The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-05-22 00:00:00, page 2

Caro; but the latter having missed a passage ]
to the U. S. i:i the Hritish cotter, which
a tiled fro.n Falmouth for New York on tlic
20.h April, and circumstances requiring his
arrival iu S America, with as little delay as
poss ble, he forwarded the packet to me. A
copy of the translation of his letter to me, 1,
have the honor to inclose.,
Under the same cover to me were inelos" :
ed two letters, one for Cnl. Hamilton, the o~ j
tlier to Gen. Knox, which 1 forward by this
post to those gctalcmcn.
I am, with perfect respect, sir, your obe
dient servant.
TIMOTHY PICKERING.
The I’rebidir.t vj the U. Stales.
(No. II )
SIR,
The annexed letter of the honorable
JMr. King to you, w HI s ji ve as a credential
in my favor, in presenting myself to you
with the important mission it announces.
An unforeseen accident has frustrated my
voyage hence to your continent in his majes
ty’s cutter, which sailed for New York on
the 20th April last: and a combination of
circumstances, requiring my arrival iu S.
America with as Hide delay as possible. I
have re.ceivcd instructions immediately to
depart by the shortest loutc of the leeward
islands, and am ordered to communicate it
to the government through the medium of
you, by transmitting the packet which I cn
close and which I should have conveyed per
sonally. I pray you to be pleased to deliver
it into the hands of his excellency the Pre
sident ; and as eventually some answer may
be practicable in so interesting a business,.
General Francis tie Miranda, our compatri
ot, and the principal agent of all Spanish
America in union, a person extremely well
known, and in particular to the honorable
Mr. King, whose intervention is as to both
parties safe and secret, will remain in Lon
don. ■*.
I also hope yon will have the goodness to
receive the first tribute of my respects in the.
Spanish language and style, as I am unable
to render it in English, and that you will not
confide the seer, t to interpreters that are not
known:
Remaining with greatest respect, sir, your
excellency’s most humble servant.
l’EDHO JOSEF CARO.
Ihs excellency T Pick
ering, Secretary of
State, Ufc.
.Falmouth, May 10, 1798.
(No. III.)
From -”/r. Jung to the Stcrcicry of State,
dated. I'\b. 26, 1798.
' “ Two points have within a fortnight been
settled in the English cabinet respecting
South America. If Spain** able to prevent
the overthrow of her presort government 5c
to escape being brought under the entire
vontroul of France ; England between whom
ami Spain, notwithstanding the war, a cer
tain understanding appears to exist, will at
present engage in no scheme to deprive Spain
ofpher possessions in South America. Rut
if, as appears probable, the ermy destined a
gainst Portugal, and which will inarch thro’
Spain, or any oilier means which may be
employed by France shall overthrow the
Spanish government, and thereby place the
resources of Spain and all her colonics at the
disposal of France, England will immediate
ly commence the execution of a plan long
since digested and parpared for the complete
independence of South America. If Eng
land engages in this plan, she will propose
to the'U ailed States to co operate in its ex
eculion. Miranda will be detained here,
under one pretence or another, until events
shall decide the conduct of England. The
revolution of Spain is decreed ; the attempt
will be made and tke success is scarcely
doubtiul. The President may therefore ex
pect the overture of England, anu will, I
run persuaded act upon it, under the influ
ence of that wise and comprehensive policy,
which looking forward to the destinies of the
new world, shall in the beginning, bv great
and generous deeds, lay deep and firm the
foundations of lasting concord between its
rising empires. If possible I will bring to
gether ai d seasonably arrange and send to
you, such information as I liavr been able to
procure upon this interesting and very oon_
sequential subject; having found out and ac
quired the confidence of certain Jesuits,
natives of South America, v/bo, with a view
to its independence are, and for several years
have been in the service and pay of England.
I have often conversed with them, and seen
tlie reports which they have prepared for
their employers. These communications
throw much light upon the population,
the revenues, the oppression and the tem
per and character of tl»c Spanish Ameri
cans.”
A faithful extract,
J. Wagner, C/i. Clk. Drfi. State.
(X.,. IV.)
Extract of a letter from Mr. K nq- to flic
Secretary of Stale, dated Loudon, Jljiril
6, 1798.
