to them, and the limits fixed by convention; and it is only furnished to the Congress of the United States, under the in a few of these treaties that the condition of selling only title of gratuitous assistance, from the pure generosity of to the Government was inserted. In all cases in which the King; three millions of which were granted before this latter condition had not been imposed, the Indians the treaty of February, 1778, and six millions in 1781." certainly possessed the right of selling or ceding their Two millions only having come to the hands of the Conlands to whomsoever they pleased, and nothing but a for-gress of the United States, or of their official agents, premal treaty could divest them of this right, or render void vious to the treaty of February, 1778, it became necesthe cessions of sales thus made. Indeed, the rights of sary to investigate through what channel and in what strangers to lands thus acquired should be considered as manner the other million had been furnished to the United particularly sacred in cases where the State Governments States. A suspicion immediately arose that this million authorized the cessions made by Indians; for, if those Go- had been received by Mr. Beaumarchais, who had sent a vernments have gone beyond the limits of their powers in large amount of military supplies to the United States, for so doing, certainly the stranger who acts with good faith which, though he had been already paid four or five mil should not be made the sufferer.

lions of francs, his account yet remained to be definitively As to cessions made by the authorities, or proprietors, adjusted. Inquiries were accordingly addressed to the not Indian, before the country was annexed to the United French Government on the subject, to which an answer States, the greater portion of these were in Louisiana, was returned, that, besides the two millions furnished in and constitute the property of individuals, whose rights 1777, one million (that in question) was paid out of the were formally admitted and guarantied by the fourth arti- Royal Treasury on the 10th day of June, 1776; but a cle of the treaty of cession of that country. Neverthe- copy of the receipt was refused, and the minister also less, instead of testing the validity of the rights of those declined to disclose the name of the person who had reholders by their accordance with the terms of the treaty; ceived the money. The opinion continuing every day instead of examining them with reference to the state of to gain strength, that this million had been received by things when the cessions of the lands were made; taking, Mr. Beaumarchais, who, in that case, would be accounta also, into consideration, the distance of the period, the ble for it to the United States, a formal application was interruption of relations between the two countries on addressed by the minister of the United States to the account of the long European wars, the agents of the Fe- French Government on the 21st day of June, 1794, asking deral Government, guided, doubtless, by their zeal, have for information relative to the million advanced in June, proceeded to examine into the titles of these proprietors, 1776, to whom it was paid, and for what objects expendand to submit them to new laws. In truth, it must be ed; and stating expressly that the purpose of the apowned that the claimants have been received with favor plication was to charge Mr. Beaumarchais with this sum by the Federal Government, and committees have been in the settlement of his account for supplies, if it should named for the purpose of proposing an equitable mode of appear that he was the person who received it. Monsieur recognising the rights of proprietors which are based upon Buchot, then Commissary of Exterior Relations, in answer ancient titles, and guarantied by treaty. Moreover, it be- to this application, sent a copy of a receipt for one million ing impossible to set a value upon the losses sustained by of francs, dated the 10th June, 1776, and signed by Monthe French, and thus to fix the indemnifications to which sieur Beaumarchais; which receipt, Monsieur Buchot adds, they would be entitled in the cases of each class of ces-appears to be "celle dont le Gouvernement des Etats Unis sions stated above, the most equitable method of regulat- a besoin pour regler ses comptes." No doubt thenceforing these indemnifications would be, to name a commis- ward remaining that the million advanced on the 10th of sion composed of persons of the two nations, (commission June, "as aid and subsidy to the United States," had been mixte, which should be charged with the examination received by Mr. Beaumarchais for their use, he was held of all the grants to Frenchmen which should be presented accountable for it by the officers of the treasury, and forand proved within a given period. All that would be ne-mally charged with it in a definitive settlement of his accessary would be to establish the principle upon which counts, which took place in the year 1805. That settlesuch commission would be formed, and under which it ment still left a balance of 222,046 francs due to Monsieur would act in the treaty which is now in progress.

