that, if it was, the decision would probably have taken place before his arrival.

I then repeated what I had said to M. Pasquier, respecting the importance of his being authorized to exchange the Ratifications of the Treaty. He answered, that, although he was not, he could, in case of an arrangement, give satisfactory security to The United States; and that it would consist in consenting, that they should take immediate possession of Florida without waiting for the Ratification of the Treaty.

General Vives repeated, in the course of the evening, the same thing to M. Pasquier, with whom I had afterwards a short conversation on the subject. He seemed extremely astonished that the Spanish Government should have adopted that course, rather than to authorize their Minister to exchange at once the Ratifications. Since, however, the measure they proposed coincided with the views of the President, as stated in his Message, and would, at all events, prevent a rupture, we both agreed, that no time should be lost in communicating to you General Vives's declarations.

I have the honor to be, &c.

The Hon. John Quincy Adams.

ALBERT GALLATIN.

No. 16.-Mr. Rush to Mr. Adams.

(Extract.) London, 25th February, 1820. GENERAL VIVES, despatched by the King of Spain on a Mission to The United States, is now here on his transit to our Country. I have not been able to command the opportunity of an interview with him. It may be more acceptable to the Government to hear what Lord Castlereagh told me, who has seen him. This was, that he did not fail to say to him every thing of a healing nature, as between The United States and Spain. His Lordship added, that he still looked to an accommodation of all the differences with the same wishes as formerly. General Vives, it seems, mentioned to him, that he was not without a hope of producing a conviction, on his arrival at Washington, that, as respects the Grants of Land, about which such difficulties had arisen under the Treaty, M. de Onis had gone too far in his admissions; farther than facts would be found to warrant. I replied, that my Government would listen to what he had to advance on this topic. His Lordship said no more. The General embarks from Liverpool for New York, on the 1st of next Month. He will probably be in the Ship that takes home this Despatch.

The Hon. John Quincy Adams.

RICHARD RUSH.

V.-Message from the President of The United States to Congress.-Washington, May 12, 1820.

TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.

I COMMUNICATE to Congress Translations of Letters from the Minister of Spain to the Secretary of State, received since my Message of the 9th instant.

Washington, 12th May, 1820.

SIR,

JAMES MONROE.

No. 1.-General Vives to Mr. Adams.

(Translation.)

Washington, 9th May, 1820. In answer to your Note of yesterday's date, I have, in the first place, to give you the explanation requested of me, of the import of my last proposal; and, in doing so, to repeat, in other words, that I am authorized solemnly to promise to this Government the Ratification of the Treaty by His Majesty, only in case the third point of my proposals be satisfied; but, as the answer given to this point has not been such as I could, agreeably to my Instructions, receive as satisfactory, I can, by no means, commit myself by giving a greater extension to my promise than that expressed in my Note.

My object in intimating to you that, although I knew nothing officially, yet I considered as authentic the information circulating of an important change in the Government of Spain, a circumstance which would, of itself, effectually prevent me from giving greater latitude to my promise, was, to apprize your Government, that, as, by the adoption of the Constitution of 1812 in Spain, the Powers of the King would be limited, it would no longer depend on His Majesty alone to fulfil my solemn promise, admitting that my Instructions had empowered me to give such a promise; so that my sole motive for offering a remark upon that topic was, to strengthen the grounds on which my proposal was founded; and, further, to enable your Government so to appreciate as no longer to decline assenting to it.

I shall, on this occasion, waive all reply to the arguments again advanced by you, in extenso, upon the question of His Majesty's obligation to ratify the Treaty, and confine myself to a single remark; namely, that all the Authorities cited by you lay down the peace and happiness of mankind in general, and of States and their respective people in particular, as a fundamental principle. And having, in my first Note, shown the notoriously hostile disposition prevailing throughout the Union towards the interests of the Spanish Monarchy, it necessarily follows, that, when the objects of Treaties are not obtained, the Ratification of that of 22d February, 1819, would, in like manner,

become illusory; and, therefore, that His Majesty's motives for suspending it, were founded upon a competent view of evident facts.

