1809.] 
save themselvés from that ruin; to nations 
‘so situated, the delusive prospect of a peace 
‘between Great Britain and France, could 
mot fail to be peculiarly injurious. Their 
‘preparations might be relaxed by the vain 
hope of returning tranquillity; or their pur- 
‘pose shalten by the apprehension of being left 
to conténd alone, 
‘°'That such was'in fact the main object 
of France in the proposals transmitted to his 
Majesty from Erfurth, ‘his Majesty enter- 
tained’a ‘strong persuasion. 
“But, at a moment when results so aw- 
ful from their importance, and so tremen- 
dous from their uncertainty, might{be de- 
pending upon the decision of peace or war, 
the king ‘felt it due'to himself to ascertain, 
beyond ‘the possibility of doubt, the views 
and intentions of his enemies. 
Tr was difficult for his Majesty to believe, 
that the’ Emperor of Russia had devoted him- 
self so blindly and fatally to the violence 
and ambition of the power, with which his 
Imperial Majesty had unfortunately become 
allied, as to be prepared opemly to abet the 
usurpation of the Spanish Monarchy ; and to 
acknowledge and maintain the right assumed 
by ‘France, to depose and imprison frieiidly 
‘Sovereigns, and forcibly to transfer to herself 
the allegiance of independent nations. 
When, therefore, it was proposed to his 
Majesty ‘to enter into negotiation for a ge- 
‘meral peace ‘in concert’ with his Majesty’s al- 
lies, and to treat either on the basis of the 
uti \possidetis (Heretofore the subject of so 
‘much controversy), or on any other basis con- 
sistent with jastice, honour, ‘and equality, 
his Majesty determined to méet this seeming ° 
fairness and moderation, with fairness and 
‘moderation, on his Majesty’s part. real ‘and 
Sincere. 
« The King professed his readiness to enter 
‘into such negotiation, in concurrence with 
his allies; and undertook forthwith to com- 
‘minicate to them the proposals which his 
Majesty had received. But as his Majesty 
was not connected with Spain by a formal 
treaty of alliance, “his Majesty thought it 
necessary ‘to declare, that the engazements 
which he had contracted, in the face of the 
world, with that nation, were considered hy 
his Majesty as no less sacredand no Tess bind- 
ing upon his Majesty, than the most sélemn 
‘tfeaties ; ‘dnd ‘to exyress his Majesty’s just 
confidence that the Government of Spain, 
Acting in the natee of his Catholic Majesty 
Ferdinand ‘the Seventh, was understood to be 
‘a patty to the negotiation. 
ec Dhe reply returned by France to this 
proposition of his Majesty casts off at once the 
thin disguise which had ‘been assumed fora 
‘Momentary purpose ; and displays, with less 
than ordinary reserve, whe arrogance and in- 
justice of that Government. The universal 
‘Spanish Nation is described by the degrading. 
appellation of the Spanish Insurgents ';” 
“gnd the démand for the admission Of the Go- 
Montary Mac. No. 179, 
Message of the President to the United States. 
587 
-Vernment of Spain, as'a' party to any Negotia- 
tion, is ‘rejected ‘as inadmissible and insult 
ing. , 
s¢ With astonishment,’ as well as with 
grief, his’ Majesty has received from the Em- 
péror of Russia a reply, similar in effect, 
althougli less indecorous in tone and manner. 
The Emperor of Russia also stigmiatizes, ‘as 
«¢ Insurrection,” the glorious ‘efforts of the 
Spanish people, in behalf of their legitimate 
Sovereign, and in defence of the indepen- 
dence of their country; thus giving the sanc. 
tion of his Imperial Majesty’s authority to an 
usurpation which has'no parallel'in the his- 
tory of the world. 
"© The King would readily have embraced 
an opportunity of negotiation which might 
have affurded:any hope or prospect of a peace 
‘compatible with justice and with honour. 
His Majesty deeply laments an issue, ‘by 
which the sufferings of Europe are aggravated 
and prolonged. But neither the honour of 
his Majesty, nor the’ generosity of the British 
nation would admit of his'Majesty’s consent- 
ing to commence a neégotiation by ‘the dban- 
doament ‘ofa brave and loyal people, who 
are contending for the preservation of all that 
is dear to man; and whose exertions in 2 
cause $0 Unquestionably just, ‘His Majesty 
has*solémnly’ pledged himself ‘to sustain. 
6¢ Westminster, Dec. 15,4808.” 
AMERICA, 
Message of the President to the Senate ‘and 
House of Representatives of the United States. 
Nov. 8, 1808. ' . 
‘ It would have been a fource, fellow-citi- 
zens, of much gratification, if our lait com- 
munications from Europe had enabled me to 
inform you, that the Belligerent nations, 
whofe difregard of nqutral right has been - 
fo deftruétive to our commerce, had become 
awakened to the duty and the policy of 
revoking their unrighteous edicts. That no 
means might be omitted to produce this falu- 
tary effect, IT loft no time in availing myfelf 
of the att authorifing a fufpenfion, in whole 
or in part of the feveral embargolaws. Our 
minifters at London and Paris, were intruéted. 
to explain to the refpective governments 
there, our difpofition to exercife the authority 
in fuch manner ‘as would withdraw the 
pretext on which the agressions were ori- 
Binally founded, and open the way for a re- 
newal of that commercial intercourfe, which 
it was alleged, onall fides, had been reluc- 
tantly ob@ructed. As cach of thefe govern» 
ments had pledged its readiness to concur in 
renouncing a meafure which reached its ad= 
vérfary through the inconteftible rights of 
neutrals only, and as the meafure had been 
affumed by each as a retaliation for an afferted 
‘acquiefcznce in the aggreflions of the other, 
it was teafonably expected that the occafion 
would have been feized by both for evincing 
the fincerity of their profeflions, and for 
reftoring to the United States its legitimate 
4F freedom. 
