validity of which she did not deny as the engagements which might result from a renewal of negotiations. I added that, although this measure could not, according to our institutions, be adopted without the concurrence of Congress, I had been instructed to make known the intention of the President to the government of France, a communication not only founded on the amicable relations subsisting between the two countries, but which was due to the friendly interposition of his Majesty on this occasion. Mr. Pasquier expressed his regret at this result, and said that, without denying the force of our reasons, he would observe that the government of Spain was differently organized from that of the other European powers; that Spain compared with us was the weaker power, and that for those reasons more indulgence might be shown to her, and would not have been attended with any great inconvenience to the United States; that we might have occupied Florida as easily six months hence as at this moment, and that he had already written to the French legation at Madrid, and conferred with the Spanish ambassador here, in order to hasten the departure of the new minister of Spain to the United States. I alluded, in reply, to the repeated delays and denials of justice which we had already experienced from Spain, assured Mr. Pasquier that the patience of the nation was quite exhausted, and observed that, my despatches having been retarded by some accident, the communication I was now making had become that of a fact rather than that of a subject of discussion. The conference ended in mutual expressions of good will, and in assurances of the intention of both governments to preserve and strengthen the friendly relations subsisting between the two countries. I have the honor, &c. VOL. 11.-10 No. 131. GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS. PARIS, December 9, 1819. SIR,-The change of Ministers has thrown new delays in the discussion of the commercial propositions which I had made to this government. Mr. Pasquier has promised to take them immediately into consideration, and seems to understand both the reasonableness of what we ask and the difficulty of acceding to it without giving great displeasure to the shipping interest of France. The council of commerce (consisting of eminent merchants), to whom the proposals in the first instance had been referred, have reported that a nominal equality would give a decided superiority to our navigation, that the French discriminating duties were, however, too high, and that they should be reduced to two-thirds of their present amount. I have explicitly declared that if, instead of abolishing all those duties on both sides, an equalization was attempted, the reduction proposed by the council of commerce was altogether insufficient, and I could not accede to it. I have the honor, &c. No. 133. GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS. PARIS, 13th January, 1820. SIR, The President's message at the opening of Congress was received here, by the way of England, on the 10th instant. I observed to Mr. Pasquier that the President, on being informed of the intention of Spain to send a minister to the United States with new explanations, had determined to wait for his arrival, provided it took place during the present session of Congress, before he should proceed to occupy Florida; that this delay, after all that had passed, was a most undeniable proof of the earnest desire of the United States to arrange in an amicable way their differences with Spain; but that it was the last act of condescension which could be expected, and that this government might be assured that if the Spanish minister did not arrive in time, and with satisfactory instructions, Florida would be forthwith occupied, for the reasons which I had already been instructed to communicate, and which were explained more at large in the President's message. Mr. Pasquier assured me that he had repeatedly written, and had again since the receipt of the President's message renewed his instructions to the French legation at Madrid, to impress on the Spanish government the necessity of sending the new minister without delay. He added that he regretted that he had not departed before the receipt of the President's message, some parts of which would, he feared, have an unfavorable effect in Spain. I understood him to allude to the paragraphs respecting the Spanish colonies; and the Spanish ambassador, who has always been friendly to the ratification of the treaty, was explicit on the subject. I reminded Mr. Pasquier of the wellknown efforts of our government to prevent a premature recognition of the independence of the colonies, and said that the conduct of Spain towards us had been every way calculated to hasten that event. She must, however, well consider the unavoidable result of the ultimate steps she was going to take. If the treaty was not ratified, Florida would most certainly be occupied; and then Spain must either submit to it, however painful to her pride, or by a rupture with the United States lose the last hope of recovering the insurgent colonies and of retaining even those on the continent which she still possessed. With the exception of those observations and of some offensive and unfair comments in an ultra newspaper, the President's message has met here with very general approbation. The Russian minister expressed himself quite satisfied with it, and was of opinion that it would be well received by his government. Indeed, since Russia has lost her influence at Madrid, I would not be surprised to see her much more explicit on our side. General Vives, the new Spanish minister to the United States, if I do not mistake his name, is expected at Paris, and has orders to confer freely with this government. This would be favorable to a pacific result if there was time; but, considering the season of the year and the usual slowness of Spanish movements, I think it hardly possible that that gentleman will reach Washington before the adjournment of Congress. I have the honor, &c. GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS. No. 134. PARIS, January 15, 1820. SIR,-I have spoken several times to Mr. Pasquier since my letter of the 9th ultimo on the subject of discriminating duties. He always professed sentiments friendly to whatever might increase the commercial relations between the two countries, and appeared disposed to meet in some manner the overture made on our part. But he always added that the French merchants were extremely averse to a total abolition. I addressed to him on the 6th instant the letter of which a copy is enclosed,' and he had positively promised to send me yesterday an answer, which is not yet received. The departure of the Stephania compels me to write to you without waiting for it. I understood that at all events that answer would not be decisive, and a projet of law, making sundry alterations in the customhouse duties, was yesterday presented to the Chamber of Deputies, which contains no alteration in the discriminating duties of which we complain. The effect of these becomes every day more manifest. At Nantes, where not a single American vessel has arrived within the last eighteen months, eight French vessels have arrived with cargoes of American produce within the last six months of 1819. I am confident that this government will make no sufficient alteration until they are compelled to do it by our own acts. They have received full notice on that subject, and cannot complain of any measure founded on the principle of equality. But it is evident they wish to gain time till Congress is adjourned, in order to enjoy the monopoly of the trade for one year longer; and it is probable that Mr. Hyde de 1 See American State Papers, vol. v. p. 35. Neuville will receive instructions for the purpose of persuading you that an arrangement will be made here. A clause in your Act, leaving a contingent power to suspend its operation in case such an arrangement should take place, is all that appears necessary to obviate every objection. I have the honor, &c. No. 135. GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS. PARIS, January 20, 1820. SIR, I have now the honor to enclose the copy of Mr. Pasquier's long-promised answer on the subject of our commercial relations, which was not received till after I had closed my last despatch to you. I am confirmed in the opinion that nothing will be done here until we shall have done justice to ourselves by our own measures. The Ministry is, I think, well disposed; but they will not act in opposition to the remonstrances of the shipping interest and of the chambers of commerce, which have been consulted. That of Paris is averse to our proposals. Indeed, Mr. Pasquier informed me that that of Bordeaux alone had given an opinion favorable to them. GALLATIN TO J. Q. ADAMS. No. 137. PARIS, February 15, 1820. SIR,-General Vives, the new minister of Spain to the United States, arrived at Paris on the 11th instant, and left it on the 14th for London, with the intention to embark at Liverpool in the New York packet, which will sail on the 1st day of March. Mr. Pasquier, after having seen him, invited me to an interview on the 12th, and said that he was in hopes that the differences might still be adjusted. General Vives had told him that the principal points with Spain were that the honor of the Crown should be saved (mis à couvert) in the business of the grants, and to receive satisfactory evidence of our intention to preserve |