their part would be productive of changes for the better; on the other, it would be always impossible to rely upon their stability, and that, in all cases, any step which should appear incompatible with the honour and dignity of the English nation, would be totally out of the question, even though it might appear reconcileable to its interest.

The undersigned endeavoured to convince the minister, that in this particular case, the true interest and the permanent prosperity of all commercial states, imperiously demanded, that they should not look with indifference at the critical situation of Holland, but cooperate, on the contrary, to avert the storm. He even confined himself to requesting a conditional declaration only; but what he herewith transmits, was all that he could obtain. His general observation and the information which he has been able to collect, lead to the following conclusions:

That the principal question of peace or war occupies but imperfectly the public mind; that habit reconciles it to the continuance of the war, and that the consequences, far from being felt at pre ́sent, are rather favourable to the interest of individuals;

That the system of commercial restrictions is inherent in the present ministry, and for the same reason, is the object of the criticism of opposition; that it is then probable, that for the moment, they will continue to act, more or less, in conformity to that system as well towards, America as towards all other powers;

That the English ministry considers a firm adherence to that system, as the best means of seriously affecting the resources of France, and of combating her system of influence upon the continent, and that all attempts on the part of nations in hostility to the English government, to bring it back to other ideas, will probably produce only a contrary effect:

That notwithstanding, there ought not to be inferred a fixed determination to repulse every proposition for peace: for it even imagines that system to be the method of bringing France more speedily to seriously set about effecting an accommodation; besides, if there was such a determination, it would show itself under a variety of shapes; its conduct in the present occasion is founded on the conviction, that at this time, the French government has no serious views of peace that can coincide with the principles avowed by the English government, and that it is solely occupied in executing its arrangements with respect to Spain and Portugal, which arrangements will always be the most serious obstacles to the success of any negotiations that may be commenced.

That among the considerations by which the English ministry is influenced at the present time, those which relate to Holland, are viewed as extremely secondary, and that the idea of the impossibility that any convention relative to that country can ever, under the influence of France, present any chance of certainty to England, unless connected with a general question, takes away all the interest which otherwise that country of itself would not fail to inspire: so much so as to induce the ministry to refuse to listen to

reasons extremely important, which ought to incline them to consider that question separately, and under an immediate point of view.

The undersigned perceiving in this state of things, no chance of success in the ulterior steps, which the government of Holland might be tempted to try, unless those steps be specially supported by France, and that thus as to that country, her fate is wholly connected with the question of a general peace, he is of opinion, in conformity to the tenor of his instructions, "that he ought not, uselessly to prolong his stay in this country.

Consequently, he proposes to return in a few days; and on his arrival, he will have the honour to present himself to their excellencies, the ministers, for the purpose of giving them verbally a further and particular account of every thing relating to the mission with which they have charged him, and which he has endeavoured to fulfil with all the zeal and solicitude with which the importance of the subject could not fail to inspire him. In the mean time, he prays their excellencies to accept the assurance of his respect.

(Signed)

LABOUCHERE.

PAPERS IN RELATION TO THE REPEAL OF THE BERLIN AND MILAN DECREES.

SIR,

Department of State, December 28, 1810.

IN pursuance of the resolution of the house of representatives of the 21st of this month, I have the honour of laying before you: 1st. A copy (marked A.) of a decree of the emperor of France transmitted to this department by general Armstrong.

2d. A copy (marked B) of a correspondence with general Tur

reau.

3d. A copy (marked C) of a communication, just received from general Armstrong, in relation to the duties lately imposed by the emperor of France. With the highest respect and consideration, I have the honour to remain, sir, your most obedient servant,

The President of the United States.

(A.)

R. SMITH.

Translation of a decree of the 15 (9) July 1810.

Thirty or forty American vessels may import into France (under license) cotton, fish oil, dye wood, salt fish, cod fish, hides and peltry. They may export wine, brandy, silks, linens, cloths, jewelry, household furniture and other manufactured articles. They can only depart from Charleston and New York, under the obligation of bringing with them a gazette of the day of their departure,

(American gazette) moreover a certificate of the origin of the merchandise, given by the French consul, containing a sentence in cipher: the French merchants who shall cause these vessels to come must prove that they are concerned in the fabrics at Paris, Rouen, and other towns.

(B.)

General Turreau to Mr. Smith.

(TRANSLATION.)

SIR,

Washington Nov. 27, 1810.

Since our last conversation relative to the certificates of origin given by the consuls of his majesty in the United States, I have collected and read over the different orders of my court on that subject, and asked of the consul general of France those which he might have received directly on this part of the service, so essential for the security of your exportations.