Beaumarchais, which, in the following year, was paid to his heirs. Since that period the question in regard to the disputed million has been revived by the heirs of Beaumarchais, in an appeal to the Congress of the United States from the decision made by the Treasury Department. They allege that the million received by Monsieur Beaumarchais was applied by him to some secret service, unconnected with the purchase of supplies; and, in support of that assertion, they have adduced certain declarations made by the ministers of France:

1st. That the French Government "est resté constamment étranger à toutes les transactions mercantiles de Monsieur Beaumarchais avec les Etats Unis."

2d. That the million paid to Mr. Beaumarchais, on the 10th June, 1776, " etait donné pour un objet de service politique secret, dont le Roi s'est reserve la connaissance."

These declarations bave never appeared to the Government of the United States sufficient for the purpose for which they have been cited. The first is understood only to affirm that the French Government had no participation in the commercial risks, profits, or losses of Mr. Beaumarchais: that it was not intended to convey the idea that they had made no sales or advances to him on account of the supplies, may be inferred from the admitted fact that a considerable part of those supplies was taken from the King's stores and arsenals. The second declaration does by no means exclude the idea that the million in question

was given to Mr. Beaumarchais to purchase military sup- wounded. It appears, moreover, from the report made plies for the use of the United States; for an advance in the Chamber of Deputies on the 11th of September made with the view of thus aiding revolted English colo- last, that the State, within whose jurisdiction this affair nies, in June, 1776, when the King of France was in full occurred, offered to make reparation for it; but that the peace with Great Britain, might very naturally and pro- minister of France in the United States opposed himself perly be considered a secret political service.

to the consummation of the arrangement. If this should The supposition that this million was given to Mr. Beau- be the case, it would, according to the principle even marchais, not to reach the United States in a material and assumed in the note, materially impair the application tangible service, but to be paid to some other person for now presented for indemnity. In the total ignorance in what is technically called secret service, is plainly incon- which I am of the facts, it is impossible to form a decided sistent with the language of the financial contract already opinion as to the merits of this reclamation. Though it cited, in which this million is mentioned as an "aid and forms a case obviously different from those wrongs comsubsidy furnished to the Congress of the United States," mitted under express orders of the Government of France, and, also, with that used by Count de Vergennes, in a for which the United States now claim redress, I doubt letter to the King of France, on the 2d of May, 1776, in not that my Government would be disposed to make a which, referring to this same million, he speaks of the candid examination of it, and, if found to constitute a fair measures he proposed to adopt, "pour faire passer aux demand on the justice of the United States, to make Americaines, &c." The letter of the Duke de Richelieu, prompt reparation for it. referred to in the notes, if examined with attention, will be found not to contain that "simple but explicit negative declaration" of a matter of fact which Mr. Gallatin I am wholly unacquainted with the facts of this case, had suggested. He makes no new declaration whatever having never before heard of it, and can form an opinion in regard to the application of the million, but merely of it only from the statement contained in the note. From comments and reasons upon the sufficiency of those which that statement, it appears that the act complained of was had been already made, and concludes with saying, "Je committed with perfect secrecy, under cover of the night, suis donc fondé, &c. à persister dans les precedentes, de-excluding thereby all opportunity for the protective inclarations, &c." terposition of the laws or of the public authority. With

No. 3.--Affaire de la Revanche du Cerf.

No. 4.--Affaire du St. Francois.

In regard to the essential merits of this reclamation, an out, therefore, inquiring into any of the circumstances invariable opinion prevailed in the councils of the United which may have formed the provocation to this act, it States that it is not just. This opinion is founded on nu- seems sufficiently clear that there is no principle of public merous communications of the American commissioners law which can render the Government of the United who resided in France at the time, on repeated assur-States responsible for it. ances given to those commissioners by the ministers of the King, on the language used by the most confidential of those ministers with regard to the million in question, in the letter and instrument already cited; to which may has never been presented to the Government of the United This case is altogether new to me, and, it is presumed, be now added the language used by the King himself in a States. If it were intended to found a demand of indemletter addressed by him, on the 8th of January, 1778, to the King of Spain, in which, urging the policy of France nity upon it, it would seem obviously just to have, in the and Spain encouraging the revolt of the American colo-first instance, carried it to the knowledge of the American nies, he speaks of the "secours d'argent et autres que for investigating the facts by receiving the statement of Government, and thus to have afforded an opportunity nous leurs avons donné, le tout etant passé sur le compte du the officer whose conduct is complained of. The result of the affair: at all events, justice requires that both parof such an investigation might entirely change the aspect ties should be heard.

commerce.

