The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-12

Of Great Britain, and the commissioners ex-
traordinary and plenipotentiarcs, on the part
OF the United States OF America, have sign
cd this present treaty, and have caused to be
affixed thereto the seal of our arms. Done
at London this th;rty-frst day of Decem-
Der, one thousand eight hundred and six.
Seal (Signeh) FAS9ALL HOLLAND,
Seal (Sgned) AUCKLAND,
fSeal1 (Sgned} JAMES MONROE,
tSralj (Signed) WILLIAM PINKNEY-
Ihetot'ava,S the oEciai Note dei;vered BY Lords
Holland and .facklaad 70 the american Minis
tiers Previously TO signing the treaty.
The undersigned Henry Richard vassall lord
Holland. and William lord Auckland, plenipotcn-
tiaries his Britannia majesty, have the honor
to inform James Monroe ana William Pinknev
commissioners extraordinary and plenipotenea-
~ of the United States ef America, that they
| are now ready to proceed TO the signature of the
| treaty Of amity, comr,erce and navigation, on
the articles of which they have mutually agreed
But at the same time they have it in command
from his majesty 10 call the attention Of the com
raissiohers of the United States to some cxtraor
binary proceedings which have lately taken place
on the continent of Europe, and to communicate
to them officially the sentiments Of his majesty's
government thereupon,
The proceedings ailudedto arc certain declara-
tions and orders ofthe, French government issued
al Berlin on the 2lst of November lest
IN those orders the French government seeks
To justify or pallatc its own unj lust pretentons
by imputng to Great Britain principles which
she never protested, and practices which nevel.
existed. His majesty is accused of 4 systematic
and general disregard OF the law of nations re-
cognized by civilized states, at,o, mere Particular
ly of an unvarrant,ble extension of the right of
blockade; whereas his ma jesty may confidently
appeal to the world or his Uniform respect for
neutral rights, and his general and scrupuous adj
herence ia the law of nations without condeseend-
ing to contrast his conduct III these particulars
with that of his enemy and with regard to the
only specific charge, it is notorious that he has
never declared any ports to be in Il state of block
ade without allntung to that object force suffi-
Gent to make the cptrance into them manifestly
dangerous
BY such allegations. unfounled as they are,
the enemy attempts to Justify his pretensions OF
eoniiscating as lawful prize all produce ofEnglish
industry or manufacture, though it be the pro-
perry ofneutras; of excluding from his harbors
every neutral vessel which has touched at any
port OF sis majesty domnons though EMPLOYED
in an innocent commerce, and ofdeclaring Great
Britain To be III state of blockade, though his
own naval ports and arsenals are actually block
AIDED, and he is unable to station any naval force
whatever before any port OF the United Kingdom.
Such principles are in themselves extravaganza
and repugnant to the law of nations; and the
professions founded on them, though professcd-
~ directed solely against Great Britain, tend to
alter the practice OF war amongst civilized natl
ons, and utterly to subyert the rights and indie
pendencc ofneutral POWERS. .,
The Undersigned cannot therefore believe that
the enemy will ever seriously attempt to enforce
such SYSTEM, 1.-The should, they are confident
that the good sense of the American government
will perceive the fatal consequences of sucl.pre-
tensions to neutral, commerce, and that its spi-
rit and regard to national honor will prevent its
acquiescence in such palpable violations of its
rights, and injurious encrcachments on its inter-
est. . $40,
If however the enemy should carry these
threats into execution, and if neutral nations
contrary TO all expectation, should acquiesce in
such usurPations, his majesty might probably
be compelled, however reluctantly, to retaliate
III his just defence, and to adopt, in regard to
the commerce of neutral nations with his cne-
mics, the same measures which those siIall have
permitted to he enforced against their commerce
with his subjects The commissioners of the u
States will therefore feel, that at 4 moment when
his majesty and all neutrai nations are threatencd
with such an extension OF the be!lgerent pretcn-
tons of his enemies, he cannot enter into the
stpuations of tile present treaty without an ex-
pianaton from the United States OF their intenti-
on, or reservation on the part CT his majesty,
III the case above mentioned, if 1t should occur.
The Undersigned considering that the distance
| OF the American government renders any imme-
diate explanation this subject impossible, ard
animated by desire OF forwarding the beneficial
F., work in which they are engaged, are authorized
by his majesty conclude the treaty without de-
| lay. They proceed to the signature under the
full persuasion that before the treaty shall be re-
turned from America with the ratification of the
| United States, the enemy viii either have for
| mally abandoned or taciuy relinquished his I'M
Just pretcnsIons, that the government of the
| United States, by It's conduct assurances, will
have given security te his majesty that it will not
4 l.
! TEN OF maritime law And the undersigned have
should be clearly Understood n both sides, that
| without such an abandonment of the pretensions
on the part OF the enemy, OF such assurances, o.
such conduct on the part of the Unhed States,
| his majesty VIII not consider himself bound by
! the present signature Of Ms commissioners, to II.
| tify the treaty, precluded from adopting such
measures may seem necessary for counterfeit
ing the designs of ms enemy.
! The undersigned cannot conclude without ex-
pressing their satisfaction at the prospect of &C.
co,nplisliing object important to the inter
ests and friendly connections of both nations,
and their lust of the concilatory disposition
manifested by the commissioners Of the United
States during the whole course OF the negotiate
/ on.
(Signed) VASSALL HOLLAND
| AUCKLAND.
London, Dec 81, 1906
| NETWORK, April 4, 1903.
Captain Alcon from Cadiz, informs that 10000