The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-23
DIFFERENCE WITH A.,tEE!cA.
40 IKE Editor q the London Lorraine, C.yc-
nicie.

DIN,
The subject of America, which prom;s-
eo III my former letter to bring 10 the con-
| sideration of the pubic, is the iuost im,,,
tant of all others to cur coanlrv in THIS
critical posture of her affairs. The STATE. OF
Europe, calamitouS and disastrous as it isrd
the Governments and nations of the CONT
iieht, could Lot in the end very materially ef-
rect the prosperity of Great Britain. If She,
preserves her relations with the u. States
OF America; and if she not only preserves
them, but, by a mild, digni6ed, and enlight-
ened policy, Orins5s back a state of conf
dence and harmony with that growing and
iiourishiug Republic, neither her commerce.
nor her power are IN any peril whateyei.
from the present uneXampicd state of The.
ancient world..s
am aware that Great Britain ought net
to sacrifice her rights or her honor. AN,
incapable OF advising either; but neither Of
them are at all in question, nor can any diff
hculty attend the pending Negotiation, If
TIE Governments of the two countries e.
Guaiiy disregard the clamors of senseIce. dr.
interested people on both sides of the At
iantic. The famc that has been raised ia
America, by the assault upon the Ches,i-
Pcahe, was most natural, but it took wrong
oircction; 1t was the act of individuals -
there was no evidence whatever, either r.,
that Government or people, that the British
Government had any concern in it. and it il
now publicly disavowed: so that the fair
Oh the Leopard Is no more cause OF VIZ
between England and America, than if on,.
English Captain had knocked down am A.
merlcan Captain in the streets Of New York
or fhiladeiphia. The illegal aggression ha,.
mdesd given rise to new differences, but
they have been hithertS only considered a.
midst popular Glamour and violence: if the
TWO Governments soberly perform their d,i-
ties to their countries, they may be easily
composed.
1t may not be an unfit preface to this mo-
mentous subject, to remind YOU. that the
difference which now subsists betwees this
country and the United States, is just no
tninS III point OF value or Importance, when
compared with the memorable controversy
which produced the American Revolution
AT that period the British Government world
near OF no relaxation or compromise in hci.
system regarding America yet the oppo-
sition TO that rash and destructive career.
which led SO obviously to it's fatal termina
ton, was confined TO a very few enliehtep-
ed persons: the Parliament and the Natl
ON running headlohg with tie measures
winch separated America from Great Bri-
tam, and established her independence Vet
now that the eye of history is turned uDon
the transactions, though yet within the reach
OF living memory, there is 6ut one, ohinioaL
A7on IRE Su6;ect thronghoutthe .yorid and
IL appears rather like spell upon country.
than the natural course of human events
that we should have lost half cur Empire fo,.
such cause
9 So Insignificant sum as two-pence in
the eyes ota Financier; so inconsiderabie an
article as lea, IN the eyes OF Philosopher.
SHOOK to the foundation the pillars of an En-.
Pire which encircicd the whole Glo5e."--
BURKE.
1t is but justice, however, to the British
MINISTERS OF those days to recollect, that
their contention with America was o confe,,.
ton with subjects, and not, as ROW, with an
Independent State and that it was not very
difflcult to impose on mems UNDERSTANDING.
by connecting the fatal policy that lost Us
america with the great privileges Of Cow
ernment and Empire, which undoub;cdl be-
longed in theory to the parent State
The writer Of this ecter d stinctly disavows
all consideration OF the policy of Great Irj-
tam with regard to America, as it touches
the strict execution, or relaxation Of our
Navigation Laws. These were clearly witA-
in our own contreul, and in all arraneemene
concerning them, we are 70 look to cur own
interests only a liberal policy, however, in
the present state of the world is, in nv CD
non the universal interest Of nations; but
desire not TO NEEDLE with 1t /, il is a
large and complicated subject, with the
details OF which (aud they must be takes
into the account) j am not sufficiently ac-
quainted. ] Conhne myself to the difference
which now subsists setween the two nations.
as understand it.!f, from want Of infor-
nation, my view of it is erroneous, their
governments viii easily correct it, and APP
ply my easoning (where it is appiicgb!c)
to the real state OF the case.
/ take it for granted, that many Of our
seamer have. for better wages, and to avoid
the impress in British ports, on the return
from distant voyages, employed themselves
i'll American navigation but it must be adj
nitted at the same time, that we have in
Our service, by the direct compulsion of the
impress, many natu' al born subjects of the
United States the proportions / am unaC-
quainted with, but have heard, that it may
be Considered against G.. Britain In the pro
portion of fifteen TO tcn that proportion,
however, might increase 20 our Disadvantage,
and | admit, that it is q matter of the Ut
most moment to this country to check so great
an evil 1t has, howerc, always appeared u
me, that, between two friendly governments,
this evil admitted of an easy aud amlcable
remedy, which had il been resortcd 20 be-
fore there was any strong irritation on the
subject, would have led to some safe and pen
nlanent arrangement. The late administra-
ton took the subject under its most serious
consideration, by appointing two very en-
| iightened men, by commission under the
Great Seal, to discuss the subject with the
r -, a. .