If, as is mentioned in the notes, some of the public functionaries of the United States, and a part (though not a majority) of the committees in Congress who have examined the subject, have recommended the payment of this reclamation, it has not been from any conviction of its justice; but, as their respective recommendations will show, from different considerations. Certain it is that the Congress of the United States, with whom alone the decision rested, has heretofore uniformly refused to

admit it.

The report of the 16th of February, 1824, referred to in the notes, far from recognising the justice of the claim, expresses the opposite opinion on its merits, and proposes to refer it to the Executive, to be discussed in the pending negotiations, only because it had been already introduced into those negotiations by the French Government; and in order, as the report adds, to obtain, on the scene of the transaction itself, such further developments as might tend to dispel the obscurity, and remove the doubts then existing.

No. 5.--Affaire de la Jeune Emilie.

This is a demand of indemnity for being forced, by the act of an American privateer, to quit the Banks of Newfoundland before completing a fishing adventure. American fishing vessels have experienced frequent molestations from French vessels of war on the Banks of Newfoundland, of which formal representations have been made by the minister of the United States to the Government of France. If indemnity be demanded for such irregularities, it ought, clearly, to be reciprocal.

No. 6.--Affaire de la Minerve.

It appears from the statement of this case, contained in the note, which is all the information I have concerning it, that the conduct of the American midshipman was promptly disavowed by the commanding officer. There was no necessary detention of the Minerva, arising from the act of the midshipman. The subsequent delay of twelve days at Mahon, being entirely voluntary, so far as appears, on the part of the captain, it is not seen on what principle the Government of the United States can be charged with it.

No. 2.-Affaire de la Vengeance et de la Franchise. I have no knowledge of the circumstances of this case, except what has been derived from a hurried glance at some documents shown me by an agent of the claimants. From those documents, it appears that the affair originated in a rixe which took place between the American and French sailors at a house of bad fame, in which I have no knowledge whatever of this case, except an American was killed, and a French sailor severely what is derived from the statement contained in the

No. 7.-Affuire de l'Eugene.

note, and that is not sufficiently precise to furnish the ment of the United States, on behalf of its citizens, has, ground of an opinion. The nature of the means used by for several years past, demanded of the Government of the custom-house officers to oblige the vessel to quit the France the restitution of discriminating duties imposed river, is not mentioned, nor are other essential circum- in France on American vessels, in contravention of the stances stated. The river St. Mary's is a small river, same treaty, and that a distinct negotiation is still pending forming the boundary between the ancient territory of on this subject. The Government of the United States the United States and the former Spanish possessions in would, doubtless, be eager to embrace any occasion for Florida, and affording great facilities (which were often the reciprocal adjustment of these reclamations on both used) for evading the revenue laws of the United States. sides.

This circumstance called for great vigilance on the part of

No. 8.--Affaire de la Calypso.

tilde, la Julie, l'Eliza.

All these reclamations stand on the same foundation.