I shall also leave it to the general sense of the reflecting part of mankind to decide, whether the reasoning you rely on, in stating the motives of the American Government for proposing to other Powers to acknowledge the revolted Provinces of Spanish America, and in exhibiting them as favorable, not only to suffering humanity, but to the interests of Spain herself, be not, in the highest degree, specious; for, if such maxims were to be adopted, Nations could no longer count upon the integrity of their Possessions, or upon the maintenance of that mutual amity and good understanding which it is equally their duty and their interest to cultivate in their relations with each other. I have the honor to offer you, &c.

The Hon. John Quincy Adams. FRANCISCO DIONISIO VIVES,

SIR,

No. 2.-General Vives to Mr. Adams.
(Translation.)

Washington, 10th May, 1820. IN conformity with the orders I have this moment received from my Government, I have the honor to inform you, that His Catholic Majesty has sworn to the Political Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy, as sanctioned by the Extraordinary Cortes in 1812, and to enclose a printed Copy of His Majesty's Manifesto to the Nation ;* for the purpose of giving the President a just view of the noble and generous sentiments which actuate the august mind of the King.

Please to accept the renewed assurances, &c.

The Hon. John Quincy Adams. FRANCISCO DIONISIO VIVES.

SIR,

No. 3.-General Vives to Mr. Adams.

(Translation.)

Washington, 11th May, 1820. AMONG the Documents transmitted with the President's Message to both Houses of Congress, and published in this day's National Intelligencer, I have seen, with surprise, the Letter of Mr. Gallatin, stating, that I positively told him, that " I could, in case of an arrangement, give satisfactory security to The United States, and that it would consist in consenting that they should take immediate possession of Florida, without waiting for the Ratification of the Treaty." Although I have with all frankness proved, in my Correspondence with you, that I had no such authority, and that it will not, under any view which may be taken, appear presumable that I made so doubtful, so useless, and inconsiderate a disclosure, I request, however, that you will be pleased to communicate this to the President, in order that, by giving publicity

See Page 280.

to this Document, it may be understood that I made no such proposal, either to Mr. Gallatin, or to Baron Pasquier.

I renew to you, Sir, the assurances, &c.

The Hon. John Quincy Adams.

FRANCISCO DIONISIO VIVES.

DISCOURS prononcé par le Roi des Pays-Bas, à l'Ouverture des Etats Généraux, le 16 Octobre, 1820.

NOBLES ET PUISSANS SEIGNEUrs,

(Traduction.)

DEPUIS que je me suis rendu au milieu de vous, ma Maison a éprouvé deux pertes douloureuses.

La mort m'a enlevé ma Sœur bien-aimée, la Duchesse Douairière de Brunswic-Lunenbourg; et ma très-révérée Mère, la Princesse Douairière d'Orange-Nassau, née Princesse de Prusse ; à leur mémoire si chère à mon cœur se rattache le souvenir des principes de vertu et de magnanimité, que toutes les deux ont si fidèlement suivis.

D'un autre côté, ma Maison a eu à se réjouir de la naissance d'un Rejeton de mon Fils aîné, bien-aimé, le Prince d'Orange.

J'ai apprécié la part que, dans ces circonstances, les habitans du Royaume ont prise, de la manière la moins équivoque, à ma douleur comme à ma joie. Qu'ils soient assurés de ma persévérance dans les vues, par lesquelles j'espère affermir, de plus en plus, le bonheur et la prospérité de mon Peuple.

Je fais l'ouverture de votre Session actuelle par vous communiquer, Nobles et Puissans Seigneurs, que nos relations à l'extérieur continuent d'être entretenues avec une bienveillance réciproque. J'ai la satisfaction de pouvoir donner à Vos Nobles Puissances, l'assurance que je continue de nourrir l'espoir, que la Paix, qui est pour nous d'un si grand prix, sera conservée.

