Doc. No. 36.
119
Cape H e n r y , arrived there the 22d ultimo, ( A p r i l . ) On Thursday the 23d, accompanied by Captain R e a d , I waited on the authorities of the place, and more particularly on Baron de Dupuy, the King's Secre tary and Interpreter-, and through whom all communications for his Ma jesty are made. Being introduced in my official character by Captain Read to Baron de Dupuy, I first made him acquainted with the nature of my appointment, and then requested an audience with the King. A mes senger, announcing my arrival and this request, was that afternoon des patched to his Majesty, then at his palace of Sans Souçi, distant from the cape 18 miles. On Friday, the 24th, at 12 at noon, I received a note from the Baron de Dupuy, requesting that I would again let him see my certificate of ap pointment, for the purpose of submitting a copy of it to his Majesty the King. . At 3 o'clock, P . M., of the same day, I called on the Baron and told him I had come in an unceremonious manner to see him, with which he expressed himself highly gratified. Our conversation, at first general and on different subjects, soon turned on that of my appointment. I told him how anxious the President of the United States was that there should be a good understanding between the two Governments, and a free, friendly, and unrestrained intercourse between the citizens of the United States and the subjects of Hayti ; that, with a view to this desirable object, and notwithstanding the ill success of Mr. T y l e r , I had been sent out by the President of the United States to reside at the cape in an official ca pacity, with such documents as would, I was persuaded, answer the full expectations of his Majesty the King. H e acknowledged, he said, that it gave him great pleasure to perceive that my commission was entirely free from those exceptionable words which the commission of my prede cessor contained, and which had given so much offence to his Majesty. I was now informed that his Majesty regretted very much not being able to see me, as he was then very much occupied in preparing for an imme diate tour to his frontier posts. T h e next day, Saturday the 25th, the Baron de Dupuy called at my lodgings and remained with me more than an hour. He informed me that he was going that evening to the palace of Sans Souci, w h e r e he had been summoned to attend his Majesty the King on the subject of my ap p o i n t m e n t ; that he expected to be back next day, when he would make me acquainted with the result. T h e Baron expressed a very great desire that I should be received in my official character—seemed to be aware of the very great importance that would arise from having an ac credited agent amongst them, and said that, as such were his sentiments and opinions, he should act accordingly, and would use his exertions to have me recognised by his Government. T h e Baron then took leave of me, went that evening to the palace of Sans Souçi, from whence he did not return until Monday morning, the 27th, when 1 received a note from him inviting me to call at his office at 2 o'clock of the afternoon. Agree ably to this invitation, I called at his office at the hour, appointed. His reception of me was easy and polite, and, with much apparent concern, he regretted ( h e said) the circumstances which made it his duty to commu nicate to me the decision of his Majesty the King, which was against my admission, on account of my informal appointment. On my observing that that objection was obviated by my having been introduced by Captain