NANCES OF THE, 1789-1816). He also ably but unsuccessfully urged the renewal of the charter of the Bank of the United States. Always a free-trade advocate, in 1831 he was the leading spirit in a free-trade convention at Philadel phia, drafting a memorial on that subject for presentation to Congress. His views on finance and banking were eagerly sought, among his notable essays on these subjects being 'Consid erations on the Currency and Banking System. of the United States' (1830) and 'Suggestions on the Banks and Currency of the United States' (1841).
In 1813 Gallatin was sent to Saint Peters burg as one of the commissioners to urge Rus sian mediation between Great Britain and the United States, but as he had not resigned from the Treasury, the 'Senate in July 1813 withheld confirmation and in January 1814 he left Saint Petersburg. A few weeks later, however, he received a regular appointment as one of the peace commissioners to settle the War of 1812 and materially influenced the shaping of the Treaty of Ghent (q.v.). In 1815, with Adams and Clay, he also negotiated a commercial conven tion with Great Britain. On his return home he declined a nomination to Congress and a second appointment to the' Treasury portfolio, prefer ring diplomatic life instead, and from 1816 to 1823 rendered inestimable service as Minister to France. He aided Richard Rush at London in negotiating a new commercial convention with Great Britain and signed the compromise convention of 20 Oct. 1818. In 1824, after his return to New York, the Crawford Republicans nominated him for Vice-President but in Octo ber he withdrew in favor of Clay. A year later he declined to represent the United States at the proposed Congress of American republics at Panama, but in the spring of 1826 accepted an appointment as Minister to Great Britain, prior to his return in 1827 negotiating several important conventions. With his return to New York Gallatin's diplomatic career terminated, but during the next two years he prepared a statement of facts regarding the northeastern boundary to be laid before the King of the Netherlands. In 1846 he rendered his last dip lomatic service when he published a pamphlet entitled 'The Oregon Question.' He protested against the annexation of Texas and in 1847 published a pamphlet entitled 'Peace with Mex ico) The last years of Gallatin's life were in a large measure devoted to scientific researches, since his position as president of the National Bank of New York, which he occupied for sev eral years, allowed him ample time for study; he declined to re-enter public life, in 1843 re fusing President Tyler's offer of the Treasury portfolio. He ardently supported all educa
tional movements and actively assisted in found ing New York University; but his chief inter est was research in the field of American eth nology. He had previously made an extensive study of the Indians and their languages, pub lishing several essays on the subject, but after his permanent settlement at New York he made a deeper and more scientific investigation, in 1836 publishing 'A Synopsis of the Indian Tribes within the United States, East of the Rocky Mountains, and in the British and Rus sian Possessions of North America.) In 1842 he founded in New York the American Eth nological Society and three years later in the first volumes of its 'Transactions' published an 'Essay on the Semi-Civilized Nations of Mex ico and Central America, Embracing Elaborate Notes on their Languages, Numeration, Calen dars, History and Chronology, and an Inquiry into the Probable Origin of their Semi-Civiliza tion.' From 1843 until his death in 1849 Galla tin was president of the New York Historical Society and despite his age never lost interest in his historical, economic and scientific pur suits. Consult Adams, Henry, 'Life of Albert Gallatin' (Philadelphia 1879), and 'The Writ ings of Albert Gallatin' (3 vols., Philadelphia 1879) ; Bartlett, J. R., 'Reminiscences of Albert Gallatin' (in 'New York Historical Society for 1849, pp. 281-98); Gallatin, Albert, 'Autobiography' (in 'Maine Historical Society Collections,' Vol. VI, pp. 93-103, 1859); Gallatin, James, 'A Great Peace Maker : the Diary of James Gallatin, Secretary of Albert Gallatin, U. S. Envoy to France and Eng land 1813,27 and Negotiator of the Treaty of Ghent,' edited by Count Gallatin (London 1914) ; Hale, E. E., 'Memoir of Albert Gallatin' (in 'American Antiquarian Society Proceed ings,' 23 Oct. 1849) ; Meany, Edward S., 'Three Diplomats Prominent in the Oregon Question' (in Washington Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. V, pp. 207-14, Seattle, Wash., 1914) ; Ste vens, John A., 'Albert Gallatin' (Boston 1890).