“ South America must soon pass through
a revolution : We have an immense interest
in the event, as well as in the manner in
which it shall he effected. In a former let
ter I have communicated to you the views
and intentions of England, who will not pro
mote the revolt incase Spain shall he able to
save herself from a revolution, and keep the
French cut of Portugal. And though there
seems a little probability that this will be the
cr.sc, England, since the at rival of Miranda
here, hut without his knowledge, has inform- \
edSpain, not only that she will not counte
nance or assist the Spanish Colonies in be
coming independent, but that she will join
her in resisting the endeavors of others to
accompli: h it ; provided that Spain will op- 1
pose the views of France against her own '
dominions, and those of Portugal. At the j
same time that this communication has been
made to Spain, anexpidition has been pre- i
pared and the correspondent at rangimeior '<
at Trinidad have been ordered for the pur
pose of beginning the revolution of South A
mcricu. In this event, as I have before in.
titrated to you, England will at Philadel
phia open her:,elf lb and ask the conjura
tion oft he United Stanu,—Miranda, who
is impatient with the delays that he expe
rie-c.e», as well as ignorant of the provision
Hi decisions of this Cabinet, has concluded
to vend his friend and associate, Mr, Caro,
to Philadelphia with a Letter for the Presi
dent, and 1 have given him a Letter toiden
tiiy and introduce him to vou. Conjeetnr
ing the intentions cf France, and knowing!
with precision those of England, we shall be j
thebet‘er able in season to consider and rrg !
» late the conduct that it shall be proper for
uy to puisnr
A fai'hful ex'rrc',
J. Wagner, CA. C.'Ik. fitft. Sia'e.
(No. V)
▼KAVSLATION FROM THK FRENCH.
Mr. President,
It is in the iiame of the
Spanish American Colonies, that I have the
honor to semi to your excellency the annex
ed propositions. They have been, in the
like manner, presented to the Ministers ct
his ilritannic Majesty, who have received
them vety favorably, by expressing much
satisfaction in having an opportunity to act,
in such a transaction, with the United States
of America. And it seems to me that the
delay which I experience, truly affixting in
a moment so urgent, results precisely from
the expectation, in which fhe English gov
eminent appears to be, of seeing North A
inerica decided to break definitively with
France ; by the desire which she h.xs, to
make a common cause, and loco operate to
gether, tor the absolute independence of the
whole continent of the new world.
As the spirit of justice, generosity and at
tachment of my fellow citizens, towards the
United States, appears better expressed in
the document which contains my powers and
instructions, I have determined to enclose a
complete copy of it . persuaded that this
trank and friendly conduct will serve more
efficaciously to accelerate the decision ; de
pending nevertheless upon the indispensible
reserve, in all that does not directly regard
the U; -ledStates. ‘ If any one of those arti
cles which are contained in this instruction,
or any other thing relative to it, should want
explanation, 1). Pedro Joseph Caro, one of
niy co patriots and nlso commissioner of the
Spanish American Colonics, who istodcliv..
er this Letter to yon, is able competently
nod amply to satisfy you in all things.
His mission, after having received the or
ders of your excellency, is to proceed with
out delay to the Spanish American continent,
to the end to inform our constituents and
compatriots of the actual state of the negoti
ations confided to us as well as of (he polit
ical situation of Europe. I pray you to have
the goodness to facilitate him, itvevery thing
he shall want for this important object, and
to transport himself immediately to the pro
vince ot Santa lee dt* Bogota.
I will not dissemble from you, Mr. Presi
dent, rav inquietudes concerning the ap
proaching entry ot French troops into Spain,
ior fear that a convulsive movement in the
mother country, (La Metropole) may pro
duce anarchical commotions in the colonies;
and that the abominable system of France,
may introduce itself among us for wane of
having taken prompt and efficacious mea
s.tres to prevent it. Dii avertant ! Finally
I hope, that the little succour of which we
have occasion to begin, and which amounts
to six or eight ships of the line, and four or
five thousand men, of troops, we shall easily
find both in England and America. Mv
wishes would be that the ships should be
English, and the land forces Americans
May providence ordain that the U. States
may do for their compatriots of the South in
1T9S, what the Ling of France did fur them
in 1778.
