and bind themselves to adopt without delay, and in the manner that may best correspond with their respective laws, such measures as may be most effectual for excluding the na- tural-born subjects and citizens of either party from serving in the public or private marine of the other : Provided always, that nothing contained in this article shall be understood to apply to such natural-born subjects or citi- zens of either power as may have been natu- ralized by their respective laws, previous to the signature of the present treaty. And such measures, when adopted, shall be im- mediately communicated to each party respec- tively. " 2. For the better ascertaining the num- ber of persons on either side that may fall 1818. COURT or LONDON. 365 / within the exception contained in the preced- ing article, the high contracting parties en- gage to deliver, eacli to the other, within twelve months from the ratification of the present treaty, a list of all persons falling within the said exception, specifying the places of their birth, with the date of their becom- ing naturalized. And it is further agreed, that none other than the persons whose names shall be included in the lists, shall be deemed to fall within the said exception. " 3. The high contracting parties, however, reserve to themselves the power to authorize and permit, by proclamation, their respective subjects or citizens, to serve in the public or private marine of the other country. And it is hereby expressly understood, that, as long as such permission shall remain in force, it shall be competent for the Government of the other power, notwithstanding the engage- ment set forth in the first article of this treaty, to admit the performance of the said service. P?*ovided always, that, whenever the power so granting permission to the said sub- jects or citizens to serve in the marine of the other, shall withdraw the same, notifica- tion thereof shall forthwith be made to the other contracting party, and, on receipt of such notification, the power receiving the 1 I I '.m> HESrUKNl R AT TIIK 181K. H< 1^ ! I: I same shall, forthwith, notify it in the most public and official manner, and shall use its utmost endeavours to restrain the said subjects or citizens of the other party from further serving in its public or private marine, and shall enforce the exclusion of such of the said subjects or citizens of the other power as may then be in its service, as if no such permission had been promulgated. " 4. In consideration of the stipulations con- tained in the preceding articles, it is agreed by the high contracting parties that, during the continuance of the present treaty, neither power shall impress or forcibly withdraw, or cause to be impressed or forcibly withdrawn, any person or persons from the vessels of the other power, when met upon the high seas, on any plea or pretext whatsoever. Provided ahmys, that nothing contained in this article shall be construed to apply to the vessels of either power which may be within the ports, or within the maritime jurisdiction of the other, and also provided that nothing herein con- tained shall be construed to impair or affect the established right of search as authorized in time of war by the law of nations. " 5. The high contracting parties have agreed to extend the duration of the present treaty to ten years, and they reserve to them- (( 18 in. COURT OF LONDON. 3(57 selves to concert, as to its renewal, at such convenient period, previous to its expiration, as may ensure to tlieir respective subjects and citizens, the uninterrupted benefit which they expect from its provisions : Provided al- ways, that either power may, if it deem it ex- pedient, upon giving six months, previous no- tice to the other, wholly abrogate and annul the present treaty. " 6. It is agreed that nothing contained in the preceding articles shall be understood to affect the rights and principles on which the high contracting parties have heretofore acted, in respect to any of the matters to which these stipulations refer, except so far as the same shall have been modified, restrained, or sus- pended, by the said articles. And, whenever the present treaty shall cease to be in opera- tion, either by the expiration of the term for which it is enacted, without any renewal of the same, or by the abrogation thereof by either of the high contracting parties, as here- inbefore provided, or, (which God forbid !) by any war between them, each of the said high contracting parties shall stand, with respect to the other, as to its said rights and principles, as if no such treaty had ever been made." In submitting these articles, the British ple- nipotentiaries expressed upon the protocol 568 in:S[|)F,\(K AT TIIF. KMH. their conviction, that, under all the difHculties that surrounded the question, they would be sufficient to satisfy us of the earnest disposi- tion of Great Britain to go every practicable length in a joint effort for their removal, so as to connect the two countries in the firmest ties of harmony. It was with this solemnity that the subject was presented to our conside- ration. It received from us a deliberate and anxious attention. We brought to the task an unaf- fected desire to smooth down every obstacle. It was not to be supposed that a subject that had divided the two nations for five-and-twenty years, and been the principal cause of a war, could be definitively arranged by the first pro- jet of a treaty drawn up by one of the parties. But we hailed the entire plan as the harbinger of adjustment, believing that we saw in its spirit and outline the sure hope of success. Taking an interval for advisement we said, that the proposals heretofore made by the United States could leave no doubt of their constant desire to settle this question, and declared our readiness to agree, with some amendments, to the plan submitted. We add- ed our full expectation that, founded as it was in mutual confidence, it could not fail to have a happy effect towards rendering durable the 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 3i)9 relations of amity so happily subsisting between the two countries. These sentiments we, too, recorded on the protocol. Several of our amendments were only verbal. We did not think that the recital in the pre- amble met the whole case on both sides, and offered alterations, some of which were ap- proved. To the clause under which there might have been a claim to continue impress- ment in the narrow seas, we objected, and it was, in effect, withdrawn. Nor did we like the particular mode, or place, in which Britain reserved the right of search at the close of the fourth article. We suggested in lieu of it, that the words should go to a different article, and provide that neither party should be af- fected by the treaty " in any of their belligerent or neutral rights as acknowledged by the law of nations, ewcept so far as modified, restricted, or suspended by the treaty" It becomes unneces- sary, however, to dwell on these and other points as to which the parties did not agree at first, since they might have agreed ultimately, had it not been for two that proved fatal to the plan. To the explanation of these I con- fine myself. The second article, with a view to ascertain the persons who were to be excepted from those intended to be excluded from the sea- ^ B i' I I I I 870 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. service of either nation, provides, that each shall furnish the other with a list of their names. This list was to specify the place of their birth, and dates of their naturalization ; and none but persons whose names were upon it, were to fall within the exception. To this provision we were obliged to object, our laws not enabling us to meet all that it required. As a substitute, we proposed that " no natural- " born subject or citizen of either power, whose " name should not be included in the list, " should be deemed to fall within the excep- " tion, UNLESS HE PRODUCED PROOF OF HIS HAV- (( ING BEEN DULY NATURALIZED PRIOR TO THE " EXCHANGE OF RATIFICATIONS OF THE TREATY." Reasons must be given why the United States could not comply with the British arti- cle as it stood. Anterior to 1789, aliens were naturalized according to the laws of the seve- ral states composing the Union. Under this system, the forms varied and were often very loose. The latter was especially the case when they were drawn up by justices of the peace, as sometimes happened. Since that epoch, the forms have been uniform, and are only permit- ted before such courts of record as are desig- nated by the laws of the United States. But the designation includes not only courts of the United States, properly so called, but courts of 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 371 the several States. Minor children also of na- turalized persons, if the former be within the limits of the Union, become, ipso facto, natu- ralized. It must be added, that, for several years, no discrimination as to the birth-place of aliens was recorded. If attempts were made to procure the lists required, a first objection might have been, that the courts of the several States were not bound to obey, in this respect, a call from the general Government. But grant- ing that all obeyed, the lists would have exhi- bited nothing more than the names of British natural-born subjects, naturalized during a period of nearly thirty years. They would not designate seamen, the law not having required a record of the occupatioi^ : nor would they em- brace minor children, their names never having been directed to be registered. There was but one other source from which lists could have been derived, and here only partially. By a law of 1796, collectors of customs were required to keep books in which the names of seamen, citizens of th^ United States, were, on their own application, to be entered. Under this law, as may be inferred from its terms, the entry of names was not full ; nor did the law draw a distinction between native citizens and naturalized. From this summary it is manifest, that a 2b2 372 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. 