Star.
London, England, 1812-12-25 00:00:00

Government of the United States for the repeal of be open either for an armistice or any other course
the laws which interdict the ships of war and the leading most conveniently and expeditiously to a ge-
commerce of Great Britain from the harbours and ncral pacification.
waters of the United States. And you intimate,'l " I have the honour, &c.
that if the proposition is not acceded to, the Orders l " JAMES atosnoL"
in Council (repealed conditionally by that of the 234:
_EI To the above correspondence is added a letter
June lao) will be revived against the commerce or from Mr. Russell to Lord Castlereagh, dated Ist of
the United States. I September, expressing his surprise that his proposal
" I am instructed to inform you, that it will be 1 of the '2sth August has been declined, and requesting
very satisfactory to iite President to meet the British passports for himself, and informing his Lordship
Ileave Mr. Beasl A Government in such arrangements as may terminate he is authorised to yas gent for
without delay the hostilities which now exist between Prisoners of War.
the United States and Great Britain, on conditions I A letter is subjoined from Lord Castlereagh, en-
honoorable to both nations. I closing the passports, and allowing Mr. I3easly to re-
f "At the moment of the declaration of war, the side as Agent for the Prisoners of War.
President gave a signal proof of the attachment of I
NEW-YORK. OCTOBER 24,
the United States to peace. Instructions were given
at an early period to the late Charge des Affaires of , The Charleston papers of the 15th lust. state, that
their port is blockaded by three British armed brigs
'the United States at London, to propose to the Bri-
, —the Sappho, O'Grady, of 18 thirty-two pound car-
e Government an armistice, on conditions which
ronades ; Rhodian, Bess, of 10 twelves and two long
tt was presumed would have been satisfactory. It
has been seen with regret, that the proposition made sixes ; and the Variable, Yates, of I`2 twelve pound
by Mr. Monroe, particularly in regard to the impor-
carronades. On the 14th they captured eight Ame-
tant interest of impressment, was rejected, and that titan vessels.
none was offered, through that channel, as a basis on ' Sailed this morning on a cruize, the elegant pri-
which hostilities might cease. vateer ship, the York Town, Thomas H. Story, Esq.
" As your Government has authorized you to pro-
'Commander, She mounts eighteen long nines, and
I
pose a cessation of hostilities, and is doubtless aware carries 180 men.
of the important and salutary effect which a satisfac-1
,tort' adjustment of this difference cannot tail to have I
on the future relations between the two countries, I ;
indulge the hope that it has, ere this, given you full
powers for the purpose. Experience has sufficiently
evinced, that no peace can be durable unless this ob-
ject is provided for : it is presumed, therefore, that it
is equally the interest of both countries to adjust it at
this time.

NOVEMBER 4.

" Without farther discussing questions of right,
the President is desirous to provide a remedy for t:-.e
evils complained of on both sides. The claim of the
British Government is, to take from the merchant.
vessels of other countries British subjects. In the
practice, the Commanders of Biitish ships of war
often take from the merchant-vessels of the United
States American citizens. If the United States pro.
hibit the employment of British subjects in their ser-
vice, and enforce the prohibition by suitable regu!a-
tions and penalties, the motive for the practice is
taken away.
" It is in this mode that the President is willi,-g
to accommodate this important controversy with the
British Government ; and it cannot be conceived on
what ground the arrangement can be refused.
" A suspension of the practice of impressment pen-
ding the armistice, seems to be a necessary conse-
quence. It cannot be presumed, while the parties
are engaged in a negociation
to adjust amicably this
important difference, that the United States would
admit the right, or acquiesce in the practice, of the
opposite purty ; or that Great Britain would be un-
willing to restrain her cruizers from a practice which
would have the strongest tendency to deli at the ne-
gociation. It is presumable that both par ties would
enter into a negociation with a sincere desire to give
it effect. For this purpose, it is necessary that a
clear and distinct understanding be first obtelimal be-
tween them, of the accommodation which each is
prepared to make. If die British Government Fs
willing to suspend the practice of impressment from
American vessels, on consideration that the United
States will ezclude British seamen from their setvici,
the regulation by which this compromise shimld be
carried into effect wou d be solely the object of this
negociation. The armistice would be of short dura-
tion. It the parties agree, peace would be tne resu.t.
If the negociation failed, each sveuld be restored to
its former state, and to all its pretensions, by recur-
ring to war.
" Lord Castlereagh, in his note to Mr. Russell,
seims to have supposed, that, had the British Go-
vet nment accepted the propositions made to it, Great
Britain would have suspended immediately ti•e exer-
cise of a right on the mere assurance of this Govern-
ment that a law would be afterwards passed to pro.
hibit the employment of British seamen in the ser-
vice of the United States, and that Great Britain
would have no agency in the regulation to give effect
to that proposition.
" Such an idea was not in the contemplation of
this Government, nor is it to be reasonably inferred
from Mr. Russell's note. Lest, however, by possi-
bility, such an inference might be drawn from the in.
structions to Mr. Russell, and anxious that there
should be no misunderstanding in the case, subse-
quent instructions were given to Mr. Russell with a
view to obviate every objection of the kind alluded
to. As they bear date on the <27th of July, and were
forwarded by the British packet Alphea, it is more
than probable that they may have been received and
acted on.

