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S.i'v .,
t MLUtXlJCK S. FULL,
CITY i’RlNTKa.
I'll” a, Shout—iwi'HTBf, *lx, rcH 4,3
iatati.e is a nr asci
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1U amv JI!H»TII1«>T.
f.tr as— *Tln *TOvT ni "ftiai,
-cn
oru hJCUTioxs iri i 11 sr.u.v.
■ aoveurorirtni-ei'T-rriiTO conontu.— Canlintc
u Ml Ujm <1c tnm to th* secretary oi *!ate.
, [rrassi-sTius.)
Sir: X*>tnithslanding the unfortunate
events Hindi have occurred since A|iril
[uM, iJiavij receiver from my court sol
emn aeMtr iiiccs of tire (sincere desire of
his Catco'.ic majesty, to see every ground
•«f mmp'.aint and -disagreement between
the United States and Spain completely
removed,, and of his earnest wish to
streuath n and cement a good understan
ding ".mil the most cordial friendship
biK.i'eiiidhe two nations, Having trails
mitten l'» his inryesij’s government the
whole correspondence which lately pas
sed between us here, it has been examine,
tvr.h t'.e mo3t pri f iund attention to al
*]ie points embraced in it. A multitude
of authentic papers, anJ original ilucu
m-nis oi th. must unexceptionable an
timrilN, on each of tne several points in
v,lived in the controversy between the fO
me Un.tiU Mates and ti.a
„( Us J'-stholic majesty, were examined
• oHcne; iiiciihtestiblv* evidence of all th
right- i i;h. rto sustained liy tne crown o
Cjjiii!., mid refuting, with the clearness nl
-ti ulhs universally admitted, and by facts
and vo'icIuts equally notorious and un
questionable, the reasoning and arguments
upon w nidi yout government found their
'Claims. i .
it was.'.he earnest wish of his catiioli
ni j slv, iii.it ilie whole dispute should b
adjjs ed by i.is seci* - !ary ol st-te, 'Sir,
J’i/.u mi, and Mr. Ersing; the ministr
I'l.-Mipolei.tiary of tins republic, and that
thev should proceed fo a filial arrange
ir.«r • of dll existing differences bv means
ol a definitive treaty, which should com
bine, to the satisfaction of both goveru-
m ntn, the.Inviolable principles »f general
justice, with the equitable views of recip
rocal convenience awl utility. Ilis.maje--
tv offered on bis part to do every thing
that might be possible, or compatiole will,
the rights arid dignity of his royal crow-,
liberally to Satisfy tne desires expressed
. by the United States. But Mr. Erjying
•hasMerlined acceding to this adjustment
although the correspondence between him
end the secretary of state was still carried
on with a view to that t vsult, at ttiedopar
ture nf tile messenger, who was despatched
M me, from Madrid, on the 21st ol July
last. His majesty being apprehensive
notwithstanding his wishes, that the arnica
ble termination of these important affairs
might suffer delay, has been pleased to
.give me such instructions and orders as
in a v enable me to adjust with you all pen
ding differences between the two govern
ments—and effect the desired arrange
ment by means of a definitive treaty. For
this purpose his majesty gave urders that
the documents and proofs should be trans-
mitt '<1 to me, which were necessary to
convince the United States of the unques
tionable rights of the crown of Spain to the
teiritories and waters claimed by your go
vernnient, as forming and integral part of
Louisiana. I have received a considera
ble number of the said documents and
proois, and an examination ol many others
was taking place in Spain, which are
to be sent me. The result of this in
quiry established what 1 stated to you in
toy notes, during my late abode at Wash
ington, and especially in that which I ad
dressed to you onMlie 23d March, at tne
same period, in answer to that which I re
ceived from you of the 12th of the same
month, upon all the points in dispute. It
exhibited the incontrovertible series ol
facts, from the earliest period of the dis
coveries, conquest or occupation, and the
successive establishments of the crown of
Spain, in that part of America, to the pre
scut day. It proved that Spain, long prior
to any other nation, discovered Florida,
that is, all the vast aod beautiful country
extending from what is now termed East