I felicitate myself, always, to see at the
head of the executive power in America,
that distinguished person, who by his cou
rage rendered his country independent, and
who by his wisdom has s.nce given it a gov_
eminent well ballanced, and thus preserving
its liberty. We shall undoubtedly profit by
your learned lessons ; and I rejoice to inform
you, beforehand, that the form of govern
ment projected, is mixed ; with an hereditary
chief of the executive power, under the name
of Ynca : and what I like still better, taken in ;
the same family: a Senate composed of noble
families, but not hereditary ; and an House of
Commons, elected among all the other cit- I
izeus, who shall possess a competent proper ;
tv. Such is the sketch of the form of gov
ernment, which appears to unite the majori
?y of suffrages in the Spanish American con
tinent, and which will no doubt prevent the
fatal consequences of the French republican j
system, which Montesquieu calls extreme li
berty.
In addressing these propositions directly
to you, I have believed that I have made
all the reserve requisite in an affair, as ex
traordinary as it is important. 1 have the
honor, moreover, to inclose a state of the
population, productions, exportations and
consumption of Spanish America ; which,
having been made upon information the
most exact, as well as the most recent, has
appeared tome to merit your attention.
With the sentiments of the highest con
sideration,
And of the most perfect esteem,
I have the honor to be,
Mr. President,
Of your Excellency,
The most humble and most
uw l v
FRANCISCO DE MIRANDA.
To hi a Excellency John Adams A
1‘real dent of the 17. Statea of C
America. j
London, this 24th of March, 1798.
No 6—is on*-, a triplicate copy of the
foregoing letter from Miranda, which I have
marked No. 5, with only an additional post
script, dated April 28th, 1798, in these
words—" I*. S. Some unforeseen accident,
in the embarkation of Mr. Caro, at Fal
mouth, as well as the changes which hap
pened afterwards in the Spanish ministry,
announcing rather a taking of possesion, by
the French Directory, than any thing else,
have compelled Mr. Cam to proceed direct
ly by the packet boat of Barbados to Tri
nidad, and from thence to Saute Fee. upon
the Spanish American continent. I hope
that this accident, or the delay which it may
nave produced, will r.Hnse no prejudice to
the important aflYir which we submit to
the consideration of your Excellency ; and
so much the more, ns the d'.icuments which
accompany it, appear to me sufficiently to
explain it. Air. i'aro in charged, moreo
ver, to aend firrnona authorized to your
Excellency, from the moment he ahull ur.
rive in our country.
“ M-a.”
I shall add nothing at present, but that no
•uch persons ever arrived tome from S<A
merica, nor any other communications from
Mr. Caro. In my next letter, I shall send
you more of the remaining papers relative
to this subject.
JOHN ADAMS.
Quincy, May, 8, 1810,
FROM T11E XATJOATAL 1/aTELLI
GliA CEE EXTRA.
Washington, Mav 10.
Extract of a. fetter Jrovx IVm. Pinkney
J’.ay. to li. S mUft, F.iy. Seefi. tarxj of State,
dated London, Mireh 21, lflio.
“ f)u th 27' i oi November. Mr. P.rownell
delivered mm" vour letters of the 11th,
14:h and 20d of the preceding month, and
on t.ie Saturday following 1 had a confer
c:.cc wiilt the Marquis Wellesley, in the
cm: e of whu h 1 explained to him fully til•
grounds upon which I was instructed to re
quest Mr. Jackson’s immediate rccal, and
upon which the official intercourse between
that Minister and the American government
had been suspended.
Lord Wellesley's reception of what I said
to him was frank and friendly ; and I left
him w‘*h a persuasion that we should have
no cause to he dissatisfied with the final
course of his government on the subjects of
our conference.
We agreed in opinion that this interview
could only be introductory to a more formal
proceeding on inv part; and it was necot
ding’y settled between us that I should pre
sent an official letter, to the effect of mv ver
bal communication.
II iving prepared such a letter, I carried
it myself to Downing street a few days af
terwards. and accompanied the delivery of
■it to Lord Wellesley with some explanato
ry observations with which it is not I pr*»
| sume necessary to trouble you. You will
j find a copy or this letter enclosed, and will
be able to collect from it the substance of
the greater part of the statements ami re
| marks which I thought it mv duty to make
in the conversation above mentioned.
A copy of the answer, received on the day
of its date, is incloved.”
• (COPY )
Cheat Cumbehland Place.
2d January, 1810.
My Lohd.