In thg Cangndaig?a Pocvitory, of the 27th ult. we
find, on this subject, the following paragraph :
a An armistice, to extend on the Niagara frontier
from Lake Ontario w Lake Erie (a distance of 30
miles) has been agreed on, to continue six months,
unless one of the parties wish to renew hostilities, of
which thirty hours notice must be given."
I'h6 above paragraph, the truth of which we
strongly doubt, most probably gave rise to the ru-
mour which was current in the city this morning,
that letters from Wash ngton announced, that a ge-
neral armistice for six months had been definitively
settied between the American and British Govum-
Ments.

a I am happy to explain to you thus fully the
views of my Government on this important subject.
The President desires that the war which exists be-
tween our countries should be terminated on such
conditions as may secure a solid and durable peace.
To accomplish the great object, it is necessary that
the interest of impressment be satisfactorily arranged.
He is willing that Great Britain should be secured
against the evils of which she complains. He seeks,
on the other hand, that the citizens of the United
States should be protected against a practice which,
while it degrades the nation, deprives them of their
right as freemen, takes them by force from their fa-
milies aid their country into a foreign service, to
fight the battles of a foreign power, perhaps against
their own I: ,r,d; ea and country.
44 I abstain from entering, in this communication,
into other grounds of differences. The Orders in
Council having been repealed (with a reservation not
impairing a corresponding right on the part of the
United States) and no illegal blockades revived or
in.tituted in their stead, and an under standing being
obtained on the subject of impressment, in the mode
herein proposed, the President is willuig to agree to
a cessation of hostilities, with a view to arrange by a
meaty, in a more distinct and ample manner, and
to the satisfaction of both parties, every other subject
of controrersy.

I will only add, that if there be no objection to
:In accommodation of the difference relating to
pressment, in the mode proposed, other than the sus-
pension of the British claim to impressment during
the armistice, there can be menet° proceeding without
the armistice, to an immediate discussion and ar-
tangeinent of an article on that subject. This great
question being satisfactorily adjusted, the way will

GENERAL VAN RENSALA ER• •-•-• This worthy and
highly esteemed Citizen, after the fatigues of a sum- !
rner's campaign, in the defence of his native State,
returned to his residence in Albany, on Saturday last. !
We understand (says the Baltimore Whig) that the
dispatches biought by Admiral Warren, contain no
proposition to our Government. which has not been
already moved—of course no terms which could be
accopted.
We ate informed by a Gentleman from Baltimore,
that another specimen of the riotous disposition t,f.
the populace was manifested last week. In order to I
celebrate his success, as is usual there, Mr. Hutchins,'
the new.elected Sheriff, was placed in an illuminated
car by his friends, and carried through the city ; on 1
the procession approaching the falls, a party attacked
the car with stones, hurt the Sheriff, obliged him to
retire, and then demolished it. 1
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