Florida, to the Rio Bravo, or Rio Grande
del Norte, which was tuen the boundary
of the kingdom of Mexico, of which she
was already in peaceable possession. From
the period of the discovery of this exten
sive region by Ponce de Leon, in 1512, and
'-.he establishment of the first act of pos
session in the name of the crown of Spain,
repeated and regular expeditions were
tormed, composed of troops, artillery, and
every thing necessary for penetrating
throughout the who*e country examining al 1
its positions from the coast of the interior,
and all its rivers, creeks, and bays, reduc
ing the natives, or establishing trade and
friendship with them, and for occupying
all such places as might appear best calcu
lated to bring, and preserve under the do
minion til Spaiu. the said country, through
out its whole extent. I stated to you, in
my said notes, and I am enabled to prove
it bv the most ample documents, that this
»vas the object of the expeditions of Vas-
quez de nyilon, in 1520, and of PanGlo
de Xarvtez, in 152S. 'the latter obtained
fro.n Claries 1st. of Spain and Emperor
ofGermany, a solemn authority to reduce
the w nile country, from the bayofSpiritu
Santo, in East Florida: to liie river Palmes
be arrived in'the said region with a res
pectable force, and examined it from Etst
to West. In this ne had been preceded
by Francisco de Garay, wliu passed through
it by land» frbin tne Day of Spintu Santo
to Panuco. ' Hernaodo de Sato has soon
aftgrirards appointed governor-general of
Florida, the name thca given to the whole
of this vast coantry—in- entered it with a
'powerful force, and repeated the solemn
acts of taking possession of it in behalf of
Spiin—he afterwards examined its exten-
aive limits, and founded several settle-
•ttcntt. K« Vas succeeded, in his govern-
0*. bv M:«s;nto, who ccbUBucd to ex-
rr the counfrv arid extend the seI tie-
meiits. These two first governors genera
of Florida, traversed ntnl examined it, a
I have said, from East to M cst; from the
pornt, or Cape ol that Florida, now call
East Florida, to the Uio Btaivo, cro-si:-
(l.e Mississippi, which was then called t!
Pilisaila inc! alljtheothers which empty : t
it; or i. t t\c G dph **f Mexico. From t at
period Spain ha* uniformly continued u.
tiic dominion and possession of all that
country, in which she successively found
ed the province of Cohaguila, the kingdom
of New-Leon, that of New->fcxicn, etc.
also the province of Texas, which she has
retained until the present time- It is an
unquestionable fact, and of universal no
toricfv, that.the whole couhtry I am now
speaking of, was known from tne beginiiif
by the general denomination of Florida
and included all the coast, from the point
of Florida, now called East Florida, to
the Rio Bravo, and all the cuuntry and
die waters of the interior: ol this a lull and
ut.ilurm proof is afforded by the history
and most respectable documents of those
times. During the lapsaof two centuries,
the whole of this vast country was known
to tlie nation* of Europe, tinder no other
name. Not only the Spaniards, but all
foreigners, laid it down m tneir maps and
charts under this name, ami with the same
limits. I might here cite the English
traveller, Du<o|o flrr "> sod »..v«r»l o«ha.s
who lbu» denominate and lay down tlii
beautiful region in tlieir maps and des
criptiuiis, but, why should J not now
dwell on what never admitted of a doubt
or cjinnge, until tlie Frenchman, Delisle
through ignorance, erroneous information
or partial inotives, extended in his idea
and map, tlie boundaries of French Louis
ana to the Rio Bravo? This errot,or ex
tr.iv.ig.intc, has ever since been .adopted
by nil those win have had all interest in
supporting the illusion, or have carelessly
or unguardedly copied the g “aluitous sup
position- of that geographer. But, as this
is in direct contradiction to tlie History ol
those early times, and the mod; unques
tioilable documents which establish tin
contrary, these chimerical and absurd sup
positions acc-cotitled to no credit whut
ever, although they had been advanced
with great.gravity and ostentation.
