lay I gave the government here an opportunity of obtaining the necessary information concerning these cases,and of pursuing spontaneously the course which the relations between the two countries appeared to require. On the 11th,, however, having learnt at the council of prizes that no new order had been received there, judged it to be my duty no longer to remain silent, lest this government should erroneously suppose that what had been done was completely satisfactory to the United States, and, construing my silence into an acquiescence in this opinion, neglect to do more. I therefore on that day addressed to the duke of Bassano my note [No. 3] with a list of American vessels captured since the 1st of November. On the 16th, I learnt that he had laid this note, with a general report on it, before the emperor, but that his majesty declined taking any decision with regard to it, before it had been submitted to a council of commerce. Unfortunately, this council did not meet before the departure of the emperor for Cherbourg; and during his absence, and the festivals which succeeded it, there was no assemblage of this body. Immediately on receiving the communication of the duke of Bassano of the 4th of May, I addressed him a note (No. 4] concerning the brig Good Intent, detained at St. Andero. Although this vessel had in fact been captured, yet, from the peculiar circumstances of the case, I hoped that she would be placed on the same footing as those which had been admitted. The answer [No. 5] which was returned by the duke of Bassano, dated the 25th and received the 28th, announced to me, however, that this affair must be carried before the council of prizes. Wishing to rescue this case from this inauspicious mode of proceeding, I again addressed him in relation to it, in a note [No. 6] on the 2d of June. If I could not obtain at once the restoration of this vessel, it was desirable, at least, that she should be admitted to the benefit of the general measure, which I insinuated might be taken in favor of the captured class mentioned in my note of the 11th of May. As in this note I have stated the case of the Good Intent to be analogous to those of the Hare and the John, it may be proper to explain to you both the points of resemblance and diversity, in order to reconcile this note with my declaration, that no captured vessel was on the list of the 4th of May. The cases agree in the destination to places under the authority of France, and in the arrestation by launches in the service of the French government; they differ in the Hare and John having already, before they were taken, arrived at the port, and within the territorial jurisdiction of the country to which they. were bound, and the Good Intent having been taken without such jurisdiction, and conducted to a port to which they were not destined. The taking possession of the Hare, and the John, may be considered then as a seizure in port, and that of the Good Intent, as a capture on the high seas. [Remainder of Mr. Russell's letter in next number.] CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER. No. 20.1 TWELFTH CONGRESS.... FIRST SESSION. [1811-12. DOCUMENTS relative to John Henry, an emissary employed in 1809 by the Governor of Canada, communicated to Congress by the President. MESSAGE To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States. I lay before Congress copies of certain documents which remain in the department of state. They prove that at a recent period, whilst the United States, notwithstanding the wrongs sustained by them, ceased rot to observe the laws of peace and neutrality towards Great Britain, and in the midst of amicable professions and negociations on the part of the British government, through its public minister here, a secret agent of that government was employed in certain states, more especially at the seat of government in Massachusetts, in fomenting disaffection to the constituted authorities of the nation, and in intriguing with the disaffected for the purpose of bringing about resistance to the laws, and eventually, in concert with British force, of destroying the Union, and forming the eastern part thereof into a political connection with Great Britain. In addition to the effect which the discovery of such a procedure ought to have on the public councils. it will not fail to render more dear to the hearts of all good citizens, that happy union of these states, which, under Divine Providence, is the guarantee of their liberties, their safety, their tranquillity and their prosperity. March 9, 1812. JAMES MADISON. MR. HENRY TO MR. MONROE. Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1812. SIR-Much observation and experience have convinced me, that the injuries and insults with which the United States have been so long and so frequently visited, and which cause their present embarrassment, have been owing to an opinion entertained by foreign States, "that in any measare tending to wound their pride, or provoke their hostility, the Govern ment of this country could never induce a great majority of its citizens to concur" and as many of the evils which flow from the influence of this opinion on the policy of foreign nations, may be removed by any act that can produce unanimity among all parties in America, I voluntarily tender to you, sir, such means as I possess, towards promoting so desirable and important an object; which, if accomplished, cannot fail to extinguish, perhaps forever, those expectations abroad, which may protract indefinitely an accommodation of existing difficulties, and check the progress of industry and prosperity in this rising empire. I have the honor to transmit here with the Documents and Correspondence relating to an important mission in which I was employed by Sir James Craig, the late Governor General of the British Provinces in NorthAmerica, in the Winter of the year 1809. The publication of these papers will demonstrate a fact not less valnable than the good already proposed; it will prove that no reliance ought to be placed on the professions of good faith of an administration which by a series of disatrous events has fallen into such