which was convoked shortly after the receipt of the letter addressed by the minister of foreign affairs to the president of the commission, it was determined that an inofficial application should be made to me, by one of their own members, for such statements of our claims as I might be able to present, and should not be indisposed to communicate. This application was made to me, on behalf of the commission, by

As the commission was charged, among other things, with suggesting "the basis of a treaty," and as they, as well as the minister, had evidently in view a transaction en bloc, I thought it desirable that they should possess as full a view as could be presented of the amount of our claims, (of which I had reason to apprehend that they had not yet had an adequate idea,) and I did not hesitate, therefore, to comply with their request. We therefore compiled, from the materials in the of fice of the legation, and chiefly from the schedules communicated to congress from the department of state, a tabular statement of the claims, (without any particular classification of them, however,) framed in such a manner as I thought best calculated to answer the purpose in view, which was sent to

our claims at the present moment, when the finances of France were so much embarrassed, and when her safety was so seriously threatened by enemies within and without, was not reconcileable with the sympathy we had professed in the revolution she had just accomplished, or with a proper sensibility to the services she had rendered us in our own revolutionary struggle. Objections of this character have been encountered in quarters where there might have been the least reason to apprehend them.

In the conversations I have had with the members of the commis. sion, these sentiments have been scveral times manifested, and by none more frequently than by whose habitual remark to me is, that "the present moment is not well chosen for the settlement of this business." After reminding him that a delay of twenty years had already taken place, and that the late government was on the point of doing us justice when its existence was terminated by the revolution, I have said to him that we thought we had a right to expect dispositions at least equally just from the present government; and that it was, in fact, the interest of France, no less than of the United States, that a question which, so long as it should remain unsettled, must be a source of heart-burnings and discontent, should be now definitively adjusted, and that nothing should remain to obstruct the full exercise of those friendly feelings which the two nations cherish for each other.

These and similar considerations have, I flatter myself, had their proper influence on all to whom I have had occasion to address them, and the matter is now in a train which cannot fail, I hope, to lead to an ad

justment. My hopes of this are materially strengthened by the recent designation by the commission of to examine the documents referred to them, and to pre. pare their report. This work had been expected of their President, whose general sentiments towards the United States, as well as his particular dispositions on the subject of the claims, are, I have reason to believe, far from being favourable.

I have not thought it necessary to have an official interview with the minister of foreign affairs since my last despatch, though I have had several conversations with him in occasional meetings in society. Nothing, however, of sufficient importance has pased in those conversations to merit special communication, as he seems to feel himself bound to await the report of the commission.

At this moment, an intense anxiety occupies all minds here in regard to the trial of the ex-ministers, which is now going on, not only on account of its particular result, but

the effect which that result may have on the popular feeling. It is to be hoped that all will pass well, though it cannot be disguised that there is great inquietude. A few days more will terminate this painful suspense, as it is understood that the court of peers will certainly pronounce their judgment by the 25th of this month.

The journals which accompany this despatch will inform you of the important events which have recently occurred in Poland. Very few details have reached Paris, but enough is known to give them a character of great gravity, and to cause their further progress to be looked to as likely to have a most important influence on the general state of Europe.

I have the honour to acknow. ledge the receipt of your des patch No. 19, under date of the 18th October last; and remain, with great respect, your most ob'd't serv't,

W. C. RIVES. To the Hon. M. VAN BUREN, Secretary of State.

sident felt persuaded that there were no two countries which, in the natural state of their relations, had more motives to cultivate a cordial good understanding with each other than France and the United States —-motives, the force of which had been increased by his majesty's accession, and by the sentiments of esteem and effectionate recollection which were every where cherished towards him in the United States; and, in proportion as the president sincerely participated in these sentiments, he ardently desired that eve. ry germ of discontent which might disturb the future harmony of the two governments should be eradi. cated from their relations as speedily as possible.

The king, in replying to these remarks, reiterated the sentiments he had heretofore expressed to me, and referred to the measures he had taken with a view to bring the differences between the two countries to a conclusion. He said he was sorry that the president could not have felt himself authorized, in his message, to assure congress that every thing had been done with that view which could have been done; and then asked me if the commission was not in "activity;" to which inquiry, deeming it best to respond in an indefinite manner,

sage, he had" remonstrated" against all unnecessary delays in the pro secution of the business, and assuring me that every thing should be done, on his part, to bring it to the earliest termination, notwithstanding the disastrous state of their finances. He concluded the interview by requesting me to thank the president for the handsome things he had said of their revolution in his message, and for the friendly sentiments towards himself which had just been expressed by me in the name of the president.

