The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-12


Outraged it. and were still more explicit in
suggesting that the depending cases would
not lie unfavorably adjudged. They seemed
DESTROYS that, while we should reserve our
claim, their government should retain right
to pursue such a course of conduct in re-
gard to 1t as might be dictated hereafter by
circumstances. Tocnter into an engagement
in favor of our Claim in the present state of
things, appeared to them as being likely to
expose their government to the imputation
Of having done it by coercion, and to deprive
It of claim to any merit for snch AN accom-
mediation as it might under other circum-
stances be disposed to yield. Should the
circumstances of collision which had taken
place between the two countries be done a
way, and theii commerce and friendly rela-
lations be re-estabhshed, as they hoped was
already in a'great measure done, and would
De SO completely BY this treaty, their go
vernment, thcy thought, would feel itself
more at liberty to yieid accommodations on
this topic thdn in the actual state. This
was the substance of the communication
made us ON the subject hy the British COM
missioners before the signature of the trea-
ty, Ola which, and our declaring explicitly
that we would reserve theright in the man
ner they had proposed, in full confidence
that their governmcnt would respect it, we
proceeded to sign the trcaty. We have had
an interview with the British commission
ers since the signature, and were happy to
find that they had not brgotten what had
passed bet cen us en- that occasion. We
had asked the interview, as we informed
them, for the purpose of comforting on this
subject and CT obtaining Their, sentiments n,
so distinct form rs to leave US under no
embarrassment ir the communication it was
orr duty to MAKE to YOU on it. Nothing
passed in this Interview on their part to
Change the g'ound on which the business
had been placed in the former one. They
intimated, however, that it might be advan-
tageous. ard would certainly be proper for
us, in the ,resent stage, to confer with lord
Howick or this subject, since any declarati-
on from lin conld not fail, according to its
import, y merit the peculiar attention OF
our government. We have accordingly
seen an6 conferred with lord Kowick upon
this to,ic, whose sentiments appeared to
CORRESPOND strictly with those which had
been 6eiivered to us by the British commits
sioneIs. He intimated, however, that it
woule be better for us to address the note
whih should contain reservation of our
rights to indemnity, to him than to the COM
missioners, to which we assented, as we
could not perceive. that that circumstance
would make any difference in the case. We
are engaged in preparing this paper, which
we expect TO present to his lordship in
few days, though we fear it will not be rea-
dy in time to enable MS to obtain his answer
to it to be forwarded to YOU with this dis
patch. We shall not fail to communicate
70 YOU, without delay, whatever may occur
on this subject. We think it Dur duty, how
ever, to add that we do NOT wish our govern
ment to be too sanguine in the expectation
OF satisfactory result. In the deliberations
on this subject it may, perhaps, be better to
presume that such one may not be obtain
ed, as it is not provided for in the treaty -
The above Statement is nevertheless perfect
" correct, and we beg you to be assured
that we Shall continue to exert our best en-
deayours to secure an object which we con-
slider of so hitch Importance. We shall send
you statement of the cases of condemnati-
on. and of the causes still depending, which
is less extensive in both views than NAV
have been supposed.
1t happened, when the negotiation had
Preached a very advanced stage, that an &C
count was received here of the decree of
the emperor of the French at Berlin, Of No
venber 81, which declared Great-Britain s.
lreandin state'ofb blockade, and all British
manufactures and the produce of British CO.
lonies lawful prize. This circumstance pro-
duced a strong impression on this govern
ment, which was very seriously felt in our
concerns. IT seemed probable for some DAYS
that it would subject the negotiation to a
long suspension, if it did not entirely defeat
its object. The British commissioners in
formed us, that the decree of the govern
mept of France. had opposed power
ful obstacle to the conclusion of any treaty
with us, before our government should
be consulted on the subject, and its an
swer obtained as to the part it might
take in regard to it: that in case the
United States submitted to violation OF
their neutral rights by France in the man
ner contemplated by that decree, it would
be impossible for Great-Britain to respect
them; thatIby concluding a treaty with the
United States, by which they should not only
bind themselves, to the observance of such
rights, but agree to concessions or relaxati-
ons of what they conceived to be their un-
questionable rights of war, after knowing
the, contents of that decree, they might be
understood to restrain themselves from
| connteracting the policy of France, which i,
| would be improper to do, unless our govern
ment should engage to support its rights
gainst the measures of France. In consi-
Iteration of these circumstances, they propo-
sed that we should proceed in the bushes:
| so far as to agree on all the articles of the
| treaty, TO reduce them to form, and ther
transmit the instrument to the United States
to become obligatory in case our government
Il 9 -.