hands as a Castlereagh, No. 20. a Wellesley, or a Liverpool-I should rather say into the hands of the stu pid subalterns, to whom the pleasures and the indolence of those Ministers have consigned it. In contributing to the good of the United States by an exposition which cannot (I think) fail to solve and melt all disunion among its citizens, I Batter myself with the fond expectation that when it is made public in England it will add one great motive to the many that already exist, to induce that nation to withdraw its confidence from men whose political career is a fruitful source of injury and embarrassment in America; of injustice and misery in Ireland; of distress and apprehension in England; and contempt every where. In making this communication to you, sir, I deem it incumbent on me distinctly and unequivocally to state that I adopt no party views; that I have not changed any of my political opinions; that I nei. ther seck nor desire the patronage nor countenance of any Government nor of any Party; and that in addition to the motives already expressed, I am influenced by a just resentment of the perfidy and dishonor of those who first violated the conditions upon which I received their confidence; who have injured me and disappointed the expectations of my friends, and left me no choice but between a degrading acquiescence in injustice, and a retaliation which is necessary to secure to me my own respect. This wound will be felt where it is merited; and if Sir James Craig still live, his share of the pain will excite no sympathy among those who are in the secret of our connection. I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, &c. &c. (Signed) J. HENRY. No. I. Mr. RYLAND, secretary to sir James Craig, late Governor-general of the British provinces in North America, to Mr. HENRY. APPLICATION TO UNDERTAKE THE MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES. My dear sir, [Most secret and confidential.] Quebec, 26th January, 1809. THE extraordinary situation of things at this time in the neighboring states has suggested to the Governor in Chief the idea of employing you on a secret and Confidential mission to Boston, provided an arrangement can be made to meet the important end in view, without throwing an absolute obstacle in the way of your professional pursuits. The information and political observations heretofore received from you were transmitted by his Excellency to the Secretary of State, who has expressed his particular approbation of them, and there is no doubt that your able execution of such a mission as I have above suggested would give you a claim not only on the governor-general but on his Majesty's ministers, which might eventually contribute to your advantage. You will have the goodness therefore to acquaint me for his Excellency's information, whether you could make it convenient to engage in a mission of this nature, and what pecuniary assistance would be requisite to enable you to undertake it without injury to yourself. At present it is only necessary for me to add, that the Governor would furnish you with a cypher for carrying on your correspondence, and that in case the leading party in any of the states wished to open a communication with this government, their views might be communicated through you. vant, I am, with great truth and regard, my dear sir, your most faithful, humble serHERMAN W. RYLAND. John Henry, Esq. (Signed) General Instructions from Sir J. H. Craig to Mr. Henry respecting his secret Mission. His Excellency the Governor in Chief's instructions to Mr. Henry, Feb. 1809. [Most secret and confidential.] Quebec, Feb. 6, 1809. Sir-As you have so readily undertaken the service which I have suggested to you, as being likely to be attended with much benefit to the public interests, I am te request that with your earliest conveniency you will proceed to Boston. The principal object that I recommend to your attention is the endeavor to obtain the most accurate information of the true state of affairs in that part of the Union, which, from its wealth, the number of its inhabitants, and the known intelligence and ability of several of its leading men, must naturally possess a very considerable influence over, and will indeed probably lead the other Eastern States of America in the part that they may take at this important crisis. I shall not pretend to point out to you the mode by which you will be most likely to obtain this important information; your own judgment and the connexions which you may have in the town must be your guide. I think it however necessary to put you on your guard against the sanguineness of an aspiring party; the federalists as I understand have at all times discovered a leaning to this disposition, and their being under its particular influence at this mo ment is the more to be expected from their having no ill founded ground for their hopes of being nearer the attainment of their object than they have been for some years pastry In the general terms which I have made use of in describing the object which I recommend to your attention, it is scarcely necessary that I should observe, I include the state of the public opinion both with regard to their internal politics and to the probability of a war with England; the comparative strength of the two great parties into which the country is divided, and the views and designs of that which may ultimately prevail. It has been supposed that if the Federalists of the Eastern States should be successful in obtaining that decided influence, which may enable them to direct the public opinion, it'is not improbable that rather than submit to a continuance of the difficulties and distress to which they are now subject, they will exert that influence to bring about a seperation from the general Union. The earliest information on this subject may be of great consequence to our government, as it may also be, that it should be informed how far in such an event they would look up to England for assistance or be disposed to enter into a connexion with us. Although it would be highly inexpedient that you should in any manner ap pear as an avowed agent, yet if you