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1830 either ping form or substance, to require that its Commercial Treaties shall contain a stipulation that The United States be placed on the footing of the most favored Nation. This principle grows out of our sincere solicitude, for the freedom of Trade, and is founded upon the presumption that, in the commercial privileges which we are willing to concede to all Nations, who will reciprocate them, we offer a fair equi valent for any that can be granted to us; and that it would, therefore, neither comport with the interests nor the dignity of The United States to accept less. It is nevertheless true, that this principle has never been recognized nor acted upon by the Sublime Porte in their Negotiations with other Powers. Assuming that, in their situation, the advantages of reciprocity are altogether illusory regarding the privileges they grant as concessions proceeding from their free will and pleasure, originating in motives of friendship, or founded upon specific considerations which distinguish them from reciprocal arrangements, they have claimed and exercised the right of making such discriminations as were agreeable to the sovereign power of the State. There have also, at all times, been means used in negotiating with the Porte, different from those usual among Christian Nations. Most, if not all, of those who have formed Treaties with it, have, at some time or other, submitted to an inequality of privileges; and if there be any case in, which a punctilious conformity with their general principle may justifiably be departed from, on the part of The United States, it would seem to be the present. It is believed that an arrangement, securing the objects in view, upon terms, though not precisely so favorable as those which may have been granted to others, yet neither materially affecting the privileges obtained, nor disparaging to our national credit, would be satisfactory to the Government, and highly acceptable to its constituents.

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If the claims of the Porte for an increase of duty upon our Vessels had proceeded from want of equal respect for The United States, or a disposition to keep the condition of their commerce in the Turkish Ports, permanently, upon a footing inferior to that of other Nations, it would present a question of a very different character. But such evidently was not the case.

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Previously to the Treaty with France in 1740, the 1830 duties paid to the Porte were 5 per centum. By that Treaty, which contains, throughout, indications of particular friendship and favor towards the French Monarch for services admitted to have been rendered by him, the duty on French Vessels was reduced to 3 per centum; and the French were, moreover, exempted from specific duties, which were directed to be exacted of the English and other Nations. The same rate of duties, viz. 3 per centum, has subse quently been extended to other Nations, including The United States, in, the limited Trade which has been tolerated with them. The Stipulation with France, by which the present rate of duty is regulated, expi res in about one year; and it is the avowed desire of the Porte to raise it again to 5 per centum for all Nations, as soon as they are at liberty to do so. They also avow their motive in requiring us to pay 5 per centum, to be to aid them in obtaining the same rate from other Nations..

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Their present duties are allowed to be very low, and it does not appear, to the President that their, object in this respect, can, in justice, be regarded as very unreasonable. He is, therefore, disposed to ac quiesce in these views of the Porte, if they prove to be sincere; and if he can, thereby, without assenting to any act that would affect our national credit, secure to The United States the important interests under consideration. This, he thinks, might be effected by a Treaty, providing that our Vessels should pay 5 per centum, or any other reasonable amount; and, either in the face of the Treaty, or in a Secret Article, that, after a certain period, viz. the time li mited by the Treaty with France, (assuming that it is about the period stated;) The United States shall be placed on the footing of the most favored Nation.

This proposition will test the sincerity of the sentiments which have been expressed by the Sublime Porte, and enable them, if sincere, to effect their avowed object without injustice to The United States.

You will, of course, first endeavor to make a Treaty upon the general footing of the most favored Nation; but, in the event of your finding the dispositions of the Porte unchanged upon that point, you

1830 are authorized to agree to one of the character above stated. Should you, from any cause, be unable to conclude a satisfactory Arrangement in relation to our commerce with the Sublime Porte, you are authorized and instructed to consent to postpone that branch of the business to a more auspicious period, and to negotiate for the privilege of a passage to and from the Black Sea, and its navigation, upon the most favorable terms that have been granted to other Foreign Nations. Should you succeed in Negotiation of a Commercial Treaty, you will not fail to have every Article inserted which shall be necessary to ensure protection to the persons, property, and commercial pursuits, of American Citizens in the Turkish Dominions. I send you, herewith, a Copy, believed to be authentic, of the Capitulation with France, of 1740, and also of the Treaty with Spain, of 1827, which, together with such of a modern date as it may be in the power of Mr. Offley to obtain, will furnish you with the Stipulations which have been entered into with other Nations. You will, in that event, be particularly careful, also, to preclude all ground for future misunderstanding, arising from incorrect Translation from or into the language used by the Porte, in their diplomatic Acts; a source from which, it is understood, that difficulties have heretofore sprung.

