several branches of manufacture, which have been recently instituted or extended by the laudable exertions of our citizens.

Under the existing aspect of our affairs, I have thought it not inconsistent with a just precaution, to have the gun-' boats, with the exception of those at New Orleans, placed in a situation incurring no expense beyond that requisite for their preservation, and conveniency for future service; and to have the crews of those at New Orleans reduced to the number required for their navigation and safety.

I have thought also, that our citizens detached in quotas of militia, amounting to one hundred thousand, under the act of March, one thousand eight hundred and eight, might, not improperly, be relieved from the state in which they were held for immediate service. A discharge of them has been accordingly directed.

The progress made in raising and organizing the additional military force, for which provision was made by the act of April, one thousand eight hundred and eight, together with the disposition of the troops, will appear by a report which the secretary of war is preparing, and which will be laid before you.

Of the additional frigates required, by an act of the last session, to be fitted for actual service, two are in readiness, one nearly so, and the fourth is expected to be ready in the month of July. A report, which the secretary of the navy is preparing on the subject, to be laid before Congress, will show at the same time, the progress made in officering and manning these ships. It will show also the degree in which the provisions of the act, relating to the other publick armed ships have been carried into execution.

It will rest with the judgment of Congress to decide how far the change in our external prospects may authorize any modifications of the laws relating to the army and navy establishments.

The works of defence for our sea-port towns and har bours have proceeded with as much activity, as the season of the year and other circumstances will admit. It is necessary however to state that the appropriations hitherto made being found to be deficient, a further provision will claim the early consideration of Congress.

The whole of the eight per cent. stock remaining due by the United States, amounting to five millions three hundred thousand dollars, had been reimbursed on the last day of the year 1808. And on the first day of April last, the sum in the treasury exceeded nine and a half millions of dollars. This, together with the receipts of the current year on account of former revenue bonds, will probably be nearly, if not altogether sufficient to defray the expenses of the year. But the suspension of exports and the consequent decrease of importations, during the last twelve months, will necessarily cause a great diminution in the receipts of the year one thousand eight hundred and ten. After that year, should our foreign relations be undisturbed, the revenue will again be more than commensurate to all the expenditures.

Aware of the inconveniences of a protracted session, at the present season of the year, I forbear to call the attention of the legislature to any matters not particularly urgent. It remains therefore only to assure you of the fidelity and alacrity with which I shall co-operate for the welfare and happiness of our country; and to pray that it may experience a continuance of the divine blessings, by which it has been so signally favoured.

JAMES MADISON.

DOCUMENTS

ACCOMPANYING THE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. MAY 23, 1809.

Mr. Erskine to Mr. Smith. Washington, April 17, 1809. SIR, I have the honour to inform you that I have received his majesty's commands, to represent to the government of the United States, that his majesty is animated by the most sincere desire for an adjustment of the differences which have unhappily so long prevailed between the two countries, the recapitulation of which might have a tendency to impede, if not prevent an amicable understanding.

It having been represented to his majesty's government, that the Congress of the United States, in their proceedings at the opening of the last session, had evinced an intention of passing certain laws, which would place the relations of Great Britain with the United States upon an equal footing, in all respects with the other belligerent powers; I have accordingly received his majesty's commands, in the event of such laws taking place, to offer, on the part of his majesty, an honourable reparation for the aggression committed by a British naval officer, in the attack on the United States' frigate Chesapeake.

Considering the act passed by the Congress of the United States on the 1st of March, (usually termed the non-intercourse act) as having produced a state of equality in the relations of the two belligerent powers with respect to the United States, I have to submit, conformably to instructions, for the consideration of the American government, such terms of satisfaction and reparation, as his majesty is induced to believe will be accepted, in the same spirit of conciliation with which they are proposed.

In addition to the prompt disavowal made by his majesty, on being apprized of the unauthorized act committed by his naval officer, whose recall, as a mark of the king's displeasure, from a highly important and honourable command immediately ensued; his majesty is willing to restore the men forcibly taken out of the Chesapeake, and if acceptable to the American government, to make a suitable provision for the unfortunate sufferers on that occasion. I have the honour to be, &c.

Hon. Robert Smith, &c. &c. &c.

D. M. ERSKINE.

Mr. Smith to Mr. Erskine. Department of State, April 17,

1809.

SIR, I have laid before the President your note, in which you have, in the name and by the order of his Britannick majesty, declared that his Britannick majesty is desirous of making an honourable reparation for the aggression committed by a British naval officer in the attack on the United States' frigate the Chesapeake; that in ad

dition to his prompt disavowal of the act, his majesty, as a mark of his displeasure, did immediately recall the offending officer from a highly important and honourable command, and that he is willing to restore the men forcibly taken out of the Chesapeake, and if acceptable to the American government, to make a suitable provision for the unfortunate sufferers on that occasion.

The government of the United States having, at all times, entertained a sincere desire for an adjustment of the differences, which have so long and so unhappily subsisted between the two countries, the President cannot but receive with pleasure assurances that his Britannick majesty is animated by the same disposition; and that he is ready in conformity to this disposition to make atonement for the insult and aggression committed by one of his naval officers in the attack on the United States' frigate the Chesapeake.

As it appears, at the same time, that in making this offer, his Britannick majesty derives a motive from the equality now existing in the relations of the United States with the two belligerent powers, the President owes it to the occasion and to himself to let it be understood, that this equality is a result incident to a state of things, growing out of distinct considerations.

With this explanation, as requisite as it is frank, I am authorized to inform you, that the President accepts the note delivered by you, in the name and by the order of his Britannick majesty, and will consider the same with the engagement contained therein, when fulfilled, as a satisfaction for the insult and injury of which he has complained.

But I have it in express charge from the President to state, that while he forbears to insist on a farther punishment of the offending officer, he is not the less sensible of the justice and utility of such an example, nor the less persuaded that it would best comport with what is due from his Britannick majesty to his own honour.

I have the honour, &c. &c.

R. SMITH. Hon. D. M. Erskine, &c. &c. &c. Washington.

Mr. Erskine to Mr. Smith. Washington, April 18, 1809. SIR, I have the honour of informing you, that his majesty, having been persuaded that the honourable reparation which he had caused to be tendered for the unauthorized attack upon the American frigate Chesapeake, would be accepted by the government of the United States in the same spirit of conciliation with which it was proposed, has instructed me to express his satisfaction, should such a happy termination of that affair take place, not only as having removed a painful cause of difference, but as affording a fair prospect of a complete and cordial understanding being re-established between the two countries.

The favourable change in the relations of his majesty with the United States, which has been produced by the act (usually termed the non-intercourse act) passed in the last session of Congress, was also anticipated by his majesty, and has encouraged a further hope, that a reconsideration of the existing differences might lead to their satisfactory adjustment.

On these grounds and expectations, I am instructed to communicate to the American government, his majesty's determination of sending to the United States, an envoy extraordinary invested with full powers to conclude a treaty on all the points of the relations between the two

countries.

In the mean time, with a view to contribute to the attainment of so desirable an object, his majesty would be willing to withdraw his orders in council of January and November, 1807, so far as respects the United States, in the persuasion that the President would issue a proclamation for the renewal of the intercourse with Great Britain, and that whatever difference of opinion should arise in the interpretation of the terms of such an agreement, will be removed in the proposed negotiation.

I have the honour to be, &c.

Hon. Robert Smith, &c. &c. &c.

D. M. ERSKINE.