all of this is past conjecture. It is not always easy to decide that the apparent or real good over which men rejoice is better than the apparent evil they would shun.

Omitting all reference to the expansion of the territory of this Nation to the Pacific, and failures and successes of the diplomacy of later days, one fact, at least, remains to be said of American diplomacy as a whole. Its written correspondence and formal documents constitute the most polished and dignified of all the public and official records of the country. No school of etiquette and polished diction is superior to it. Here are to be found the best forms of speech, and the most refined courtesy with the most exacting, cautious, just, and wise business skill and management, entitling this branch of our history to the study of the politician and statesman.

CHAPTER IX.

THE REJECTED TREATY WITH ENGLAND-MR. MONROE'S FOREIGN SERVICES AND HIS DEFENSES.

IN

N June, 1805, Mr. Monroe again took up his residence in London. Rufus King, who had preceded him as Minister to England for six or seven years, had given great satisfaction to both countries, and had been fortunate enough to encounter no great obstacles to a successful and quiet mission. But the affairs of Europe had again been thrown into disorder and uncertainty by the extraordinary fortunes of Napoleon Bonaparte. England was concerned, not only for her supremacy on the sea, but also for her safety at home; and was too much disturbed and involved to care for diplomatic niceties or international obligations, or even justice.

One of England's practices, that of boarding American ships of every possible grade, and impressing seamen claimed to be her own, was becoming an unbearable evil in this country. Her practice of seizing and confiscating American merchant vessels trading with France and her allies was also becoming a matter of great irritation in the United States. These proceedings demanded the prompt remonstrance of the American Minister, and with these and questions involving the rights and privileges of neutral powers, Mr. Monroe soon found himself surrounded with difficulties. The ocean trade of this country was unpre

cedented at that time. The Yankee spirit of adventure was unbounded. The seas were white with American sails, and a large proportion of the carrying trade of the world was in the hands of our enterprising merchants and seamen.

The bad temper of England towards this country, and her haughty and arbitrary attitude, were by no means lessened by the threatening and vast tyrannical strides of Napoleon. Against the broken fleets of France and Spain England had little difficulty in blockading the entire coast from the North Sea to the Bay of Biscay. William Pitt and Charles Fox could not restrain the hand of injustice and insult grasping in every direction at American interests.

Petitions and remonstrances poured upon Mr. Jefferson calling for redress, who in the midst of this state of affairs, in 1806, deemed it necessary to send an extraordinary minister in the person of the acute and able lawyer William Pinkney, of Maryland, to join Mr. Monroe in London. This step greatly displeased Mr. Monroe. But he had already asked to be relieved, looking upon his efforts as fruitless in the present temper of the English Government. Whatever was his ability and perseverance, he saw none of the spirit of accommodation in England.

After the arrival of Mr. Pinkney, however, some advance was unexpectedly made in the right direction, and believing they were on the point of success, the following brief note was sent to the Government at home :

"LONDON, December 27, 1806. "SIR:-We have the pleasure to acquaint you that we have this day agreed with the British Commissioners to conclude a treaty on all the points which have formed the object of our nego

tiation, and on terms which, we trust, our Government will approve. It will require only a few days to reduce it to form. When that is done, we shall transmit it to you by a special messenger. We hasten to communicate to you this interesting intelligence, for the information and guidance of our Government, in such measures as may have reference to the subject. “We have the honor to be, &c.,

"JAMES MONROE, "WM. PINKNEY.

"JAMES MADISON, Secretary of State, Washington."

The three points of paramount importance in the instructions to the ministers from this country to England were as to the rights of neutrals, impressment of seamen, and the settlement of the boundaries. As touching these matters, the "Monroe Treaty," so-called, was not what the American ministers desired, but on the whole they believed it satisfactory to the United States, and at all events, the best that could be obtained, even under the favorable ministry of Mr. Fox. But Mr. Jefferson unceremoniously rejected the treaty in a way which his "monarchic" predecessors would not have taken it upon themselves to do, especially placing his action upon the absence of the non-impressment clause. But immediately on the heels of the treaty came the "orders in Council," and this fact reached America with the treaty itself, presenting to the President a fresh incentive to his unusual course. He at once returned the treaty to have it revised and amended, a more difficult job than Mr. Jefferson seemed to be able to comprehend. It was not done. Pitt and Fox, both friendly to this country, were now dead, and George Canning, a man of quite different character and disposition towards America, had come to the head of the British ministry. Canning considered

that the treaty had already gone too far in favor of the United States.

After the war of 1812, the subject of impressments, on which Mr. Jefferson placed so much stress, ceased to be a matter of any importance, and it may be considered as extremely doubtful whether a non-impressment article in the rejected "Monroe Treaty" would have put a stop to those things which led to the war. Under the new instructions sent out by Mr. Madison, Monroe saw no better chances for success, and dissatisfied with his treatment at home, and the unfavorable turn in the British ministry, he prepared to embark for America. His last official act was to demand redress for the outrage committed upon the frigate, Chesapeake, which resulted in the promise of an immediate investigation, to be undertaken through a special mission to the United States, in the person of Mr. Rose. Mr. Monroe's career abroad was now ended. Mr. Pinkney assumed the responsibility of affairs in London.

On the whole, his foreign services had not met with marked success. Mr. Jefferson, on not very clear grounds, had apparently lost confidence in his diplomatic skill. Robert R. Livingston would have accomplished without him what was done in France; in Spain matters had conspired against him, and nothing was accomplished; and Mr. Jefferson evidently believed he had done no better in England. About this there was, however, considerable diversity of opinion. both here and in England. In the latter country, at all events, there were men who believed that the failure was on the part of Mr. Jefferson, that the "Monroe Treaty" would have permanently arrested the difficulties between the two nations.