Fellow Citizens, you are acquainted with the peculiar circumstances of the recent election, which have resulted in affording me the opportunity of addressing you, at this time. You have heard the exposition of the principles which will direct me in the fulfilment of the high and solemn trust imposed upon me in this Station. Less possessed of your confidence, in advance, than any of my Predecessors, I am deeply conscious of the prospect that I shall stand, more and oftener, in need of your indulgence. Intentions, upright and pure; a heart devoted to the welfare of our Country, and the unceasing application of all the faculties allotted to me, to her service, are all the pledges that I can give, for the faithful performance of the arduous duties I am to undertake. To the guidance of the Legislative Councils; to the assistance of the Executive and Subordinate Departments; to the friendly co-operation of the respective State Governments; to the candid and liberal support of the People, so far as it may be deserved by honest industry and zeal, I shall look for whatever success may attend my public service: and knowing, that, except the Lord keep the City, the watchman waketh but in vain, with fervent supplications for His favour, to His over-ruling Providence I commit, with humble but fearless confidence, my own fate, and the future destinies of my Country.

MESSAGE from the President of The United States, transmitting Copies of a Correspondence with the Government of France, upon the subject of Injuries sustained by Citizens of The United States, since the year 1806.

To the House of Representatives of The United States:

I transmit, herewith, to the House, a Report from the Secretary of State, with Copies of the Correspondence with the Government of France, requested by the Resolution of the House, of the 26th of May last.

Washington, December 23, 1824.

JAMES MONROE.

Department of State, Washington, December 23, 1824. The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred a Resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 26th of May last, requesting that the President of The United States would lay before that House, at the then next Session, as early as the public interest would permit, the Correspondence which might be held with the Government of France, prior to that time, on the subject of injuries sustained by Citizens of The United States, since the year 1806, has the honor of reporting to the President, Copies of the Documents requested by that Resolution. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

LIST OF PAPERS.

No.

1. Mr. Adams to Mr. Sheldon,

a. Count de Menou to Mr. Adams,.. b. Mr Adams to Count de Menou,. 2. Mr. Sheldon to Mr. Adams,

a. Do.

........to Viscount de Chateaubriand, do.......11th October

3. Mr. Adams to Mr. Brown,....

4. Mr. Brown to Mr. Adams,

Washington, 23d December
..Paris, 28th April

a. Do....... to Viscount de Chateaubriand, do.

................ to Mr. Adams,...

625

1824. 630

28th April

690

5. Do....
a. Viscount de Chateaubriand to Mr. Brown do.
6. Mr. Adams to Mr. Brown,

do.

.....

11th May

7th May

Washington, 14th August

693

(Extract.)

No. 1.-The Secretary of State to Mr. Sheldon.

Department of State, Washington, 13th August, 1823, I HAVE had the honour of receiving your Dispatches Nos. 1 and 2; the latter dated the 10th of June. Mr. Gallatin arrived with his family, at New York, on the 24th of that month.

I enclose, herewith, Copies of the recent Correspondence between the Count de Menou, the Chargé d'Affaires of France, and this Department, on various subjects, highly interesting to the relations between the two Countries.

With regard to the Count's Note of the 11th of July, the President received, with great satisfaction, the testimonial of the Viscount de Chateaubriand, to the candour and ability with which Mr. Gallatin has performed the duties of his official station in France. The proposal to renew the negotiation in behalf of the well founded claims of our Citizens upon the French Government, in connection with a claim, on the part of France, to special privileges in the Ports of Louisiana, which, after a very full discussion, had, in the views of this Government, been proved utterly groundless, could neither be accepted nor considered as evidence of the same conciliatory spirit. The claims of our Citizens are for mere justice. They are for reparation of unquestionable wrongs; for indemnity or restitution of property taken from them, or destroyed, without shadow or colour of right. The claim under the Sth Article of the Louisiana Convention, has nothing to rest upon, but a forced construction of the terms of the Stipulation, which the American Government considered, and have invariably considered, as totally without foundation. These are elements not to be coupled together in the same Negociation; and while we yet trust to the final sense of justice in France, for the adjustment of the righteous claims of our Citizens, we still hope that

their unquestionable character will, ultimately, secure to them a consideration unincumbered with other discussions. You will, respectfully, make this representation to the Viscount de Chauteaubrinnd, with the assurance of the readiness of this Government to discuss the question upon the Louisiana Convention further, if desired by France, but of our final conviction that it is not to be blended with the claims of our Citizens for mere justice.

No. 1. (A.)-Count de Menou to the Secretary of State.

(Translation.)

Legation of France to The United States,
Washington, July 11, 1823.

His Excellency the Viscount de Chateaubriand, in announcing to me that Mr. Gallatin was about to leave France, expresses his regret at his departure, in such terms, that I should do him injustice, were I not to use his own expressions. "My correspondence with this Minister," he remarks to me, "has caused me to appreciate his talents, his ability, and his attachment to the system of friendship that unites the two Powers. It is with regret that I suspend my communications with him."

