I 



aTATE PAPERS. 



G95 



No. II. 



Department of State, April 17. 

 1809. 



Sir, — I have laid before the presi- 

 dent your note, in which you liave, 

 in the name and by the order of his 

 Britannic majesty, declared that his 

 Britannic majesty is desirous of 

 making an honourable reparation 

 for the aggression committed by a 

 British naval officer in the attack on 

 the United States' frigate, the Che- 

 sapeake ; that, in addition to his 

 prompt disavowal of the act, his 

 majesty, as a mark of his displea- 

 sure, did immediately recall the of- 

 fending officer from a highlj'impor- 

 tant and honourable command ; and 

 that he is willing to restore the men 

 forcibly taken out of the Chesa- 

 peake, and, if acceptable to the Ame- 

 rican government, to make a suita- 

 ble provision for the unfortunate 

 sufferers on that occasion. 



The government of the United 

 States,havingatalltimes entertained 

 a sincere desire for an adjustment of 

 the differences which have so long 

 and so unhappily subsisted between 

 the two countries, the president 

 cannot but receive with pleasure, 

 assurances that his Britannic majes- 

 ty is animated by the same disposi- 

 tion, and that he is ready, in con- 

 formity to this disposition, to make 

 atonement for the insult and ag- 

 gression committed by one of his 

 naval officers in the attack on the 

 United States' frigate, the Chesa- 

 peake. 



As it appears at the same time, 

 that in making this offer, liis Bri- 

 tannic majesty derives a motive 

 from the equality now existing, in 

 the relations of the United Stales, 

 with the two belligerent powers, the 

 president owes it to the occasion, 



and to himself, to let it be under- 

 stood, that this equality is a result 

 incident to a state of things, grow- 

 ing out of distinct cx^nsiderations. 



With this explanation, as requi- 

 site as it is frank, I am authorized 

 to inform you that the president 

 accepts the note delivered by you 

 in the name and by the order of his 

 Britannic majesty, and will consider 

 the same with the engagement con- 

 tained therein, when fulfilled, as a 

 satisfaction for the insult and injury 

 of which he has complained. But 

 I have it in express charge, from 

 the president to state, that while 

 he forbears to insist on a further 

 punishment of the offending officer, 

 he is not the less sensible of the 

 justice and utility of such an exam- 

 ple, nor the less persuaded that it 

 would best comport with what is 

 due from his Britannic majesty to 

 his own honour. 



I have the honour to be, 



With the highest respect and 

 consideration, 

 Sir, your most obedient servant, 



R. Smith. 

 The Hon. David M. Ersldne, 

 Esq. Envoy Extraordi- 

 nary, and Minister Ple- 

 nipotentiary of his Bri- 

 tannic Majesty. 



No. III. 



MR. EUSKIXE TO MR. SMITH. 



Washington, April 18, 1809. 



Sir,— I have the honour of in- 

 forming you that his majesty, hav- 

 ing been persuaded that the ho- 

 nourable reparation which he had 

 caused to be tendered for the un- 

 authorised attack upon the Ameri- 

 can frigate Chesapeake would be 

 accepted by the government ol the 

 United Slates in the same spirit of 



conci- 



