1. An Act to continue, until six Months after the Ratification of a Definitive Treaty of Peace, the Restrictions contained in several Acts made in the 37th, 38th, 42d, and 43d Years of the Reign of his present Majesty, on Payments of Cash by the Bank of England. 15th Dec. 1803.]

2. An Act for granting to his Majesty the Sum of Eight Thousand Pounds, for the present Relief of certain Curates in England, ` [15th Dec. 1803.]

3. An Act to regulate the Bonds issued by the East India Company with Respect to the Rate of Interest, and the Duty payable thereon. [15th Dec. 1803.] 4. An Act to continue several Laws relating to the suspending the Operation of two Acts of the 15th and 17th Years of the Reign of his present Majesty, for restraining the Negociation of Promissory Notes and Bills of Exchange under a limited Sum in England; and to the prohibiting the Importation from, and permitting the Exportation to, Great Britain of Corn; and for allowing the Importation of other Articles of Provision withour Payment of Duty, until the 25th Day of March, 1805; and to the regulating the Trade and Commerce to and from the Isle of Malta, until six Months after the Ratification of a Definitive Treaty of Peace. [15th Dec. 1803.] 3. An Act to continue, until the 25th Day of March 1805, an Act, passed in the last Session of Parliament, for discontinuing certain Drawbacks and Bounties on the Exportation of Sugar from Great Britain, and for allowing other Drawbacks and Bounties in Lieu thereof. [15th Dec. 1803.]

6. An Act for suspending, until the 1st Day of August 1804, the Operation of an Act, made in the last Session of Parliament, to continue and amend two Acts, made in the Parliament of Ireland, for restraining the Negociation of Promissory Notes and Inland Bills of Exchange, under a limited Sum, within Ireland. [15th Dec. 1803.]

7. An Act to indemnify such Persons in the United Kingdom as have omitted to qualify themselves for Offices and Employments; and for extending the Times limited for those Purposes respectively, until the 25th Day of December 1804; and to permit such l'ersons in Great Britain as have omitted to make and file Affidavits of the Execution of Indentures of Clerks and Attornies and Solicitors, to make and file the same on or before the first Day of Michaelmas Term, 1804. [15th Dec. 1803.]

8. An Act to continue, until six Weeks after the Commencement of the next Session of Parliament, an Act, made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act to empower the Lord Liutenants or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland, to apprehend and detain such Persons as he or they shall suspect for conspiring against his Majesty's Person and Government, until six Weeks after the Commencement of the next Session of Parliament.' [15th Dec. 1803.]

9. An Act to continue, until six Weeks after the Commencement of the next Session of Parliament, an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for the Suppression of Rebellion in Ireland, and for the Protection of the Persons and Property of of his Majesty's faithful Subjects there, to continue in force until six Weeks after the Commencement of the next Session of Parliament.' [15th Dec. 1803.]

10. An Act to continue, until the 25th Day of March 1805, several Acts of the 41st, 42d, and 43d Years of his present Majesty's Reign, for regulating the Drawbacks and Bounties on the Exportation of Sugar from Ireland. [15th Dec. 1803.]

11. An Act for enabling the Lord Lieutenant or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland, to prohibit, until the 25th Day of March 1805, the Distillation of Spirits from Oats or Oatmeal in Ireland; and for indemnifying such Persons as have acted in advising or carrying into Execution a Proclamation of the Lord Lieutenant and Council of Ireland for prohibiting such Distillation. [15th Dec.. 1803.]

12. An Act to continue, until the 25th Day of March 1805, so much of an Act, made in the 41st Year of his present Majesty's Reign, as relates to the prohibiting the Exportation from Ireland of Corn or Potatoes, or other Provisions; and to the permitting the Importation into Ireland of Corn, Fish, and Provisions, without Payment of Duty. [15th Dec. 1803.]

13. An Act to prevent the Desertion and Escape of Petty Officers, Seamen, and others, from his Majesty's Service, by Means or under Colour of any civil or criminal Process. [15th Dec. 1803.]

