than in the U. S. Knowing that it will gratify his best Friend General Washington and our Countrymen in general, I shall render him every service in my power.

Respectfully &c., &c.,

S. WILLIAMS.

CHAPTER XVII.

Senator Blount's Expulsion from the Senate-Mr. Liston's Conduct—R. King declines a Dinner offered by American Merchants-Gen. Lafayette-R. King to the Secretary of State, thanking him for regular Information on the Affairs of the U. S., and sending to him an Account of European Politics-Lafayette and French Affairs-Disturbances in Ireland-Release of Lafayette, and his Arrival in Hamburgh-Lafayette to R. King.

MY LORD:

R. KING TO Lord Grenville.

Private.

GR. CUMBERLAND PLACE, 28th Aug., 1797.

Having just received dispatches from Philadelphia, I take the liberty to send your Lordship several newspapers containing the Proceedings of the Congress relative to Thomas Blount, who was expelled from the Senate on the 8th of July by all the voices except one.

It has given me great satisfaction to observe, and especially as it corresponds with the tenor of my reports to the American Government, that his Majesty's ministers so distinctly disapproved the project contrived by Blount and his associates, the moment they were apprized of it.

But I cannot avoid regretting that Mr. Liston suffered an occasion so favorable to the promotion of the good harmony between the two countries to pass without turning it to profit by communicating to the American Government the existence of a scheme so full of mischief and so hazardous to our Peace. . .

With perfect consid'n.,

R. KING.

DEAR SIR:

R. KING TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

LONDON, Aug. 28, 1797.

Before I received your Letter of the 8th of July, communicating the intercepted letter of Mr. Blount, I had entertained suspicions and been on the watch, respecting certain characters who had appeared here from the Tennessee Country. In the ship John Henderson, which arrived here last spring from Philadelphia, came Captain Chisholm and another person who called himself Doctor Hutter. The latter is a Dutchman who I am informed has lived several years in Knoxville. Hutter has said that his coming with Chisholm was accidental, that he came to England for the purpose of going from thence to the Continent, which, as he alledged, he has several times attempted to do, but not having the requisite Passports to leave this Country, has been stopped and turned back. Neither Hutter nor Chisholm have come near me; and by the reports of a person in some measure in their confidence,* I have been repeatedly informed that Chisholm since his arrival has received money from this Government, that he has sometimes spoken of having had an interview with Lord Grenville, and having plunged into the dissipation of this City, and spent his money, that he had been redeemed from the custody of the Bailiff by the Government's paying his debts. This they refused doing except Chisholm would immediately leave the Country which he promised to do, but has not yet done. Hutter says that he lodged in the same house with Chisholm in Second Street Philadelphia, that Chisholm was often backwards and forwards between the houses of Blount and Liston, and that the latter was several times at the house in which they lodged that they brought a letter of introduction from Liston to a Mrs. Thomas or Thomson who lives in Halfmoon Street, and at whose House they lodged on their first arrival here; that this woman is an old friend of Liston's, having been abroad in his family for many years.

Hutter is reserved and cautious, says little concerning his own affairs but sometimes has intimated to the person who at my desire has observed them, that Chisholm in his opinion had been sent here by Blount and that his mission was connected with a pro

* Italics in cipher.

ject to invade Florida, and perhaps to separate Tennessee and the Western Country from the American Union. I cannot, I think, be mistaken in the information that Chisholm has received money here, and at several times: the sums have been inconsiderable and such as his course of life soon dissipated. He is said to have brought a letter of Credit from Mr. Bell of Philadelphia to a Mr. Wilson of London. This is a thread which you may follow: I shall be able to ascertain from Wilson whether this information is correct. By Mr. d'Asp, the Swedish Envoy here, and who was at Constantinople with Liston, I am ascertained that Mrs. Thomas, the person at whose house Hutter and Chisholm lodged, was really with Liston in Turkey. Chisholm is again arrested for his Debts, and is at this time in a Lock-up House in Chancery Lane. I do not despair of being able to obtain the possession of Chisholm's papers, tho' the publication of Blount's Letter, as well as of those between you and Liston which have appeared in all the News Papers may put the parties on their guard.

With perfect Respect and Esteem, &c., &c.,

MY DEAR SIR :

Lord GRENVILLE TO R. KING.

Private.

RUFUS KING.

DROPMORE, Aug. 30, 1797.

I am much obliged to you for the communication of the American Papers you sent me. I am not sorry for the accident which has afforded the means of proving the principles and rules by which our conduct is guided in everything that affects the Peace and tranquillity of the U. S.: but I hardly think that Mr. Liston would have been at liberty to communicate to the Govt. of the U. S. a proposal of this nature, the communication of which might have involved the proposers in much personal risk, while the plan itself could be productive of no inconvenience to your Government, since it could never be acted upon but by the cooperation of the King's Ministers-a cooperation which Mr. Liston had no reason to presume could be given, and which was accordingly refused in the most distinct & pointed manner, on the first intimation we received of the business.

I own I think that Mr. Liston (tho' acting for the best unquestionably & with great means of judging of the line which he was to pursue) has nevertheless gone at least to the utmost extent of what his situation allowed, if not somewhat beyond it, when he answered the letter of Col. Pickering by an avowal which may prejudice individuals supposed to be implicated in it. I have however no reason to regret in the present instance that the subject did not strike him in the light in which it might perhaps have struck me in the same situation, as the consequence has only been to evince still more clearly the correctness of our principles and conduct.

Ever, my dear Sir,

Most faithfully & sincerely your obt. Hum. Servt.,

GRENVILLE.

It would appear that the merchants in London interested in American commerce asked Mr. King to accept a dinner as an evidence of their gratitude for the efficient efforts he had made to facilitate their trade and protect them from the depredations consequent upon the persistent interference by French enactments and cruisers. The answer below is characteristic of the Minister.

DEAR SIR:

R. KING TO H. M. BIRD.

GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE, Sep. 1, 1797.

I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 31st ult. We still remain in Town, and are uncertain when we shall be able to pursue our projected excursion. Concerning the intentions of the American Merchants, which you have been so obliging as to communicate to me, I entreat you to believe and to assure these Gentlemen, sensible as I am of the honor of their good opinion, that it will be far more agreeable to me that their purpose should be postponed, than that it should be carried into execution. As I do not entertain the smallest Doubt of their good wishes and friendly sentiments towards my Country, I cannot on that score desire the Proof thereof which they have