the custom-house officers of the Union. What causes of Nos. 10, 11, 12, 13.--Affaires de la Jeune Eugenie, la Masuspicion they may have had against the Eugene, which led to the adoption of the measures complained of, is not known here; though doubtless the whole matter is understood at Washington, where, it would seem from an allu- The four vessels were all captured in the course of the sion in the note, that it has been the subject of discussion. same month, (May, 1821,) on the coast of Africa, by an The damages claimed are altogether speculative, founded American ship of war sent there to aid in the suppression These vessels were engaged in that on the supposition that a more advantageous sale of the of the slave trade. cargo might have been made in Florida than at Savannah. traffic, and the American officers, judging from the conIt is difficult to recognise in a speculative calculation of struction of some of them that they were in fact Amerithat sort, under any circumstances, a substantial founda- can property, successively took forcible possession of tion for indemnity. them all. One only of them, the Jeune Eugenie, was sent to the United States, where the American Government, having acquired proof that she was French property, immediately ordered her release. Of the three others, As it seems, from the statement contained in the note, one was released by the American officer, and the rethat this affair has been under discussion at Washington, maining two effected their own release. Representations I take it for granted that full explanations respecting it on account of the insult offered to the national flag were have been given there. Wholly uninformed as I am of addressed by the minister of France to the Government the facts, it is, therefore, the less necessary for me to at Washington, which immediately issued orders to the make any observations on the subject. One considera- commanders of vessels charged with the suppression of tion, however, is too obvious to be omitted-that the laws the slave trade not to visit or search any vessels except of the United States furnished the means of redressing those bearing the flag of the Union. The French Goany injustice which the parties may have suffered, by ap- vernment declared itself satisfied with these measures, pealing to the higher tribunals constituted for the express and the affair has been thenceforward considered as at an purpose of correcting the errors of inferior local autho- end. An injury had been done to the French nation in rities. From the exigencies of the case, and in conformity the violation of its flag by an American officer, and atoneto what is believed to be the usage of all other countries, ment was promptly made for it, which was declared to France herself included, questions like that arising in the be satisfactory. The American Government owed no recase of the Calypso must, necessarily, in the first in- dress, nor the French Government any protection, to the stance, be decided by some local tribunal. Citizens of individual interests concerned, which had forfeited all the United States frequently experienced the most seri- right to the one or to the other, by being engaged in a ous grievances, in similar cases, from the irregular or traffic odious to humanity, and the suppression of which improper action of the local authorities in France. In the moral feelings of mankind have made the common one case, particularly, mentioned by Mr. Gallatin in a let- cause of all nations. ter to Viscount Montmorency, of the 29th July, 1822, the vessel and cargo were sold by an inferior officer, (who would not permit the intervention of the consular agent I know nothing of the circumstances of this claim, exof the United States,) for less than the value of the ca- cept so far as they are disclosed by the statement containbles and anchors! These irregularities of the French local ed in the note. From that it appears that the Treasurer authorities have heretofore been made the subject of re- of the United States has been willing to pay the drafts in presentation to the Government of France, with a view question whenever the French Government would proto preventive measures to guard against their recurrence, duce the evidence that the individual creditors, for whose and not to found upon them a demand of indemnities. claims they were drawn, had been paid. The French But if indemnities are demanded for acts of this charac- Government has refused to do this, alleging that the ter, justice clearly requires that they should be recipro- United States can have no interest in the production of cal, and extended to all cases depending on the same this evidence, that they owe no responsibility to the indiprinciple. vidual creditors, and that the convention of 1803 "has There is one reflection connected with this affair, which imposed upon them the pure and simple obligation to pay the claimants seem to have entirely forgotten, but which to France the twenty millions of francs." This reasoncannot, in justice, be lost sight of--that, but for the inter-ing, however, is not sustained by the convention itself, vention of the recaptors, their property would have been the third article of which declares that "the principal wholly lost to them; and that, under the circumstances, and interest of the said debts" (that is, the debts due by the restoration of any part of it is, in fact, a gain for

them.

No. 14.-Affair of the "Trésor Royal."