'ti compliance with the British article would have been impracticable. The unavoidable conse- quence of consenting to it would have been, that aliens naturalized before the treaty, and entitled by our laws to all the rights of citi- zens, would, by an eoo post facto and therefore unconstitutional measure, have found them- selves excluded from following the seas. All these obstacles we presented to the Bri- tish plenipotentiaries. They were plainly such as we could not remove, whatever our desire. But we urged, that the condition required of us, appeared unnecessary. By the substitute proposed, every native-born subject of Britain claiming the right of serving in our vessels, and not being able to show his name upon the lists, would have to adduce other proof of his naturalization. This other proof must have been, either the original certificate of natural- ization, or an authentic copy. It could have been on no better proof, that any names would have been returned in the lists. If minors claimed the benefit of the exception, legal proof must have been given of their identity ; to which must have been subjoined, proof of the naturalization of their fathers. We urged also the right reserved to either party of annulling the treaty at will, as affording a security. It was a reservation, not of our choice, but acqui- 18 18. COURT OF LONDON. 373 esced in, to avoid objection, and supersede the necessity of details too complicated. It gave Britain a remedy in her own hands against deviations from the true spirit of the compact, whenever she believed any were committed. But we could not prevail upon the British plenipotentiaries to recede from their ground. They appeared to have taken up an impression, which we were unable to expel, that great numbers of their seamen intended by the treaty to be excluded, would, but for the con- dition annexed, find their way into our service. An error insensibly prevailing in Britain, seems to lie at the root of the evil. It consists in supposing that the United States cannot ob- tain seamen of their own, but must depend upon Britain. Why, any more than on Bri- tons to till their farms, seems strange ! I will give an instance of this error. When the Franklin anchored off Cowes, visitors came on board. Her decks were filled with her seamen. To be sure, they looked like English seamen, and spoke the same language. Soon the ru- mour went, that many were English. All ru- mours grow ; so this. In a fortnight I read in the London prints, that one-third of the whoje were native-borr British subjects! The neyii passed from journal to journal, fixing itself, no doubt, in the belief of many an honest Erig- 374 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. lishman. The commentary upon it is, that Commodore Stewart informed me, that out of his crew, of upwards of seven hundred men, twenty-five would include all of foreign birth. Of these, half were from parts of Europe other than Britain. I would not be guilty of sup- posing that errors so gross as the one I men- tion, could ever be committed by persons having better opportunities of information ; but it points to the popular misconception. 3 1 fully believe, and this not as an unexamined opinion, that the proportion of native Ameri- can seamen on board American ships-of-war, will always be found greater than of native Bri- tish seamen on board British ships-of-war. The relative size of the two navies considered, it is demonstrable indeed, that the United States are far better able to man their's with native American, than the British their's with native British. The other part of the projet that produced fatal diversity, was in the first article. It ran thus : " Provided always that nothing con- " tained in this article shall be understood to "apply to such natural-born subjects or citi- " zens of either power as may have been natu- ** ralized by their respective laws previous to "the SIGNATURE of the present treaty," In place of SIGNATURE, we proposed "exchange of I 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 875 RATIFICATIONS." To tlie former, we could not consent. It would have brought with it the same consequence; that of violating our con- stitution. The obligations of a treaty are not complete until exchange of ratifications. To exclude from our service, subjects naturalized prior to that date, would have involved the ob- jection of ex post facto. The British plenipo- tentiaries would not agree to drop their word. Here too was manifested what, to us, seemed needless apprehension. As by the laws of the United States a residence of five years is one of the pre-requisites to naturalization, the number of British seamen who could have come in between the two dates, must have been extremely small ; not worth considera- tion, as we supposed, in a national point of view. But we could not succeed in making the British plenipotentiaries think so. The subject was debated until the closing hours of the negotiation, and then fell to the ground. It put the seal to the failure of our efforts. We had offered all that was possible under our laws. We could go no farther. I pause a moment on the above narrative. I look back, w^ith unfeigned regret, on the fail- ure it records. Perhaps I may be wrong, for I speak from no authority, but am not able to divest myself of an impression that, had Lord If. «*ii 376 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. Castlereagh been in London, there would not have been a failure. I am aware that he was kept informed of the progress of the negotia- tion. We had reason to believe that the do- cuments were regularly sent on for his in- spection. Still, he could not share in the full spirit of all that passed. He had the Euro- pean relations of Britain in his hands. Im- pressment, although in truth a primary con- cern, could not, at such a season, have com- manded all his thoughts. But I know how anxiously he entered into it, before his de- parture for Aix-la-Chapelle. He saw that the great principle of adjustment had at last been settled; and I can scarcely think that he would have allowed it to be foiled, by carrying too much rigour into details. It is no part of my present purpose to draw the character of Lord Castlereagh in his connexion with Eng- land, or Europe ; but there was this in him, which his opponents did not deny, and history will award — an entire fearlessness. He knew that a treaty relinquishing impressment, no matter what the terms, would excite clamour in England, come when it would. Brit having made up his mind to the justice aid policy of such a treaty, he would have faced the clamour. I believe that he set a high value upon a good understanding with the United 1H18. COURT OF LONDON. 