19 



sometimes in the hope of peace, hut treaties of peace 

 settling no controverted principle, or disputed right, are 

 worse in their consequences than a state of continued 

 hostility. Nations who expect war are inexcusable if 

 they are not prepared to meet them, and a state of con 

 tinual preparation would produce all the disadvantages 

 of war and preclude the possible advantages of annoying 

 the enemy, by capturing his ships and conquering his 

 colonies. Pressed as Great Britain once was with a 

 war with the whole continent of Europe for years, and 

 staggering under burthens which would have sunk the 

 Roman Empire, (burthens so great that the most saga 

 cious statesmen of Europe predicted her inability to 

 maintain the contest for a single year ;) yet she steadi 

 ly refused to make a peace, unless she could satisfy her 

 self that the peace which she should make, \\ould be 

 secure and permanent. 



The Treaty of Ghent was ratified by the American 

 Government in the latter part of February, 1815, and 

 the exchange of ratifications took place some time after. 

 On the 21st of the following July, Mr. Monroe was 

 apprehensive that hostilities would be renewed, and in 

 formed Mr. Adams of his apprehensions, and this opin 

 ion was founded on previous acts committed by the Brit 

 ish ? although the British government disavowed the 

 act of the Captain of the Jaseur, yet she maintained a 

 principle which both Mr. Monroe and Mr. Adams con 

 sidered as indicative of a spirit equally hostile. 



Mr. Adams in his despatch to Mr. Monroe of the 

 19th of September following, expresses his own appre 

 hensions that Great Britain was determined to renew 

 hostilities. 



Orders were issued to the British naval commanders 

 in the first instance, to warn off, and then, to capture 

 our fishing vessels : these orders, it is true were occasion 

 ally suspended, but they were occasionally enforced, 

 and many American vessels were captured which were 

 only saved from condemnation in the Vice-Admiralty 

 Court because there was no specific act of Parliament 

 providing for such condemnation, and upon the last sup- 