France to American citizens) "shall be discharged by the United States," &c; and the sixth article further shows that these debts are to be discharged by direct payments No. 9.-Affaire du Pactole. made by the United States to the American creditors, who, This is a demand for the restitution of discriminating upon obtaining a certain certificate, "auront droit aux duties alleged to have been imposed on a French vessel mandats sur le Trésor des Etats Unis." The Government at Pensacola, contrary to the stipulations of the commer- of the United States, therefore, by the convention, has cial convention of 24th June, 1822. Without entering evidently contracted an obligation to the American creditinto the circumstances of this case, of which I have no ors, and is interested in having proper evidence of the knowledge, it is sufficient to remark, that the Govern- payment of their claims. It cannot be doubted, how

ever, that the difficulty which has arisen might be easily character, in which foreigners may be interested, the triarranged by proper explanations between the two Go-bunals of the United States are governed, with a rigid vernments. The subject, it is believed, has never been impartiality, by the same rules and principles which are presented to the political department of the Government at Washington, which would listen, as it has done on all other occasions, with loyalty and good faith, to any representations which the Government of France might think proper to address to it concerning this affair.

applied to similar claims of native citizens. Nothing more can be fairly demanded by a foreign Government. If, from an inherent vice in the titles themselves, or from a non-compliance with the conditions of their grants, some of the natives of France have failed to establish their pretensions before the regular tribunals constituted for the purpose, the fault is certainly not that of the United States. If, when a claim cannot be judicially sustained, there yet may exist circumstances to recommend it to a benevolent consideration of the legislative authority, the appeal must be to Congress, where it seems that the claimants in question have already met with a reception that leaves them No. 16.-Affaire des Concessions de Terrain. no cause of complaint. But to admit a foreign agency in This reclamation relates to grants of land, in different the determination of questions of this character, would be parts of the Union, obtained from Indian tribes living a derogation of national sovereignty to which the Governwithin its limits, or derived under Governments which ment of the United States can never consent.

No. 15.-Affaire des Legionnaires de Luxembourg. This is obviously a question between the Legionnaires and the State of South Carolina, to which the Government of the Union is entirely a stranger.

Mr. Rives to Mr. Livingston.

formerly possessed a portion of the territory now belonging to the United States. The note maintains the validity of the first mentioned grants, on the principle that the Indian tribes are virtually sovereign and independent, [[No. 74.] PARIS, June 29, 1831. and, as such, have an incontestable right to dispose of SIR: On the 15th instant I again called on the Minister their lands to whomsoever, and in whatever manner, they of Foreign Affairs, for the purpose of urging upon him the please. This position is contradicted by the invariable necessity of bringing our negotiation to a definitive conpractice of all the European Governments who have, at clusion. I found Baron Deffandis with him, who entered any time, had possessions in America, and by solemn and into various explanations and arguments respecting the repeated decisions on the point itself by the highest tri- French claims. A general conversation on the subject bunals in the United States. Whatever may have been ensued, which was necessarily vague and inconclusive, the form in which we have chosen to conduct our rela- as no formal specification of these claims had yet been tions with the Indians, no principle of our polity is better presented to me. Baron Deffandis said that the exposition understood, or more firmly established, than that the In- which they had been preparing in the bureaux, was nearly dian tribes occupying portions of our territory do not completed; and the minister promised to send it to me as possess a single attribute of national sovereignty, but are soon as it was finished. completely subject to the paternal dominion and tutelage I remarked to Count Sebastiani that, as some of the of the United States, in whom only the sovereignty of the claims which had been mentioned were obviously unsuscountry resides. This is a question which it belongs to tainable, I hoped he would present none others than such the United States alone to determine, and they have de- as were approved by his personal convictions of their termined it on numerous occasions, and in the most so- justice. He assured me that none should be presented lemn form, by the highest authorities known to the laws but such as seemed to be four.ded in principles of equity. and constitution of the country. Whatever regulations In the evening of the same day, I received from the the Government of the United States may have found it minister a note, accompanied by a list of fourteen pecunecessary to establish in relation to the transactions of in-niary claims, amounting to 4,689,251 francs, and distinct dividuals with the Indian tribes, and that, too, in the in- expositions of each, together with two additional memoirs terest of the Indians themselves, whom too much care on claims of a peculiar character; copies of all which are could not be taken to protect against fraud, these regula- herewith enclosed. tions apply alike to their own citizens and to foreigners; and a foreign Government certainly has abundant cause of satisfaction when it knows that its own subjects are put on the same footing as natives.

