I had the honor, on the 30th of December, 1833, and again on the 5th of April, 1834, to address the Secretary of State relative to the claim upon the British Government of the orphan children of Peter Schackerly, one of the seamen killed on board the United States ship Chesapeake when attacked by the British ship of war Leopard, in 1807; to which communications I am yet without acknowledgment or reply.

I regard this long-protracted silence, however, as wholly ascribable to the delicacy of the subject referred to; and although I regret such an unpromising result, and may doubt the policy, if not the propriety of it, yet I am disposed to curb all manner of complaint, and "go with my Government, right or wrong."

The claimants are not of the like disposition, nor, while smarting under the wrongs inflicted on them, could such be expected. They are about to lay the case before Congress, and have required their proof and correspondence from me; to obtain which I have this day prepared a letter to the British minister, which I shall retain for one day to afford you an opportunity to suggest any modification, or other course, if such be your pleasure, and for that purpose enclose a copy thereof.