This interview was the second one which Mr. Morris had had with his Grace of Leeds, and was scarcely more satisfactory than the first had been.  But a few days after his arrival in London he had requested an interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and presented to him his letter from President Washington.  A few minutes’ conversation with the incapable, indolent diplomat convinced Mr. Morris that little, if anything, would be done toward settling the treaty difficulties, in spite of his Grace’s extreme courtesy of manner and vague assurance of immediate attention to the facts presented to him.  It was therefore with no surprise, but a good deal of irritation, that Mr. Morris saw the weeks slip by with but one evasive answer to his demands being sent him.  Being importuned to appeal to the British Government on another score—­the impressment of American seamen into the English navy—­he determined again to urge upon the Minister of Foreign Affairs a settlement of the treaty stipulations at the same time that he presented the new subject of grievance.  To Mr. Morris’s request for another interview, the Duke of Leeds readily assented.

“He has set to-morrow as the day, Ned,” said Mr. Morris, consulting his Grace’s letter, which he held in his hand, “and says that ’he and Mr. Pitt will be glad to discuss informally with me any matters I wish to bring to their attention.’  As it is to be so ‘informal,’ and as Leeds is to have the advantage of a friend at the interview, I think I will ask you to accompany me.  I can’t for the life of me get him to commit himself in writing, so ’tis as well to have a witness to our conversations,” he said, smiling a little cynically.

Accordingly, at one o’clock the following day, Mr. Morris and Calvert drove to Whitehall, where they found the Prime Minister and the Duke of Leeds awaiting them.  The Duke presented Calvert to Mr. Pitt, who seemed glad to see the young American, and not at all disconcerted by the addition to their numbers.  Indeed, the interview was as easy and familiar as possible, the gentlemen sitting about a table whereon were glasses and a decanter of port, of which Mr. Pitt drank liberally.

“’Tis the only medicine Dr. Addington, my father’s physician, ever prescribed for me,” he said, with a smile, to Mr. Morris and Calvert.  “I beg of you to try this—­’tis some just sent me from Oporto, and, I think, particularly good.  But we are here to discuss more important affairs than port wine, however excellent,” he added, with another smile.

“Yes,” said Mr. Morris, courteously but firmly, “I have requested this interview that I might place before you the complaint of the United States that your press-gangs enter our American ships and impress our seamen under the pretence that they are British subjects.  It has long been a sore subject with America, and calls for a speedy remedy, sir.”

“Such conduct meets with no more approval from us than from you, Mr. Morris,” said the Duke of Leeds, evasively; “but a remedy will be hard to find because of the difficulties of distinguishing between a seaman of two countries so closely related.”