SPECIAL MESSAGE.
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To the SeHdig aud House Qf IfepTfse ltalfgfs;

 transmit, herewith, to Congress, copies ofthe correspondence between the Secre- tary of State and the Charge d'Affaires of his Britannic Majesty, relative to the me- diaiion of Great Britain in our disagree ment with France, and 10 the determina ton of the French government to execute the treaty of indemniiication, without far sher delay, on the application for payment by .he agent ofthe United States.

 The grounds upon which the mediation was accepted will be found fully developed in the correspondence. On the part of France the mediation had been publicly ac- cepted before the offer of it could be receiv- ed here. While each of the two govern ments have thus discovered just solicitnde to resort 10 ali honorable means of adjust ing ameaby the controversy between them, 1t IS a matter of eongratalation that the nie- disiion has been rendered unHecessary.-- Under such circumstances, the anticipation may be confidently indnlged that the disa- greement between the U. 5. and France will not have produced more than i tempo rary estiangcment. The healing affects of time, a just consideration of the power ful motives for a cordial good understand ing between the two nations, the strong ia- dncemenis each has to respect and esteem the other, will no doubt soon obliterate from their remembrance all traces of that disa- greement.

 0ft elevated and disinterested part the government of Great Britain has acted, and was prepared to act, have already had oe- casion 10 express my high sense. Univer- sal respect. and the consciousness of nnef- iting Il, are, with governments as with men, the just rewards of those who faithfully ex- ert their power 10 preserve peace, and per petuate good will.

 may be permitted, trust, at this time, without suspicion of the most remote de- hslre to throw oH Hcensure from the executive, or to point fl out to any other department or branch ofthe government, to refer 10 the want of effective preparation in which our country was found at the late crisis. From the nature of our institutions, the move ameiits ofthe government in preparation for shosiiliies must ever be too slow for tie ex- agencies of unexpected war. submit il, then, to you, whether the first duty we owe to the people who have contided 10 us their power, IS not to place our country ia such an attitude as always to be So amply sup piled with the means of self-defence as to afford I'D indueement 10 other nations to presume upon our foFbearanee, or to ex- peet important advantages from sudden assault, either upon our commerce, our sea-coast, or our interior frontier. In case of the commencement of hostilities during the recess Of Congress, the time inevitably elapsng before that body could be called together, even under the most favorable circumstances, would be pregnant with dan- ger, and, Ii We escaped without signal dis aster or national dishonoF, tho hazard of both, unnecessarily incurred could net la to excite q feeling of deep reproach.

 earnestly recommend to you, therefore, to make such provisions, that in no future time shall we be found without ample means 10 repel aggressions, even although it may come upon Us withoutsa note of warning We are now fortunately, so situated that the expenditure for this purpose will not be felt; and, fit were, 1t would be approved by those from whom all is means are de- rived, and for whose benefit only, t should be used with libefa! economy and an en- frightened forecast.

 h behalf of these suggestions, cannot forbear repeating the wise precepts ot oae whose counsels cannot be forgotten: "Ihe "U. $. ought not to indulge a persuasion, "that, contrary to the order of human e. events, they will forever keep at distance .'those painful appeals to arms, wiih which ssthe history of every other nation abounds. .There Is il rank due the U. 5. among na- sstions which will be withheld, if not abse- ''lutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. .sli we desire 10 avoid insult, we must be table to repel 1t. five desire 10 secure speace, one of the most powerful inssfu- s'ments of our rising prosperity, ii must be 'tknown that We are, at all times, ready for sswar. ANDREW JACKSON.

 Feb. 22, 1886.

 The following extract of letter from the British Charge d' Afaires at Washington to The Secretary Of State. dated the 10th ut. (being part of the correspondence com municated with the message,l shows that the payment of the first instament of the Indemnity by the French government, now only awaits the demand of our government:

 The French government has stated 10 that of his Majesty, that the frank and hon. orab'e manner in which the President has, in his recent Message, expressed hlsmeli with regard to the points of difference be- tween the governments of France and tie tf.~%a