*The President directs that the Instructions furnished by his Predecessor to Messrs. Crane and Offley, enjoining upon them that the Treaty which they were authorized to negotiate, should extend only to objects of commerce and navigation, and should, in no event, interfere in the neutral obligations of The United States, or with any of their existing Treaties with other Powers, be strictly observed by you. There are reasons of the most cogent nature, arising from the apprehended interference of other Powers, and the notoriety which has been given to Mr. Offley's Agency in the late Negotiation, which would, in the opinion of the President, render it expedient that neither Commodore Biddle nor Mr. Offley should appear at Constantinople until the Negotiation has been, through the instrumentality of Mr. Rhind, so far brought to a conclusion, as to remove all ground for apprehension from that source, and to require their presence for the consum

mation of the business. It is, therefore, the wish of 1830 the President that this course should be observed, as he places entire confidence in the intelligence, prudence, and capacity of Mr. Rhind. But, as this opinion is formed only upon the information possessed by the Department of State, as that may be defective, and as the state of things may have changed materially since it was acquired, this branch of the subject is submitted entirely to your discretion. If, from a view of the circumstances, as they are presented to you on the spot, you shall all be of the opinion that Mr. Offley's presence at Constantinople is indispensable, or even highly expedient, you will act accordingly. It is not anticipated that any objection will be made, on the part of the Sublime Porte, on account of your diplomatic rank In adopting this course, instead of sending an Envoy or Envoy's, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, to conduct the Negotiation, the President acts in conformity with the wish which he understands to have been, upon more than one occasion, expressed by the Sublime Porte, to the Agents of The United States. In the event of the conclusion of a Treaty; for the necessary disbursements connected with it, including the presents usual and indispensable, an authority is herewith given to Commodore Biddle to draw upon the Navy Agent at Gibraltar. The most exact economy is enjoined in the expenditure of this money, taking care that so much of it only is used, as, in the exercise of a sound discretion, you shall think indispensably necessary to the object in view. Your compensation for this service, in addition to the payment of your expenses, will be such as Congress, by a future ap propriation, may sanction. It can scarcely be necessary to enjoin the most scrupulous secrecy in all your movements. Its expediency cannot fail to be obvious to you, and I therefore count with confidence on its observance. Although the Commission is several as well as joint, it is the wish of the President that any arrangement which may be made, shall receive the sanction of, as least, two of you.

I am, etc.

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

Since I had the honor to address you on the 26th March last, nothing particularly interesting has transpired relative to the subject of that Communication. Our Merchant Vessels continue to trade to Constantinople, where they are received, in a friendly manner. I have, on several occasions, received, through M. Navoni,-out Drogoman at that place, friendly messages from the Reis Effendi, which possibly might have led the way to the renewal of the Negotiations with him, had it appeared expedient; and which he professes to regard as suspended, but by no means as broken off, appealing to their continued friendly treatment of our Commerce in proof thereof. The Negotiations now carrying on at Constantinople with France, England, and Russia, are of such immediate importance to the Porte, that this moment is not favorable for pursuing ours, Im mediately after the termination of the present War with Russia, will be a favorable moment for obtaining from the Porte all concessions necessary for the interests of our Commerce,abommo`) iwon

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In the Instructions your Excellency did me the honor to furnish me, allusion is made to the Negotiation being terminated without delay. As that has taken, place, I wish much to be instructed, whether it is your wish that I should renew the Negotiations, at such times as may promise a favorable issue, and whether, in the event of a Russian Ambassador being resident at Constantinople, it will meet your views that I should avail of his friendly offices in any Negotiation with the Porte? Your Excellency, no doubt, is aware that, in the Treaty of Ackerman, it is stipulated that the Porte shall accept of the mediation of Russia in ob taining, for such Powers as have, not already the right the passage to the Black Sea; the object of greatest inducement for us, in my opinion, to negotiate with the Porte, and one in which Russia is equally interested with ourselves.

The Negotiations during the last month at Schumla were of short duration, nor is it understood there that