On the 17th instant, having examined, as far as the means in my possession would enable me, the merits of these reclamations, I again called on the Minister of Fo reign Affairs, and discussed with him and Baron Deffandis, (who was again present,) in considerable detail, the greater part of them. The minister then suggested that, as they had presented their claims in a written exposition, it would be more satisfactory and useful to receive my observations on them in the same form, after which we might more readily come to an understanding in a personal interview. He said that, on Tuesday, the 21st instant, he would be able to devote several hours to a further discussion of the subject with me, provided I could prepare, in the mean time, my written observations on the several claims which had been presented, and would send them to him at least one day beforehand. To this arrangement I very promptly assented.

The grants of land referred to as having been derived ¦ under Governments which formerly possessed a portion of the territory now belonging to the United States, are said to be chiefly in the State of Louisiana, and an article of the treaty of cession of that country is invoked, as if it had specifically guarantied the grants in question. But I find nothing else in the treaty than a general declaration that "les habitans seront incorporés dansl Union des Etats Unis et admis, aussitot qu'il sera possible, &c. &c., et en at tendant, seront maintenus et protegés dans la jouissance de leurs libertés propriétés, et dans l'exercise des réligions qu'ils professent." If there be any thing else in this treaty, or in any other treaty, which may be supposed to have a bearing on the grants in question, it is sufficient to say that all Although I felt the justice of several of these reclamatreaties made with foreign Powers are solemnly declared tions, and the plausibility of others, yet, as the best means by the constitution of the United States "to be the supreme of leading to a favorable compromise, it appeared to me exlaw of the land," and that the tribunals of the country are pedient, in drawing up my observations, to state as strongly bound, and do in fact govern their decisions, by them. When as I could, consistently with fair discussion, objections and controversies arise in regard to land titles, it is the com- arguments which might be urged against each of them. It mon law of all nations that they should be decided ac- was with this view, particularly, that, in treating the cording to the laws and by the tribunals of the country claim of the heirs of Beaumarchais, 1 brought forward, where the lands are situated. In judging claims of this in as strong relief as the narrow limits of the discussion

Spoliations on American Commerce.

time, formed the ground of the argument against it in the United States among those who were opposed to its allowance.

[22d CONG. 2d SESS.

would admit, the circumstances which had, from time to gress, by Presidents Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe; two Attorneys General of the United States, Messrs. Rodney and Pinckney, had given their official opinion that the credit claimed by the United States was not sustainable on There were, among the claims presented, several others legal principles; and, of ten committees of the House of which had been the subject of diplomatic discussion at Representatives who had examined the subject, six (for, Washington; but altogether uninformed of the ground since the preparation of my observations addressed to the which had been taken there, and having no other know- Minister of Foreign Affairs, I find that a majority of these ledge of the facts than what I could collect from the im- committees had made reports favorable to it) have reperfect sketches presented by the French Government commended its payment. itself, I was compelled to confine myself to the general views of them. My observations were prepared in the course of the 17th and 18th of the month, and, in order to avoid the necessity of translation at the Department of Foreign Affairs, they were communicated in the French language. On the 19th instant they were transmitted to the minister with a note, a copy of which, as well as of the observations, is herewith enclosed.

