expedition the President is not enabled from any documents with which he has been furnished, to ascertain the amounts received or expended in Mexico. He will however, in compliance with the request of Mr Eve, and in courtesy as well as justice to Genl. Thompson present the subject to the early notice of the Congress now in session, for its action.

The undersigned embraces this occasion to renew to Mr Eve the assurances of the high regard with which he has the honor to be

In my dispatch of the 23d. Inst. I had the honor to inform you that the 9th of February next had been fixed upon, at the old Waco Village on the Brazos as the time for holding a general Council with the various tribes of hostile Indians within our limits and upon our borders for the purpose of forming a Treaty of Peace with them, and to request that you would urge upon his Excellency, the President of the United States the immediate dispatch of commissioners on the part of the United States, so that they might arrive at the Council Ground, as early at least as the 20th. day of Feb'y etc.

This matter being of very high importance to Texas, I beg leave to repeat the request, that it meet with your earliest attention. Both Texas and the United States are deeply interested in the pacification of these Indians; and should Mexico in her madness attempt a general invasion of this Country next spring (which is strongly threatened) much advantage will be derived to Texas, by the neutrality of these Indians, even if they should not conclude to carry on a war of their own upon northern Mexico. They will at all events be strongly stimulated to hostilities with our enemy, should we be invaded, as the opportunity of stealing horses, mules, etc. from the Mexicans will be so favorable.

As early as 7th. June last Mr. Ashbel Smith our Chargé d'Affaires at the Courts of England and France was instructed to sound those Governments upon the subject of a triple interposition on the part of

a See Records of the Department of State (Texas), Book 44, pp. 102–105.

the United States and those powers, in the affairs of Texas and Mexico, with a view of a settlement of the existing difficulties and a recognition of our Independence by the latter. Mr. Reily in the meantime has presented the subject of mediation to the Government of the United States and obtained the promise of their good offices.

Mr. Smith in accordance with his instruction has communicated with France and England, and the result has been that each of those powers are willing to employ their influence in mediating, but conclude that it will be, most expedient to act separately. The following extract of a letter received by the President from Mr. C. Elliot Chargé d'Affaires of Her Majesty will more clearly explain to you the views of those Governments and I therefore send it for your own information

It is as follows:

[Private]

MY DEAR GENERAL,

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By the "Neptune " I have received a despatch from Lord Aberdeen dated November 3d. enclosing a correspondence with Her Majesty's Embassador at Paris upon the subject of the triple mediation under the auspices of Great Britain, France, and the United States, which Mr. Ashbel Smith had proposed by instructions from here. Her Majestys Government leans to the opinion, "that it would be better on all accounts that each party should act separately, but similarly' "in point of tone and argument in urging the Mexican Government "to reconsider the subject, dispationately and impartially, and to "lose no time in coming to an accomodation with Texas on the " "basis of a recognition of the Independence of that country." Lord Cowley (the Embassador at Paris) says in reply-Octr. 24th "after" "reading the despatch (Lord Aberdeen's) M. Guizot said that he " was entirely of your Lordship's opinion that a Joint mediation of " "Great Britain, France, and the United States for the purpose of " "effecting an accomodation between Mexico and Texas would not " "under present circumstances answer any good purpose, and that it” "would be better that each Government should act separately," "but in strict concert with a view to the attainment of the proposed " "objects." And M. Guizot further requested Lord Cowley to "leave Lord Aberdeens despatch and its enclosures with him, in order that he might prepare instructions of a similar tenor for the French Minister at Mexico. I am sure my dear General, that this intelligence will afford you satisfaction, and I cannot but repeat the sincere

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• Comparison with what appears to be the first draft of Jones to Van Zandt, December 25, 1842, filed with the correspondence, indicates that this date was copied incorrectly, and that it should be the 7th.

hope that I shall soon have to congratulate you on more cheering prospects than those of the last few months."

You will therefore, at an early period present this conclusion to the consideration of the Govt. of the United States, in order that they may assent to the same, and employ their good offices in a way which will afford the best possible chance of being effectual.

The course and conduct of Genl. James Hamilton, in intermedling with the affairs of Texas, both in England and the United States, I am instructed by the President to assure you, meets with his decided disapprobation, and should it become necessary, or be deemed proper by you at any time, you will make the same known to the Govt. of the United States. The enclosed extract of a letter from Mr. G. W. Terrell, Acting Secretary of State, under date of 10th Decr. Inst. to Mr. Smith our Chargé d'Affaires to England and France, will more fully inform you of his views in relation to this matter.

