The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-01

PORTLAND PLACE, August y, 1907.
SIR,
have the honor to acknowledge the recent
OF your note of Yesterday, and should not hest
tate to communicate the information which you
have desired, If possessed it /: but as have not
heard from my government on the subject of the
unfortunate occurrence alluded to, il is not i'm nv
powerto state to yon any thing on the part OF my
government respecting il. lhavc no doubt that
shall be instructed in very few days, to make a
communication to his maiesty's government on
that highly interesting event, III which shall be
enabled tn furnish full and just view of all the
circumstances attendingit. As soon as l receive
instructions, shall hasten to apprize you of it
l have The honor to be, &c.
(Signed) JAMES MONROE
MR.. MONROE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
OF THE UNITED STATES
.LoNDoN, August Ia, 1907.
SIR,
had the honor to transmit you with my let
ter OF the Ath insta copy of correspondence
with Mr. Canning, relative to the late aggression
IN the case of the Chesapeake frigate You will
receive with this copy of more recent one ON
the same subject.
BY A1r, CM,nlng's queries in his last note
was led to consider as preparatory to an embar-
go on American vessels could not conceive
why he should request information of me, whe-
ther the Presidents proclamation was authentic,
Il.
not intended to- found some measure on my reply
OF an unfriendly nature. The information desir.
eel was not necessary to remove any doubts of his
government on the points to WHICH it applied, OF
10 enable 1t TO do justice to the United States in
regard to the aggression of which they complain.
ed The presumption that embargo was in.
tended, gained strength from the circumstance
that most OF the gazettes had recommended and
that the public mind seemed to be essentially pre-.
pared Tor 1T 1t was my most earnest wish to
prevent, rs far as inmy power, unjust and per-
Ih,clous procedure. AS the measure contem-
plated, whatever it might be, seemed to be sus.
pended tor my answer, was extremely solictous
ny the manner, to deprive this government of all
pretext tor any of the kind alluded 20. By re
plying generally, that had no instructions from
my government, and could state nothing on its
part respecting the late occurrence, avoided gi-
wing direct answer to MIR. Cummings queries
ana by drawing his attention to the application
which 1T was TO be presumed would soon be made
Oh the part OF my government, on that subject, |
endea'ered to shew more strongly the policy and
injustice which would stamp any such measure
ON the part OF Great Britain in the present stage
NO step has yet been taken by this government
OF an unfrlendly character, towards the United
states and from the communication which Mr.
! canning made to the House of Commons the
aay he received my last note, which YOU will find
IN the gazettes sent, am persuaded that things
Will remain in the state in which they are, I'll
your dispatch is received trust that DISPOSE
lon exists to make such PREPARATION on the point
IN question, as will be satisfactory to the United
States, and that it will be practicable and not
difficult TO preserve the friendly relations subsist
ms between the two countries. The party how
ever IN favor of war, consisting of the combined
interests mentioned in my last, is Strong and ac-
tive, SO that it is impossible to foresee the result
have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) JAMES MONROE.