The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-10
fConilnued from, iass haze I


as had also been the crown officers in Doc
ors commons, who united all, without ex-~
ceptioii,. in the opinion, that the right of
them government in the case i'll question, was
well founded, * ought not to be reEnquish-
ed. They added, that under such cirCum-
stances, the ACCOMPLISHMENTS oft was a mea-
sure, which the government could not adopt,
without taking en- itself responsibility,
which no minister would tie willing to meet
however pressing the emergency might be.
Ihey esemted to us at the same time
counter project. which they Unlimited they
did in obedience TO instructions from their
government 1t was proposed by this, that
laws should be passed. by the parties reSpec-
lively, whereby it should be made penal Tor
the commanders of British vessels to impress
american citizens, on board American yes
Sels On the high seas, and fer the officers Of
the United States to grant certificates OF
citizenship to British subjects The ncgotia-
ton being thus bret, as it were, toan issue
20, this very Important point, the discussion of
the whC&c subject was necessarily resumed,
- considerable length, and with great ear
nestnesS. We maintained with ali the force
Iii our power, the right of our government
on the principle, and to the extent, we had
done before, and denied as strenuously the
Prcte!tsiou advanced by Great-Britain: their
counter Project We declared was utterly in
curing the just rights OF the United States,
and reniedying the evils If which Trey COM
planned, would prove an abandonment of
their rights, and sanction, in 8 considerable
degree at least, to future injuries. The Br-
fish commissioners, aft.r supporting with
great force, but with Candour, the claim of
their government, assured us that 1t was
willing to ',lo any thing III its power, to sa-.
tfsfy the United States or playground OF their
complaints, Which might lie done without
'relinquish,ne..t Of their ollim. This inter
view terminated i'll the appointment of ano-
thcr to take place on the 1th, when ii was
agreed that the subject should bc definitely
disposed Of; and IN the interim, that each
parry shcJid reyolvc Il i'll mind, TO sec If it
might not be possible 10 suggest some plan
which would prove equally satisfactory to
both. We met the 9TH according to ap-
polntmcnt, and having repeated what VIC
had said before of their counter project,
which we deemed altogether inadmissible,
and having also stated that we could adopt
none which did not allow our ships to pro-
tect their crews, or sug est any acconlno-
ia ION, other than what we had already pro-
posed, as an induccment 10 their government
TO admit the principle, and it appearing that
TO Change had takeA place i'll their instruc
lions, We came at length to the main ques-
tion, thut which had iii truth been the great
object Of their meeting, what was Lcxt to be
done under existing circumstances? Should
the negotiation cea@e? The British commits
sloners express .d an earnest desire that it
should not. We had repeatedly stated that
nniess this interest was provided for in 4 sa-
tis:actory manner it would be useless to
touch the other points, since n continuance
OF tie same abuse on their part. wouid rem
ttcr OF no effect any arrangement however
eligible which might be made of them
They intimatcd that their government gave
at present no cause of offence to the United
States by improvements, and that we might
be satisfied Il would continue to pursue the
same policy tina. it might be better that
neither party should abandon its rights, and
that each should endeavor to act, in res
pcct to the injuries complained of by the
other, III such manner as to prevent future
Complaints. They thought that with such
ii disposition on both sides, seconded by COR
respondent exertion, which they assured us
existed, and would be made on their part
it WAS likely that the interest of each coun-
Try would be placed OH a footing equally Sc
cure toy temporary purposes and much more
i'll respect TO a permanent good understand
ing, than it could be for either by a treaty,
which should even stipulate for it the object
which is sought. We desired them to com
hunca.e to us by note, the ideas which they
had t,ius expressed, which they readily I'M
dcrtoof, by proceeding to give a sketch of
them at the time, and evidently showing a
disposition to make it as acceptable to us
as thcj could 90, consistently with the prin-
cipics oil their government We adjourned
TO meet again or the 18th instant, without
having come to any positive decision as to
the part which it became us to take in the
delicate conjuGcture in which we were pla-
ced. We did not fail, however, in shew-
ing our regret, that no suitable provision
had been riade forthe very important ques-
ton, which had been so long under cons-
Iteration, to express our sincere desire to
pursue that course In respect to the other
objects Of the negotiation, which our duty,
under existing circumstances, would permit
and which might be most likely to promote
a good understanding between the two coun-
tries.
On the 9th instant, we received from the
Pritish commissioners the note which they
had promised us In the last interview, which
VIC have found to correspond in all respects
with what we had been taught to expect
We have also weighed with due considera-
ton the great question which is propounded
BY it, AID are decidcdlyEof opinion that it is
oar da.y 70 proceed to the other objects Of
the negotia ,ioH, leaving that OF imprcssment