The National Register.
London, England, 1808-12-25 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

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,u act from any impulse against the real interests of their coun-
try), but by some unfortuante concurrence of circumstances,
without any hostile intention, the American embargo did come
In aid of " the Blockade of the European Cootinent," precisely
at the very moment w hen, if that hlockade could hate succeeded
it all, this interposition of the Ameriran Gut ermnent would
lost effectually have contributed to its sucoesit.
To this universal coutbiaat ion b is Majesty has opposed a sera.
perate but a determined retaliation upon the enemy, trusting
that a firm resistance would defeat this project, but knowing
that the smallest concession would infallibly encourage a perse-
veranee io it.
The struggle has been viewed by other Powers not without
an apprehension that it might be fatal to this country. The
British Government has not disguised from itself that the trial
of such an experiment might be arduous and long, thouth it has
!weer doubted of the final issue. But if that issue, such as the
British Government confidently anticipated, has providentially
arrived much sooner than could have been hoped ; if " the
blockade of the Continent," as ii has been triumphantly styled
by the enemy, is raised even before it had been well es-
tablished; and if that system, of which extent and continuity
were the vital principles, is broken up into fragments utterly
'armless and contemptible : it is nevertheless important in
the highest degree to the reputation of this country
(a reputation w hich constitutes great part of her power).
that this disappointment of the hopes of her enemies should
not have been purchased by any cotter's* ; that not a
doubt should remain to distant times of her determination, and of
her ability to have contiuned her resistance ; and that no step
which could eveu mistakenly he construed into concession should
be taken on her part, while the smallest link of the confederacy
remains undissolved; or while it can be a question whether the
plan devii.ed for her destructit.n has or has nut either com-
pletely failed, or been unequivocally :dewclaw:rt.
These considerations compel his Majesty to adhere to the
principles on which the Orders in Council of the 'it li of January
and the 11th of November are fouteled, so long as France adheres
to that system by which his Majesty's retaliatory measures were
occasioned and justified.
It is not improbable. indeed, that some alterations may he
made in the Orders in Council, as they are at present framed ;
alterations calculated not to abate their spi it or impair their
principle, but to adapt them more exactly to the different state
of things which has fortunately grown up in Europe, and to
combine all practicable relief to neutrals, with a more severe
pressure upon the enemy.
But of alterations to be made with this view only, it would
he uncandid to take any advantage in the present discussion :
however, it might be hoped, that in their principal effect, they
might prove beneficial to America, provided the operation of
the embargo were nut to prevent her from reaping that benefit.
It remains for the undersigned to take notice of the last para-
graph of Mr Pinkney's letter. There cannot exist on the part
of Mr. Pinkney a stronger wish than there does ou that of tile
undersigned, and of the British Government, for the adjustmeist
of all the differences subsisting between the two countries.
His Majesty has no other disposition than to cultivate the most
friendly intercourse with the Uuited States.
The undersigned is persuaded, that Mr. Pliancy would be one
of the last to imagine, what is often idly asserted, that the de-
pression of any other country is necessary or serviceable to the
prosperity of this. The prosperity of America is essentially
the prosperity of Great Britain; and the strength and power of
Great Britain are not fur herself only, but for the whole workl.
When those adjustments shall take place, to which, though ult.
fortunately not practicable nt this moment, nor under the con-
ditions prescribed by Mr. Pinkney, the undersigned, oeverthe-
' Isss, confidently look forward, it will perhaps be no insecure
pledge for the continuance of the good understaielieg between
these two countries, that they will have learnt duly to appre-
ciate each other's friendship ; and that it will not hereafter be
imputed to Great Britain, either on the one hand that she en-
vies American industry as prejudicial to British commerce, or
on the other hand, that she is compelled to court an intercourse
with America, as absolutely necessary to her owu existence.
His Majesty would not hesitate to coutribute, iu an manner
in his power, to restore to the commerce of the United
State;,
its wonted activity; and if it were possible to make arty sacri-
lice for the repeal of the embargo, without appearing to dt►.
precate it as a measure of hostility, he would gladly have fa.
cilitated its removal as a measure of inconvenient restriction
upon the American people.
Thiranderaigaedis commanded, in conclusion, to observe, that