377 States; and if, in the particular instance as- sumed, my conjecture be not ill-founded, who will say that his wisdom would not have been attested ? Seamen, as a race, are short-lived. Had the arrangement been perfected, the lapse of a very few years would have swept away the stock of naturalized British seamen in the United States; whilst the treaty would have remained, a monument of the statesmanship of the minister under whose auspices it would have been concluded. ~ This subject falling through, others of a maritime nature were withdrawn. It had been agreed that none were to be proceeded with, if we failed on impressment. We offered articles on blockade, contraband, trading with the co- lonies of a belligerent, for the regulation of proceedings in prize cases, and the conduct of privateers and letters of marque. Britain had joined in offers on most of them, omitting the third. Their discussion was carried on to some extent, but given over when discovered that we could not arrange the point on which all depended. The failure to accommodate this fruitful source of strife, is only postponed, not defeat- ed. If removed in no other way, it will cease, ultimately, through the cessation of the prac- tice as a home measure in England. It cannot t'i f fi S78 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. endure much longer. Englishmen will get awake to its true nature. It is the remark of a sagacious historian, that nations long after their ideas begin to enlarge and their manners to refine, adhere to systems of superstition founded on the crude conceptions of early years. It is the same with public abuses. The English part reluctantly with those sanc- tioned by time. But, at length, public scru- tiny and the moral sense of the nation, fasten upon them as in the case of the slave-trade Reason emerges, as from a cloud. The abuses fall, and reprdbation succeeds to the long to- lerance that kept them up. Indications are not wanting of this coming change as to im- pressment. I could refer to some, derived from private intercourse ; but for this I should have no warrant, and will take other and public demonstrations. Perhaps no association of men in the kingdom are more likely to form sound opinions on this subject, than the ship- owners of London. This body, at a meeting in September 1818, deliberately condemned the practice. The report of their committee dwells upon its evils, and suggests measures for its entire abolition. There is something if possible more strong. Sir Murray Maxwell, a distinguished officer in the British navy, when a candidate to represent the great commercial 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 379 interests of Westminster in the House of Commons, made an appeal too remarkable to be forgotten. Addressing himself to assem- bled thousands round the hustings, he said, that if his opponent could show that he had been " for fifteen years engaged in promoting a political scheme of such national importance as the one that he (Sir Murray) had been labouring at, he would withdraw from the contest ; he meant, the efforts he had made, in concert with many of his brother officers, to do away the practice of impressment." Need I go farther ? If the conviction of the impolicy and enormity of this violation of the rights of the subject, this stain upon British humanity, has found its way into the circle of ship- owners and naval officers, is it conceivable that the conviction will stop there ? No ; it will spread, until echoed by the voice of all Britain. In conclusion, I must superadd my testi- mony to that of every other American, that the United States cannot again permit the exercise, by any foreign power, of impressment on board their vessels. After the facts mentioned in the twelfth chapter, they would be untrue to themselves, and the race they spring from, if they did. I have gone through the topics of the nego- «iy f ^1 4« Hi 880 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. tiation. I have given succinctly, but I trust accurately, those comprised in the convention. I have set forth, I hope intelligibly, the causes of disappointment as to others. May the day soon arrive when the adjustment of at least that of impressment, may cement by yet closer ties two nations that ought to feel and act like friends, instead of pouring out their blood in combat. 181U. COURT OF LONDON. 381 CHAPTER XXI. . ii THE ENGLISH IN THE AUTUMN. — INAUGURATION OF THE LORD MAYOR. DEATH OF THE QUEEN. 1818. Whilst the negotiation was going on, its business absorbed attention. Of personal occurrences during its pendency I have little to say. We dined with some of the cabinet ministers and diplomatic corps. On one oc- casion, a portion of the ambassadors and minis- ters gratified me by dining at my house, to meet Mr. Gallatin. Some of them had taken a lively interest in the progress of our nego- tiation. A French philosopher has said, that every day of his life formed a page of his works. I cannot claim this merit, if merit it be. It was not my habit to note down, as a daily routine, the incidents passing around me. I gave myself to the practice according to my feelings and opportunities. During the negotiation, and for the remnant of the year, I scarcely indulged in it at all.^ Soon after the close of our joint labours, Mr. Gallatin *4 I 382 HESIDENCE AT THE 1R18. returned to Paris, leaving me to regret the loss of a colleague so enlightened. In the west-end of London during the au- tumn, little is seen but uninhabited houses. It brings to mind the city in the Arabian Nights, where everything was dead. The roll of the carriage, the assemblage in the parks, the whole panorama of life, in circles where amusement is the business of life, stops. Pass Temple Bar, and winter and spring, sum- mer and autumn, present the same crowds. Nothing thins them. But the depopulation of the west- end is nearly complete. The ad- journment of Parliament is the first signal for desertion. You see post-chaises and tra- velling carriages, with their light and liveried postilions, issuing from the squares and sweep- ing round the corners. For awhile, this move- ment is constant. The gay emigrants find their country-seats all ready for their recep- tion. Thiebault tells us, that the King of Prussia had libraries at several of his palaces, containing the same books, arranged in the same order ; so that when going from one to another the train of his studies might not be broken. So the English on arriving at their seats, even if they have several, which is not unfrequently the case, find every thing they want ; unlike the chateaux in the pro- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 38» vinces of Franco, which are said to be ill- furnished and bare, compared with the fine hotels of Paris. The next great egress is on the approach of the 1st of September. That day is an era in England. Partridge-shooting begins. All who have not left town with the first flight, now follow. Ministers of state, even lord- chancellors, can hardly be kept from going a-field. When our conference of the 29th of August was finished, my colleague and I, without reflection, named the 1st of Septem- ber for the next meeting. " Spare us,'' said one of the British plenipotentiaries ; " it is the first day of partridge-shooting /" The families that flock into the country, generally remain until after the festivities of Christmas, which close with Twelfth-night. Some stay much longer. Cabinet ministers and the diplomatic corps, are among the few persons left in the metropolis, and these in diminished number. The latter are often of the invited guests, when the English thus exchange the hospitalities of the town for those, more prolonged and magnificent, at their country abodes. Field sports are added to them ; hunting of all kinds, the fox, the hare, the stag ; shooting, with I know not what else, including archery, of the days of 1 «ii 384 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. the Plantagenets. This last, like the chace, is sometimes graced by the competitions of female agility. But foreign ambassadors and ministers do not always find it convenient to profit of these invitations. If not every day engaged in negotiations, one seldom goes by with those representing countries in large intercourse with England, unmarked by calls upon their time. Like men of business every- where, they must be at the place of their business to do, or to watch it. But if for the most part cut off from these rural recre- ations, there is one way in which they partake of the results ; I mean in abundance of game for their tables. Amongst the persons to whom mine was indebted throughout the au- tumn, I must not forget one of the British plenipotentiaries. Let me add, that if not of the same mind with us on all official dis- cussions, they both made us sensible in all ways of their personal courtesy. The enthusiastic fondness of the English for the country, is the effect of their laws. Primogeniture is at the root of it. Scarcely any persons who hold a leading place in the circles of their society live in London. They have houses in London, in which they stay while Parliament sits, and occasionally visit at other seasons ; but their homes are in the 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 385 country. Their turreted mansions are there, with all that denotes perpetuity — heir-looms, family memorials, tombs. This spreads the ambition among other classes, and the taste for rural life, however diversified or gradu- ated the scale, becomes widely diffused. Those who live on their estates through successive generations, not speaking of those who have titles but thousands besides, acquire, if they have the proper qualities of character, an in- fluence throughout their neighbourhood. It is not an influence always enlisted on the side of power and privilege. On the contrary, there are numerous instances in which it has for ages been strenuously used for the fur- therance of popular rights. These are the feelings and objects that cause the desertion of the west-end of the town when Parliament rises. The permanent interests and affections of the most opulent classes, centre almost uni- versally in the country. Heads of families go there to resume their stand in the midst of these feelings ; and all, to partake of the pas- times of the country life, where they flourish in pomp and joy. In other parts of London, in the vast limits between Temple Bar and the Tower, the crowds, I have said, continue the same. Even here, however, the passion for the country 2 c I! II I i u s ! 