It is moreover a fact, beyoud all dis
pute! that (he crown of Spain was estab
lished as the lawful owner and possessor
of all the aforesaid region, and that it has
uniformly been preserved under her do
minion tu this day, with the exception of
such parts of it, as by treaties,conventions
and other solemn acts, lie has transferred
to foreignipowers. As the introduction
of the French into part ol that region, Ins
formed the ground of the claims of you
government, I shall confine my remarks
to them. In the course of our late corres
pondence, I stated to you in my notes, the
manner in which the Frenrh got a foot
ing ill that part of the Spanish dominions
and how they proceeded to form the colo
ny to which they gave the name of Louis-
iana.
But, to form a just idea of the estab
Iishincut of that colony, and ut its precise
extent and boundaries, it is necessary to
take a view of it, at three different periods
first, under the direction of the govern
ment of France; second, under that ol
Crozat and of the French Western Com
pany; and, thirdly, under the gov. of the
crown of France.
1 do not deem it necesssary now to de
tail, minutely, the first attempt of the
French on the old Florida, in I5G2. Itis
well known, that John itivaut, to whom
tne conduct of the expedition wa$ commit
ted, thiough the influence of Coligny, was
completely routed by the Spaniards, under
general Meucndez de Abyles. This gen
eral having attacked the French in their
tort of Carolina, 'all those who escaped the
assault, were made prisoners of war: and
having pursued tlieir vessels, lie, and stor
my weather put an end to tire wretched
remains of this French expedition. Abyls
founded the castle and forts ol St. Augus
tine, which tnen became the capital of all
Florida, established various other posts,
and enforced a respect fur tlie dominion
of Spain over all the coast and territorie
of tnat vast region. Tne French never
again returned throe until the last attempt
of the celebrated La Salle, who, towards
the close of 1664, sailed from France with
an expedition to discover the mouths of
the Mississippi; at this period, tl»*- French
nad already established themselves in the
lower part of Canada.
Fearful of meeting a fate like that of
Rivaut, tney avoided an interlerence witii
tlie countries belonging tu the crown nf
Spain, and confined tlieir establishments
to the coasts of the Atlantic. The sava
ges, or aborigines of Canada, had a know-
edge of other Indian nations inhabiting
beyond the lakes, and of a very remote
country, watered by a great river, which,
as they said, ran neither tu the east, to the
west, nor to the north, hut which might
probably run to tire south, and empty into
the Guiph of Mexico It was they wire,
in 1660, gave the French of Canada an
idea of this country and river, although ve
ry limited, vague and ooscure, ami excit
ed in the mind of Joliet, and inhabitant
of Quebec, and of the missionary Mar
quette, the project of crossing tlie lakes,
and penetrating into tlie said country, to
explore itnnd tne river. They realized tlieir
project, embarked on lake Michigan, as
cended the river Zoras to its source, after
wards travelled by land, and, returning
to,the entrance of the same river, navig^-
ed to the westward, and, on the 2d June,
16*5; they struck tne Mississippi. They
then descended this river as low as the
Arkansas in 53° north latitude, but, fear
ful of lulling into the hands ot tlie Span
iards, they afterwards retreated to Canada,
and, uu their return, passed through the
country iiinabited by the Illinois, whom
they ti-rnd disposed to trade with the
Fiench Of that colony.
This excursion produced no result what
ever, and would lave been wholly fo-got-'
ten at the death of Marquette, but tbe fa-
i nuns La Salle, r.is etiterpi ising and icsn-
1 lute man, who bad come lo Canada with
the design of exploring a passage from
thence to Japan, or China, having beard ol
Joliet's narrative, coucieved the project
of repeating the same journey, lie em
barked for France, and on his [.arrival at
Paris, proposed his plan tu the prince ol
Conti—p.vtron zed by him.and tliegovcrn-
ment, he returned to Quebec with a com
pany of thirty associate*, and tlie Cheva
lier Foote, a*brave and experienced offi
cer* At Quebec lie was joined by Father
llcnnepm, and at the head of tins party,
set out mi the journey formerly made by
Joliet and Marquette. Having encounter
ed extraordinary difficulties, lie employed
several years in accomplishing it. On
the 4th of March, 1681 he arrived al
the Arkansas: in April of the follow
nig year, he proceeded as low down
as the mouth of the Missis,ippi* and in
tire spring of 1685, lie returned to France to
give an account ut his discoveries* With
all due ceremony, he took possession ol
tire Arkansas and the Misdasippi, in the
name of the Crown of France, although it
was well known, that all those countries
were under the dominion of Spain* In
performing this journey LaSalle did. no
more than explore distant countries, and
that in a clandestine and secret manner,
being under the necessity uf defending
himself both against the Spaniards and the
English, who repeatedly tell in with and
attacked him.
