Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-18
lodation OF the frigate, as well as the writer re-

In tho same account, will be seen an item foi |
expenses of Bonsnartc's corona. ion; the precise
not recolI, ctc,s. Say about SfiOO--Ea-
IF THIS item. Mr.. j. having obtained
an appropriation oiS 20, 900, To obtain the Flor
idas from Spain, determined that this brilliant
acquisition should be made through the agency
of MIR. Monroe, then minister resident in Lon
don. Mr.. Monroe was accordingly appointed
to Madrd. measure admirably calculated 10
give him new eclat in the European world; and
to wash away every remaining stain of Wash
ngton's recall. Mr.. Monroe was instructed to
pass through Paris to Madrid, and to obtain l.o-
naparte's good will towards calculating the oh.
ject with Spain. 1t SO happened, That Mr.. NJ.
was in Paris on the very memorable day of Boz
naparte's coronation. Bonaparte fixed upon
particular costume for all the foreign ministers,
who should appear at his coronation. Mr.. and
Mrs. Ms costume for that day is charged against
the United States ut about & 100. The writer
thinks, this item was disaliowed by the account
ing officers but passed To MIR. MS credit nnder
the direction ofthe President. The writer thinks
either that the United States were not chargea-
BILE with this item, o. If they were, the costume
belonged to the Un,tea states, and ought to lave
been deposited with other regalia in the Depart
ncrt of State. The writer is informed. an be-
lieves, ii was applied To- Mr. NIonroc's own use
IL SO, the writer conccivcs MIR. Montoc,s own
act stamped the mark of private property upon
these reg,lia; and he ought not 10 have charged
the public with them--but If purchased with
public money, then let it be asked, lauw coull
Mr.. Monroe have converted them To his priv ate
usc' The most ind"Ghlc marks sho,.il be plain
" stamped upon private and public funds by al.
disbnrsers Of public money. The writer strong.
~ disapproves of the mere blen,ling of public
aniprivatc funds; it ought to be discountcnnnced
IN every case, and the higher the disbur:er he
greater ought 10 be the censure.
In the same account will be seen an item for
about s 900 expense: to Madrid. Erpilna.
ton IF THIS item. MIR. j. still impelletl by the
lau,!able notion of public economy refused Mr..
Monroe his outfits to Madrid upon this Temporal
ry mission, but promised Co bear MIR. Monroe,s
expenses in lieu of the outiit as The writer un-
derstool The wrtcrdoes not recollcct to have
seen the items composing this account but rccol-
lecis, that In little explanatory book or pape,
written in support OF this diplomatic account
very much resembling Mr.. Moaroe's book in
support of the returned British treaty il is stat
ed, that Mrs. Monroe was left under the lospi.
table protection ct Mr.. +. Sltipwith, then Con
sui General 10 France, at his residence near
Paris, and formed no part of Mr.. Monroe's suite
upon that occasion. He was accompanied only
by bis Secretary. The writer does not recoi-
lect whether or not this item was passed TO MIR
Monroe's credit by the accounting officer, or bv
he direction of the President Mr.. Monroe
then received for another years diplomacy
Costume S110O, expenses to Madrid $4,000,
compensation $4,000 Grand total in round
numbers S2l 900, making grand total for two
years, .Sf8,0 900. MIR. Monroe failed in his trip
10 Madrid. Ii would be well to inquire into the
cause of this failure. The writer has heard AN
anecdote upon the cause of the failure; which
the inquiry might place III IFS true Character
Mr.. Nj. went to Madrid with $4,000 American
dollars, backed by Bona parties good will. For
Inidable auXilaries in those days! Yet, they were
found 10 be of no avail in MIR. Monroe's hands.
III the anecdote be true; the insurHontable OBJ
stacle to Mr.. Monroe's success in his mission,
would in more competent hands, have afforded
the surest guarantee of success.
In the sa ne account Will he seen, an item for
Christmas Boxes the amount not recollected. Ec-
p'anation Of His item. After Mr.. Ms return from
his unsuccessful! mission to Madrid, ne resumed his
station as Minister resident in London During the
whole of which, his bad fortune stuck To him.
Amongst other duties he had To perform in his min
istcrial character in London, was that of dstrbut
ing Christmas boxes an14a@st certain dependents
about the British Court One, amongst other Bri-
tsh customs for getting money from ioreign visitors
consists of practice, amongst tain dependents
about the Court, of calling upon Foreign Ministers
about Christmas, for Christmas Boxes; which ca lis
II is said, cannn he resisted by Foreign Ministers
these hristnls Boxes may be considered, as the
price of the good will of the dependent receivers
although not worth as f.1uch as Bona pa Tic'S gnGd
will might have been in the hands Of some skirul
dipionaiSts at the Cou,t Of Spain, about the time
OF Honaparte coroDa.ion; yet their good will is
Thought TO be worth Christmas Rnx Mr. NJ
distributed his Christmas Boxes, aud Ike pt an
account of them himself in menlorunfSr.m or
poke book, as the writer was 6icially informed
Fhis account as presented for settlement in Mr.
Ms own handwriting, which was proposed to he
allowed without tie smallest objection on tho part
of the accounting Office; but, befofc tho amount
was passed To Mir Nj s'crcdii, he asked to be iur-
niSfed with the Christmas Box account of his pre-
decessOr, MIR. King, which done. Upon esti-
mating the relative amounts, Mr.. KS exceeded
Mr. Ms; graduated upon the duration ct their re-
spcctive terms Of service. Upon this discovery Mr.
Vi. dropped his own account, kept by himself, and
claimed acrcdit for equivalent to the anlauni
expended by Mr.. *. graduated upon scale of
their respective terms of service. This claim wat
it is believed, passed to Nh. Ms credit Whether
with, without the Presidents directions, is not
accurately roco!lected. Bn it is believed to ha We
been with the Presidents directions The papers
accompanying the accoant will shrw. The gain 10
Mr. M. by this operation, tae wiser thinks 10 be
between s 300 and 2O00-z-sy about $500.
In the same account will be seen a charge, the
amount not specified, founded upon the following.
For surplus house rent in London. Explanation
Of this item. There is some apparent mystery in
this claim which will be explained by those, who
recollect the delay of Mr Nj. return to the u. s.
after the dsappr6ved treaty had beesI sen, back by
Mr.. J. The writer believes his return would, az
that time, have been acceptable, both to Mr.. j. nd.
Mr. Madison-but it not pcremptorily de-
n1uded; it ought to have been, in the estimate
Of the writer.
When MIR, NJ. did return. he intiniatcd in sub
-. Ill