386 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. peeps out. Every evening when business is over, the citizens may be seen going to their cottages that skirt the wide environs towards Highgate, Hornsey, Hackney, Stratford, Clap- ham, Camberwell, Greenwich, and in all direc- tions. I heard a physician call the Parks the " lungs of London.'' These little retreats, many of them hidden amidst foliage, and showing the neatness that seems stamped upon every thing rural in England, in like manner serve the citizens as places in which to breathe, after the pent-up air of confined streets and count- ing-rooms. To the latter they return on the following morning to plan operations that affect the markets and wealth of the civilized world. On the 9th of November I dined at Guild- hall. It was the day of the inauguration of the Lord Mayor. Mr. Alderman Atkins had been the successful candidate for the mayor- alty. There was the grand procession upon the ThameS; and through the streets. I need not give a description of it; for it has been as often described as St. Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey. The dinner was in the large Gothic Hall. There sat down about nine hundred persons. The giants and knights clad in steel, the band of music slowly moving round the hall, the Aldermen in their costumes. 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 387 the Sheriffs with their gold chains, the Judges in their robes, the Lady Mayoress in her hoop, with long rows of prosperous-looking citizens, presented a novel mixture of modern things, with symbols of the ancient banquet. The lights, the decorations of the hall, and all that covered the tables, gave a high impression of municipal plenty and munificence. The Premier, Lord Liverpool, with Lord Bathurst, Lord Sidmouth, and Mr. Vansittart, as cabinet ministers, were guests. There were many other official characters. One of the knights wore the helmet which the City of London gave to Henry the Seventh. Its weight was fourteen pounds. The other knight wore the entire armour of Henry the Fifth. It was that of a small man. Lord Sidmouth, who sat near me, remarked, that all the armour of that day and earlier, indicated the stature to be smaller than at present. I thought of what Sir John Sinclair said, at Ormly Lodge. The reasons assigned were, improved agriculture, better personal habits from the greater diffusion of comforts among the people through the increase of wealth and science ; also, the disappearance of certain diseases, as leprosy and scurvy, and the ad- vancement of medical knowledge, Mr. Van- sittart said, that the remains of Roman armour 2 c 2 \i. 388 RESIDENCE AT THE 1B18. had shown the Romans to be a smaller race of men than the moderns. After the King, Prince Regent, and mem- bers of the Royal Family, had been given as toasts, the Lord Mayor did me the honour to propose my name, that he might make it the medium of cordial sentiments towards the United States. These the company received with applause. In returning thanks I reci- procated the friendly feelings he had ex- pressed. Before going to dinner we were in the council-room. Among the paintings was a very large one of the scene between Richard the Second and Wat Tyler. Another of that between Mary of Scots and Rizzio ; one of the siege of Gibraltar, by Copley ; and other pieces. But I looked with chief interest at the portraits of the naval commanders. Pausing at Nelson's, Lord Sidmouth said, that in a visit he had from him three weeks before the battle of Trafalgar, he described the plan of it with bits of paper on a table, as it was afterwards fought. When we came to Dun- can's, he recited the lines, by Lord Wellesley, on the victory over the Dutch, off Camper- down. At Howe's, Mr. Vansittart said, that just before his battle with the French fleet, the sailors expressed a wish for a little more i 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 389 grog. Howe replied, " Let *em wait till it's over, and we'll all get drunk^ together." At Rodney's, some conversation took place on the manoeuvre, which he first practised in his victory over De Grasse, of breaking the line. I asked, whether the success of that mode of attack did not essentially depend upon the inferiority of your enemy, especially in gun- nery. It was admitted that it did, and that Lord Nelson always so considered it. The Marlborough, Rodney's leading ship, received the successive broad-sides of twenty-three of the French ships of the line, at near dis- tance, and had not more than half-a-dozen of her men killed. My motive to the inquiry, was a remark I once heard from Commodore Decatur of our service, that, in an event, which I trust may be remote, of English fleets and those of the United States meet- ing, the former would probably change their system of tactics in action. Speaking of na- val science in England, Lord Sidmouth said, that it had greatly improved of late years ; that Lord Exmouth told him that, when he was a young man, it was not uncommon for lieutenants to be ignorant of lunar observa- tions, but that now no midshipman was pro- moted who could not take them. He inti- mated his belief, that naval science generally, I '4 I 390 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. was destined to far higher advances than it had yet reached. After dinner we went into the ball-room, where a ball terminated the festivities. I should not soon have done if I were to mention all the instances of which I chanced on this occasion to hear of riches among me- chanics, artisans, and others, engaged in the common walks of business in this great city. I make a few selections. I heard of haber- dashers who cleared thirty thousand pounds sterling a-year, by retail shop-keeping; of brewers, whose buildings and fixtures neces- sary to carry on business, cost four hundred and fifty thousand pounds; of silversmiths woith half a million ; of a person in Exeter Change, who made a fortune of a hundred thousand pounds, chiefly by making and sell- ing razors ; of job- horse men, who held a hundred and forty thousand pounds in the Three per Cents; and of confectioners and woollen drapers who had funded sums still larger. Of the higher order of merchants, bankers, and capitalists of that stamp, many of whom were present, whose riches I heard of, I am unwilling to speak, lest I should seem to exaggerate. I have given enough. During the late war with France, it is said that there were once recruited in a single day in 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 391 the country between Manchester and Bir- mingham, two thousand able-bodied working men for the British army. It is the country so remarkable for its collieries, iron mines, and blast furnaces. Its surface is desolate. A portion of it is sometimes called the fire country, from the flames that issue in rolling volumes from the lofty tops of the furnaces. Seen all around by the traveller at night, they present a sight that may be called awful. Sometimes you are told that human beings are at work in the bowels of the earth be- neath you. A member of the diplomatic €orps, on hearing of the above enlistment re- marked, that could Bonaparte have known that fact, and seen the whole region of coun- try from which the men came, seen the evi- dences of opulence and strength in its public works, its manufacturing establishments and towns, and abundant agriculture, notwith- standing the alleged or real pauperism of some of the districts, it would of itself have induced him to give over the project of in- vading England. In like manner, let any one go to a lord mayor's dinner ; let him be told of the sums owned by those he will see around him and others he will hear of, not inherited from ancestors, but self-acquired by individual in- S.-..