La Salle hafingjgivenan exaggerated ac
count of his diicovers in th:» part of Ame
rica, was autinrized by his court to search
for the moutbsof the Mississippi, and oc
cupy some position on its banks. This was
the object of tkemari ime expedition, with
which lie sailel from France, under the
command of Beaujour, for tire Guipli ol
Mexico, which ire entered on the 12tli of
Dec. 1684. In the notes I lately addres
sed you at Washington, l stated the result
of this expedition and ol the laburs of La
Salle. Driven on the coast ot t|ie province
of Texas, it was with difficulty this distin
guished adventurer found safety in the
Bay of St. Bernard; Ire crossed by the
Trinity river, and constructed a redou'oi
to defend himself against the Indians; uu t,
not being able to defend it, ire determined
on abandoning the country, itud was assas
sinated by nis own party. The Indians at
tacked the fort, or redoubt, in which lie
had left some of Ins people, demolished it,
anil massacred; them. Ol this unfortunate
expedition, seven men only escaped, five
of whom succeeded io reaching I lie Arkan
sas, an the 20th of July, 168", and return
ed to Montreal jn the May following.-
Thc others found tlieir way among tht Ue-
nis or Asinais Indians. 1 presume that i
hive fully proved to you, in my foruiei
notes, that this shipwreck ol La Salle on
tire coast of Texas, and Ins entry into tin.
Bay ot St. Bernard, and adjacent cuuntiy
can give no right to France to that oay and
county, they being already under the do
minion of the crown uf Spam. Tu fact,
what right could France have to extend
herseit, h um her remote colony of Canada,
to those territuries? But France oniy au
thorized La Saile to search lor the mouths,
of the Mississippi, doubtless in the belief
that this river was not within the Spanish
possessions. I'also stated to you, that the
must effectual ipeaasures' were instantly
taken by* the vice roy of Mexico ami the
Spanish government, to drive the French
from any position they might have o;co
pied in the Guiph of Mexico, or in the in
terior. This was one of the special objects
of'tlie successive expeditions of Alonzo
,fc 'Leon, Doinit^i Teran, anil Gregorio Sa
finas—I say that this was one of the objects
of these expeditions, because they were
likewise charged with forming different
establish men Is id the province ol 1 exas
or of the Aaina.il?,‘and securing the whole
coast from any, incursion nf foreigners.—
They executed the object of their mission
—so that the French- made>.u further at-
t.-nvpTs from tiiufcxime.to the expedition of
Iberville, in I69jj> .the period when the
French first established themselves on the
Guiph ol Mexico-, Iberville; an experienc
ed Seamen,'who had distinguished himself
by his fortunate expedition to Hudson’s
Bay, in 1697, appeared off Pensacola with
his squadron; but, discovering that the
Spamrds were occupied in fortifying that
place, he shaped his course for the river
Mobile. He entered it on the 2d of Fe
bruary of the same year, and took posses
sion of Massacre Island, wliicu lie called
Dauphin Island. On the 2d of March,
1699, he entered the Mississippi and as
cended as high as the Bluff’s; he there re
ceived a letter from tic Chevalier Fonti,
by which he ascertained that this was real-
iy the Mississippi, and that the Indian na
tions which he had communicated with
showed a very favotable disposition to
trade with the French He then returned
to Mobile, and, leaviig that place in the
charge of Sauvole and Bienville, proceed
ed to France to give ai account of liis ex
pedition. The court of Spain, having been
already informed of thsse enterprises, de
termined to expel the French for ever from
those positions, and frou all the Guiph of
Mexico; but, this beingabout to be execu
ted, the death of Charlts the 2d occurred,
and the duke of Atijou succeeded to the
crown, under the name of Philip 5th.—
Spain being then embarrassed with the
war of succession, and united by a close
friendship with France, overlooked the
establishment at Mobile. In January 1700,
Iberville returned there, but made no pro
gress in his projects, from the want of
means and the badness of the climate.—
This feeble colony cotinued to languish,
Without any prospect ol realizing the ex
travagant expectations at first formed by
the French. Louis I4th, setting little
value on it, conferred the entire property
of it on Crozat, in 1712. It is unnecessa
ry now to point out tlie errors and absurdi
ties contained in the grant of Louis 14th
to'Crozat, as I have already stated them to
you in detail: I shall, therefore, only have
to speak ot the secoud period—that of the'
establishment of thU colony, and show its
progress. La Motte-Coadillac being ap
pointed governor, and Duclois inteodant.