14. An Act to amend two Acts, passed in the 41st and 43d Years of the Reign of his present Majesty, for permitting Portugal Wine to be landed and warehoused in the United Kingdom; and to allow Spanish Wine to be so landed and warehoused. [15th Dec. 1803.] 15. An Act for raising the Sum of Five Millions by Loans or Exchequer Bills, on the Credit of such Aids or Supplies as have been or shall be granted by Parliament for the Service of Great Britain, for the Year 1804. [15th Dec. 1803.]

16. An Act for continuing and granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt, in Great Britain, for the Service of the Year 1804. [15th Dec. 1803.]

17. An Act for continuing and granting to his Majesty a Duty on Pensions, Offices, and Personal Estates, in England; and certain Duties on Sugar, Malt, Tobacco, and Snuff, in Great Britain, for the Service of the Year 1804. [15th Dec. 1803.] '

18. An Act to explain and amend two Acts, passed in the 42 and 43d Years of the Reign of his present Majesty, relating to Volunteers and Yeomanry Corps in Great Britain. [20th Dec. 1803.]

PUBLIC PAPERS.

REPORT OF A SECRET COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN CONGRESS, ON THE POLICY OF OBTAINING NEW ORLEANS AND THE

FLORIDAS.

The object of the proposed resolution is to enable the executive to commence with more effect, a negotiation with the French and Spanish governments relative to the purchase from them of the island of New-Orleans, and East and West Florida. This object is declared highly important, and has received the attentive consideration of the committee. -The free and unmolested navigation of the river Mississippi, is a point to which the general attention of the government has been directed, ever since the peace of 1783, by which our independence as a nation was finally acknowledged. The immense tract of country, owned by the United States, which lies immediately on the Mississippi, or communicates with it by means of large navigable rivers rising within our boundaries, renders its free navigation an object, not only of inestimable advantage, but of the very first necessity. The Mississipi forms the Western boundary of the United States from its source to the 31st degree of north latitude, and empties itself into the gulph of Mexico about the 29th degree of north latitude. It furnishes the only outlet through which the produce of the Indiana Territory, of the states of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, and of the western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and a portion of the Mississippi territory, can be transported to a foreign market or to the ports of the Atlantic states. From the 21st degree of north latitude, which is the southern boundary of the United States, to the mouth of the river, the territory on each side has heretofore been in possession of the Spanish government; the province of Louisiana lying on the west, and those of East Florida, with the island of New Orleans, to the east. Although the United States have insisted on an uncontroulable right to pass up and down the river, from its source to the sea, yet this right, if admitted in its most ample latitude, will not secure to them the full advantages of navigation. The strength and rapidity of the current of the Mississippi are known to render its ascent so extremely difficult, that but a few vessels of burthen have attempted to go as far as our boundary. This circumstance obliges the citizens of the western country to carry their produce down the VOL. IV.

(1906

river in boats, from which it is put on board of ships capable of sustaining a sea voyage.→ It follows, therefore, that to enjoy the full benefits of navigation, some place should be fixed which sea vessels can approach without great inconvenience, where the American produce may be deposited until it is again shipped when carried abroad. This great point was secured to us in the year 1795, by the Spanish government, who agreed, in the treaty of San Lorenzo de Real, that the Americans should have the right of deposit at New-Orleans. This right has been used, from that time till a late period; but the conduct of the intendant at that place shews how liable the advantageous navigation of the river is to interruption, and strongly points out the impolicy of relying on a foreign nation for benefits which our citizens have a right to expect should be secured to them by their own government. It is hoped that the port of New-Orleans may again be opened before any material injuries arise; but should this be the case, or if, as the treaty provides, a new place of deposit should be assigned, the late occurrence shews the uncertainty of its continuance. Experience proves that the caprice or the interested views of a single officer, may perpetually subject us to the alternative of submitting to injury, or of resorting to war.The late violation of our treaty with Spain, necessarily leads to the enquiry how far the western country may be affected in other points, not connected with New-Orleans. The Mississippi territory extends from the confines of Georgia to the river Mississippi, and from the 31st to the 35th degree of north latitude. It is estimated to contain more than fifty millions of acres, and from its numerous advantages must one day or other possess an immense population. The variety, richness and abundance of its productions, hold out to settlers the strongest inducements to resort thither, and the United States may safely calculate on drawing a considerable revenue from the sale of lands in this, as well as in other quarters of the western country. The value of these, however, may be diminished or increased, and the sale impeded or advanced by the impression made on the public mind, by shutting the port of New-Orleans, and by the eventual measures which may be adopted to guard against similar injuries.-West Florida is bounded on the north by the Mississippi territory, from which it is separated by no natural boundary; on the east by the river Apalachicola, which divides it from East Florida; on the west by the river Mississippi, and on the south by the gulph of Mmm Mexico.

