ENCLOSURE ALLUDED TO ABOVE.]

Translation of a Note from Lord Cathcart, to the Count de Nesselrode, dated Toplitz, September 1, 1813.

THE undersigned ambassador of his Britannic majesty to the emperour of all the Russias, desiring to avail himself of the first occasion to renew the subject respecting America, which was brought into discussion in a conference at the moment of departure from Reichenbach, has the honour to address this note to his excellency the count de Nesselrode.

Although the prince regent, for reasons which have been already made known, has not found himself in a situation to accept the mediation of his imperial majesty for terminating the discussions with the United States of America, his royal highness desires, nevertheless, to give effect to the beneficent wishes which his imperial majesty has expressed of seeing the war between Great Britain and America soon terminated, to the mutual satisfaction of the two governments.

With this view, his royal highness having learned that the envoys plenipotentiary of the United States for negotiating a peace with Great Britain, under the mediation of his imperial majesty, have arrived in Russia, notwithstanding that he finds himself under the necessity of not accepting the interposition of any friendly power in the question which forms the principal object in dispute between the two states, he is nevertheless ready to nominate plenipotentiaries to treat directly with the American plenipotentiaries.

His royal highness sincerely wishes that the conferences of these plenipotentiaries may result in re-establishing, between the two nations, the blessings and the reciprocal advantages of peace.

If, through the good offices of his imperial majesty, this proposition should be accepted, the prince regent would prefer that the conferences should be held at London, on account of the facilities which it would give to the discus. sions.

But if this choice should meet with insuperable obstacles, his royal highness would consent to substitute Gottenburg as the place nearest to England.

The undersigned, &c.

(Signed)

CATHCART.

The Secretary of State to Lord Castlereagh. Department of State, January

MY LORD,

1814.

I HAVE had the honour to receive by a flag of truce your lordship's letter of the 4th of November last, and a copy of a note which his Britannic majesty's ambassador at the court of St. Petersburg presented to the Russian government on the first of September preceding.

By this communication it appears that his royal highness the prince regent rejected the mediation offered by his imperial majesty to promote peace between the United States and Great Britain, but proposed to treat directly with the United States at Gottenburg or London, and that he had requested the interposition of the good offices of the emperour in favour of such an arrangement.

Having laid your lordship's communication before the President, I am instructed to state, for the information of his royal highness the prince regent, that the President has seen with regret this new obstacle to the commencement of a negotiation for the accommodation of differences between the United States and Great Britain. As the emperour of Russia was distinguished for his rectitude and impartiality, and was moreover engaged in a war, as an ally of England, whereby it was his interest to promote peace between the United States and Great Britain, the President could not doubt that his, royal highness the prince regent would accept the mediation, which his imperial majesty had offered to them. It was the confidence with which the high character of the emperour inspired the President, that induced him, disregarding considerations, which a more cautious policy might have suggested, to accept the overture with promptitude, and to send ministers to St. Petersburg, to take advantage of it. It would have been very satisfactory to the President, if his royal high

An extract of a letter from the secretary of state, to Mr. Adams, minister of the United States at St. Petersburg, of the 1st July, 1812, and four letters and extracts from Mr. Adams to the secretary of state, bearing date respectively on the 30th Sept. 17th Oct. and 11th Dec. 1812, and on the 26th June, 1815.

All which is respectfully submitted.

JAMES MONROE.

Department of State, Jan. 18, 1814.

[TRANSLATION.]

Mr. De Daschkoff, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his imperial majesty the Emperour of all the Russias, to the Secretary of State of the U. States. THE undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his majesty the Emperour of all the Russias, has the honour to make known to the secretary of state of the United States of America, that he has just received orders from the emperour his master, to make the following overture to his excellency the President of the United States.

The peace of Russia with England seemed to present this immense advantage to the commerce of nearly all sea faring people, that it freed their relations from that constraint, from that continual vexation to which it had been subjected for many years without intermission. The emperour viewed with pleasure a result so conformable to all his wishes, and which appeared as not being at all doubtful. It became so, however, by the war between England and America.

The undersigned is directed to express to the President of the United States the regret with which his imperial majesty foresees the great shackles which this new episode is about to oppose to the commercial prosperity of nations. The love of humanity and what he owes to his subjects, whose commerce has already sufficiently suffered, command him to do every thing in his power to remove the evils which this war is preparing even for those nations who will not take part in it.

His majesty, who takes pleasure in doing justice to the

was the object of his interposition. I am accordingly instructed to make known to your lordship, for the information of his royal highness the prince regent, that the President accedes to his proposition, and will take the measures depending on him for carrying it into effect at Gottenburg, with as little delay as possible; it being presumed, that his majesty the king of Sweden, as the friend of both parties, will readily acquiesce in the choice of a place for their pacifick negotiations, within his dominions.

The President is duly sensible of the attention of his royal highness the prince regent, in giving the orders to the admiral commanding the British squadron on this coast, which your lordship has communicated.

I have the honour to be, &c.

JAMES MONROE.

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. JAN. 18, 1814.

I TRANSMIT to the House of Representatives a report of the Secretary of State complying with their resolution of the 13th inst. JAMES MADISON.

REPORT.

THE Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 13th inst. requesting the President to lay before the house such documents relative to the Russian mediation, as in his opinion it may not be improper to communicate, has the honour to transmit to the President, for the information of the House, the following letters in relation to that subject, viz :

A letter in French (with a translation) from Mr. Daschkoff, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his majesty the emperour of Russia, to the secretary of state, of the 8th March, 1813, with the answer of the secretary of state of the 11th March.

An extract of a letter from the secretary of state, to Mr. Adams, minister of the United States at St. Petersburg, of the 1st July, 1812, and four letters and extracts from Mr. Adams to the secretary of state, bearing date respectively on the 30th Sept. 17th Oct. and 11th Dec. 1812, and on the 26th June, 1813.

All which is respectfully submitted.

JAMES MONROE.

Department of State, Jan. 18, 1814.

[TRANSLATION.]

Mr. De Daschkoff, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his imperial majesty the Emperour of all the Russias, to the Secretary of State of the U. States. THE undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of his majesty the Emperour of all the Russias, has the honour to make known to the secretary of state of the United States of America, that he has just received orders from the emperour his master, to make the following overture to his excellency the President of the United States.

The peace of Russia with England seemed to present this immense advantage to the commerce of nearly all sea faring people, that it freed their relations from that constraint, from that continual vexation to which it had been subjected for many years without intermission. The em

perour viewed with pleasure a result so conformable to all his wishes, and which appeared as not being at all doubtful. It became so, however, by the war between England and America.

The undersigned is directed to express to the President of the United States the regret with which his imperial majesty foresees the great shackles which this new episode is about to oppose to the commercial prosperity of nations. The love of humanity and what he owes to his subjects, whose commerce has already sufficiently suffered, command him to do every thing in his power to remove the evils which this war is preparing even for those nations who will not take part in it.

His majesty, who takes pleasure in doing justice to the