[Encl. 8 April 1799] 182 (Duplicate) London Jan.^y 16. 1799 N^o19 Dear Sir I went this morning to Lord Grenville to state to him what I had written as the substance of our late conferences respecting St. Domingo, especially on the point of their agreement with Toussaint being left open to such modifications, as should enable us to accede to it. I found that I had faithfully reported to you what had passed, and that upon further consideration of the subject of the difficulties that might attend the execution of their project, and the danger to be apprehended from delay, they have concluded immediately to send Col.^o Maitland in a frigate to New York, with full powers to M^r. Liston, assisted by Col.^o Maitland, who made the convention with Toussaint, to settle the business between us and them, and then to proceed with an Agent on our part to St. Domingo, in order to conclude it there. I did not omit to express my satisfaction with this determination, and added, what I afterwards repeated to M^r. Dundas, that as Col.^o Maitland was well acquainted with the whole subject, a circumstance that would be of great importance to M^r. Liston Liston, it was much to be desired, that every point should be left open to such practicable and safe arrangements as should be devised at Philadelphia, instead of a plan's being sent there, which with the best disposition on our part might be found impracticable, and might moreover have an unfavourable influence upon the adoption of a substitute. Both Lord Grenville and M^r. Dundas assented to this observation; and I hope the subject will be found, as I think it, susceptible of an adjustment mutually safe, and advantageous to all parties. It would be well to provide that our ships should be at liberty to proceed with their cargoes from St. Domingo to Great Britain, as well as to the United States. If the plan of taking off the drawbacks referred to in former letters should be approved, in a Convention on that subject, perhaps we could obtain a stipulation for the repayment to us of the duty paid on the importation and detained on the exportation of the commodity here: — unless this is done, and the drawbacks are taken off, it will be our interest to oblige our ships to return home with their cargos, instead of proceeding with them to Great Britain. with perfect respect &^c. Rufus King