Je suis parvenu par des Négotiations amicales avec le Gouvernement Britannique à faire un Arrangement qui apporte des modifications au Jer Article de la Convention, réglant le commerce des Propriétaires et des Créanciers hypothécaires, Sujets du Royaume des Pays-Bas dans les Colonies de Demerary, d'Essequebo, et de Berbice; au moyen de cet Arrangement, sanctionné par mon Haut Allié, le Roi de la Grande Bretagne, la faculté de naviguer, avec les Vaisseaux mentiounés audit Ier Article, se trouve prolongée de nouveau pendant un terme de 5 Ans.

Les efforts de mon Envoyé à Constantinople, soutenus par les démarches du Ministre de mon Haut Allié l'Empereur de Russie, ont amené d'heureux résultats ;-la Porte Ottomane a reconnu nos anciens droits à la Navigation de la Mer Noire: déjà le Pavillon des PaysBas, s'est montré dans ces parages; et je me flatte que cette nouvelle source ouverte à notre industrie ne restera pas stérile.

Ce n'est pas avec une moindre satisfaction que nous pouvons fixer nos regards sur la situation intérieure du Royaume.

L'Administration Provinciale, ainsi que celle des Communes, suit une marche conforme aux réglemens; de manière que les améliorations dont les réglemens seraient trouvés susceptibles, pourront être jugées avec soin, et sans précipitation.

L'introduction du nouveau système des Poids et Mesures se fait, sous des auspices qui ne sont pas défavorables.

La levée de la Milice Nationale s'est encore opérée cette Année, avec le meilleur succès: ceux qui sont appelés au service, remplissent avec bonne volonté les obligations qui leur sont imposées.

L'organisation de la Surveillance Médicale produit les effets salutaires qu'on attend d'elle; parmi lesquels doivent être comptés spécialement, les progrès de la vaccine, et l'exercice amélioré de l'art de guérir dans les campagnes.

L'Administration du Waterstaat a reçu une nouvelle forme-la direction de plusieurs ouvrages, qui en font partie, y compris les grandes routes, a été confiée aux Provinces avec les stipulations nécessaires tant pour le mode d'administration qu'à l'égard des moyens de pourvoir aux dépenses que ces travaux exigent.

J'ai l'espoir que, par les bonnes dispositions et les efforts constans des Etats Provinciaux, cette épreuve répondra au but qui l'a provoquée et qu'elle menera ainsi à une gestion moins dispendieuse et plus expéditive.

Entre-temps l'expérience indiquera les modifications qu'il pourrait encore être jugé nécessaire ou convenable d'apporter aux dispositions déjà faites.

Les digues entraînées ou endommagées, dans l'hiver dernier, par les tempêtes, les eaux, et les débâcles, sont rétablies ou se rétablissent; à l'époque de cet affreux désastre, la Nation a donné de nouvelles preuves du caractère bienfaisant qui la distingue si éminemment.

Le défrichement des terres incultes se poursuit avec activité dans quelques parties du Royaume, et procure à un grand nombre d'indigens de l'occupation et des moyens d'existence; les efforts désintéressés de ceux qui se sont réunis en société pour réaliser de semblables vues, sont tout-à-fait dignes d'éloge et de l'efficace appui des habitans.

Les ouvrages de l'établissement maritime au Nieuwe Diep touchent à leur achèvement.

Ceux du Grand Canal, dans la Hollande Septentrionale, se poursuivent avec l'espoir fondé que non-seulement ils feront disparaître, pour le commerce, les entraves auxquelles la communication de la Ville d'Amsterdam, avec la Mer du Nord, est dans ce moment sujette, mais qu'ils apporteront en même temps des avantages et des facilités à la Marine du Royaume.

Les dispositions de la Loi concernant l'Arriéré des Pays-Bas sont mises en exécution avec régularité; la Commission chargée de ce travail long et difficile continue ses opérations avec zèle; de