^ 392 RESIDENCE AT THE 1818. dustry in all ways in which the hand and mind of man can be employed, and he will be backward at predicting the ruin of Eng- land from any of her present financial diffi- culties. Predictions of this nature have been repeated for ages, but have not come to pass. Rich subjects make a rich nation. As the former increase, so will the means of filling the coffers of the latter. Let contemporary nations lay it to their account, that England is more powerful now than ever she was, not- withstanding her debt and taxes. This know- ledge should form an element in their foreign policy. Let them assure themselves, that in- stead of declining she is advancing ; that her population increases fast; that she is con- stantly seeking new fields of enterprise in other parts of the globe, and adding to the improvements that already cover her island at home, new ones that promise to go beyond them in magnitude; in fine, that instead of being worn out, as at a distance is sometimes supposed, she is going a- head with the buoy- ant spirit and vigorous effort of youth. It is an observation of Madame de Stael, how ill England is understood on the Continent, in spite of the little distance that separates •^•her from it. How much more likely that nations between whom and herself an ocean 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 393 interposes, should fall into mistakes on the true nature of her power and prospects; should imagine their foundations to be jrum- bling, instead of steadily striking into more depth, and spreading into wider compass. Britain exists all over the world, in her co- lonies. These alone, give her the means of advancing her industry and opulence for ages to come. They are portions of her territory more valuable than if joined to her island. The sense of distance is destroyed by her command of ships ; whilst that very distance serves as the feeder of her commerce and marine. Situated on every continent, lying in every latitude, these, her out-dominions, make her the centre of a trade already vast and perpetually augmenting — a home trade and a foreign trade — for it yields the riches of both, as she controls it all at her will. They take off her redundant population, yet make her more populous ; and are destined, under the policy already commenced towards them, and which in time she will far more exten- sively pursue, to expand her an empire, com- mercial, manufacturing, and maritime, to di- mensions to which it would not be easy to affix limits. On the 17th of November, died the Queen. She expired at Kew Palace, after a long illness. 394 RESIDENCE AT THE 181U. The last time I saw her was at an entertain- ment at Carlton House. There, as at the royal marriage, she had been distinguished by her affability. Going away, gentlemen attendants, and servants with lights, preceded her sedan ; whilst the company gave tokens of respectful deference. Now, she had paid the common debt of nature. The event was communicated to me in a note from Lord Bathurst, received the same evening ; a form observed towards all foreign ambassadors and ministers. The Queen enjoyed in a high degree the respect and affection of a very large portion of the inhabitants of Great Britain. For more than half a century, her conduct upon the throne had been to the nation, satisfactory. There were periods when it was j^id that she had interfered beyond her sphere in public affairs; but besides the obstacles to this un- der a constitutional government like that of England, however frequent may be the in- stances in arbitrary governments, there never appears to have been any sufficient evidence of the fact. Colonel Barr^, the bold champion of the Colonies during the American war, eulo- gized her " unassuming virtues" in one of his opposition speeches. All agree, that in the relations of private life, her conduct was ex- emplary ; and that the British court main- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 9^5 tained in her time, a character of uiuibrm ac- corum and chastened grandeur. Her funeral was on the 2nd of December, at Windsor. The body had lain in state for the time usual. The procession moved from Kew. I went there with my sons. The mul- titude was so great, of carriages, persons on horseback, and foot passengers, that it might be said to form a compact mass from London to Kew, a distance of eight miles. It con- tinued, as long as I looked, to press onward. At night, the road was lighted with torches borne by the military. These, gleaming upon the soldier's helmets, and partially disclosing, now the hearse, then the long solemn proces- sion winding its slow way with its trappings of death, presented a spectacle for the pencil or the muse. The interment took place in the royal chapel of St. George. There, for centuries, had reposed the remains of kings and queens. And there, they had mouldered to dust. Around the vault, seen by dim lights in the Gothic .interior, were assembled the Prince Regent, and other members of the royal family, with a few of the personages who composed the funeral train. Canning was of the num- ber — Canning, with sensibilities always quick to whatever in human scenes might awaken moral reflection, or lift up the tone of the imagination. 39j& RESIDENCE AT THE 1U1U. On the 3rd of December the theatres were re-opened. I went to Drury-lane. The house was crowded, and everybody in black for the Queen. Orders for a court-mourning take in only a limited class; but the streets, as the theatres, are filled with persons of all classes, who put it on. Even children wear it, and servants. Such is the usage of the country. The play was " Brutus, or the fall of Tarquin," a new tragedy, by Mr. Howard Payne, a young American. I felt anxious for an author who was my countryman, and had the gratification to witness his complete success. When the piece was announced for repetition, bursts of applause followed, and the waving of hand- kerchiefs. On the 22nd of the month, accidents occurred all over London, from a remark- able fog. Carriages ran against each other, and persons were knocked down by them at the crossings. The whole gang of thieves seemed to be let loose. After perpetrating their deeds, they eluded detection by darting into the fog. It was of an opake, dingy yel- low. Torches were used as guides to carriages at mid-day, but gave scarcely any light through the fog. I went out for a few minutes. It was dismal. IRIU. COURT OF LONDON. sgr CHAPTER XXII. AMERICANS ABROAD. — CASES OF ARBUTHNOT AND AM- BRISTER. — OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. ROYAL SPEECH BY COMMISSION. DINNER AT MR. WELLESLEY POLE's. CHESAPEAKE AND SHANNON. January 1, 1819. Twelve of my country- men dined with me. A few were residents of London ; the remainder, here on their travels. Some were going to Italy ; others had been, or were going, to France, and other parts of the Continent. It has been my habit to see my countrymen at my table as often as in my power. To-day, as generally on these occasions, we indulged in home topics. Admire as we may what we see abroad, who among us that has ever left bis own country, does not feel that his warm- est affections point to it as a centre ? Though we cannot, in its infancy, claim for it all the monuments of science, letters, and the arts, that are the slow growth of time, we have 398 RESIDENCE AT THE 1819. already, under each, made rapid progress. In some, we believe that we have made improve- ments. The prospect before us is full of hope; not resting on idle boast, but the reaUties of the past. A noble freedom is ours, resting on the broad basis of equal rights; a freedom fitted for producing the highest energies and refinements of civilization; yet restrained by constitutional limits ; guarded also against some of the risks of that state by the habits of our people, who from their origin have been trained to its blessings, and knowing their im- mense value, will know for ever how to cling to them. With this, as the ground-work of national character ; with political advantages, the result of geographical situation ; with great agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial ca- pabilities, to what a career of power and fame, if true to ourselves, may we not look forward ! These are sentiments that Americans meeting in another land, delight to interchange. The heart has no higher pleasures than those which the feelings of country inspire. They are ex- alted by absence. An American minister abroad, must then be ever in the experience of his purest social enjoyments, when he sees around him his countrymen as guests. January 7. Received a note from Lord Cas- tlereagh requesting me to call on him to-day n 1819. COURT OF LONDON. 399 ' * at four, at his private residence. It was dated last night, and indorsed '* Immediate.'^ He was confined with the gout. I was shown into a room upstairs, where I found him on his couch. It was my first interview with him since the negotiation. He expressed his satisfaction at what had been accompUshed, with a regret that more had not been done. Of impress- ment, he said nothing more than that it had gone off on a point unexpected. ' He had sent for me en the cases of Arbuth- not and Ambrister. The British Government, he said, had received from Mr. Bagot, their minister in Washington, a copy of the proceed- ings of the court martial, which had been under full deliberation at a cabinet council. The opinion formed was, that the conduct of these individuals had been unjustifiable, and therefore not calling for the interference of Great Britain. Whilst announcing this result he had also to say, that parts of the transaction were viewed as open to exception, whether as re- garded some of the operations in Florida, or the conduct of the commanding general, in ordering Ambrister to be executed after the first sentence against him was revoked. He then read me a despatch drawn up to Mr, 400 RESIDENCE AT THE 1»19. Bagot, embracing in substance the communi- cation made to me. I expressed the satisfaction which I was sure my Government would feel at the prin- cipal decision, intermingling a regret at the other sentiments with which its disclosure to me had been accompanied. His lordship then remarked, that it was his^ desire to hold a conversation with me upon the views of the British Government respect- ing the Indians along our frontier ; but that for the present he would forbear, having rea- son to expect a communication from me. Here he read part of a despatch from Mr. Bagot, dated the 3rd of December, in which he informs his Government that Mr. Adams had given him to understand that instructions would be sent to me to afford full explanations in rela- tion to the case of these two British subjects. I replied, that I had actually received such instructions ; but as they had only just got to hand, I was not prepared to act upon them. I would be ready at the earliest time he would appoint ; on which he named the day after to- morrow. I added, that although the decision to which his Majesty's Government had come, might be considered as anticipating to a certain extent the object of my instructions, I had still a duty of much moment to perform ; for I 1B19. COURT OF LONDON. 