ADVERTISEMENT.

THIS work is intended to give a view of the Foreign Relations, an account of the policy pursued, or, as it is sometimes termed, a diplomatic history of the country, from the first intercourse of the Government with Europe in 1776-7-8, to the end of the year 1814. We have selected that period for the close of the account," as a general pacification then took place, and those considerations, which, during the wars of the French revolution, gave so much importance to our negotiations abroad, were, in consequence of the state of peace, entirely put at rest.

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We have given a condensed exposition of some of the important principles of the Laws of Nations, brought into discussion since the year '92, though the nature of the work has not permitted an extended dissertation on any of those topics.

It is proper to observe that, in preparing this work, great use has necessarily been made of the collection of American state papers, and of the journals of Congress, both of the confederation, and of the present government, together with the documents, debates, &c. to be found in the Parliamentary History of Great Britain, and other works of that description. The valuable collections of the Ebeling and Warden libraries on American subjects, now in the possession of Harvard University, and the excellent collection of American tracts in the Atheneum in this town, may be consulted to advantage on any topic relative to this country.

Boston, April 10th, 1826.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS. CONFEDERATION, &c.

Powers of First Congress as to Foreign Relations defec-

tive-Adoption of Confederation-Powers of Constitution of

'89-Powers of House of Representatives as to Treaties-

Foreign business first done by Secret Committees, very labo-

rious-Department for Foreign Affairs established-First Se-

cretary-Salary-Department under the Constitution-One

of the Cabinet-Right of President to remove-United States

never sent or received an "Ambassador"-Rules for recep-

tion-Diplomatic Agents of the Confederation-Expenses of

the Diplomatic Corps under the Confederation-Salaries, &c.

under the Constitution--Ceremonial of first Minister very

difficult to arrange Somewhat ludicrous-Extract from Se-

cret Journals-Present mode of accrediting,

CHAPTER II.

Page.

1

TREATIES OF AMITY AND COMMERCE, AND OF ALLI-

ANCE OF 1778, WITH FRANCE.

Confederation little hopes, or means, of obtaining foreign

assistance-Deane sent to France in '76 to obtain supplies---

Remarkable letter of Vergennes-Franklin, Deane, and Jef-

ferson elected Commissioners in '76-Jefferson excused from

going-Lee chosen in his place-Not officially received-

Alarming situation-France disposed to withdraw all succour

-News of Burgoyne's Surrender-Treaties signed-Com-

missioners presented at Court-Great attention to Franklin-

Anecdotes of him-Gerard appointed Minister to America-

Sails in d'Estaing's Flag-ship-Presented to Congress-Ce-

remonial-Franklin elected to Versailles-Returns to America

-Succeeded by Jefferson-De la Luzerne succeeds Gerard,

Page

17

CHAPTER III.

CONVENTION OF 1800 WITH FRANCE.

Jefferson elected again to France--De la Luzerne is suc-

ceeded by de Moustier-Morris succeeds Jefferson, and Ter-

nan de Moustier-French Revolution embarrassing to Go-

vernment-Perplexing question whether a Minister should

be received from the French Republic-Mr. Genet-Death

of the King-Less enthusiasm for the Revolution-Very diffi-

cult Negotiation with Genet-His demands examined-Mon-

roe goes to France-Government solicit the recall of Genet

-Dismissed-Is succeeded by Fauchet-More temperate-

Adet succeeds Fauchet-Outrage on Fauchet--France ex-

tremely dissatisfied with state of things-Jay's treaty-Pink-

ney succeeds Monroe-Not received by the Directory-Or-

dered to leave France-Extraordinary proceeding--Pinkney,

Marshall, and Gerry appointed-Not received, though cards

of hospitality sent them-W. Y. Z.-Talleyrand proposes to

treat with one Commissioner only--Rejected-Pinkney and

Marshall leave France-Gerry remains Hostilities-Talley-

rand brings on, by means of Pichon, another Negotiation-

Ellsworth, Murray, and Davie appointed to France-Proper-

ly received-First Consul-Convention-Bonaparte desirous

of Peace,.

52

CHAPTER IV.

CESSION OF LOUISIANA.

Purchase, a good one-Necessary for Western country-

French possessions in North America extinguished by trea-

ties of '62 and '63--Louisiana secretly ceded to France-

Great uneasiness in America-France prepares to take pos-

session of it- Prevented by renewal of war-Ceded to United

States Terms-Made 66
a territory" and then a state-Let-

ter of British officer on Louisiana,

CHAPTER V.

CONTINENTAL SYSTEM.

Livingston Minister in France-Turreau and Serrurier in

this country-America very prosperous-Berlin Decree-

Great calamity-Beginning of Continental System-All Conti-

nent, except Turkey, in the League-America only neutral

-Milan Decree-Canton, in China, only port not blockaded

-Embargo-Bayonne and Rambouillet Decrees-Cause of

War against France-Repeal of French Decrees-England

refused to acknowledge the validity of the act—Antedated

Decree French Spoliations-No indemnity-Angry corres-

pondence with France,

Page.

107

118

CHAPTER VI.

TREATY OF 1782 WITH THE NETHERLANDS.

Second power to make a Treaty with United States-War

between United Provinces and England-Causes-Lee, fail-

ing at Berlin, enters secretly into a correspondence with the

Regency of Amsterdam-not suspected by Sir Joseph Yorke

-Lee agrees, at Aix La Chapelle, on a Treaty with Neuf-