Star.
London, England, 1810-01-08 00:00:00

their famiTtes in all theirprivatigue, each la appSeadaai
was regarded as somewhat singular. There
hesitation, However. in furnishing a certificate of his
public character, and to be used in any mode he might
choose. But what; surprised Most was the team
assigned for the application. The insult he alluded
to was then, for the first time, brought to the know-
ledge of this Government. It had, indeed, been
among the rumours of the day, that sOme übbecom-
ing scene had taken place at Norfolk, or Hampton,
between some officers belonging to the Africaine and
some of the inhabitants, and that it originated in the
indiscretion of the former. No attention having been
called for, and no inquiries made, the truth of the
case is unknown. But it was never supposed that
Mr. Jackson himself, who was on board the frigate,
had been personally insulted ; nor is it yet perceived
in what way he considers it as having happened. It
is needless to remark that any representation on the
subject would have instantly received every proper
f attention.

Another ground on which a protection was as_
for, is the supposed tendency of the language of our
newspapers to excite popular violence on Mr. Jackson's
person. Had he been longer and better acquainted
with the habits and spirit of the American people*,
he would probably never have entertained an ap-
prehension of that sort. If be meant to animadvert
on the free language of the newspapers, he might
justly be reminded that our laws, as those of his coun-,
try, set bounds to that freedom ; that the freedom of
British prints, however great with respect to public
characters of the United Mates, has never been a
of complaint ; and that supposing the latitude of
American Press to exceed that of Great Britain, the
difference is infinitely less in this respect between the
two, than between the British press and that of the
other nations of Europe.
The second note seems to be essentially intended as
a justification of the conduct of Mr. Jackson in that
part of his correspondence which has given umbrage.
If he intended it as a conciliatory advance, he ought
not to have preceded it by a demand of passports, nor
by the spirit or the manner in which that demand was
made. He ought, in fact, if such was his object, to
have substituted an explanation in the place of his re-
ply to my premonitory letter. But whether he had
one or other, or both of these objects in view, it was
necessary for him to have done more than is attempt.
ed in this paper.
It was never objected to him, that he had stated it as
a fact, that the three propositions in question had been
submitted to me by Mr. Erskine, nor that he stated it
as made known to him by the instructions of Mr.
Canning, that the instruction to Mr. Erskine, con-
taining those three conditions, was the only one from
which his authority was derived to conclude an ar-
rangement in the matter to which it related. The
objection was, that a knowledge et this restriction of
the authority of Mr. Erskine was imputed to this Go-
vernment, and the repetition of the imputation even
after it had been so frequently disclaimed. This was
so gross an attack on the honour and veracity of the
Government, as to forbid all further communications
from him. Care was nevertheless taken, at the same
time, to leave the door open for such as might be'
made through any ether channel, however little the
probability that any satisfactory communications
would be received through any channel here.
To the other inclosures I add a printed copy of a
paper purporting to be a circular letter from Mr.
Jackson to the British Consuls in the United States.
This paper speaks for itself. As its contents entirely
correspond with the paper last referred to, so they
were necessary for the ostensible object of the letter,
which was to make known Mr. Jackson's change of
residence, and as the paper was at once put into cir-
culation, it can only be regarded as a virtual address
to the American people of a representation previously
addressed to their Government ; a procedure which
cannot fail to be seen in its true light by his sovereign.
The observations to which so much extent has been
given in this letter, with those contained in the corres-
pondence with Mr. Jackson, will make you fully ac-
quainsed with the conduct and the character he has
developed, with the necessity of the step taken in re-
fusing further communications from him, and with
the grounds on which the President instructs you
to request that he may be immediately recalled. You
are particularly instructed, at the same time, in mak-
ing these communications, to do it in a manner that
will leave no doubt of the undiminished desire of the
United States to unite in all the means the best cal.
culated to establish the relationi of the two countries
on the solid foundation of justice, of friendship, and
of mutual interest. With great respect, Sm.
Wm. Plukney, Esq. Sm. Ste. &c. R. SMITH.
MR. CANNING TO MR. PINKEST. •
Foreign Office, May 17, 1509.
Sir—According to the intimation which I gave to
you in our last conference, I have now the honour to
inclose to you a copy of the Order in Council, which
his Majesty has directed to be issued, for the purpose
of preventing, as far as possible, any inconvenience
or detriment to the Merchants of the United States,
who may have entered into commercial speculations
on the faith of the unauthorized engagements of Mr.,
Erskine, previously to the notification in America
of his Majesty's disavowal of those engagements.
Having had the honour to read to you in exteruo,
the instructions with which Mr. Erskine was furnish-
ed, it is not necessary for me-to enter into any explana-
tion of those points in which Mr. Erskine has acted,
not only not in conformity, but in direct contradiction
to them.
I forbear equally from troublingyou, Sir, with any
comment, on the manner in which Mr. Erskine's
communications have been received by the American
Government, or upon the terms and spirit of Mr.
Smith's share of the consideration.
Such observations will be communicated more pro-
perly through the Minister, whom his Majesty has
directed to proceed to America, not on any special
mission, (which Mr. Erskine was not authorised to
promise, except upon conditions, not one of which
he has obtained), but as the successor of Mr. Erskine,
whom his Majesty has not lost a moment in recalling.
—I have the honour to be, with great consideration,
Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
(Signed) GEORGE CANNING.
MR. PINKEST'S ANSWER.
Great Cumberland-place, May 29, 1509.
Sir—l have received the communication which
you did me the honour to address to me on the 27th
instant, and will hasten to transmit 1t to the Secretary
of State of the United States.