The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-11-29

lett the subject OF the British, orders in couu-
cal, and my private letter of the I'd OF tina.
month, will have>made YOU acquainted with
my intention to present, i'm an official note,
what had intellectually suggested in confer
ence.
To such a course there could not. even
IN the first instance, have been any other OBJ
lection, than that it was calculated to lead to
discussion rather than to adjustment but,
whatever might be its tendency, it is GER
tain, that 4 could have no induccment to re
sort to it, untilit was indicated bv Mr. Can
ming as indispensable, nor any motive to de-
Cline it afterwards.
AT our last interview. and not before, it
was unexpectedly found that it was i'm that
mode only that could obtain knowledge of
tile lighSin which this government thought
ht to view the overture had been directed
to make to it; and determined in conse-
quence tolay before it in writing the inten-
lions of the President, with the same frank
ness which had characterized my verbal
COMMUNICATIONS.
have now the honor to transmit copy of
the note, which in conformity with that deter
rnlnation, delivered, in person to Mr.. Can
ming, on the Goth of last month, few DAYS
after its date. To this note, no answer has
yet been returned but it is to be presumed,
that 1T will not be much longer withheld.
You will perceive that some time had e.
lapsed, after l had sent off my dispatches by
the St. Michael, (the Sth August before
my note was presented. The truth is, that
had employed a part of that time in fra
ming note of great length, which, when
nearly completed, thought it prudent to a
bandon, in favor of one thai held out fewer
invitations to Improbable discussions, which,
although, l would not shun them if pressed
upon me, I did not suppose it proper that l
should seek.
part, would be far from being DISADVANTAGE,
ous. There would still be sufficient time for
obtaining final answer to my proposal ,
in season for the meeting of Congress and
as the temper Of the government, so far as
1t had been tried, had not appeared to be fla
vorah'e to my purpose, believe that should
act in the spirit of my instructions. and con-
suit the honor OF my government, by avoid
ing. under such circumstances. the appear
ancc OF urgency and precipitation.
Upon the terms, or general rlan of my
note, 1t isnnt, hope, necessary 10 remark.
You will discover that it was prepared IN
Ger a persuasion, that whatever might be
its effect, it was infinitely better to make it
as conciliatory as, without sacrifice of prin-
ciple or national dignity, was possible.
The topics, to be embraced by it, were
such as did not demand, but rather forbade,
minute exposition. While it was difficult to
urge, i'll their full force, without seeming to
aim ut exciting a disposition unfriendly to
the object of my instructions, all the consi-
derations which justified the United otates
IN demonstrating against the British orders !;
IT was yet more difficult, without a degree
OF harshness, scarcely suited to the occasi-
on, and without, also, the hazard Of indis-
erection, to display, i'll detail, the signal in
justice and impolicy of pcrsevering i'm them,
after what had proposed This could be
done, and had been done in conversation :;
but it did not, upon trial, appear to be e.
qually practicable in the more formal and
measured proceeding, which was now Ca
led upon to adopt.
considered, besides, that an overture, so
highly advantageous to Great Britain, Which
the United States were not bound To make
by any obligations of equity, although it was
wise to make it, did not require, with any
view to the character of my country, or e.
ven to the success of the overture itself, to
be again recommended by an anxious rcpe-
tition of arguments already fully understood
AS soon as my note was prepared, cal
led at the foreign Office, to arrange an inter-
view with Mr. Canning, for the purpose Of
enabling me to accompany the delivery of it,
with a communication, which ! deemed i'm
portant, as well as of attending him an op-
portunity of asking and receiving such ex-
plantations as he might desire. The inter
view took place on the 26th of August.
1t had occurred to me, that it would be
proper, (and could not be injurious) to read
to Mr. Canning, from your letter to me, of
the 18th July, brief summary of the instruc-
toDs under which was acting This had
not been requested but it could not be nm
Il
culated to do justice to the liberal sentiments
by which my instructions had been dictated,
as well as to give weight to my efforts in the
execution of them.
was led, by the reading of these passa-
ges. without having originally intended it)
into a more extensive explanation, than |
had before attempted, of the influence which
the proposal OF my government would have,
in truth, as well as III the judgment of the
world, upon the supposed Justice of their
new system, as it affected the United States
To that explanation, with the particulars of
which will not, and, indeed, for want of
time, cannot, at present, trouble you, add
u concise rccapituation of some OF the pru-
dental considerations, which had been so Of
ten pressed before, and there left the sub
jcCt."
The THREE follo7vin$ Docu,nents-lTr.
Pihkncy's note 10 Mr.. Canning, short
note from Mr.. u. 10 Mr.. NJ Olson, and
Mr. CanHing'S reply, rejecting tie hrofo-
r. sL.