mation, but letting it be understood that the information is not to be slighted.

September 15. Write to President Monroe, and in continuation of the Spanish American subject say, that Mr. Canning being still out of town, I was giving myself up to investigations which might the better prepare me for taking in hand the various subjects which his confidence had devolved upon me, to discuss and arrange with this Government; that on Mr. Canning's return, I should expect to be invited to an interview, and doubted not but that the whole topic of Spanish American affairs would be resumed between us. That it was still my intention to urge upon him the immediate recognition of the new states by Great Britain, as the only footing upon which I could feel warranted in acceding to the proposal he had made to me; that otherwise our two countries would not stand upon equal ground in going into the measure proposed, we having already acknowledged the new states; but that I would continue to receive in the most conciliatory manner, new overtures from him, should he meditate any new ones; for that for that my most careful observation in England during my residence, had impressed me with the belief, that the present Administration, with Lord Liverpool still at its head, was as favorably disposed towards us as any that could be formed.

CHAPTER XXII.

FULL INTERVIEW WITH MR. CANNING ON THE AFFAIRS

OF SPANISH AMERICA, AND REPORT OF WHAT PASSED

TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. FURTHER INTERVIEW ON THE SAME SUBJECT; AND ON THAT OF THE NEGOTIATION-TO THE OPENING OF WHICH ENGLAND ACCEDES. MR. HUSKISSON AND MR. STRATFORD CANNING, TO BE THE BRITISH NEGOTIATORS. RENEWED INTERVIEW WITH MR. CANNING ON THE AFFAIRS OF SPANISH AMERICA, AND REPORT OF WHAT PASSED.

September 18. Had a full conference with Mr. Canning at the Foreign Office, in which the subject of Spanish American affairs was resumed, and the discussion of it gone into at large.

September 19. I reported in the following dispatch to the Secretary of State, all that passed in my interview with Mr. Canning yesterday; relying only upon the substantial fidelity of the report, as it must needs fall short of what is due to Mr. Canning in language,

though I endeavored to recall his own words as far

as I could.

SIR,

No. 331.

LONDON, September 19, 1823.

Mr. Canning returned to town about a week ago, and I had an interview with him at the Foreign Office yesterday, at his request.

He entered at once upon the subject of Spanish America, remarking that he thought it claimed precedence over all others between us at the present juncture. Military events in the Peninsula, seemed every day to be drawing nearer to a crisis in favor of the French arms, and the political arrangements projected afterwards, would, there was good reason to suppose, be immediately directed to the affairs of the late colonies. He would therefore not give up the hope, notwithstanding the footing upon which this subject appeared to be placed at the close of our recent correspondence, that I might yet see my way towards a substantial acquiescence in his proposals. They were hourly assuming new importance and urgency, under aspects to which neither of our Governments could be insensible.

Having perceived since we had been last together, the publication in the newspapers of the correspondence of a portion of the merchants of London with the Foreign Office, respecting the appointment of

consuls or commercial agents for the Spanish American states, I asked Mr. Canning, whether I was to infer that this Government was about to adopt such a measure; to which he replied in the affirmative, saying that commercial agents would certainly be soon appointed and sent out to the proper ports in those new communities.

As to the proposals he had submitted to me, I said, that I was sure he would himself appreciate the delicacy and novelty of the ground upon which I stood. The United States, it was true, would view any attempt on the part of France and the Continental Alliance to resubjugate those new states, as a transcendent act of national injustice, and indicative of progressive and alarming ambition; yet to join Great Britain in a declaration to this effect, might lay them open in some respects to consequences, upon the character and extent of which it became my duty to reflect with great caution, before making up my mind to meet the responsibilities of them. The value of my declaration, it was agreed, would depend upon its being formally made known to Europe. Would not such a step wear the appearance of the United States implicating themselves in the political connexions of Europe? Would it not be acceding, in this instance at least, to the policy of one of the great European Powers, in opposition to the projects avowed by others of the first

preserv

rank? This, hitherto, had been no part of the system of the United States; the very reverse of it had been acted upon. Their foreign policy had been essentially bottomed on the great maxim of ing peace and harmony with all nations, without offending any, or forming entangling alliances with any. Upon the institutions as upon the dissensions of the European Powers, the government and people of the United States might form and even express, their speculative opinions; but it had been no part of their past conduct to interfere with the one, or, being unmolested themselves, to become parties to the other. In this broad principle, laid one of my difficulties under his proposals.

He replied, that however just such a policy might have been formerly, or might continue to be as a general policy, he apprehended that powerful and controlling circumstances made it inapplicable upon the present occasion. The question was a new and complicated one in modern affairs. It was also full as much American as European, to say no more. It concerned the United States under aspects and interests as immediate and commanding, as it did or could any of the States of Europe. They were the first Power established on that continent, and now confessedly the leading Power. They were connected with Spanish America by their position, as with Europe by their relations; and they also stood