The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-10
No s. fDurL1cxrE.s ;
London, September IL, 1906.

z2d of August After the usual exchange OF
powers stated, at their request, the objects OF
our mission, and the general nature of the stpia
tnns by which we expected them to be provided
for. They took minutes of what was said by us,
for the purpose of making their report to the ca
biRet, and threw out some observations, but OF a
very loose and inconclusive character, upon seve-
raj branches of the subject They resisted, with
great earnestness and decision, as an impractical
Bile subject the claim of indemnity which we
pressed as standing upon un9uestonable grounds
of justice. They appeared to consider the sub
ject of impressment rs extremely delicate and
embarrassing, and that of our trade with the CO
ionies of their enemies, az presenting important,
though not equal difficulties and lord Auckland
expressed strong desire, which of course
discouraged, that the former should be suieredto
rest upon mere understanding, and find no place
in the projected treaty. The best dispositions
were, however, professed, to arrange every thing
upon fair and amicabe principles, and nothing
was suggested to impair the hope that the re-
suit of our negotiation would be entirely salts
factory. We were told at parting, tint an early
day would be mentioned for renewing our confer
enses.
On the. 28th,t we met them again upon their
own appointment. We were then told, that the
purpose of this interview to obtain from us
explanation of our views with reference to,
some of the points upon which we had touched at
the former meeting. We were accordingly ask
ed TO state precisely what equivalent stipulation,
for restoring British seamen leaving their service,
we would be disposed to insert in the article rela-
tive to impressment. Having ascertsined that it
vain to expect their consent to arrange
ment on this interesting topic, in which some such
provision was notan Ingredient, we gave them at
length project upon this point, extracted from
Mr.. sMonroes Instructions of 1904, requesting
them, however, to receive it as perfectly extra of
hcia and combining II; as you will perceive, with
he provisions in their most advantageous form,
FOR which it was required the equivalent. Wet
! rarA ~ tha@f Ia huv f3Al,
thing, would Ut least promote dispatch, and that
the air Of frankness which belonged to it, would
be l ~ to influence advantageousy the temper
and character Of our discussions upon this and e.
very other question before us.
We were also %ked to explain the footing up
On whicl. we desired to place the commercial in
tercoufse between the United States and the Bril-
I fish European doTinions. This we did by inti-
matpg, as had done at the former meeting,
that the footing OF the most favored nation extend
led to al! the European dominions of his majesty,
was, in general view, the postnatural. Their en-
qrIiries, however, looked to some precise and G.
quail arrangement of tonnage and mposts, aud
the counterValling poweriot the treaty of 1894,
was slightly mentioned. Without encouraging at
this time, any discussion this point, which they
did not seem prepared or inclined to enter into,
we thought proper to suggest for their conside-
ration, The cxpedient of q mutual abolition of alien
duties
On tfcimprcssment subject, it was soon appa-
rent that they felt the strongest repugnancc to
formal remuneration or abandonment Of their
claim, TO take from our vessels on the high seas,
such seamen as should appear to be their, own
SUBJECTS and they pressed upon us with much
zeal, as a substitute for such an abandonment,
provision that the persons composing the crews
OF our ships, should be furnished with authentic
documents of citizenship, the nature and form of
which should be settled by treaty that these do
euments should completely protect tho sc to whom
they related hut that, subject to such protect
ems, the ships of war OF Great Britain should con-
ttnue to visit and impress the main ocean as
here tofore.
They enforced their preference for this sort of
arrangement, in deSultory conversation, by OBJ
serving that they supposed the object ofour plan
40 be, to prevent the impressment Ut sea of Anne
rlcan seamen, and rot to Withdrew British sea-
men from the naval service of thsir country, i'm
Zines OF great national parl, for the purpose of
employing them ourselves that the first of these
. purposes would be eiiectualY ACCOMPLISHED bv
ystein which should introduce and establish a
Clear and conclusive distinction between the sea-
men OF the two countries, which on all occasions
should be implicitly respected that il they should
consent 70 make our commercial navy 4 floating
aSNldm Tor all the British seamcn who, ternutcd
b. higher wages, should quit their service for ours
tile effect of such concession, upon their mari.
sNnc strength, on whcc Great Britain depended.
VT only for heF prosperity but her safety, might
u iat*l that on. the most alarming emergency
f5EG '"EHI lluS DG deprived, 10 an extent which
IHtsas impossible To- calculate but which co,ld
rft tail to be great, of their only means Of sec,bi
~ that our vessels might become receptacles
I0r dcserteIs to any amount, even from tIeir mill
TAR, marine, IN the ports OF neutral states. and
when once at sea, might set at defiance the lust
CLAIMS OF the service 20 which such deseriSrs be
LonGed; that even within the United States il
cou a not be expected that any plan for recover
1ng BRUSH desesters could be eficacious. anil
h"t moreover the plan proposed was made
qutc, IN It's range ar',l object nasnuch as it was
merely prospccutc, confined wholly to ,ese,tcrs
;me IN noIespect protiUipg for tic case oftbc vast
BODY or British se,incn now emDlorcd in n,f
race I" every p.u- o. the world 70 ,t,js il vas
replied, Chat one % Gle sIppostions ON winch
mach reliance had been placed, was that of ~
extreme case Which was barely possible IN f,ct.
AMI winch, fit sholld happen ut ah and rodle.,
sh jill not be silordedt tie interference Of the
'ydtEl power, III whose port the tnls vyt rrf,i,,c
sh'uii Dc attempted, eouA not be sonsidcrcd as
- "
ins date is erroneous the first meeting took
place on tie S7Lh. wv"
'"'s de also err neous the first meeting
te"N Ii~cs on the LIST OF seetclober.