178] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



finds reason to decline the media- 

 tion of his Imperial Majesty in 

 the discussions with the United 

 States, yet being sincerely desirous 

 of terminating the war between 

 Great Britain and America, he is 

 ready to nominate plenipotentia- 

 ries for treating directly with them, 

 and would prefer that the con- 

 ferences should be held in Lon- 

 don, but if that were objected to, 

 he would consent to substitute 

 Gottenburgh. Lord Castlereagh 

 then says, that the American com- 

 missioners having declared their 

 readiness to treat in London, he 

 has transmitted this proposal by a 

 flag of truce, and that the British 

 admiral on the American station 

 will be ready to give the necessary 

 protection to any persons sent by 

 the United States in furtherance of 

 the overture. The reply of Mr. 

 Monroe, after expressing the Pre- 

 sident's regret at the new obstacle 

 which has arisen to the negotia- 

 tions for peace, and giving reasons 

 why the mediation of the Emperor 

 of Russia had been thought ad- 

 visable, finally conveys the Pre- 

 sident's consent to the proposal, 

 and makes election of Gotten- 

 burgh for the place of conference. 

 The speech made by Governor 

 Strong to the legislature of Mas- 

 sachussets on Jan. 12th, distinctly 

 expressed the desire for peace, 

 and the disapprobation of the 

 reasons for war alleged by the go- 

 vernment of the United States, 

 which from the first were the pre- 

 vailing sentiments in this part of 

 America. *' The friends of peace 

 (says the Governor) are accused 

 of being under British influence ; 

 but their accusers ought to reflect 

 whether partialities of an oppo- 

 site kind have not produced the 



evils we suffer; and whether, if 

 our conduct towards both belli- 

 gerents had been impartial, a wa)r 

 with either would have been 

 thought necessary. We had asr 

 sumed the character of a neutral 

 nation ; but had we not violated 

 the duties imposed by that cha- 

 racter ? Had not every subject 

 of complaint against one bellige- 

 rent been amply displayed, and 

 those against the other concealed 

 or palliated ? It has indeed been 

 suggested, that we have no con- 

 nection with France in regard to 

 the war ; but when France and 

 England were engaged in a most 

 arduous struggle, and we inter- 

 fered and assaulted one of them, 

 will any man doubt our intention 

 to assist the other ?" 



In the early part of February, 

 the American army under Gen. 

 Wilkinson continued to occupy its 

 position on the frontier of Lower 

 Canada at the French mills on the 

 Salmon river; but between the 

 12th and 16th of that month, the 

 troops abandoned this station, after 

 partially burning their block- 

 houses and barracks which had 

 been erected at vast expense, and 

 destroying their river craft and 

 batteaux. They carried away their, 

 ordnance, and the greater part o£ 

 their military stores. Two regi- 

 ments proceeded to Sacket's har- 

 bour, and the remainder to Bur- 

 lington and Plattsburg, whereGen., 

 Wilkinson took up his head- 

 quarters. The reason for this 

 movement is stated to have beeo 

 the enormous expense incurred in 

 supplying troops at such a dis- 

 tance with provisions, and their 

 daily increase by sickness and 

 desertion. As soon as their re- 

 treat was made known to Sic 



