The National Register.
London, England, 1808-02-28 00:00:00

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138

Amity, and transmitting the Treaty of the 3lst of December,
with the President's objections to it. And in this note they Cc-
quire distinctly compensation for losses sustained by American
citizen—,and also, that a formal and explicit sarnatement should
he made relative to the practice of impressment of the mariners
of American vessels, or British seamen ; they stated that the,
had been induced to sign the Treaty.-45 on an informal under-
standing. as in its practical effect it would remove theses:llion
camplained of,"--but the President had instructed them to sa),
that a formal and explicit arrangement on this subject should be
made. They also pointed out thr declaration made by Lord
Ilolland and Lord Auckland, relative to the Frew h Decree,
which gave a new and unexpected character to the Treats.
The. Treaty, with Mr. Jefferson's observations upon it, All,
twenty folio pages, but we have already given its substance.
Mr. Secretary Canning applied by letter to Lord Ilolland am!
Lord Auckland, to know if they had given any. and what
acquiescence, to any formal understanding, " of a forbearance
by British ernizers, in regard to the practice of impressment of
British seamen on board American vessels;"—in st hicli these
Noble Lords replied distinctly, that they did not pledge their
Government to abstain in future from impressing Briti:h seamen
front American merchaut vessels; but they eertainlv did mean to
pledge the British Government to make its cruiser, ob•eiv• the
utmost caution, moderation, and forbearance. in the exercise of
that practice ; but they never either expressed nr implied, that
they were to desist from taking British seamen front A mcricah
merchant ships,
Mr. Canning then transmits to Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney,
hi.' official answer to their proposal of renewing the negocialion.
'Phis answer is dated the 22d of October, 1801. He commences
by saying that his Majesty is not satisfied that the American'
Government has taken any smith effectual steps Is ith respect to
the Decree of France. is to do away the ground of the rcserva-
tina contained in the note of Lord Holland or Lord Auckland :-
and that he therefore reserves to himself the right oftaking such
measures of retaliation as he may think right. But at the same
time if the Treaty had been ratified on the part of America, it
should have received from him the fullest effect, in all its stipu-
!Minns.
With respect to the question of impressment, it was certainly.
matter referred for discussion, separately, at some future pe-
rind. mere favourable to its successful termination. But he dis-
tinctly protests against the alterations made in the Treaty by the
President, as a practice altogether unusual in the political
transactions of States, as it would lead to the most inconvenient

and dangerous consequences, and he therefore eoncludee ith
saying. that " he is commaudril to apprize the .Imerit an Com-
missioners, that the proposal to negociate anew, upon the bask
" of a Treaty already solemnly concluded and signed, is a pro-
" posat wholly inadmissible ; and his Majesty has therefore no
" option, under the present circumstances of this transaction.
" but to acquiesce in the refusal of the President to ratify the
" Treaty signed on the flat of December, I SOB,"