To Hon. JAMES MONROE.
_Secretary of State, &c._
No. 1.
Mr. Ryland, Secretary to Sir James Craig, late Governor General
of the British Provinces in North America, to Mr. Henry.
_Application to undertake the Mission to the United
States._
[Most secret and confidential.]
QUEBEC, _January_ 26, 1809.
MY DEAR SIR: The extraordinary state of things at this time in
the neighboring States has suggested to the Governor-in-Chief
the idea of employing you on a secret and confidential mission
to Boston, provided an arrangement can be made to meet the
important end in view, without throwing an absolute obstacle
in the way of your professional pursuits. The information and
political observations heretofore received from you were
transmitted by his Excellency to the Secretary of State, who
has expressed his particular approbation of them; and there is
no doubt that your able execution of such a mission as I have
suggested, would give you a claim, not only on the Governor
General, but on His Majesty's Ministers, which might eventually
contribute to your advantage. You will have the goodness,
therefore, to acquaint me, for his Excellency's information,
whether you could make it convenient to engage in a mission of
this nature, and what pecuniary assistance would be requisite
to enable you to undertake it, without injury to yourself.
At present, it is only necessary for me to add, that the
Governor will furnish you with a cipher for carrying on your
correspondence; and that, in case the leading party in any of
the States wished to open a communication with this Government,
their views might be communicated through you.
I am, with great truth and regard, my dear sir, your most
faithful, humble servant,