uf this famous establishment, they formed,
with Cri-zat, a supreme tribunal for all ci
vil and criminal cases. It was at that time
tnat the excursion of the Frenchman, St.
Dennis, into the interior of New Spain
took place, in which he passed *!noug va
rious 4tdian nations, from the Mississippi
to tire Ri.i Grande.
In mv former communications, I stated
what appeared to be necessary on the
character and movements ol this celebra
ted adventurer. I shall only add here, that,
although his apparent object was the es
tablishment of a traffic with tlie people ol
New Spain, yet it merely served to co
ver tlie design of exploring the Spanish ter
ritories, and of extending the settlements
of hi* countrymen therein. As \ooti as his
views were discovered, measures were ta
ken in Mexico to caunteracttnem, ijj'vigo r-
ous orders issued by the court (or the same
purpose. It was this incident which pro
duced the vigorous measures of the vice
roy of Mexico, the duke of Linares, and
the dispatch of tlie troopsand missionaries
to the province of Texa», forming the fifth
expedition uf the Spaniards to that pro-
?ince; a fact which selves as a complete rc-
futat.on of all that lias been advanced by
DupiatzJ^*other French writers Alonz ide
Leon informed the Spanishgovcrr.ua, Alar
con, Iroin Texas on the 21st of May, 1717,
that lie hud just founded two establish
ments there, one of them within ten
leagues of Natchifoos, and that he was
about to proceed to the Caudoehes in con
sequence of having received information
that the French were endeavoring to make
a settlement there, and that there were al
ready ten men of his nation among the
Natchitous. The chief object in forming
this Spanish settlement was to observe
and check the French; and it was soon al
ter increased by the construction ol a tort
called San Miguel de los Adaes, which
was garrisoned by a competent force.
St. Dennis promoted the settlement o
several Frenchmen among the Natchitous
for the"” purpose of serving as an int. rtueiii
ary point in his journeys to the Rib Grande
He called this settlement San Miguel, and
this gave rise to the error of Cliaiupigny
vlio has confounded this paltry establish
mem with that of the Adaes. That
which was formed by tlie French can
not be considered of any importance
until May, 1717, when the governor, o'
Mobile first sent a commandant, with
party of ten men,as a garrison; at which
time the Spanish futt of the Adaes was
already built. Such was the origin of th
French settlement and fort at N'atchitoc
lies, the only acquisition made by tne col
ony of Biioxi, or Mobil , in the neighbor
hood of tlie Rib Roxn; (Red River) under
Crozat or the western company. In 1718
t'le coin pan v laid the foundation of New
Orieon , to which the general guveriin;
of the eolony was transferred in 1722,
and the settlement of Biloxi abandoned
In June, 1725, Bienville endeavored to
take possession ol the Bay of St. Josephs
bu t being opposed by Salmas, the Spanish
governor of Pensacola, he disisted from
his attempt- Thus, the colony went on
without making any progress, until the
French company, tired out with the dis
asters and losses it had suffered in the
wars with the neighboring Indians, and
convinced ol tlie inutility ol that establish
ment, surrendered their privilege to the
<Town in 1733 or 1734, which lorms the
l„8t period of that colony.
