University of Virginia Library

CABINET MEMORANDUM.[79]

(Submitted to the Cabinet, June 23 and 24, 1814.)

1.

• Shall the surrender by Great Britain of the practice
  of impressment, in a treaty limited to a certain period, be
  an ultimatum? Monroe, Campbell, Armstrong, Jones—
  No—Rush inclining but not insisting otherwise.

2.

• Shall a treaty of peace, silent on the subject of impressment
  

  ---

  281

  
  
  
  be authorized? All no; but Armstrong and Jones,
  who were aye.

3.

• Shall a treaty be authorized comprising an article,
  referring the subject of impressment along with that of commerce
  to a separate negotiation? Monroe, Campbell, Armstrong
  & Jones Aye—Rush for awaiting further information
  from Europe.

June 27, 1814.

In consequence of the letters from Messrs. Bayard &
Gallatin of May 6—7 and of other accounts from Europe, as
to the ascendency & views of Great Britain and the dispositions
of the great Continental powers, the preceding
question No. 2, was put to the Cabinet, and agreed to by
Monroe, Campbell, Armstrong & Jones; Rush being absent:
our ministers to be instructed, besides trying the other conditions
to make a previous trial to insert or annex some
declaration or protest against any inference from the silence
of the Treaty on the subject of impressment, that the British
claim was admitted or that of the United States abandoned.