Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-01-08
WASHINGTON CITY. January Z

WASHINGTON CITY. Jansary :.
FROM BRITAIN
The following highly important Mes
sage and Documents were on yesterday
,ran,mittea by the President of the v.
S,,te, TO both houses of Congress:
IN ,be Senate and House Of Refresen'
tatires of the United States IN Con-
gress Assem 5led.
transmit, for the information OF Con
oress copies Of letter. from the britisa
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
10 the Secretary Of State, with the an
swer Of the latter.
In approaching the accepted proposal
of the government Of Great Britain lot
insti,uting negotiations for peace Con.
eress will not fail to keep in mind tf"t
vigorous preparatisns tor carrying on
tbs war can in no respect impede the
progress TO a favorable result, wills, a
relaxation of such preparations, should
tie wishes of the United States tor q
SPEEDY restoration Of the blessings OF
peace be disappointed, would necessarily
/ have the most injurious consequences
JAMES MADISON.
January 6, 1917.
Lord Castlereagh to The Secretary %
State.
| FoaBIGN OsF.cE, Nov. &, 1919.
SIR,
have the honor to enclose to you
for the information Of the President OF
the U. States, tbs copv OF = pete which
bis Britannia Majessy's Ambassador at
the Court ofst. Petersburg was directed
| 10 present to the Russian Government,
| as soon as his Roys' Highnsss the Prince
Regent was informed that Plenipoten.
tiarie. had been nominated on the part
Of the American government for the
purpose of negotiating for peace with
Great Britain under ihe mediation OF His
Imperial Majesty.
His Lordship having by the last Cou.
rier from the Imperial Head Quarters,
acquainted me tina. the A merican Com
missioners now at St. Petersburg have
minated, in reply to this overture. that
they had no objection to negotiation at
LundoD, aud were equally DESTROYS, as
the British government had declared it.
selfto be, that this business should not
be nike. with the affairs of the Cont
nent Of Europe, hut that their powers
were limited to negotiate under the
mediation OF Russia.
Under these circumstances, aud in
| order to avoid an unnecessary continU.
ance ofthe calamities Of war, the Prince
Regent commands me to transmit, BY a
Gag Of truce, to Inc American port near,
est TO tho seat Of government, the Off.
cial note above mentioned, In order that
| the President, if he shsuld feel disposed
10 enter rpon direct negotiation for
he restoration of peace between the two
states, may give his directions accord
ing!y.
In making this communicates, can
assure you that the British government
is willing to enter into discussion with
the government Of America for the con-
ciliatory adjustment of the differences
Substituting between the two states, with
an earnest desire on their part TO bring
them to favorable issue, upon princi-
pies Of perfect reciprocity not inconsis-
tent with the established maxims ofpub-
lie law, and with the maritime rights Of
the British empire.
TIE Admiral commanding the Bri-
fish squadron on the American station
will be directed to give the necessary
protection 10 any persons proceedihgto
Europe, on the part Of the government
oil the United States, in furthersnce Of
this overture or should the American
government have occasion to forward
orders to their commissioners ct St. Pc.
tershurg, TO give tie requisite facilities,
by cartsl or otherwise, to the transmits.
sioE OF the same.
l have the honor to be, with the high
est consideration, sir, your most ODE.
dent servant.
(Signed) CASTLEREAGH.
[ENCLosURE ALLUDED TO ABoyR.l
Translation Of note from Lord
CafhcGrt, to the Count de .Hressel-
rode, dGied
ToPLITz, Sept. 4, 1913.
TIE undersigned ambassador Of
his Britannia majesty to the Empc-
ror Of al the Russias. desiring to
avail himself Of the first occasion
to renew the subject respect
inc America, which was brought
into discussion in conference, at
the moment of departure from Rel
cbenbacb. has the honor to address
this note to his Exeelleney the Count
de Nesselrcde.
Although the Prince Regent, for
reasons " hicj, have haen alroadv