The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-15


to the leiIons Of magnanmous wifdom. As far az
this homage the Britih flag has any foundation at
prefenr, it reRs merely on long ufage and long aequi-
efceuce, which conRrued, in few other cafes
of maritime claims, into the effect of general though
taeit convention. The fecond infance is the extern
ZION of the territorial jurideton four leagues from
the fhore. This too, far the diltance may ex-
coed that which is generally allowed, refs on a like
foundation, Arengthened perhaps, by the local fac-
lily of fmuggng, and the peculiar intereft which G..
Britain has in preventing practice of affecting 70 deep
iy her whole fyttem OF revenue, commerce and ma
nufaeaures whil the limitation itelf to four leagues
neceGarily implies that beyond that danee no terri
torial jurifdaion is aaumed.
But whatever may be the origin or the value of
theie prerogatves foreign flags in one cafe and
within limited portion of rhcfe feas in another it is
obvious that neither of them will be violated by the
exemption of American veifels from impreiIn,ents,
which are no wife connected with either having ne
Yer been made on the pretext either of Withholding
the wonted homage to the Britiih flag, or of fmup-
Cling in defiance of Britih laws.
This extenfion of the Brtifh law to four LEAGUES
from the fhore, is inferred from an a9 of parlameu.
Pafied in the year 1886 C. c. s5) the terms of
which comprehend all veIels foreign as well "a Br;-
tin. IL is poible however, that the former are con-
fructivey excepted. Should your enquiries aseer-
tain this to be the cafe, you will find youref on bet
Ter ground than the coneeifion here made.
With refpea to the compliment paid to the Britifh
nag, I IS aio pofbe that more here conceded than
you may find to be necefIary. After the peace of
1888 this compliment was peremptorily withheld by
France, IN fpite of the remonRrances of Cr.a. Rr;
tain (; and IL remains for your enquiry whether II
did not continue to be refufed, Notwithstanding the
Failure at Amiens to obtain from Ceeat Britain for
NAL remuneration of the claim.
From every view of the fubiea il is reafonable n
expect that the exception of the narrow feas from,
the liquidation againft inpreGments will not be in
hexibly maintained. Should it be TO- your nepocia-
tion will be at end The truth is, that 70 great
proportion of our trade direct and circuous, paf-
es through thofe channels and fuch is its peculiar
Pofure in them to the wrong praSifed. that with
fuch exception any remedy would be very partial
And we can never content TO purchafe partial re-
NEEDY, by confirming general evil, and by fub;ea
ing ourieves to reproaches as well as TO tboIe
OF other nations.
Third, It appears, as well by letter from Mr..
Thornton, in aniwer to one from me- of both which
copies are efc.oied, as from conversations with Mr.
Merry that the facility which would be given par
ecularly in the Britifh channel by the i,nrrn;,v
claimed for American veels, to the ecape of tra;,ors
and the defertion Of others whole ervices in time
OF war may be particularly important to an enemy.
forms one of the pleas for the Britif practice of er
aiiiins American crews, and will be one of the oh.
jeefioos to a formal relinquilhment oft.
This plea like all Others admits fold and Ga,;s-
factory reply In the firR place. if it could prevail
At all againit the neutral claim it would authorize ,be
iezure OF the perions defcrbed anly and in veflel,
bound TO honie country only; whereas the prat9ce
Of impreiling is applied to perfons, few or any n
whom, are aedgedso BE- either defcription & TO ye
ieis whltheriosver bound, to e. Britain herfef
In the next place is no: only preference of fma
er OBJECT on one de greater objea OH the other
but iacriice of rglI, on one eide to exped;encv .,
the other eide. ~