I esteem myself happy, Sir, in conveying to you such sentiments towards the Representative of The United States in France; and I should have thought that I had but imperfectly apprehended the design of the Viscount de Chateaubriand, had I neglected to communicate them to the Federal Government.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs reminds me also on this occasion, that Mr. Gallatin having frequently laid before him claims of Americans against the French Government, he had shown himself disposed to enter upon a general negociation, in which they should be comprehended with the claims of French Citizens against the Federal Government, at the same time with the arrangement relative to the execution of the 8th Article of the Treaty of Louisiana. The object of His Excellency, was to arrive at a speedy and friendly disposition of all difficulties that might subsist between the two Powers, well assured that France and The United States would be found to have the same views of justice and conciliation.

His Excellency regrets that Mr. Gallatin, who, he says, "has convinced him how pleasing and advantageous it is to negotiate with a Statesman who exhibits candor and ability in his discussions," did not receive from his Government during his stay in France, the necessary powers for this double negociation. But he informs me that the Government of His Majesty remains always disposed to open it, either with Mr. Gallatin, should he return with these powers, or with Mr. Sheldon, if the Federal Government should think proper to confer them on him.

I greatly desire, Sir, to see these propositions acceded to by the

Federal Government, and to be able to reply to His Excellency, as he expresses his wish that an arrangement putting an end to every subject of discussion, might soon be expected.

I pray the Secretary of State to receive, &c.

(The Chargé d'Affaires of France, near The United States.) The Hon. Secretary of State.

SIR,

MENOU.

No. 1. (B.)-The Secretary of State to the Count De Mɛnou. Department of State, Washington, August 12, 1823. YOUR Letter of the 11th of last month has been submitted to the consideration of the President of The United States, by whom I am directed to express the high satisfaction that he has felt, at the manner in which His Excellency the Viscount de Chateaubriand has noticed, in his Correspondence with you, in the temporary absence of Mr. Gallatin from France, and the terms of regard and esteem with which he notices, the character and conduct of that Minister. The anxious desire of the President for the promotion of the good understanding between The United States and France, could not be more gratified than by the testimonal of His Most Christian Majesty's Government to the good faith and ability with which the Minister of The United States at his Court, has performed his official duties.

With regard to the assurance of His Excellency the Viscount de Chateaubriand's disposition to enter upon a negociation with Mr. Gallatin, in the event of his return to France, or with Mr. Sheldon, during his absence, concerning the claims of Citizens of The United States, on the Government of France, in connection with an arrangement concerning the 8th Article of the Louisiana Treaty, I am directed to observe that those subjects rest upon grounds so totally different, that the Government of The United States cannot consent to connect them together in negotiation.

The claims of the Citizens of The United States upon the French Government, have been of many years standing; often represented by successive Ministers of The United States, and particularly by Mr. Gallatin, during a residence of 'seven years, with a perspicuity of statement, and a force of evidence which could leave to the Government of The United States no desire but that they should have been received with friendly attention, and no regret but that they should have proved ineffectual. The justice of these Claims has never been denied by France; and while The United States are still compelled to wait for their adjustment, similar and less forceful Claims of the Subjects of other Nations, have been freely admitted and liquidated.

A long and protracted discussion has already taken place between the two Governments, in relation to the claim of France, under the 8th Article of the Louisiana Convention; the result of which has been a thorough conviction on the part of the American Government that

the claim has no foundation in the Treaty whatever. The reasons for this Convention have been so fully set forth in the discussion, that it was not anticipated a further examination of it would be thought desirable. As a subject of discussion, however, the American Government are willing to resume it, whenever it may suit the views of France, to present further considerations relating to it; but, while convinced that the claim is entirely without foundation, they cannot place it on a footing of concurrent negociation with claims of their Citizens, the justice of which is so unequivocal that they have not even been made the subject of denial.

From the attention which His Excellency the Viscount de Chateaubriand has intimated his willingness to give to the consideration of these claims, the President indulges the hope that they will be taken into view upon their own merits; and in that hope the Representative of The United States at Paris, will, at an early day, be instructed to present them again, to the undivided and unconditional sense of the justice of France.

The Count de Menou.

(Extract.)

I pray you, Sir, to accept, &c.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

No. 2.-Mr. Sheldon to the Secretary of State.

Paris, 16th October, 1823.

I TOOK an early occasion, after the receipt of your Despatch, No. 1, of the 10th of August, to communicate the subjects of it, in a conversation I had with Viscount de Chateaubriand. His observations in relation to that of the Claims, as connected with the pretentions of France, under the Louisiana Treaty, were of a very general nature, and amounted to little more than a repetition of his readiness to enter upon the consideration of whatever subjects of discussion might exist between the two Countries, and the expression of his satisfaction at the prospect of being soon relieved from the labour which the affairs of Spain had thrown upon him, and having thus more time to devote to those of The United States and others not of the same pressing nature. He avoided any intimation of a disposition to take up the Claims by themselves, and it can hardly be expected that the French Government will, at this time, relax from the ground they have so lately taken upon that point. I informed him that I should communicate in writing an answer to the overture made by Count de Menou, at Washington, for uniting in a new negociation this subject with that of the Louisana Treaty, in substance the same as that Gentleman had already received there, and should again press upon the French Government the consideration of the Claims by themselves; to which he replied, that any communication I might make, would be received and treated with all the attention to which it was entitled, on his part.