Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-01-30

have done. Prior 60 that decree, from the
commencement of the war, the commerce
in question was pursued by the citizens Of
the United States as has been already OBJ
served, without molestation. I, is presum-
able that till ,hsp his majesiy's eruizers
were induced TO forbear seizure, by the
same considerations which induced The A
merlcan citizens TO engage Ia the com.
nercc, a belief that il was lawful one
The facts above mentioned were equally
before the parties, and 1t is not surprising
that they should have drawn the same con.
I clusion from them. 1hat decree, howe.
yer opened anew scene 1t certainly gave
signalio the ,crui2erst TO commence these.
cure which they have not failed TO do,as has
been sufficiently telt blythe citizens Of the u.
S-who have suffered under il. According 10
the information which has been given me.
about fifty v7ssels have been brought into
the ports OF Great Britain In consequence
otit, and there is reason to believe thai
the same system is pursued in the West
Indies and elsewhere. The measure is
thu more to be complained of, because g.
bita,n had, in permitting the commerce
fyr years, given sanction TO it by her
Ecendnct. and nothing had occurred TO Gre
! ATE a suspicion that her sentiments va, led
| from her conduct. Had that been tta
case, or had she been disposed 90 change
/ her conduct IN that respect towards the u
niled States, 1t might reasonably have been
expected that some in.ima,ion woGld have
been given Oh it before the measure was
earned into eaec,. Between powers who
are equally aesirous Of preserving the rela-
lions OF Friendship with each other, notice
might IN all cases be expected. Bug in the
present case she obligation togive it seemed
TO Be peculiarly strong. The existence OF
anegociation which had been souga, on the
part OF the United States some cousidera.
bic time before my departure for Spain, for
the express purpose Of adjusting amicably,
and fairly, all such questions between the
two nations, and postponed on that occasion
to accommodate the views of .his malesty's
government, furnished suitable opportu-
atty for such an intnnation, while IT could
Iihee otherwise than increase the claim TO
it.
In this communication have made no
comment on the difference whichis observ.
able In the import of the several orders
which have regulated, q. different times,
the seizure OF neutral vessels, some of
which were more moderate than others. 1t
is proper, however, to remark here, that
those @hich were issued, or even that any
had been issued since the commencement
OF the present war, were circumstances not
known till very lately: on principle, it is
that they are to be viewed in
the same light, and it has been my object
soSexamins them by that standard, without
geing into detail, or marking the shades of
difference between them. Ihave made the
examination with that freedom and candor
which belong to subject Of very high I'M
porsauce TO the i. S. the result of which
has been, as ] presume, to prove that all
the orders are repugnant to the law of na-
lions, and that the late -copdemnatiens
which have revived the pretensions onzthe
part of Great Britain, are not only repng
nant to that law, but TO the understanding
which it was supposed had taken place be-
tween the two powers, respecting the COM
meyce In question.
cannot conclude this note without ad.
vertlng TO the other topics depending b.
tween our governments which it is Also
much wished to adjust at this time. hese
are we'll known to your lordship, and it is
therefore unnecessary to add any thing on
them at present. With view to perpesu-
a,e the friendship OF the two na;ions, no
unnecessary cause Of COLLISION should b. left
open. Those adverted 10, are believed 20
be Of this kind, such as the Gaze of bounda.
ry, the impressmrn; of seamen, &c. since
it is presumed there can be no real conflict
ing interest between them on those points.
The general commercial relations mzy thrn