I have made no mention of the French
settlements in the Arkansas and the If
linois, as they were formed by people
from Canada, and tolerated uy Spain
merely as places occupied lor tire purpose
of trading with the Indian#; because, from
the reasons I have touched on, it is evi
dent that France could have no right to
occupy them but through the permission
or toleration of Spain. Louis the 14th
had declared tu his Catholic majesty’s
government, that he occupied Mobile and
other places in that region solely with a
view to aid Spain in case of a war with the
English; and having requestud permission
ot his Catholic majesty to keep atorce at
Mobile fur that purpose, it was refused
by the advice oC the council ut the Indies.
The situation of the French colony did
not improve under the immediate admiu
istration of tlie government; part uf it
was ceded by Itis Catholic majesty to En
gland in 1763, and the other part, that is
the city and island of New-Orleans, was
as you know, ceded and delivered to Spain
in 1769. That colony was considerably
improved in the hands uf Spain, by the
establishment of several new settlements.
It was retroceded, together with them, to
France in 1800, by virtue of a treaty in
which it was stipulated that Spain re
troceded it with tlie same extent it had
when in the possession of France, and
which it had at the conclusion of that trea
ty, in the hands of his Catholic majesty.—
1 consider all that I have already stated
to you on this point as repeated here; and
I shall only add, that although tlie secret
convention for the cession af Louisiana to
Spain was concluded in 1763, the two
high contracting parties reserved to them
selves the right ol afterwards agreeing or
the suitable time for its delivery to Spain,
in consequence.of w hich France continu
ed in povsession of it until 1769.' As this
act is undisputed, and completed and
realized the cession, it is clear that it
could not comprehend the territories ced
ed six years before to Great Britain. As
a further pioof, we have to adduce the
Royal Ccdula of his Catholic majesty is
sued at Barcelona, aud communicated to
the French government, in which his ma
jesty declares, that he retrocedes Louisia
na with the. same extent it had when he
received it from France, which declara
tion serves as an addition to the treaty ol
St. Ildefonso, and was conformed to by
the French government, w.ho made use of
the said Royal Oedula of liis Catholic ma
jesty in taking possession of the province
thus rctrocedeu, without any other claim
or demand on tlieir part.
In the simple epitome which I have pre
sented ol the principle and progress of
the Frencli sifflrmrtits in this part dl* the
Auieiiean continent, 1 have only touched
on the capital points, such as are sufficient
to remove all grounds of the present dis
pute. I am ready to prove, in the most
ample manner, all that I have advanced,
by a multitude of indisputable documents,
which I will produce, if necessary, the
moment it may be agreeable to you, anil
you will inform me of your wish to con
front them with whet i have stated. All
the errors which have been disseinisateil
in the narratives and.maps of tlie French
authors, and other foreigners who have
committed Midi enormous deviations
through ignorance, interest, or the influ
ence of national prejudice, will thrn’be
corrected, and t|ie fact established beyond
all doubt, that France never possessed any
thing to the left of the Mississippi; anil
that, to the right, she held tire post of
Natchitoches, Natcluz, Arkansas, and tlifc
Illinois, solely.by the permission or toler
ation of Srpain, as 1 before slated. This
settlements at Opelusas, Avoyelles ttuA
Atacapas, were not yet tormed in 1762;
as is admitted and affirmed by Mr. Bussu*
of the French navy, who did nut leaY*
Louisiana until that year, and ho alters
wards published Ins voyage* to the \\ est*
Indies: nor were there any* commandants
of these settlements appointed by. tke go
vernment, except under the dnmiiiron of
Spam. La Fouioue, which is situated
much neater to Ncw-Oileans, was cay be
gun to be occupied by tlie Fiench in 1763.
