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following MESSAUE.

 Fello,O Citizens of the Senate,

 and House of Representatives.

 In performing my duty at the opening of your present session, it gives me pleasure l." congratulate you again upon the prosperous condition "f four beloved country. Divine Pro- vidence has favored us with general health, with rich rewards in the fields "t agriculture and in every branch of labor, and with peace to cultivate ant extend the various resources which employ the virtue and enterprise of our citizens. Let US trust that in surveying scene SO fiatterng to our free institutions, on, joint deliberations to preserve them may he crown ed with success.

 Our foreign relations continue, with but few exceptions, to maintain the favorable aspect which they bore in my last annual message, and promise to extend tLnse advantages which the principles that regulate "iar intercourse with other nations are sO well calculated to secure. . -,... ..-.

 The question of the northeastern boundary is still pending with Great Britain, and the proposition made in accordance with :he re- solution of the Senate for the establishment of line according to the treaty of l783, has not been accepted by that government. Believing that every disposition is felt on both sides {" adjust this perpexing question to the satisfac- ton of all the parties interested in 1t, the hope is yet indulged that it may be effected on the basis of that proposition.

 [The President has here several paragraphs of an unimportant nature devoted to Austria, Russia. Prussia, and other European powers, with all of whom, except a slight difference with Belgium respecting the ratification of a treaty, and with France as hereafter related. a good understanding exists; a!s" with the Sublime Porte, with Mexico, and with the South American states generally.

 It becomes my unpleasant du,y to inform you that this pacific and highly gratifying pie ture of our foreign relations does not include those with France at this time. It is not pos sible that any government and people could be any more sincerely drsr"us of consolidating a just and friendly intercourse with another nation, than are those of the U. States with their ancient ally and friend. This disposition is founded as well on the most grateful and honorable recollpctons associated with our struggle for independence, as upon we'll grounded conviction that it is consOnant with the true policy of both. The people of the U. States could not, therefore, without the deep est regret, see even temporary interruption of the friendly relations between the two cOuntr-s-a regret which would, am sure, be greatly aggravated if there should turn out to be any reasonable ground for attrlbutlng such result to any act of omission or com mission on our part. derive, therefore, the highest satisfaction from heinz able to assure you that the W hole course pf this government has been characterised: ss,ys& spiTisso c"nci9ia- tory and forbearing as to make 1t impossible that our justice and our moderation should be questioned, whatever may be the consequent cps of longer perseverance, on the part of the French government in her omission to satisfy the conceded claims of our citizens.

 The history ofthe accumulated and unpro- voked aggressiOns upon our commerce. com mi,ted bv authority of the existing govern ments of France, between the years 1900 and 1917, has been rendered too painfully familiar in Americans to make it's repetition either ne- cessary or desirable. It will be sufficient here to remark, that there has, for many years. been scarcely single administration of the French government by whom the justice and legality of the claims of our citizens to indem- nity were not. to a very considerable extent, admitted and yet near quarter of a century has been wasted in intellectual negotiations to secure it.

 Deeply sensible of the injurious effects re- sultiDg from this state of things upon the inte- rests and character of both nations, regarded it as among my first duties to cause one more effort to be made to satisfy France that just ana lIDeraI eettJe01eNt OI OUT CIdImS was as we'll due to her own honor as to their ;ncon- testible validity. The negotiation for this pur- pose was commenced with the late govern ment of France, ,and was prosecuted with such success, as to leave DO reasonable ground to doubt, that settlement of character quite as liberal as that which was subsequently, made, would have been effected. had not the revolution by which the negotiation was cut of taken place. The discussions were resum- ed with the present government, and the re- suit showed that We were not wrong in sup. posing that an event by W hich the two govern ments were made to approach SO much near CT in their political principles. and by which the motives for the most liberal and friendly intercourse were so greatly multiplied, could exercise no other than salutary influence up- on the negotiation. After the most deliberate and thorough examination of the whole sub feet, a treaty between the two governments was concluded and signed at Paris on the 4th of July, 1881, by which it was stipulated that .. the French government, in order to liherate itselffrOm all the ereclamaiiODspreferred against it hy the citizens of ihe U. States, for unlaw- ful seizures, captures, sequestures. cOnfsca- tions, or destruction of their vessels. cargoes, or other property. engages tO pay sum of twenty five millions of francs to the U. States. who shall distribute it among those entitled, in the manner and according to the rules it shaII determine :" and it was also stipulated ak~ oe he EsanPh hot