In the course of the official cor
[ respondcnce, which ha.* lately taken place
h tween tiie Secretary of State and the U
S. and Mr J ickson, his Majesty's envoy ex
traordinary a-id minister plenipotentiary at
Washington. it lias unfortunately happened
that Mr. Jackson lias made it necessary th.lt
I should receive the commands of the Pre
sident to request his recal, and that, in the
mean time the intercourse between that mi
nister and the American government should
be suspended.
I am quite sure, mv Lord, that I shall
best consult your lordship’s wishes ami the
respect which I owe to his majesty's govern
ment, by executing mv duty on this occasi
on with perfect simplicity and frankness._
Mv instructions, too, p >int to that course as
required by the honor of the two govern
ments. and as suited to the confidence which
the President entertains in the disposition
of his Majesty’s government to view in its
true light the subject to which they relate.
With such inducements to exclude from this
communication every tiling which is not in
timatcly connected with its purpose, and on
the other hand, to set forth with candor and
explicitness the facts and considerations
which really belongs to the case. I should
he unpardonable if I fatigued your lordship
with unnecessary details, or affect any re
serve.
It is known to your Lordship that Mr.
Jackson arrived in America, as the ambas
sador of Mr. Erskine, while the disappoint
ment prtiduced by 'he disavowal of the ar
rangement of the 19di of April, was yet’re
cent, and while some other causes of dissa
tisfaction, which had been made to associ
ate themselves with that disappointment,
were in operation. But your lordship also
knows that his reception by the American
government was marked by all that kind
ness and respect which, were due to the re
presentative of a sovereign, with whom the
U. S. were sincerely desirous of niaiutain
ing the most friendly lelatiuns.
Whatever were the hopes, which Mr.
Jackson’s mission had in-pired, of satisfac
lory explanations and adjustment upon the I
prominent points of difference between the i
two countries, they certainly were not much
encouraged by the conferences, in which,
as far as lie thought proper, ue opened to
Mr. Smith, soon after liis arrival, the nature
and extent of liis powers and die views of his
government. After an experiment, deem
cd by the Government of the U. S. to be suf
ficient, it appeared that these conferences,
necessarily liable to misconception and want
cf precision, were not likely to lead to a..y
practical conclusion.
Accordingly, on the 9th of October, Mr.
Smith addressed a letter to Mr. J ackson, in
which, after staling the course of proceed
ir.g which the American government hail
supposed itself entitled to expect front him
with regard to the rejected arrangement 8c
the matters embraced by it, and after reca
pitulating what Mr. Smith believed to have
passed in their recent interviews relative to
those subjects, he intimated that it wa*
thought expedient that their further dis
cessions, on that partictilar occasion should
be in writing.
It is evident, my Lord from Mr. Jackson’s
reply of the 11th of the same month, that he
received this intimation (which, carefully
restricted as it was, be seems to have been
willing to understand in a general sense) with
considerable sensibility. He speaks of it in
that reply as being without example in the
annals of diplomacy ; as a step against which
it was fit to en'.er his protest; as a violation
in his person of the most essential rights of
a public minister ; as a new difficulty
thrown in the way of a restoration of a tho
rough good understanding between the two
countries.
I need not remark to your Lordship that
nothing of all this could with propriety he
said of a proceeding, in itself entirely regu
lar and usual, required by the state ot the
discussions to which only it was to he applied,
and proposed in a manner perfectly deco,
rous and unexceptionable. The government
of the United States had expected from Mr.
Jackson an explanation of the grounds of the
refusal on the part of his government to a
bide by Mr. F.rskine’s arrangement, accom
panied by a substitution of other propositions.
It had been collected from Air. Jackson’s
conversations, that he had no power what
soever to give any such explanation; or, in
the business of the orders in council, to offer
any substitute for the rejected agreement—
or, in the r-ff.iir of the Chesapeake, to offer
anv substitute that could be accepted ; and
it find been inferred from the same conver
sations, that, even if the American govern
m nt should propose a substitute fur that
part of the disavowed adjustment which re.
garded the orders in council ; the substitute
could not be agreed on, (if indeed Mr.
J ickson had power to do more than discuss
it) unles it should distinctly recognize con.,
ditions which had already bet** declared to
be wholly inadmissible. To what valuable
[end, my Lord, loose conversations, having
in view either no definite result, or none that
was attainable, could, under such circum
stances and under such topics, be con.
tinned, it would not be easy to discover;—
aril I think I may venture to assume that
the subsequent written correspondence has
completely shewn that they Could not have
been otherwise than fruitless, and that they
were not too soon abandoned fur that more
formal course, to which from the beginni- g
they could only be considered as preparato..
r 7- f
I After remonstrating against iUe tvisii or
fhe American -bjoveri lent to give 10 the
further disco >ions a written form, Mr.