Mexico. The Mississippi territory is intersected by many large and valuable rivers, which rise within its boundaries, and meander through it in a general direction from north to south, but empty themselves into the gulph of Mexico through the province of West Florida. In fact, with the excep tion of that part of the territory which lies immediately on the Mississippi, the whole must depend on the Mobile and the Apalachicola, with their numerous branches, and on some other rivers of inferior note, for the means of sending its produce to market, and of returning to itself such foreign supplies, as the necessities or convenience of its inhabitants may require. In these rivers, too, the eastern parts of the state of Tennessee are deeply interested, as some of the great branches of the Mobile approach very near to some of those branches of the Tennessee river, which lie above the Great Muscle Shoals. Even if it should prove difficult to connect them, yet the land carriage will be shorter, and the route to the sea more direct than the river Tennessee furnishes. These rivers possess likewise an advantage which is denied to the Mississippi. As their sources are not in the mountains, and their course is through a level country, their currents are gentle and the tide flows considerably above our boundary. This circumstance, together with the depth of water which many of them afford, render them accessible to sea vessels; and ships of two hundred tons burthen may ascend for several hundred miles into the heart of the Mississippi territory. These rivers, however, which run almost exclusively within our own limits, and which it would seem as if nature had intended for our benefit, we must be indebted to others for the beneficial use of, so long as the province of West Florida shall continue in the possession of a foreign nation. If this province were of itself an independent empire, it would be the interest of its government to promote the freedom of trade, by laying open the mouths of the rivers to all nations, this having been the policy of those powers who possess the mouths of the Rhine, the Danube, the Po, and the Tagus, with some others. But the system of colonization, which has always, heretofore, prevailed, proves that the mother country is anxious to engross to itself the trade of its colonies, and affords us every reason to apprehend that Spain will not readily admit us to pass through her territory to carry on a trade either with each other or with foreign nations. This right we may insist on, and perhaps it may be conceded to us; but it is possible that it may be denied. At all events, it may prove

the endless source of disagreement, and perpetual hostility.In this respect East-Florida may not perhaps be so important, but its acquisition is nevertheless deemed desirable. From its junction with the state of Georgia at the river St. Mary's, it stretches nearly four hundred miles into the sea, forming a large peninsula, and has some very fine harbours. The southern point, Cape Florida, is not more than one hundred miles distant from the Havanna, and the possession of it may be beneficial to us in relation to our trade with the West-Indies. It would likewise make our whole territory compact, would add considerably to our coast, and by giving us the Gulph of Mexico for our southern boundary, would render us less liable to attack, in what is now deemed the most vulnerable part of the Union.From the foregoing views of facts, it must be seen that the possession of New-Orleans and the Floridas will not only be required for the convenience of the United States, but will be demanded by the most imperious necessities. The Mississippi and its branches, with those other rivers above referred to, drain an extent of country not less, perhaps, than one half of our whole territory, containing at this time one-eighth of our population, and increasing with a rapidity beyond the experience of any former time, or of any other nation. The Floridas and NewOrleans command the only outlets to the sea, and our best interests require that we should get possession of them. This requisition, however, arises not from a disposition to increase our territory; for neither the Floridas or New-Orleans offer any other inducements than their mere geographical relation to the United States. But if we look forward to the free use of the Mississippi, the Mobile, the Apalachicola, and the other rivers of the west, by ourselves and our posterity, New Orleans and the Floridas must become a part of the United States, either by purchase or by conquest.-The great question then which presents itself is, shall we at this time lay the foundation for future peace, by offering a fair and equivalent consideration or shall we hereafter incur the hazards and horrors of war? The government of the United States is differently organized from any other in the world. Its object is the happiness of man, its policy and its interest to pursue right by right means. War is the great scourge of the human race, and should never be resorted to, but in cases of the most imperious necessity. A wise government will avoid it, when its views can be attained by peaceful measures. Princes fight for glory, and the blood