If the claim were to be adjusted in the United States, it appeared impossible to separate the interest claimed from the principal. The committees of Congress which had made favorable reports on it, (particularly the select committee which made its report on the 28th January, 1823, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which reported on the 1st April, 1828,) seem always to have regarded the interest on this claim as necessarily incident On the 21st instant, the day proposed by the minister to the principal; and Mr. Gallatin, then Secretary of the for our interview, I again called at the Office of Foreign Treasury, in his letter of the 27th January, 1806, to the Affairs. The minister said he had read and considered chairman of the Committee of Claims, it will be perceived, my observations with attention; that he did not deem it treated the interest as equally due with the principal. To necessary to enter into a separate discussion of the several get rid of this claim, amounting, alone, to more than three claims with me; that the principal one, and greatly ex- and a half millions of francs, and of others, (among ceeding all the others in amount, was that of the heirs of which are some of clear justice,) amounting to one milBeaumarchais; that the council before whom he had lion more, for a gross sum of one and a half million of brought the subject, considered the claim just, and had francs, was an arrangement so obviously advantageous for determined to insist upon it: he had reason to believe, the United States, that I did not hesitate to adopt it. however, that the parties interested, in order now to secure The question respecting the eighth article of the treaty their claim in a certain and definitive manner, might be of cession of Louisiana then remained to be adjusted. The induced to accept a sum less than the whole amount they minister declared that the national sentiment, as well as had claimed; that the other claims, among which there the convictions and determination of the French Governwere some of unquestionable justice, might, in like man-ment, rendered a simultaneous arrangement of this quesner, be compromised, and that the whole subject of pri- tion the indispensable condition of the acknowledgment vate French claims might thus be terminated by a trans- of our reclamations; but that he was willing, with some action en bloc, and, in all probability, for two or three little addition, to arrange it on the same basis which had millions of francs. been agreed upon between Monsieur Polignac and myHe then sent for Baron Deffandis to give information on self. this point; but the Baron being detained at home by Monsieur David, the Secretary General of the Bureau sickness, Count Sebastiani said it was necessary that he of Commerce, who had been consulted by the Minister of should see him before he could come to a definitive conclu- Foreign Affairs on this subject, was present, and exhibitsion on the subject, and invited me to call again on the ed a projet he had prepared for a considerable reduction following morning. I remarked to the minister, that of duties on French wines and brandies. I explained to though I might not be disinclined to a compromise of these the minister the considerations connected with the inteclaims if he would be content with a reasonable allowance for pretensions so questionable, yet I could not consent to so high a sum as he had mentioned.

rests of our own industry, which rendered it impossible for me to accede to any reduction of the duties on French brandies. After a protracted conversation, with the deOn the following day, (the 22d,) I called again on the tails of which it is unnecessary to trouble you, it was finally Minister of Foreign Affairs, as he had proposed, and agreed that the United States should stipulate to reduce, found Baron Deffandis with him. The discussion was re-for a term of ten years, the duties on French wines to the sumed on the French claims, and particularly that of the following rates, by the gallon, to wit: on wines in bottles, heirs of Beaumarchais. After a great deal of conversation, which it is not deemed necessary to detail, the subject was arranged by the minister's agreeing to accept a gross sum of fifteen hundred thousand francs in satisfaction of all the claims.

from 30 to 22 cents; on white wines, in casks, from 15 to 10 cents; and on red wines, in casks, from 10 to 6 cents; in consideration of which, France should entirely abandon her pretension under the eighth article of the treaty of cession of Louisiana, and, moreover, agree to abolish the distinction now made in the French tariff between the long staple and the short staple cottons of the United States, the effect of which will be a reduction of the duty on the former from 40 to 20 francs the 100 kilogrammes.

The claim of the heirs of Beaumarchais alone amounted to 3,700,874 francs. From the peculiar nature of this claim, and the connexion of the French Government with it, the honor of the United States seemed now imperiously to demand its adjustment, whether intrinsically well found- The motives and advantages of this arrangement on the ed or not. The million which, with its interest, had been part of the United States are so fully developed in my charged to the account of Beaumarchais, was not alleged despatch of the 20th May, 1830, that I need not here enter to have been paid to him by the United States. It was into the subject again. That the increased consumption claimed as a gift put into his hands by the French King of French wines in the United States, under the reduced for the purpose of purchasing the supplies with which he duties, will produce a material increase of the revenue had furnished the United States. But the French Go- arising from this source, I cannot doubt; while the salutavernment had repeatedly declared that it was not applied ry influence of the measure on the public health and moto the purchase of those supplies, but to an object of rals in the free introduction of a cheap and unexciting secret political service, of which Beaumarchais had ren- drink, no less recommends it to the approbation of an endered a satisfactory account to his own Government. lightened patriotism, of which it is known, indeed, to Under these circumstances, the claim had been succes- have been long a favorite and cherished object. sively recommended to the favorable consideration of Con

I will remark, only, that the proposition made to Mon