401 that I should ill satisfy the wishes of the Pre- sident if I suffered the record of the court martial, strong as it was, to be taken as a mere naked record, unaccompanied by elucidations of a nature somewhat more enlarged, that would serve, I trusted, to place the whole transaction in its right attitude. Jan. 11. — Called again on Lord Castlereagh. My call had been postponed at his instance, from Saturday until to-day. I felt that the task I had to execute was the more important from the deep sensation which the execution of these individuals had created in England. It was not enough that the act could be technically justified by the strict laws of na- tions, or sheer rights of war. I felt that it ought to stand on broader grounds; that it ought to be vindicated to humanity no less than justice. I said to his lordship, that full justice could not be rendered to the United States, if the unhappy occurrence was looked at simply by itself. It was indispensable to consider it in connexion with principles and facts which, for a succession of years, had been interwoven with their history. That it was not my de- sign to enter minutely into this field; but that I should be unable to represent in their true spirit the views, or fulfil the expectations, of 2 D .4S i'Oil RESIDENCE AT THE 1819. my Government, if I did not go into it par- tially. That it seemed difficult for Europe to ,understand the precise relations of policy and feeling subsisting between the United States and the Indians. In many respects the mis- conceptions were fundamental. These In- dians were savage, wandering tribes ; yet very warlike. Their relations towards the United States were, indeed, so anomalous ; there was such an absence of all standards of comparison in Europe, that the rights and obligations of the United States were scarcely perhaps of a nature to bo accurately appreciated but by themselves. It seemed a part of their system, more than any other, local and exclusive. The original question of dispossessing the Indians of their homes, was for the consideration of nations that had gone before us. We had to take them as we found them. The policy and intentions of a nation could nowhere be better read than in its acts of legislation, and habitual conduct. Judged by both, not only would it be found that the United States pursued a just treatment towards the Indians within their ter- ritory or along their border, but anxiously sought in all ways to better their condition. They purchased lands from them, only under their own consent. They formed treaties or compacts with them, guaranteeing their rights. 1 1010. COURT or LONDON. 403 Their laws guarded them against the inroads of the whites, prohibited dealings with them by which they might be aggrieved, and in every practicable way sought to diffuse among them the comforts of civilization. But all these just aims had too often failed, and through causes which the United States could not prevent, and sincerely deplored. When peace with the Indians had been interrupted, it was never by the wish of the United States. In the border strife that preceded open hosti- lity, aggression almost necessarily came from the Indian. He lived in the forest. His at- tack upon the whites was under cover of night, or from his ambush by day. Whole families were surprised and cut off by him. Pursuit could hardly ever reach him, until the tardy f( ce of Government was called out. In this manner the frontier inhabitants had been slain throughout successive generations. But, left to himself, the Indian was not always a dan- gerous neighbour. If when roused, he took his revenge, he was not destitute of peaceful virtues. He was, moreover, essentially the weaker party. When the Government moved its force, he was sure in the end to be over- come. Hence, if nothing else prevented his incursions, self-interest would be a check, were it not for the intermeddling of others ; who, 2 D 2 i« Ml) i 404 KESIDENCE AI THE 1819. with the douhle guilt of real enmity to the Indians and the United States, became the party truly responsible for the fate that await- ed the former, as well as the butcheries in- flicted upon the inhabitants of the latter. And here, I said, I came to a painful, but indispensable, part of my duty. I was com- pelled to declare, that my Government, rest- ing upon sufficient proofs, was satisfied, that our Indian wars generally, with the massacres on the frontier always their preludes, had originated in one and the same cause. That they had been produced by British traders, intruding themselves, with evil intentions, among the Indians. To recapitulate the proofs would not be difficult. American history con- tained them. A single instance might be ad- verted to. The events of the late war which threw the baggage of General Proctor into the hands of the Americans, had put the Govern- ment of the United States in possession of do- cuments to show, that if not all the Indian wars which President Washington had been compelled to wage, the most formidable of them were instigated and sustained on the side of the Indians by British traders. The enormity of such conduct was the more felt in the United States, as it was there alone its consequences were experienced. It was known 1819 COURT OF LONDON. 405 "how explicit had been the refusals of the Go- vernment of the United States to admit, under any pretence whatever, British traders among the Indians within their borders; from what motives, might be conjectured from all that I was saying. That his Majesty's Government had disowned all connexion with these agents in their work of death, was well-known. This only exhibited their crimes under a deeper dye, seeing that they persevered in perpetrating them in the name of his Majesty's Govern- ment, mocking its justice, abusing its dignity, and misleading the poor Indian but the more fatally by claiming to be invested with its high auspices and support. Here was the fountain of the evil. If any long train of outrages and sufferings along their frontier, could be sup- posed to affect the sensibilities of a people, it was such as I was obliged to bring into view. It was under the recollection of them all that the Government of the United States was compelled to regard the cases of Arbuthnot and Ambrister. The necessity of reviewing proofs against them, was superseded by what had passed at our interview on the seventh instant. His Majesty's Government had acqui- esced in the reality of their misdeeds, by re- fusing its avenging arm in their behalf It only remained for me to strip their punish- 406 RESIDENCE AT THE 1819. ment of the features of harshness which, im- perfectly understood, it might seem at first to wear. This I could not do more effectually than by declaring it to be the belief of my Government, that it was to these two indivi- duals that the war with the Seminole Indians was to be ascribed. That without their insti- gation it never would have taken place, any more than the massacres which preceded and provoked it ; the massacre of Mrs. Garrit and her children ; the massacre of a boat's crew with a midshipman at their head, ascending the Appalachicola in time of peace ; the mas- sacre, upon another occasion, of a party of more than thirty Americans, amongst whom were women and children, with other massacres alike cruel. As to Ambrister, he had been taken in arms. He had dispensed with the necessity of evi- dence, by pleading guilty to the charge of leading on the Indians against American troops. And in what light did Ambrister stand? We find him deceiving them by re- presentations which he knew to be untrue ; striving to rouse them by artful falsifications of the treaty of Ghent, and unfounded asser- tions of ill-treatment from the Americans. At another time he is seen applying to the British Minister at Washington, to the British Gover- 1818. COURT OF LONDON. 