could contrive to obtain an intimacy with any of the leading party, it may not be improper that you should insinuate, though with great caution, that if they should wish to enter into any communication with our government through me you are authorised to receive any such, and will safely transmit it to me, and as it may not be impossible that they should require some document by which they may be assured, that you are really in the situation in which you represent yourself, I inclose a credential to be produced in that view; but I most particularly enjoin and direct, that you do not make any use of this paper, unless a desire to that purpose should be expressed, and unless you see good ground for expecting that the doing so may lead to a more confidential communication than you can otherwise look for. In passing through the state of Vermont, you will of course exert your endeav ors to procure all the information that the short stay you will probably make there will admit of. You will use your own discretion as to delaying your journey, with this view, more or less, in proportion to you" prospects of obtaining any information of consequence. I request to hear from you as frequently as possible, and as letters directed to me might excite suspicion it may be as well that you put them under cover to Mr. — and as even addressing letters always to the same person might attract novice, I recommend your sometimes addressing your packet to the Chief Justice here, or occasionally though seldom to Mr. Ryland, but never with the addition of bis official description. I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant, John Henry, Esq. (Signed) (Copy) (SEAL.) J. H. CRAIG. CREDENTIALS FROM SIB JAMES CRAIG, TO MR. HENRY, 6TH FEB. 1809. The bearer Mr. John Henry is employed by me, and full confidence may be plac ed in him for any communication which any person may wish to make to me in the business committed to him. In faith of which I have given him this under my hand and seal at Quebec, the 6th day of Feb. 1809. (Signed) J. H. CRAIG. No. IV. Mr. Henry's letters to Sir James Craig, written whilst employed on a mis sion to Boston. Answer to the letter of Mr. Secretary Ryland proposing the mission, &c. (No. 1.) I have to acknowledge the favor of your letter of the 26th inst. written by the desire of his excellency the governor in chief; and hasten to express, through you, to his excellency may readiness to comply with his wishes. I need not add how very flattering it is to receive from his excellency the assurance of the approbation of his majesty's secretary of state for the very humble services that I may have rendered, i If the nature of the service in which I am to be engaged will require no other disbursements than for my individual expences, I do not apprehend that these can exceed my private resources. I shall be ready to take my departure before my instructions can be made out. H. W. Ryland, Esq. Secretary, &c. &c. (No. 2.) To his Excellency the Governor-general, &c. in answer to his letter of instructions. Montreal, Feb. 10, 1809. Sra-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency's letter of instruction, the letter of credence, and the cypher for carrying on my correspondence. I have bestowed much pains upon the cypher, and am, notwithstanding this deficient in some points which mightenable me to understand it clearly. I have compared the example with my own exemplification of the cypher, and find a difference in the results; and as the present moment seems favorable to the interference of his majesty's government in the measures pursued by the federal party in the northern states, and more especially as the assembly of Massachusetts is now in session, I think it better to set forward immediataly, than wait for any further explanation of the means of carrying on a secret correspondence; which the frequency of safe private conveyances to Canada, will render almost wholly unnecessary. Should it however be necessary at any time, I take leave to suggest that the index alone furnishes a very safe and simple mode. In it there is a number for every letter in the alphabet, and particular numbers for particular phrases; so that when I do not find in the index the particular word I want, can spell it with the figures which stand opposite to the letters. For example, if I want to say that "troops are at Albany," I find under the letter "T" that number 16 stands for "troops" and a number 125 for "Albany." The intervening words "are at" I supply by figures corresponding with the letters in these words. It will be necessary to provide against accident by addressing the letters to Mr. of Montreal, with a small mark on the corner of the envelope which. he will understand. When he receives it, he will then address the inclosure to your excellency and send it from Montreal by mail. I will be careful not to address your excellency in the body of the letter nor sign my name to any of them. They will Le merely designated by the initials A. B. If this mode should in any respect appear exceptionable, your excellency will have the goodness to order a more particular explanation of the card. It would reach me in safety enclosed to, Boston. I have the honor to be, &c. (No. 3.) J. Hy. Burlington,, Feb. 14, 1809. SIR-I hate remained here two days in order fully to ascertain the progress of arrangements heretofore made, for organizing an efficient opposition to the general government, as well as to become acquainted with the opinions of the leading people, relative to the measures of that party which has the ascendency in the national councils. On the subject of the embargo laws there seems but one opinion: namely, that they are unnecessary, oppressive and unconstitutional. It must also be observed that the execution of them is so invidious as to attract towards the officers of gov ernment the enmity of the people, which is of course transferable to the government itself; so that in case the state of Massachusetts should take any bold step to wards resisting the execution of the laws, it is highly probable that it may calculate upon the hearty co-operation of the people of Vermont. |