-'s note, I had

The day after my audience of the king I received a note from a copy of which is enclosed, and which, in the pressure he mentions as being made upon him by the minister, seems to furnish some proof of the "remonstrances" of the king. In the evening of the same day that I received a conversation, also, with the minister, in which he assured me that the commission was actively prosecuting its labours, and as soon as its report was made he would enter upon the subject with me, in the sincere wish to bring it to an early and friendly conclusion.

I have the honour to be,
With great respect,
Your most obedient servant,
W. C. RIVes.

Secretary of State.

No. 61.

Paris, January 28, 1831.

SIR, Not having yet received a new full power, and as the want of such an one, adapted to the change of government here, might give rise to difficulties or delays in the concluOo

sion of an arrangement by treaty, more particularly if special commis. sioners should be appointed to treat with me, as it is possible, after the presentation of the report of the commisssion, there may be, I beg leave to recall this circumstance to

your recollection. It is desirable that the new "full power" should be as comprehensive as the one furnished me on my departure from the United States, and that it should be sent to me with the least possible delay.

I have the honour to be,
With great respect,
Your most ob't serv't,
W. C. RIVES.

To the Hon. M. VAN BUREN,
Secretary of State.

P. S. The authority contained in the "full power" which I was furnished on my departure from the United States, is of the following tenor: "For and in the name of

the United States, to meet and confer with any person or persons authorized by his most Christian majesty, being furnished with like power and authority, and with him or them to agree, treat, consult, and negotiate of and concerning the claims to indemnity of citizens of the United States on the government of France, or of subjects of France on the government of the United States, and concerning the general commerce between the United States and France, and its dominions or dependencies, and of all matters and subjects connected therewith, which may be interesting to the two nations; and to con clude and sign a treaty or treaties," &c., &c.

No. 62.

SIR,

Paris, February 8, 1831.

Being convinced from my communications with that the researches in which he was enga. ged, and the views he was preparing to present of our claims, were of much importance, and calculated to enforce upon his government, both in point of justice and policy, the obligation of discharging them, I thought it best, during the progress of his labours, to abstain from any measure which might injuriously precipitate the presentation of his report; intending, so soon as he should be ready to make his report to the commission, to renew my pressure upon the minister, with a view to accelerate the action of the commission when the work of

should be before them.

On the 30th ult., I learnt from that his report was nearly finished, of which he had given no

tice to the president of the commis. sion, and that the commission had been, in consequence, convoked for the 1st day of this month to receive it. On the following day, therefore, I addressed a note to the minister of foreign affairs, of which a copy is enclosed, and in which, as you will perceive, I urged upon him with earnestness the necessity of advan cing towards a final adjustment of the subject.

Having received no answer to this note, I went yesterday to the department of foreign affairs, for the purpose of inquiring of Baron Deffandis, the directeur, whether my note had been received, and to make use of the occasion to present such observations as I might think best calculated to awaken the attention, and stimulate the speed of the department. Baron Deffandis being detained from his bureau by sick. ness, I asked to see the sous-direc

teur, who informed me that an answer to my note had been drawn in the bureau several days ago, but that the minister had been so much occupied with other pressing affairs, that he had not signed it. The purport of the answer, he told me, was to inform me that the commission had not yet made their report, that they were now busily engaged in preparing it, and as soon as it was presented to the minister, as it was expected to be in a very short time, he would enter into a communication with me on the subject.

I remarked to the sous-directeur that great and very unexpected delay had already taken place; that the backwardness of the new government of France in the adjustment of claims for which its responsibility could no longer be denied, had created much disappointment in the United States, and was calcu

and that, however much the attention of the minister might be occupied with other affairs, there was no object which more nearly concerned the true interests of France, than to conciliate, by an act of justice, the United States, whose commerce at all times, and whose friendship in the event of war, were resources of such incalculable value to her. The sous-directeur told me that he should see the minister in the evening; that he would communicate to him the observations I had made, and suggest to him to address a note to the president of the commission, urging the necessity of their making their report as speedily as possible.

I have the honour to be,
With great respect,

Your most ob'd't serv't
W. C. RIVEs.

Secretary of State.

No. 63.

zens in the nature of debt, or supplies, as being alien to the general scope of the controversy between the two governments, and also Ame rican claims of every description originating previous to the date of the Louisiana arrangement in 1803, which has been invariably alleged by this government to be in full satisfaction of all claims then exist ing. It also assumes the original cost of the shipments, and not their enhanced value, actual or speculative, in the markets of Europe, to be the fair average measure of compensation in a political transaction like the one in view. It sets, I understand, in a strong light the atrocious character of the acts of the im