Jackson disposes himself to conform to it;
umli speaking in the same letter of the dis .
avowal of the arrangement of April, he de
clares, that he was not provided with in
structions to explain the motjvcsof it; and
he serins to intimate thm explanation
through him was uimrcessr. not only be
c;ui-«4t had already been nn.de timnigh o
therr.lianneis, but because the government of
the United States had entered into the ar
rangement with a knowledge «• that it could
only lead to the consequences that actually
followed.” In the conclusion of the fourth
paragraph of the letter he informs Mr.
Smith, that the despatch of Mr. Canning to
Mr. L>*-kiue, “which Mr. Smith lud made
the basis of an ofTtcis.1 correspondence with
the latter minister, and which had been read
to the American minister in London,’' was
me oniy nespatcn nv wnicn t le conditions
were prescribed to Mr. Erskine for the con
clusion of an arrangement with tlie United
States on the matter to which it related.
Mr. Smith’s nuswer to this letter bears
date the 19-hof October; and 1 beg your
Lordship’s permission to introduce from it
the following quotation : — * The stress von
have laid on what you have been pleased to
state as the substitution of the terms finally
agreed on,” (in the arrangement of April
(in the orders in council) “for the terms first
proposed” (by Mr. Erskin* ) “ lus excited
no small d grew of surprize. Certain it is
that your predecessor did present fur my
consideration the same condition wliich now
appear in the present documents—that he
was disposed to urge them more than the
nature of two of them (both palpahly inad_
missiblc. and one more than met *v inad
missible) could permit—and that, on finding
his first proposal unsuccessful, the more rea
sonable terms, comprized in the arrange
ment respecting the orders in council, were
adopted—And what is there in this to coun
tenance the conclusion you have drawn in
favor of the right of his IJritr.ntiic majesty
to disavow the proceeding ? Is any thing
more common in public negotiations, than
to begin with a higher demand, and that
failing, to descend 10 a lower ? To have,
if not two sets of instructions, two, or more
than two grades of propositions in the same
set of instructions; to begin with what is
the most desirable, and to end with what is
found to be admissible, in case the more
desirable should not be attainable ? This
must be obvious to every understa .ding, and
is confirmed by universal experience.
“ What are the real and entire instruc
tions given to your predecessor, is a question
essentially between him and his government.
That he iiad, or at least that he believed he
had, sufficient authority to conclude the ar
rangement, his formal assurances during our
discussions were such as tolea\e no room for
doubt. His subsequent letter of the l.>ih
of June, renewing his assurance to me,
‘ th»t the terms of the agreement so happi
ly concluded hy the recent negociatioa, will
lie strictly fulfilled on the part of his majes
ty,’ is an evident indication of what hisp r
suasion then was, as to his instructions.
Aral with a view to show what bis impres
tions have been, even since the disavowal,
I must take the liberty of referring jcu to
the annexed extracts (see C.) from liis< fli
rial letters of the Cist ct July, and of the
.istn ot August..
“The declaration, that the despatch from
Mr. Canning to Mr. Erskine, ot th^- 23i of
January, is the only dispatch, by which the
conditions were prescribed Mr. Erskine tor
the conclusion of an arrangement on the
matter to which it iclutes, is now, fur tlu
first time, made to this government.
And I need hardly add, that, if that dispatch
had been communicated at the time of the
arrangement, nr if it had been known that
*he propositions contained in it, and which
were at first presented by Mr. Erskine,
were the only ancs on which he was author,
ized to make an arrangement, the arrange,
ment would not have been made ”
I suppose, my Lord, that it was impossL
We-to disclaim for the American govern,
ment, in more precise and intelligible lan..
guage, than is found in this quotation, all
knowledge of Mr. Erskine’s instructions in
compatible wi‘h a sincere, honorable and
justifiable belief that he \va3, as he pro
fessed to be, fully authorized to make the a
greement in which he underto k to pledge
the faith of his majesty’s government.-1
Yet in Mr. Jackson’s next letter (of the 2J 1 ;
cf Or.trilur) to Mr. Smith, he >;i\s:—" 1 j
have therefore no hesitation in informing
you, that his majesty was pleased to disa
vow the agreement, concluded between you
and Mr F.rskine, because it was in viola
lion of that gentleman',v innti .tenons, and
altogether without authority to subscribe
to the trrins of it. 'l'/icsc instructions l
now understand by your letter, it, wed as
from the obvious deductions which I took the
liberty of making in mine of the lltli inst
were at the time in subktance made known
to yon. Ndstrcnger illustration, therein: e,
can be given if the. deviation from them,
which occurred, than by a reference to the
terms of your agreement.”