:

blood and treasure of their subjects is the price they pay. In all nations, the people bear the burthen of war, and in the United States, the people rule. Their representatives are the guardians of their rights, and it is the duty of those representatives to provide against any event which may, even at a distant day, involve the interest and the happiness of the nation. We may, indeed, have our rights restored to us by treaty; but there is a want of fortitude in applying temporary remedies to permanent evils; thereby imposing on our posterity a burthen which we ourselves ought to bear. If the purchase can be made, we ought not to hesitate. If the attempt should fail, we shall have discharged an important duty. War may be the result; but the American nation, satisfied with our conduct, will be animated by one soul, and will unite all its energies in the contest. Foreign powers will be convinced that it is not a war of aggrandizement on our part, and will therefore feel no unreasonable jealousies towards us. We shall have proved that our object was justice; it will be seen that our propositions were fair; and it will be acknowledged that our cause is honourable. Should alliances be necessary, they may be advantageously formed. We shall have merited, and therefore shall possess general confidence. Our measures will stand justified not only to ourselves and our country, but to the world. In another point of view, perhaps, it would he preferable to make the purchase, as it is believed that a smaller sum would be requisite for this object than would necessarily be expended if we should attempt to take possession by force; the expenses of war being, indeed, almost incalculable. The committee have no information before them, to ascertain the amount for which the purchase can be made; but it is hoped, that with the assistance of two millions of dollars in hand, this will not be unreasonable. A similar course was pursued for the purpose of settling our differences with the Regency of Algiers, by the appropriation of one million of dollars prior to the commencement of the negotiation, and we have since experienced its beneficial effects.-Under these impressions, therefore, the committee recommend that a sum of two millions of dollars in addition to the provision heretofore made, be appropriated to defray any expenses which may be incurred in relation to the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations, to be paid out of any money that may be in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, and to be applied under the direction of the President of the United

States, who, if necessary, is hereby authorised to borrow the same, or any part thereof; an account whereof, as soon as may be, shall be laid before Congress.

AN

ACCOUNT OF LOUISIANA: BEING AN ABSTRACT OF DOCUMENTS, IN THE OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE AND OF THE TREASURY, LAID BEFORE CONGRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

(The object of the following pages is to consolidate the information respecting the present state of Louisiana, furnished to the Executive by several individuals among the best informed upon that subject.)

Of the province of Louisiana no general map, sufficiently correct to be depended upon, has been published, nor has any yet been procured from a private source. It is indeed probable, that surveys have never been made upon so extensive a scale as to afford the means of laying down the various regions of a country, which, in some of its parts, appears to have been but imperfectly explored.

BOUNDARIES. The precise boundaries of Louisiana, westwardly of the Mississippi, though very extensive, are at present involved in some obscurity. Data are equally wanting to assign with precision its northern, extent. From the source of the Mississippi, it is bounded castwardly by the middle of the channel of that river to the 31st degree of latitude; thence, it is asserted upon very strong grounds, that according to its limits, when formerly possessed by France, it stretches to the east, as far, at least, as the river Perdigo, which runs into the bay of Mexico, eastward of the river Mobile.-It may be consistent with the view of these notes to remark, that Louisiana, including the Mobile settlements, was di-covered and peopled by the French, whose monarchs made several grants of its trade, in particular to Mr. Crosat in 1712, and some years terwards, with his acquiescence, to the well known company projected by Mr. Law. This company was relinquished in the year 1731. By a secret convention on the 3d November, 1762, the French government ceded so much of the province as lies beyond the Mississippi, as well as the island of New-Orleans, to Spain; and by the treaty of peace which followed in 1763, the whole territory of France and Spain eastward of the middle of the Mississippi to the Ibervile, thence through the middle of that ri* M m m 2 ver,

af