It results from the instructions which I have received directly, and from those that have been sent to the consul general, that the consuls of his majesty in the United States, do not deliver, nor must not hereafter deliver, under any pretext, any certificate of origin to American vessels destined for any port other than those of France: that they deliver them and will deliver them hereafter to all American vessels destined for the ports of France, loaded only with the produce of the United States: that all the certificates anterior to the last instructions attributed to the consuls of his majesty, and which it is pretended were given for colonial produce, that evidently came from England, have been challenged as false (argues de faux) in as much as the English publicly fabricate papers of this sort at London.

This, sir, is all that it is possible for me to say to you at present respecting certificates of origin.

I cannot doubt but that the government of the United States will see in these regulations of my court an intention, distinctly pronounced, of favouring the commercial relations between France and the United States in all the objects of traffic which shall evidently proceed from their agriculture or manufactures.

You will readily perceive, sir, that in giving this latitude to the mutually advantageous relations of the two friendly people, the emperor cannot depart from the system of exclusion against English commerce without losing the advantages which his majesty and the allied powers must necessarily expect from it. I have the honour to be, with high consideration, &c.

(Signed) Hon. Robert Smith, Secretary of State.

TURREAU.

SIR,

The Secretary of State to General Turreau.

Department of State, November 28, 1810.

I have had the honour of receiving your letter of yesterday, stating that the French consuls in the United States, are at this time authorized to deliver certificates of origin only to such American vessels as are bound to some port of France, and as are laden with the produce of the United States.

It will afford satisfaction to our merchants to know, and therefore I have to request you to inform me, whether in American vessels having such certificates of origin, they can export to France every kind of produce of the United States, and especially cotton and tobacco.

In addition to the intelligence communicated in your letter in relation to the certificates of origin, I have the honour of asking from you information upon the following questions:

1st. Have not the French consuls been in the practice, under the authority of the French government, of delivering in the ports of the United States certificates of origin for American vessels, bound to the ports of France, and of her allies, and laden with either colonial produce, or the produce of the United States?

2d. Have the French consuls in the United States, lately received from the French government instructions not to deliver such certificates of origin for American vessels, and at what time did they receive such instructions?

3d. At what time did the French consuls cease to issue certificates of origin to American vessels, in pursuance of instructions from their government, in cases of destination to ports of the allies of France?

These facts being connected with questions interesting to our merchants in foreign tribunals, your goodness will pardon the resort to your aid in ascertaining them. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) R. SMITH.

General Turreau, &c. &c. &c.

SIR,

General Turreau to Mr. Smith.
(TRANSLATION.)

Washington, December 12, 1810.

If I have not replied sooner to the letter which you did me the honour to write to me on the 28th of last month, it is because I have sought information from the consul general of his majesty, whether he had not received directly instructions more recent than those which I had transmitted to him, and also to enable me to give a positive answer to the questions contained in the letter referred to above.

I reply, sir, to the first of your questions-that M. M. the conVOL. I. APP.

suls of his majesty to the United States, have always delivered certificates of origin to American vessels for the ports of France: they did it in execution of a decree of his majesty of the 1st of Messidor, of the year eleven.

M. M. the French consuls have also delivered them to vessels destined for neutral or allied ports, whenever they have been required of them. This measure was sanctioned and authorized by a circular despatch of his excellency the minister of foreign relations, under date of the 20th of April, 1808. This despatch prescribes the formalities to be gone through for the certificates delivered in such cases.

I proceed now, sir, to reply to the second of your questions.

By a despatch of his excellency the duke of Cadore, of the 30th of August last, received by the "Hornet" the 13th of last month, and of which information was given the same day to the consuls and vice-consuls of his majesty, they are expressly prohibited from delivering certificates of origin for merchandise of any kind or under any pretext whatever, if the vessels are not destined for France.

This reply to your second question, sir, furnishes you with a solution of the third. The consuls and vice-consuls of his majesty will have ceased to deliver certificates of origin to vessels for any other place than France, immediately on the receipt of this circular, which will reach them a few days sooner or later, according to the greater or less distance of the places of their residence.

Concerning cotton and tobacco, their importation into France is, at this moment, specially prohibited; but I have reasons to believe (and I pray you, meanwhile, to observe, sir, that they do not rest upon any facts) that some modifications will be given to this absolute exclusion. These modifications will not depend upon the chance of events; but will be the result of other measures, firm and pursued with perseverance, which the two governments will continue to adopt to withdraw from the monopoly and from the vexations of the common enemy a commerce, loyal (loyal) and necessary to France as well as to the United States. Accept, sir, the renewed assurance of my high consideration.

(Signed)

SIR,

TURREAU.

The Secretary of State to General Turreau.

Department of State, December 18, 1810.

I have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 12th instant, in reply to my inquiries in relation to certificates of origin, as well as to the admission into France of the products of the agriculture of the United States.

From your letter it appears, that the importation into France of cotton and tobacco, the produce of the United States, is, at this time, especially and absolutely prohibited.

From the decree of the 15th July, it moreover appears, that there ean be no importation into France, but upon terms and conditions