Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-23

Il third reading with little or no objection
DOCUMENTS ACCOMPANYING !.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO
CONGRESS,
On November Is, 1912.
-7h~. Russell 10 tie Secretary IF Stqte.
NVAsHIYGToN, Nov. 16, 1919.
SIR,
have the honor to hand you herewith
an account OF the conversation alluded TO
in postscript to my letter of the 10Th Of
SertcIuber and which / had not sufficient
time then 60 copy.
have the honor 20 be, with great con
sideraticn and respect, sir, your obedient
servant,
IONA. RUSSELL.
TIE Hoioa5bie JameS Monroe, Esq. &c. &c.
Mn Russell 10 the Secretary ofState.
LONDON, Sept II, 1872
SIR,
On the 10Th inst | had the honor to re-
ceiye your letter of the 27th of July last
I called Immediately at the Foreign Office
10 prepare Lord Castlercagh, by parting
20 him the nature and extent Of nv instruc-
tions, for the communication which it be
came me 10 make to him. His Lordship
wasin the country and was obliged TO write
to him without previously seeing him. !
however accompanied my oficalnote (h*)
with private letter ~ offering explanation,
Nrequircd, and soliciting dispatch.
| waited until two o'clock, the 18th in
slant, without hearing from his Lortlship,
when / was much surprised at rcceivinga
note (C) frem Mr.. Hamilton, the under Sc
cretary, indefinitely postponing an official
reply.
To give more precision to the transaction
] Instantly addressed 10 him answer (D) and
and little before FIVE o'clock on the same
day, received aa invitation (E) from Lord
Castlereash to- meet him at his house that
evening ar nine o'clock.
waited OH his E4ordship, at the time ap-
pointed, III company with Mr.. Hamilton,
at table loaded with the records of A.
merican correspondence. which they APP
Eearcd TO have been examining.
/ wa; courteously received, and after a
conversation Of a few minutes OH indifferent
subjects, led the way 20 the business on
which came, by observing that had once
more been authorised to present the olive
branch and hoped it would not be again re-
jected.
His L0rdship observed that he had desir-
ed tue interview 70 ascertain, before he
Submitted my communication Of the 10th
Inst. TO the Prince Regent, the form and
nature of the powers under which 1 acted.
To satisfy him - once on both these points
r put into his hands your letter of the 9th
of July. the more willingly adopted this
mode of procedure as, besides the conf
dence which its frankness WAS calculated to
produce, the letter Itself would best define
my authority and prove the III Iteration and
conciiatory temper Of my government,
His Lordship read it attentively-He
then commented az some length both on the
shape and substance Of my powers With
regard to the former he observed that all
my authority was Contained in letter from
the Secretary of State, which, as my diplo
matte functions had ceased, appeared but :.
scanty foundation ON which "a place the i'm
portant advancement had been instructed
20 propose. With regard 10 the extent of
ny powers, he could not perceive that they
essentially differed from those under which
had brought forward the propositions con
tained in my Bote Of The oath Of August He
considered that to enter with me into the
understanding, required as preliminary 90
Il convention for AN arristice, lie would be
compelled TO act on unequal ground, as from
Lis situation he must necessarily pledge his
government, when, from the nature OF my
snthority,l could give no similar pledge for
mine.
lie could not therefore think Of committing
The British faith and leaving the American
government free to- disregard its engage
ments. Besides it did not appear to him
that at the date Of my last instructions the
revocation pf tie orders in council oftle 23d
Of June, had been received at Washington,
and that great hopes were entertained OF Che
fivorabe effect such intelligence would pro-
tucc there. The question of impressment,
he went on To observe. was attended with
difficulties Of which neither or NJ govern.
uent appeared to be aware. "Indccd, !" he
7He mates here 6cfcrred 10 haze e2rea-
dg9een es7saapica!cG 10 Congress