The intermedling with the affairs of Texas in the United States above referred to, is an offer on the part of Gen. Hamilton to open negotiations on certain conditions with Mr. Almonte the Mexican Minister for the cession of Texas to the United States etc. etc. Several letters on this subject have been written to this Government. The following however will put you in possession of the facts in relation to it.

On my way through Washington the last week, I called on Genl. Almonte, and had a long conference with him in reference to the relations between your respective countries. Although he informed me that the moment Genl. Santa Anna could concentrate his forces by sea and land, he would make a combined attack on Texas, yet I could easily perceive that he thought the conquest was a fruitless one, if it could be made. And that Mexico after the point of honor was saved, and she was in possession of the country so as to give internationally a valid title, would find it to be to their interest to sell the country and get rid of a distant and dangerous possession.

I replied to this, but suppose you do not conquer the country and are driven back-what then? He said, in such an event we must do the best we can. But that best, I rejoined may land you where you began. He then said that he would be happy at all times to hear from me and to cooperate with me in all measures calculated to subserve the cause of humanity between the two countries and wound up by soliciting my correspondence.

I have believed from this posture of affairs that an opening may be made to do something towards an amnesty and ultimate pacification. I have therefore written to Almonte and suggested that if he would communicate with his Government and get powers to act in this matter, I have assured him that I would write you, requesting you without any public appointment challenging the smallest degree of publicity, to authorize me privately to treat as a secret agent.

If on a subject of such deep importance to the country over which you preside, you think I can be of any service, I am perfectly willing when I get your answer, and he gets his, to go on to Washington and have a full conference with him and invoke the interposition of the United States Government. I can enlist Mr Webster and Mr Calhoun, the two most influential minds in the United States, most warmly in the negotiation; which I think at all events worth trying.”

(Genl. Hamilton to Genl. Houston)

Private and confidential.

COLUMBUS Novr. 25th 1842.

"SIR,

I beg leave to apprise you that I have written both to Mr. Calhoun and to Mr. Webster, of whose good offices I am assured in the event of my being authorized by you to treat privately with Genl. Almonte. I have very confident hopes of making an arrangement for a pacification of the two countries. The plan I should suggest, would be that Mexico should cede Texas to the United States in payment of her claims, and under this cession the United States should under her recognition of the independence of Texas, recede the country to your Government, take your obligations to pay the debt of Mexico to the United States, under a distinct understanding that after this retrocession, Mexico should acknowledge your independence and agree to a boundary, should it be to the Rio Grande or the Nueces must be a point to be determined by yourself. I am sure that no unkind feeling towards me will induce your Excellency for one moment to hesitate to enable me through the friendship and confidence of the President and Messrs. Webster and Calhoun to serve the Republic in a matter so vital to her interests. I assure you that I am willing to work night and day to secure to the country the blessing and to your Excellency's Administration the honor of a favorable pacification. I believe it can be effected this winter at Washington, if you will only give me the requisite authority. The expedient of a temporary cession to the United States may furnish a means of satisfying a mere punctilio of Mexico.

I believe that Great Britain and France feel too little interest in Texas, and have too large a one in the commerce of Mexico to justify our counting on their mediation. Indeed, engrossed in the important

circle of European politics they never think of Texas, except under the pressure of an immediate application. Whereas the vicinity of Texas to the United States and the sympathy of her people have convinced me that we must look to Washington as the scene of action and means of success in this important affair." a

P. S. I merely throw out as a suggestion to your Excellency the,' the cession and retrocession of Texas, as a mere salve for the absurd pride of Mexico. If you see anything objectionable in it pray give me your own views. It would be a great point however to get two such heads as John C Calhoun's and Danl. Webster's to work on this subject. This I can get; and I believe a pacification will be the result.

For many and very obvious reasons which will be communicated to Genl. Hamilton, the President directs me to say that the agency of that individual will not be employed by this Government in any manner whatever.

This Department has not as yet been apprized of your arrival at your post. This, however, is sent with the confident hope that you will be there on its arrival. I regret that any circumstances should have delayed you so long, as it is highly important you should be at Washington.

You will please keep this Department constantly advised of every thing of importance which transpires, connected with the interests of this country, at the court to which you are accredited.

By dispatches recently received at this Department from the Hon. Ashbel Smith our Chargé d' affaires at London, I am informed that the "Convention" between The President of Texas and her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain concluded at London on the 14th Novr. 1840, for a mediation between Texas and Mexico, had been presented

This quotation mark should have been placed at the end of the postscript that follows. Possibly the copyist omitted something here.