_Memorial of Mr. Henry to Lord Liverpool._
The undersigned most respectfully submits the following
statement and memorial to the Earl of Liverpool:
Long before and during the administration of your Lordship's
predecessor, the undersigned bestowed much personal attention
to the state of parties, and to the political measures in the
United States of America.
* * * * *
Soon after the affair of the Chesapeake frigate, when His
Majesty's Governor General of British America had reason to
believe that the two countries would be involved in a war,
and had submitted to His Majesty's Ministers the arrangements
of the English party in the United States for an efficient
resistance to the General Government, which would probably
terminate in a separation of the Northern States from the
General Confederacy, he applied to the undersigned to
undertake a mission to Boston, where the whole concerns of
the opposition were managed. The object of the mission was
to promote and encourage the Federal party to resist the
measures of the General Government, to offer assurances of aid
and support from His Majesty's Government of Canada, and to
open a communication between the leading men engaged in that
opposition and the Governor General, upon such a footing as
circumstances might suggest; and, finally, to render the plans
then in contemplation subservient to the views of His Majesty's
Government.
The undersigned undertook the mission, which lasted from the
month of January to the month of June, inclusive, during which
period those public acts and legislative resolutions of the
Assemblies of Massachusetts and Connecticut were passed which
kept the General Government of the United States in check,
and deterred it from carrying into execution the measures of
hostility with which Great Britain was menaced.
For his services on the occasions herein recited, and the loss
of time and expenses incurred, the undersigned neither sought
nor received any compensation, but trusted to the known justice
and liberality of His Majesty's Government for the reward of
services which could not, he humbly conceives, be estimated
in pounds, shillings, and pence. On the patronage and support
which was promised in the letter of Sir J. Craig, under date of
the 26th January, 1809, (wherein he gives an assurance "that
the former correspondence and political information transmitted
by the undersigned had met with the particular approbation of
His Majesty's Secretary of State; and that his execution of
the mission, proposed to be undertaken in that letter, would
give him a claim not only on the Governor General, but on His
Majesty's Ministers,") the undersigned has relied, and now most
respectfully claims, in whatever mode the Earl of Liverpool may
be pleased to adopt.
The undersigned most respectfully takes this occasion to state
that Sir J. Craig promised him an employment in Canada, worth
upwards of one thousand pounds a year, by his letter, herewith
transmitted, under date of September 13, 1809, which he has
just learned has, in consequence of his absence, been given
to another person. The undersigned abstains from commenting
on this transaction, and most respectfully suggests that the
appointment of Judge Advocate General of the province of
Lower Canada, with a salary of five hundred pounds a year,
or a Consulate in the United States, _sine curia_, would be
considered by him as a liberal discharge of any obligation
that His Majesty's Government may entertain in relation to his
services.
_Mr. Peel, Secretary to Lord Liverpool, to Mr. Henry_
DOWNING STREET, _June_ 28, 1811.
SIR: I have not failed to lay before the Earl of Liverpool the
memorial, together with several enclosures, which was delivered
to me a few days since by General Loft, at your desire.
His Lordship has directed me to acquaint you that he has
referred to the correspondence in this office of the year 1809,
and finds two letters from Sir James Craig, dated 10th April
and 5th May, transmitting the correspondence that has passed
during your residence in the Northern States of America, and
expressing his confidence in your ability and judgment, but
Lord Liverpool has not discovered any wish on the part of
Sir James Craig that your claims for compensation should be
referred to this country, nor indeed is allusion made to any
kind of arrangement or agreement that had been made by that
officer with you.
Under these circumstances, and had not Sir James Craig
determined on his immediate return to England, it would have
been Lord Liverpool's wish to have referred your memorial to
him, as being better enabled to appreciate the ability and
success with which you executed a mission undertaken at his
desire. Lord Liverpool will, however, transmit it to Sir James
Craig's successor in the Government, with an assurance that,
from the recommendations he has received in your favor, and the
opinion he has formed on your correspondence, he is convinced
the public service will be benefited by your active employment
in a public situation.
Lord Liverpool will also feel himself bound to give the same
assurance to the Marquis Wellesley, if there is any probability
that it will advance the success of the application which you
have made to his Lordship.