Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1812-12-14
MIR. Rufell to Mr.. Monroe, dated

MIR. Ruitell TO MIR. Monroe, dated
london, September I7fb, 1874.
Sir-On the I7th inft. had the honor
70 receive your letter of the 27th of July
laf-I called Immediately at the Foreign
Office to prepare Lord Caltlereagh, by
imp7rting to him the nature and extent of
my infrudions, for the communication
which Il became me to make to him His
LOrdlhip was in the country, and | was
Obliged to write 70 him without previOully
feeling him. | however accompanied my
official note (A"), with private letter
OBJ }, offering explanation, ifrequired ,and
ioliciting defpatch.
waited until O'clock. the roth inf.
without hearing from his Lordlhip, when
was much furprized at receiving a note
(C) from Mr. Hamilton. the under feCIe
tary, indefinitely pofponing an official
reply To give more preCiGon to the
tranfadIon. / infantIy addref1cd to him
an anfwer CD aud little before s O'Clock
on the flme day, | received an invitation
(E) from Lord Caltlrreagh to meet him
at his houle that evening at 9 O'Clock.
| waited on his Lordlhip, at the time
appointed, and found him, in company
with Mr.. Hamilton, at a table loaded with
the records Of American correspondence,
which they appeared 10 have been examln-
ing.
was courteouny received, and after a
conversation of few minutes on different
fubjects, led the way TO the buinefs on
which came, by obierving that ! had
once more been authorized 10 preitnt the
olive branch, and hoped it would not be
again rejected.
His Lordihip obferved, that he had de-
fired the interview to afcertain, before he
fubmitted my communication of the 10th
infant to the Prince Regent, the form and
nature ofthe powers under which acted.
To Latisfy him at once on both theie
points, put into his hands your letter OF
The a7th July. | the more willingly a.
dnpted this mode Of proct dure, as, befdes
the confidence which it's franknefs was cal.
culated TO produce, the 'etter itfelf would
bef define my authority aud prove the
moderation and cOnCiliatory temper Of my
government.
HIS Lordihip read it attentively. He
then commented at fome length both on
the lhape and fubhance Of my powers.
With regard to the former he blerved
that all my authority was contained in a
lette from the Secretary OF State. which.
as my diplomatic functions had ccafed, ap.
peared but lcanty foundation on which
TO place the important arrangement had
been inltructed TO propoie. With regard
TO the extent # my powers, he could not
perceive that they eff-ntially differed from
thofe under which had brought forward
the proportions contained in my note ol
the 24ih OF Auguf He conhdered that
TO enter with me into the understanding
required as a preliminary to convention
for an armlfice, he would be compelled
70 a6 on unequal ground, as from hi Ct.
uation he mutt necefariy pledge his CIV
eminent, when from the nature Of my an.
thcrity, could give no imilar pledge fol-
mine He could not therefore think OF
committing the Britiih faith and leaving
the American government free 10 diire
gard its engagements. Belides it did not
appear To him, that, at the date of my laft
Instructions, the revocation of the orders
in council, on the 73d of June, had been
received at Wilmington, and that great
hopes we're entertlined of the favorable
effect fuch intelligence would produce
there. The queition of imprellinent, he
went on 10 obferve, vas attended with
difficulties of which neither I, nor my
government appeared to be aware. "In-
deco" he continur d, g there has evident
~ been much mif,pprehenion on this iub-
Jet, and an erroneous belief entertained
that an arrangement, in regard 10 il, had
been nearer an accomplishment than the
facts will warrant Even our friends in
Cnngrefs, mean (obierving perhaps fomt
alteration in my countenanct) thOfe who
were Oppofed TO going to war with US
have been e. confident in this miftake, hat
they have aferibed the failure of fuch ar
arrangement foley TO the miiconduef ~
the American government. This error
probably originated with Mr. King. fol
being much eAeemed here, and always
well received by the perfons then in pow
er, he ieems 10 have mfcnnfrued thei
readiness 10 liiten 70 his approximation anC
their warm prof5liiuns Of difpofition /,
remove the comp ANTS Of America, il re
lation to impeachment, into a fuppofd
conviction on their part Of the propricty
of adopting the plan which he had pro
o fed But Lord ST. Vincent, wham b.
might have thought he had brought owe
20 bis opinions, appears never for mo