The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-02-15 00:00:00

PAPERS RELATIrg DO' AMERICA.
No. 4.—Dispatch from Mr. Secretary CANNI4Io.
to the Hon. DAVID ERiILINIE, dated Foreign
Office, 23d January, 1809.
Sts—ln your Dispatch, No. 47, among the
other important suggestions which you state youe.
self to hare received from Mr. Galatin, is one, the
purport of which is, that supposing all the existing
differences between the two countries to be done
away, the system of their commercial intercourse
might be better regulated by the short and simple
agreemout, either to admit each other's produc.
Cons on equal and reciprocal duties, or recipro.:
tally to place each on the footing of the most fa.
'mired nation, than by any more minute and com.
?Heated provisions.
The sentiments upon.which this suggestion ap-
pears to be founded, arc so much in unison with
those entertained here, that t am to direct you, in
the event of the subjects mentioned in my dis.
patches being pot in a tr.lin of adjustment,, to en.
deavour to obtain from the American Government
some more precise and authentic exposition of their
view upon this subject, to be transmitted here for
consideration, if possible, at the same time with
their answers upon the subjects of those other dis-
patches.
It will not, however, be desirable that those an-
swers should be delayed for this purpose.
But you are authorised to assure the American
Government of the readiness with which we shall
be prepared to enter into the amicable discussion
of the commercial relations of the two countries,
on the basis of the latter of the two principles
proposed by Mr. Galatin, whenever there obsta-
etes, *hid' stood in the way of the renewal of
their intercourse, shall have been happily removed.
In this cue, as in respect to the subject of my
other dispatches, you will ago that the sincerity of
the good disposition professed by the persons.com-
posing the New Administration, is the point the
moat important in the view of the British Govern.

moat.
If such a disposition really exists, all difficulties
will (as Mr. Galatia has expressed himself) be
easily smoothed away.
Jr unfortunately this hope should be disappoint.
ed, Great Britain hag only to continue the system
of self-defence and retaliation upon her enemies, to
which she has been compelle'd to have recourse,
with the consciousness of having eagerly seized the
first opportunity that appeared to be offered to
her, of obtaining, through en amicable arrange-
ment with America, the object fur which that
system was establit.hed.
I am, &c.
(Signed)

GEORGE CANNING.

• No. 12;-:—Dispatch from the lion. DAVID ERS'
• sINe to Mr. Secretary CA N:visc, dated Wash.
intim, April 20th, 1809.,
SIR—As the instructions contained in your
dispatches, Nos. 1 and 2, directed me to regulate
my conduct in making propositions on the part of
Aid Majesty to this Government, according to the
general disposition avhioltrmight be 'hewn by-them
, to conic lo a complete and cordial understanding
with Great Britain; I accordingly used all my
efforts to discover whether the professions of such
a disposition which had beers so often repeated to
me' unofficially, and 'lately in the must- formal
manner, were sincere. The result of further
communication persuaded me, that the sentiments
of this Government had. been truly represented ti
' me; and I was c;Artirnied in that opinion by the
falourahin reception of the reparation tendered
isylis Majesty for the affair of the Chesapeakei
the details of which I hare given in my preceding
number.
With this conviction upon my mind, I el-. 1
amined, with the greatest attention, the tenor of
your instructions, contained in your dispatch,
No. 1, and particularly the three conditions upon
which his Majesty was willing to withdraw the
Orders in Cuenca of January and November,
1807, as respects the United States.
The first 'of there I considered would be of
course officially recognized by the American Go-
. 'vernment, since the 11th Section of the Act of
Congress, usually termed the Non-Intercourse
Act, provided for such a contingent proposition.
The second condition named by you, I knew
would be acquiesced in; not only front the decla-
rations which had been made to me by most of the
:Members of this Government, but from the uni-
versal opinion of the Members of weight and
fluence of both Houses of Congress, that the
principles and.object sought to-be established by
that rule were equitable, and would ever be in-
sisted upon by Great Britain.

• -

I foresaw, however, that a difficulty must arise
in obtaining a formal recognition on that point
without any reference to other commercial arrange.;
ments, which would form the basis of a regular
•treaty. •
‘,_
The third condition, it was obvious, could 'rat
be objected to, because an American owner of a
vessel captured by a British cruizer, on account of
its dcstinatkon to France, or to any other country
'with which an intercourse was prohibited by lint
laws of the United States,, could not complain to
this Government of such seizure, as the only an.
saver would be, that the enterprizo being illegal,
he had no claim to redress.

Upon my submitting the three conditions to the
consideration of the Secretary of State, he made
the answer to the first which I had anticipated,
'tamely, that the Pre.ident would of cour*e assent
to it, and in pursuance of the power vested in him
• by the Congress, would issue a Proclamation for
that purpose, to take effect on the same day that
the Orders in Council should cease to operate as
respects the United States.
With regard to the second, he said,' that al-
though he was persuaded that no difficulty would
'arise in the adjustment of that point, conformably
• , to the views of his Majesty's Government, n-hen•
the various articles of a commercial treaty should
bc•brought under discussion, yet it was impossible
for the American Government to give an official
eecogekion of that principle as a previous step,
because tbereases no commerce of any kind, at
present, remitted by the liws of the United
states,. to be carried on with France or her de-