Your Lordship will allow me to take for
granted, that this passage cannot be mis
understood. Its direct and evident tendency
is to fasten upon the government ot the U.
| States an imputation most injurious to its ho
I nor and veracity. The charge, that it had
tail along been substantially apprized. Imw
lever it might affect to hr ignorant, of the in
jstructions which Mr. K'skine’s arrange..
I ment was said to have violated, had before
been insinuated ; but it is here openly made
! in Jreply, too, to a paper, in which ihe con
trary is formally declared by the official or
i gan of the American government,
Th » harsh accusation, enhanced by the
tone of the letter, in which it appeared, was
in uli respects, as ex raor.dinary ns it was
'offensive. It took the shanc of an inference
from facts and asseverations which necessa
ri!y led tothe opposite conclusion. It was
preferred as an answer to a claim of expl*
nation, which Mr* Jackson professed not
to he authorized by hi* government to offer
at all, but which he chose so to offer from
himself, as to convert explanation into in
sult. it was advanced, not only Without
proof «nd against proof, but against all co„
i lor of probability. It coulu scarcely have
I been advanced under any conviction that it
j was necessary to the case which Mr. Jack,
, son was to maintain ; for his majesty’s go
vernment had disavowed Mr. KrsJtire’s ar
movement, according to Mr. Jack on’s
own representation, wi.hout any reference
to the k lowicdge which this accusation
imputed to the government ol the United
States, and it need not lx* stated,that no
:> 1|u,ion whatever was made to it by Mr.
Secretary Canning, in those informal com
miihic.Ations to me which Mr. Jackson lias
mentioned. It was riot, moreover, to have
!>{-■ h expec'.'vl that, in tr • ayj.treat suit
af Mr. Jackson's powers, r.r.d in the rrtj:*!
posture °f his negociation. he would »«*ek to
irritate where he could not arrange, and
sharpen disappointment by studied and un.
provoked Indigr.'tv.
1 lie course. wJiich the government of the
United States adopted o:. this painful occ. si
on, was such as a; once demonstrate d a sin*
cere respect for the public character with
wtreh Mr. Jackson was invested, and a due
sense of its own dignity Mr. Jackson’, con
duct had left a feeble hope that further in
tercourse with him, unproductive of good as
n must be, might still be rcconcileable with
the honor of tiie American government. A
‘aii opportunity was sccordrnglv presented
to him of making it so. by Mr Smith’s letter
nt the 1st of November, of which 1 beu leave
■u. msr. t me concluding paragraph :_
l “ 1 abstain, sir, from making any parti*
cul ir animalversions on several irrelevant
*»“d improper allusions in your letter, not at
all comporting with the professed disp *sitioti
to adjust in an amicable manner the differen
cos ui.u ipily subsisting between the two coun
tries. Ilut it would be improper to conclude
the few observations, to which I purposely
limit myself, without adverting to your re.,
petition »I a language, implying a knowledge
on the part ot this government, that the in
structions of your predecessor did not autho
rise the arrangement formed by him. After
the explicit {Sc peremp'oty asseveration, that
this government had no such knowledge
•tnd tnat with such kuo’.vlcdge no sucii ar
rangement would have been entered into,
the view, winch you again presented of the
subject, makes it iny duty to apprize you,
that such insinuations are inadmissible
in the intercourse ot a foreign minister with
a government that understands what it owes
to itself.”
Whatever was the sense, in which Mr.
J Cksou had used the expressions to which
the American government took exception,
lie was now aware of the sense in whic h
they were understood j and, consequently,
was called upon, it he had been misappre
hended, jo sav so. His expressions convey
ed an injurious meaning, supported moteo
ver by the context ; and the notice taken of
.hem had not exceeded the bounds of just
admonition. To have explained away even
an imaginary afTront, would have been no
degradu ion ; but when an occasion was thus
offered to qualify real and severe imputati
ons upon the government to which he was
accredited, it could scarcely he otherwise
than a duty to take immediate advantage of
it.
