her own own exertions without the ability to make them effective. He told me that Lord Castlereagh had made him acquainted with my communication to him of the intention of the United States to recognise Buenos Ayres, and seemed desirous to know whether I supposed our acquisition of the Floridas, would change that intention. I said I had no belief that it would; but added that I had an impression, that our acquisition of them, coupled with our intention to recognise Buenos Ayres, had induced England to her late determination, to pass the Foreign Enlistment Bill, as something in favor of Spain, nominally at least; remarking further, that this was only a conjecture, as I had heard nothing of the sort from this government, and had no right to inquire. In speaking thus, I desired to invite some communication from him on the subject, knowing his intimate relations with the English government and court; but either he knew nothing, or was not at liberty to let me hear it. He remarked, that he thought it natural in the United States to contemplate the recognition of Buenos Ayres; and said, that whatever differences of opinion might exist as to the principle of the struggle going on in Spanish America, nothing seemed more certain to all observers out of Spain, than that it must end,

sooner or later, in the separation of the colonies from the parent state.

In conversation with the French Ambassador in the drawing-rooms, I alluded to the good wishes, if not good offices, of M. Hyde de Neuville, French Minister at Washington, in aid of our treaty for the Floridas; upon which he asked if the British Government had complained of our acquisition of these provinces. I said, not to me.

June 3. Attended the Levee, and had my audience of the Prince Regent, as promised by Lord Castlereagh, for the purpose of delivering an autograph letter of condolence from the President, on the death of the late Queen. The audience took place before the general Levee commenced, and in the Regent's private apartment, or closet. Lord Graves was in waiting to introduce me. In the room with the Prince, I found Lord Castlereagh. I delivered the original letter to the Prince, saying that it was in answer to one which His Royal Highness wrote to the President on the afflicting occasion of the death of her late Majesty, the Queen; and that in delivering it I had the President's commands to say, that, taking an interest in whatever affected the happiness of His Royal Highness and that of his illustrious house, he had received the in

telligence with deep regret, and desired to offer his sincere condolence to His Royal Highness. I added words respectful towards the virtues and character of the Queen, such as appeared appropriate.

The Prince seemed to feel what I said in the name of the executive head of my country, of the Queen, his mother. He replied, that he was much indebted to the President for sentiments so obliging; it was indeed true, that her Majesty had been remarkable throughout life for her virtues; that none had known her worth as well as her family, and that they, therefore, had been naturally most afflicted at the loss; and not one of them more than himself. The interview here closed. On coming out, I observed that the Persian Ambassador was waiting for an audience after mine was over. In full oriental costume and glittering with gems, he entered the Regent's apartment as I left it.

The Levee afforded the opportunity of attending to other public duty. The President of the Board of Trade was there, and I renewed with all earnestness my application relative to the extra duties. He gave me assurances that he was devising a mode by which I might feel satisfied, the American ship owners would no longer be called upon 'to pay them; them; he found that an act of parliament would be necessary, and he added that he would

make it his particular care to have it carried through at the present session.

I had also a conversation with Lord Bathurst, the Secretary of State for colonial affairs, on the subject of the outrage upon the American Consul at Tripoli. He said, unhesitatingly, that the shelter afforded to the offenders by the British Consul in manner alleged, if such had been the fact, was as far from being under orders from the British Government, as from any wishes which it could possibly entertain on such an occasion; he was totally unacquainted with the transaction, but added that he would cause proper inquiry to be made into it, and have such steps taken as might be necessary. After so unequivocal a disclaimer from two cabinet ministers, one of them the foreign secretary, this matter, under my present instructions, will now

rest.

CHAPTER VII.

MARRIAGES OF THE DUKES OF CAMBRIDGE, CLARENCE AND KENT.-FORMS BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS ON SUCH OCCASIONS.-DRAWING-ROOM ON THE PRINCE REGENT'S BIRTH-DAY.-COURT FORMS.-RUMORS OF MINISTERIAL CHANGES.-INTERVIEW WITH LORD CASTLEREAGH ON THE WEST INDIA TRADE.-RUMORS ABOUT CUBA.-DIN. NER AT THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR'S.-PRINCE REGENT'S DRAWING ROOM.-DINNER AT LORD CASTLEREAGH'S.— THE RUMOR ABOUT CUBA.-LORD CASTLEREAGH PAYS A COMPLIMENT TO THE UNITED STATES.

ACCORDING to form, I had furnished Lord Castlereagh with a copy of the autograph Letter from the President to the Prince Regent, delivered at the audience described in the preceding chapter, but did not retain one myself. Having a copy of one delivered formerly, similar in purport, though not in the occasion calling it forth, for the incidents were those of gladness, not grief, I will here give it insertion. It was a letter from the President to the Prince Re