Villcinonp, a Frenchman, established him
self on the river Ouachita, oi tire Buck ri
ver, (Rio Negro) during tire second peri
od of Louisiana, by occupying a small
valley; but this private settlement was not
kept up, but afterwards abauduoed. What
took place at the Arkansas, Illinois, and
the Missouri, could give France no right
whatever to to lire* posts which slit* hap
pened tu establish and retain, and wh.clt
were not claimed by Spain* All the test
could not be considered as an integral part
of French Louisiana until tire period ol the
cession to England, and ot the restitution
and delivery <o Spain. It is therefore
easy to aseei tain and determine what was
tire extent of Louisiana in the possession
of the French,, aud what were its exact
boundaries. Moreover, although the hypo
thesis be admitted, that she had, or might
have, some right to other parts of this vast
country, she tian.sferr’eit it to England by
toe cession sire* made ol it in 1766. And
when Spain acquired from England the
territory ceded to tlie latter, she tncluded
therein this right, such as tl might be.—
Having retroceded to France, in 1800, on
ly what she hud received from he r , it i*
evident that she -could- not restore to her
this pretended right*. Undor whatever
aspect, therefore, we view live question,
the rights hitherto sustained by lire* go
vernment nl Itis Catholic majesty in the
present di-pute remain unquestionable.
1 allude tu them merely to-give you the
most satisfactory proofs of this tiutii, and
to establish, in respect to the uti posside
tis. or state of possession of 1763 and
1769, the basis which it is indispensable to
lay down for the general and definitive
settlement of all pending differences be
tween the two governments. In that ba
sis, will likewise be comprehended all tlie
augmentation with which Spain delivered
Louisiana to France, and all that Dy trea
ties, or other lawful acts, has been ceded
to the United States.
His majesty, carrying liis particular
consideration fur the United States, and
his sincere desire to meet the wishes of
your government, as far as is compatible
with the rights and dignity uf his crown,
las authorised me to remove the principal
difficulties, and to offer the government of
this republic the liberal proposals which I
have the honor to enclose in a separate
paper.
If these proposals should, as I hope, ap
pear admissible and satisfactory to your
qvernment, all the rest which if will be
cquiMie to change or add, to perfect the
definitive adjustment between, the two
powers, cannot fail to follow ol course, and
lie easy to arrange. Finally, if .there
should arise any difficulty or doubt in the
mind of the president upon any one of
them, which 1 can remove or clear up, I
shall be happy to be made acquainted with
it, and most cheerfully- do, for that pur
pose, whatever may be within the limits bf
iny powers and.instructions. 1 conceive
that what I how propose is best calculated
to conciliate all the different views and
claims, and to adjust all pending differ*
ences upon just and liberal principles; it
being evident, moreover, that the advan
tages arc wholly in favor of the United
States.
In concluding this note, I beg leave to
repeat, that if, before we agree on what is
requisite to effect the desired arrange
ment, and with a view to proceed to.it
with a more perfect conviction of the un
questionable rights of each one of the two
powers,you should think itadviseable that
we should modify and correct'any points
stated in the present note, by tk>»produc*
tion anil examination of the documentary
proofs which I hate offered, lam ready to
submit them the moment I receive such
intimation from you.
In the mead time, I repeat the assur*
i ance ol my respect, and pray God to pre
serve you many years. Luts de O.vis,
H'ushivgtsn, Octlber 24lA, 1818.
[TO BE CONTIXCEl) ]
CHILDREN’S
BASKET WAGGONS: '
25, just received from Augusta—for saleby
G. F. 6f Oliver Palmes.
Porfc.
50C barrels prime Poit, city New-York ir.spfll.
linn Ftrtaleby P. STANTON,
jan 12 x 9
Tcfke Notice.
Tbe Justices’ Court which was to hava been
held at the office of William C. Barton yesterday
is unavoidably postponed till the next term in
course, which will be-the second Monday in Feb
ruary next—then those concerned will give' tlieir
attendance at the court-house, in Savannah, : ukere
the subscribers’court will iu future beheld. .. .
jan 12 **■ 9 W C. BAgTON/J f