22 RECALL OF [1812. 



if the result of them namely, that the Government are 

 apprehensive can do any good to any of our friends, 

 you might give them that hint. 



"I hope I may be wrong in my construction, but 

 I fear the worst. Ever yours truly, 



" H. BROUGHAM." 



Many of my Liverpool friends, as well as Baring, 

 had urged me to go as negotiator with the American 

 Government. My answer was, that if they thought 

 that my position with respect to the late repeal might 

 facilitate so desirable an event as a settlement of the 

 American dispute, I had no objection, however great 

 the personal sacrifice might be, but said that Baring 

 would be better, from his American connections. Both 

 he and the others, however, considered that rather as 

 an objection to him; besides, that I had been the leader 

 in the late contest, and had taken the part of America in 

 all the controversies which had arisen for the last five 

 or six years. Therefore, in consequence of these solici- 

 tations, and in redemption of the pledge I had given, 

 both privately to Castlereagh and on the 23d June in 

 the House of Commons, I wrote to Castlereagh on the 

 1st August, that " I had no objection to undertake the 

 negotiation ;" and the day after added, that, if neces- 

 sary, I should not object to proceed to America, "the 

 only expense to the country being my passage there 

 and back with a single servant." 



His answer was, that he regarded this offer "as 

 fully and honourably redeeming the pledge I had 

 given," but declining the offer "for the present," 

 which of course meant altogether; and so it turned 

 out, for I heard no more of it. 



