Monroe, James (1758-1831) to Charles Everett
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05568 Author/Creator: Monroe, James (1758-1831) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 February 1815 Pagination: 1 p. : docket : address : free frank ; 25 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy
Announces the arrival of the Treaty of Ghent in Washington, D.C., which ended the War of 1812, and favorably assesses it as "perfectly honorable to the UStates." Also comments that the Battle of New Orleans "gives its men a splendour which will make the epoch memorable in our history." Monroe was then secretary of state. Dr. Everett was a physician and a state politician in Virginia. Letter includes an address and free frank in Monroe's own hand.
Ironically, American and British negotiators in Ghent, Belgium, signed a peace treaty ending the war two weeks before the Battle of New Orleans. A war-weary Britain agreed to return to conditions that existed before the war. Left unmentioned in the peace treaty were the issues over which Americans had supposedly fought the war--impressment, naval blockades, and the British Orders in Council. In this letter, President Monroe announces the Treaty of Ghent.
I have the pleasure to inform you that a treaty of peace was received last night by Mr. Carroll from Ghent, which was signed on the 24 of Dec. It is perfectly honorable to the UStates. It is short, & little more than a treaty of peace. Nothing like concession is made on any point.
It is highly honorable to our country to have maintained its ground, single, against G Britain, & to have forced her to such a peace. This contest has been glorious to the UStates, by sea, and land, & its termination at New Orleans, give it even a splendour which will make the epoch memorable in our history.
On other matters I will write you hereafter. This, puts an end to all di[illegible], thus I had no fear of our being able to surmount them.
I will endeavour to write [illegible] a line -
Your friend
Jas Monroe
[Address Leaf]
Dept of War
Jas Monroe
The honble
Charles Everett
Richmond
Virginia
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