40? nor at New Providence, and, indirectly, to the British Government itself, for arms and ammu- nition for the Indians ; drawing on the war by impressions made on their minds that they would be upheld by Britain ; and presumptu- ously usurping the highest official names in Britain, the better to carry on his designs. He was the patron of the Indians, the penman of their petitions, the spokesman at their coun- cils ; these were the methods by which he worked upon their passions ; these the testi- monials of his guilt. It was a guilt to which, in the eye of the Government of the United States, the credulous Indian, whilst perpetrat- ing his worst enormities, was only secondary. It therefore called for the last punishment. As connected with the general subject of Indian cruelties, I spoke of the massacres of American prisoners during the late war by the tribes associated with the British army. I brought into view those committed after the battle on the river Raisin. On that occasion, American officers, who had surrendered, were scalped and murdered in the presence of Bri- tish officers, the latter declaring their inability to restrain the ferocity of the Indians. Among the victims was Captain Hart, the brother-in- law of the speaker of the house of Represen- tatives of the United States. The public sen- 408 RESIDENCE AT THE 1R19. sation under such horrors, might be easily imagined. Congress had been forced to pass a law authorizing retaliation on captive British officers, in case of their repetition ; the exe- cutive of the Union having previously and re- peatedly proposed to Great Britain, that nei- ther country should, under any circumstances, employ the Indians as auxiliaries in battle. His lordship asked, if it anywhere appeared that there had been a connexion between Ar- buthnot and Woodbine, the evidence before the court-martial, as far as he recollected, not disclosing that fact. Here I gave him a copy of the journal in Arbuthnot's hand-writing, kept in October and November 1816, when he and Woodbine arrived in the vessel of the for- mer at Suwahny, from Nassau. This docu- ment established a connexion between the two, and moreover showed that Woodbine, in Arbuthnot's presence, made promises to the Indians of support from Great Britain, which Arbuthnot knew to be unwarrantable. The latter, instead of contradicting them, became party to the deception by repeating the same promises himself. His lordship next inquired if there was any evidence that he was apprized of the true con- struction of the ninth article of the treaty of Ghent. 1R19. COURT OF LONDON. 409 Passing by the obvious import of the article, that it applied only to Indians with whom the United States had been actually at war, I re- plied, that there was also positive proof to fix upon him this knowledge ; viz. a letter re- ceived by him from Mr. Culloh, written in the name of the commanding officer of Fort Gaines, in which he was expressly informed that such was its meaning. A copy of this letter, I also handed to his lordship. I drew to a conclusion by saying, that both of these unhappy individuals had clearly drawn upon themselves their doom. That towards those who could deliberately become the means of war and bloodshed, the extension of a lenient treatment by the United States, would be to forget what they owed to their own citi- zens. Lonp had they borne the evils inflicted by such guilty agents. If a necessary justice had at length, for the first time, held up to public example tv» o of them, there was room for the hope, that, painful as was the example, it might be productive of future good to the cause of humanity. I was directed by the President to say, that whatever deep regret might belong to the occasion, there appeared to be no ground of censure. The command- ing general stood high in the confidence of his country, had added to its glory, and was be- 410 RESIDENCE AT THE 1810. lieved on this as other occasions of his life to have been animated only by a sense of the public good. It was scarcely necessary for me to add, that those who mixed themselves up with hordes whose rule of warfare subjected to destruction, with torments, all who fell into their hands, threw themselves out of the pale of those merciful protections which civilized warfare extended to captives. To have al- lowed these individuals a trial at all, was an indulgence. His lordship said that he would take into consideration what had fallen from me, as well as the fresh papers I had submitted, before offering any thing on his part. He asked if I had any further documents to lay before him. I said none. ** Will no others be laid before Congress ?" he inquired. He had here in his mind the letter of Mr. Adams of the 28th of November 1818, to the Minister of the United States at the court of Spain, containing so ample a vindication of the principal events of the Seminole war, including the execution of the two British subjects. I answered, that the President would in all probability communicate to Congress other documents than the bare proceedings of the court-martial ; if so, they might be expected in England by early arrivals. In the end he remarked, that he greatly 1810. COURT OF LONDON. 411 lamented the whole occurrence. It was ex- citing strong sensibility in England. On this topic he dwelt with some anxiety ; giving ex- pression however, for himself, to none other than assuaging sentiments. In this spirit the interview had been conducted and terminated. It may scarcely be necessary to add, that the explanations on my side, were afforded with all the conciliation of manner practicable. January 14. Received a note from Lord Castlereagh requesting me to call on him. On my arrival he said, that the cases of Ar- buthnot and Ambrister were making a deep impression on the public mind ; he witnessed it with concern, as he knew not what turn the subject might take when Parliament met ; he saw nothing objectionable in the general cha- racter of my explanations ; on the contrary, that on revolving in his mind all that I said, there were parts which it was rather his de- sire I would repeat for his more full infor- mation. This I did, with the amplifications required. I spoke of the war with the Creek Indians in 1813, and the barbarities at Fort Mimms that provoked it. These, there was much reason for believing, had also been in- stigated by foreign hands. His lordship re- quested I would furnish him with a copy of the treaty of peace concluded on that occa- 41SI RESIDENCE AT THE 1810. sion, and a copy of the act of Congress I had mentioned, authorizing retahation. January 15. Furnished Lord Castlereagh with a copy of the act of Congress of the 3rd of March 1813, and a copy of the treaty of Fort Jackson, of the 9th of August 1814. I had expected that he would say something of the views of his Majesty's Government re- specting the Indians along our frontier, in pur- suance of his intimation on the 9th instant ; but he did not. Nor did any further expla- nations or remarks of a formal nature, pass re- lative to these executions. They subsequently became the subject of Parliamentary inquiry. Commentaries that might have been anticipated were made in debate ; but Ministers maintained their ground. Out-of-doors, excitement seemed to rise higher and higher. Stocks experienced a slight fall. 1'he newspapers kept up their fire. Little acquainted with the true character of the trans- action, they gave vent t^ angry declamation. They fiercely denounced Ine Government of the United States. Tyrant, ruffian, murderer, were among the epithets applied to their com- manding general. He was exhibited in pla- cards through the streets. The journals, with- out distinction of party, united in these attacks. The Whig and others in opposition took the lead. Those in the Tory interest, although 1819. COURT OF LONDON. 