Albert Gallatin letter to Alexander Baring, 18 October 1813

St. Petersburg, 18th October, 1813.

Dear Sir, - This letter will be delivered to you by Mr. G. M. Dallas, who had accompanied me as private secretary, and who is desirous of spending a few months in England before his return to America, provided his stay is permitted by your government. He has no public character, and should be considered only as a young gentleman of merit. As such I beg leave to recommend him to your kind attentions. . . .

I have nothing to add to my letter of August, written in answer to yours of 22d July. Not a single word has since that time reached me from England, either directly or through the medium of the Russian government. No such proposition as was suggested in your letter has been made or hinted in any shape. If the determination of your government had been such as you stated, it would have been advantageous to receive it early in an official shape, as although it would have prevented a negotiation with this mission, yet we would have lost no time in transmitting the proposition to our government; whilst on the other hand the delay has prevented our return to America, and if there was a prospect of peace there will have been an useless continuance of the reciprocal injuries of war. We are now probably chained here for the winter, and this, I think, affords an additional motive in favor of the acceptance of the mediation on the part of your government. I remain, with great regard and respect, &c.