Such however was not Mr. Jackson’s opi
nion. He preferred answering toe appeal,
which had been made to him, by reiterating
with aggravations the offensive insinuation.
He says, in the last paragraph of his letter
of the 4th ot November to Mr, Smith —
\ on will find that, in my correspondence
wi'b you, 1 have carefully avoided drawing
conclusions that did riot necrmarilij foiioio
from the firemiara advanced by me ; and
lentil nf u/i nhf.uld I think of uttering an in
sinuation where I was unable to aubalanii
a.'e a feet. To facts, such us I have become
acquainted with them, I have scfupnl iusly
adhered, In ho doing I mun’ continue^
whenever the good faith of his Majcs:y’s
government is called in q ifrstion, to vindicate
its honrr anti dignity, in the manner that
appears to me best calculi-.ltd for that pur
pose.”
I'o this, my lord, there could be but one
reply. Official intercourse with Mr. Jack
son could nr> longer be productive of anv ef
trc:s that were not l ather to be evoiikyl than
desired ; and it was plainly impossinle that
it should continue. He was, therefore, in
formed by Mr. Smith, in a letter of the 8thcf^
November, which recapitulated the induce
ments to this unavoidable step, that m fur
ther communications would he received from
'oi.n ; that the necessity of this tic x : mi \ati
on would without delay he made knov. t\ to
h.3 government ; and that, in the me ajtirne,
a ready attention would be given 10 nnv com
munication, affecting the ini e rests <t tf. j wo
nations, through any other channel that
might be substituted.
The President has been pleased to direct
that I should make known this necessity to
his Majesty's government, and at the same
time request that Mr. Jackson be recalled.
And Iarr< particul i-ly instructed to do tnis
:n a manner that will leave no doubt of tlie
undiminished desire of the United Spates to
unite in ail the means the best cacolated to
establish the re. lions ol ttier two c..,intriea
on the solid foundations ofjujiice, of friend
ship, and of mutual interest. 1 am further
particularly instructed my Lord, to make
his majesty’s government sensible, that, in
requiring the rrcal of Mr. J ickson, the IJ.
Spates wish not tobe under.-tood as in any de
gree obstructing communications which may
lead t > a 1 ieiui y accommi flsnion but that
i n the, contrary, tlicv siheerely retain the de
sire, v hich they have constantly professed,
to facilitate so iupv an event,and, that no
thing will he more agree b;e to them than
to (infl the minis.er, who has rendt. ed him
3t-lf so justly -'t-n 'xicus. replaced by another,
tv ho, with a different ciia...c er, may carry
with him all the authorities nnd instructions
requisite lor the complete success of tm mis
sion, or, if the attainment of this object thro*
my agency should lie considered more expe~
ilitious, or ollif rwise preferable, that it will
be a comse entirely satisfactory to the U.
States.
These instructions, which I lav before
I your Lordship without d.guise, require no
comment.
Before I conclude this letter it mav he pro
per very shortly to advert to two communi
cations, received by Mr. Secretary Smith
from Mr. Oakley after the correspondence
with Mr. Jackson had ceased.
i ne nisi o* inese communications ^ot
which I am not able toasreitain the date)
requesting a document, having the effect ot
a special passport, or safeguard, for Mr.
Jacksnn and his family, (luring their further
stay int'.ic IJ. S. This application was re
garded as somewhat singular, but that the
document, of %vhich the necessity was n >t
perceived, was nevertheless furnished. The
reasons assigned for the application excited
some surprise. I have troubled vour lord
ship, in conversation, with a few' remarks,
from my instructions, upon one of those rea
sons, which I will take the liberty to repeat.
The paper in question states, that Mr. J ick
snn “had already been once most grossly in
sulted by the inhabitants of Hampton, in tins
unprovoked language of abuse held by them
to several officers bearing the king’s uni.,
form ; when those oflicers were themselves
violently assaulted and put in imminent dan.
gcr.”
I am given to understand, my Lord, that:
the insult, here alluded to, was for the first
time brought under the notice of the Amer
ican government by this paper ; that it had,
indeed, been anemg the rumors of the day
tint some unbecoming scene had taken pi n •
at Hara^tou or Norfolk., between some oik