413 more restrained, gave them countenance. In the midst of all this passion, the ministry stood firm. Better informed, more just, they had made up their mii\ds not to risk the peace of the two countries, on grounds so untenable. It forms an instance of the intelligence and strength of a Government, disregarding the first clamours of a powerful press, and first erroneous impulses of an almost universal pub- lic feeling. At a later day of my mission. Lord Castlereagh said to me, that a war might have been produced on this occasion, "if the " ministry had but held up a finger/* On so slender a thread do public affairs sometimes hang. Plato says, that the complaisance which produces popularity, is the source of the great- est operations in government. The firmness of one man, is perhaps the pivot on which great events more frequently turn. I adopted and retain the belief, that the firmness of Lord Castlereagh under this emergency, sustained by that of his colleagues in the cabinet, was the main cause of preventing a rupture be- tween the two nations. January 20. Lord Castlereagh gives an official dinner to-day to the members of the Cabinet and Privy Council, amounting in all to between thirty and forty. The object is, to agree finally upon the Prince Regent's speech to Parliament. It is already drawn 414 RESIDENCE AT THE 1«19. up, and will be read by his lordship. This is the custom, my informant said, every year, the day before Parliament meets. The office of entertaining the Ministers, and reading the speech, generally devolves, he added, on the leading ministerial member in the House of Commons. It had been for many years in the hands of Lord Castlereagh. January 21, Parliament was opened. The Prince Regent did not come in person to the House of Lords. Five Commissioners repre- sented him, viz. the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Marquis Cam- den, the Earl of Westmoreland, and the Earl of Harrowby. The speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. It announced two events, and only two, in connexion with the foreign relations of the country. First, that the ne- gotiations of Aix la Chapelle had led to the evacuation of the French territory by the Al- lied armies. Secondly, that a treaty had been concluded with the United States for the re- newal of the commercial convention, and " the " amicable adjustment of several points of mu- " tual importance to the interests of both na- " tions." It stated the trade and mrnufactures of Great Britain to be in a most flourishing condition, and that there was a progressive im- provement of the revenue in its most import- ant branches. 1819. COURT or LONDON. 415 January 23. Dined at Mr. Wellesley Pole's. There were at table, Mr. and Mrs. Pole, Mrs. Rush, Lady Harvey of Maryland, Lady Geor- giana Fane, Miss Caton of Maryland, the Duke of Wellington, the Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, one of the aids of the Duke of Wellington, Sir Felton Harvey, another, young Mr. Fane, Mr. M*Tavish of Baltimore, and Mr. Bouverie. Conversation was various. Mr. Bagot's pro- bable return home in May, was mentioned. A frigate was to be sent for him. I spoke of the satisfaction his diplomatic career had given at ^^ 8 ington, and from authority, having been d !\;.4,ed by the President to say so to Lord Castlereagh. Paris and French socirtv were talked of. The Duke of Wellington and Lord Fitzroy Somerset took a leading share in what was said. Mention was made of a solemn celebration on Thursday at the chapel of the French embassy in London, to commemorate the anniversary of the execution of Louis the Sixteenth. The priest read the will of Louis. Lord Fitzroy Somerset, in describing the good accommoda- tions of the house in Paris in which the Duke resided when last there, said it was the same that President Monroe had occupied during his mission to France. ■# 416 UESIDENCE AT THE IBIO. We heard of the exploits of one of the com- pany during the late shooting-season. Eight hundred and twelve partridges, and three hun- dred and thirty pheasants, were the fruits of his marksmanship. Other exploits of the same nature were spoken of; some that exceeded them. A gentleman was named on whose estate, at the preceding season, three thousand hares were shot by himself and friends ; all ex- plained, I might add, by the game monopoly. Something remarkable for numbers in another way, happened to be stated; that Colonel Vivian was one of twenty-six children, and the Bishop of Norwich the youngest of thirty. Painting became a topic. The collections in France, Spain, and the Low Countries, were familiar to some of the company. My atten- tion was most excited by what was said of a picture of the Black Prince, lately picked up for a few francs at a sale on the Continent. Mr. Pole said there were good grounds for be- lieving it to be an original, formerly of the royal collection in England. The account given was, that James II. took it with him to France when he abdicated, since which it had been lost sight of, until traced by chance at this sale. Lord Westmoreland had his doubts, from the circumstances under which James left England. Mr. Pole saw no incompatibility. 1819. COURT OF LONDON. 417 This turned the conversation to the personal fortunes of that mpnarch. The picture after- wards gave it a turn to the Plantagenets. Touching upon this part of English history, it was remarked, that the Duke of Wellington had won a battle in Spain on the ground where the Black Prince gained one ; that both had fought in the cause of the crown of Spain, one for the restoration of Peter of Castile, the other for that of Ferdinand the Seventh ; each Spanish monarch having been ejected by the French. These were close parallels. Another was probably in the thoughts of the company — the fields of Poictiers and Waterloo. All, I believe, would have destined the picture, if genuine, to the ownership of the Duke, as a companion to the colossal statue of Napoleon at Apsley House. Sir Felton Harvey and Lord Fitzroy Somer- set had each lost an arm in the battles of the Duke. The Duke himself had never been wounded. Others of his military suite had been maimed or killed by his side. Sir Felton had been with him in most of his campaigns in the Peninsula. He said to me, speaking of the Duke after dinner, that his self-possession ena- bled him to sleep soundly on the brink of dan- ger. Often when lying down, under his usual order to be awoke if necessary, he had known 2 E 418 RESIDKNCF, AT THE 1019. him called up repeatedly within a few hours, by the arrival of expresses, and if no movement was required, drop asleep again in a moment. It was such conversation and more, that the evening brought with it. Of Sir Felton Harvey I subsequently learned an anecdote. It may be in print, but I have not seen it. During one of the battles in Spain, the Duke gave him an order to convey to another part of the field. Half across it, a French officer was seen galloping towards him. Sir Felton had no sword. It was his right arm he had lost ; the other held the bridle. But he faced the foe, looking him defiance. As they swiftly drew near, the Frenchman raised him- self on his stirrups, his sword uplifted. Dis- covering his adversary to be defenceless, he brings down his weapon in the form of a salute, and rapidly passes on. Such acts give to war touches of moral beauty, in spite of its evils. After the battle, the restless courtesjy of Har- vey sought in vain for the chivalrous Gaul. There was too much reason to think he fell. He had made no boast of sparing life, but gave his salute in silence. January 26. Mr. ***** called on me. He applied for an interview, stating himself to be . It was his purpose to ask in- formation relative to the navy boards of the United States, and other matters pertaining to 1819. COURT OF LONDON. 419 the civil organization of our marine. He talk- ed a good deal. Scftnetimes his remarks were more full than the mere desire for information seemed to call. A foolish rumour was in town of Bonaparte's escape from St. Helena, the rumour adding that a fast-sailing American schooner had been in the plot. This led him to speak of the exploits of the American navy. He touched upon them with sufficient com- plaisance, but wound up with an allusion to the action between the Chesapeake and Shan- non, That, on the whole, ought to be con- sidered, he thought, the fairest trial of the naval prowess of the two countries, frigate to frigate. I did not argue with him. He soon left me, after the somewhat singular topics it had been his pleasure to indulge in. It was the first and only time it had been my lot to hear any broached in England not suited to the good feelings of conversation, though, cer- tainly, I experienced no uneasiness. The Chesapeake, it is true, was captured. The English captain won his prize gallantly ; let no American gainsay this. We heard how the achievement was hailed in England; the more, as it had been preceded by a series of encounters terminating differently. But, with whatever satisfaction received there, I cannot think that it equalled the opposite feeling in the United States. I remember 4S0 RESIDENCE, ETC. 1819. (what American' does not ?) the first rumour of it. I remember the startling sensation. I re- member, at first, the universal incredulity. I remember how the post-offices were thronged, for successive days, with anxious thousands; how collections of citizens rode out for miles on the highway, accosting the mail to catch something by anticipation. At last, when the certainty was known, I remember the public gloom. Funeral orations, badges of mourning, bespoke it. '* Don't give up the ship P* the dying words of Laurence, slain by the first broadside, were on every tongue. His remains were interred at Halifax, with the honours due to a brave foe. But not long did they lie there. When peace came, a vessel, fitted out by American sea-captains, and by these ex- clusively manned, brought them back to his country. There they rest, under the laurel and cypress; for he too had formerly tri- umphed over his English adversary, ship to ship. Others may augur the naval destinies of the United States from their victories ; 1, from the feelings that followed this defeat THE END. LONDON: PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENl'LEY, DORSET STREET. 1819. r of