. . .
• .4.,


pendeneretlidAit'tbe iieestlen therefore most
utteetsarily belong to arretfiee Meta of things; or
remain to be adjusted by treaty. • r.'- • .
The third condition, Mr. Saki' obberVedr *IV
peared,to him to require no recognition,. since It
was evident that the inteifereitco of the Gii;vetn-
:tient of the Hailed States (meld ;icier be recog-
nized by-any of! its citizens for redress' for an in-
jury sustained in consequence of a direct 'mach
of the hunts;. and that in the event of any such
appeal being made, the only answer given would
be, that the Government would immediately order
Ethe bondrof the Petitioner to be pia into execu-
tion against him for a, violation of the laws. •
He stated, however, that the circumstance of
the Government of the United States ptipulating
that Great Britain should be allowed to execute
their iLaws, would be degrading, and attended
with nu advantages to the latter.
Under these circumstances, it became my duty
to consider whether the spirit of your instruc.
tions would be accomplished by my obtaining an
official recognition on the part of this Government
of the first condition, and an undOrstanding re-
specting the two others, in conformity with the
views of his Majesty's Government, though nut
given in a formal manner (for reasons before de-
tailed), or whether it was incumbent on me to
forbear from making any proposition, as I could
not obtain a compliance with the exact letter of
your instructions.
Various considerations of great weight urged me
to endeavour to bring about an adjustment of the
differences between' the two countries, upon the
points entrusted to my discretion, 'is' far as It was
possible, without departing from the orders 1
had- received.
The strongest inducement was derived from the
communications which I had lately rweived front
Mr. Smith, of the dissatisfaction of the French
Minister here with the Non intercourse Act, the
particulars of which I have given in my Ni. 17;
also from the general aspect of the relations of
this country with Greit Britain and France, as
detailed in my Nos: 17 and 18; and in some previ..
oua dispatches.
The circumstance of the Congress being about
to assemble very shortly, was another reason for
wishing to have an amicable arrangement.conclu_
dal, since the majority .of both Houses had
pledged themselves to a resistance of the restric.,
tions upon neutral :commerce, if it could be
pointed against either of the two great Bel.'
ligerent Powers separately, and that it was
only on account of the impossibility of any sue..
cessful effort being made, that they were prevented
from ascertaining their rights against both during
the last Session.
As this Government thought that any long delay
in the time for the renewal of the _intercourse be-
tween Great Britain and- the United' States would.
deprive such an arrangement of many et its
teal advantages, and as.fully agreed in that opi-1
nion, a day certain (the 10th of June next) was ac.
cordinefixed
The notes which passed between the Secretary ,
of State and myself, sod which I have now the
honour to enclose (marked A, B, C, will ex.
plain the course pursued in the arrangement-that
was concluded.
Should his .Majesty's Gevcrnment consider that
I have exceeded the limits of my instructions.' itp.
the engagement I have made on his Majesty's be- ,
half,. I am aware that no advantages which Might
be-derived from it to Great Britain could justify
my conduct.
I therefore. rest my-vindication upon the rea_
sons detailed in the foregoing part' of this dis.
ratch, for believing, that I hare adhered to the
spirit, and, as far as I could, to the letter of trty
orders ; but I place my chief reliance on the well
known liberality of his Majesty in appreciating the
conduct of his servants.
I o ill only beg leave to remark, that the agree.
ment has been concluded in the persuasion that
an amicable understanding would be settled by. the
special mission, and with'a view to promote so dc.
sirable an object.
Should unexpected difficulties occur in forming
a Treaty, or should his Majesty's Envoy.Extraor.
dietary find reason to doubt the friendly disposition
of the United States, it will then rest with his
Majesty. to take such measures as may be deemed
proper, according to thc.actual state of things.
In the mean time, no injury can he derived, I
conceive, from that conditional agreement.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) D. M. ERSKINE:

JAMAICA.
KINOSTON, Dec. 16.—At a very full meeting
of the Commissioners of Publie Accouhts, held
yesterday at the New Buildings, in Spanish Town,
it was resolved to inform.his Grace the Governor,
that in consequence of the dissolution of the Ho-
nourable Houle of Assembly before the Money
Bills were passed, the Board •had no means of
furnishing the subsistence; Am. to his Majesty's
white troops, after the 3lst of December next.
Another Resolution directs the Agents-General to
dispose of such stores and provisions as remain
unissued after that day, and .to pay over the pro.
ceeds to the Receiver. General, fur the use of the
public. It was also resolved, that no money
ought to be borrowed for fifty public purpose un-
til the next meeting of the General Assembly.
The Receiver. General .was likewise directed to
pay off 80,0001. of the public debt.
Writs have been issued for the Election of a new
Assembly; returnable the 24th January next.
•Dec. 23.—0 n Wednesday; at a respectable
Meeting of the Freeholders and Inhabitants .of
this City and Perish, everal resolutions were one.
nitnowsly passed, expensive of the.esteem and ad.
miraticm in which they hold the late House of As.•
sembly, for their Arm .and noble struggle in de.
fence of the lives, property; and liberty of the,
inhabitants of this colony. •
A house, occupied by Mr. FILtSIEB_,' in Berke..
fey-square, adjuittiag the Marquis` of LANSDOWNIT
gardens, was•broken open by a gang of robbeny
on Sunday night, and ;tripped several articles
of value, with which they got clear •of. •