The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-17
mo. 4.

ing crews. 1t cannot be thought slrprizing th At
a practice ike this should set with peculiar force
| upon the feelings CT those whom it oI>pcesscs,
ana that the sensation should. extend Itself u
their coun.rymen and then govern acnt
The government of the United Stat, 6 has &C
cordinSly made this pretension the SUBJECT OF
frequent discussion with Great Britain and,
when an extraordinary nassion to his maieS,e :;
government was last year determ' red on; il wa.
one OF the instructions to the undo, sgneel, TO
whom.the duties of that mission were cnnfti,,l.
TO make no treaty which should net provide for
that object liz the first stages OF tls: nceocist,-
on, which followed that mission, the unJer,ig.n-
ed were led to indulge confident. eApccta,tou
that such provision would be obtained. At
length, however, the rejection by his m. lest >
government of project of:,n ati,cc on this p,nnt
which,, without touching the question of rgal
offered, on tie part OF the, United States an
ehectual equivalent for the mere torbearalcc Of
the practice, liivrg eNtinguishetl all hope OF An
Immediate adjustment Of this subject by Treaty
the undersigned feh ti,hi they were called upon
by cahdor, 80 well as by their duty to their gyo-
rerrimeBt, TO inform the British commissioners .
t!ist, the project relative to impycssIncnt having
failed, they had no power to conclude a treaty
upon the other points which hadbeen discussed
between them, as to bind IT, government Of
the United States. The uncersierAcd did uocor-
dinghy give them this Information, in the most
eAPlicit terms and the negotiation was in eonse-
'hiefwardSj however, suggested BY his IN icstvs
commissioners, that il ;his topic sho;tld he cx-
pressly reserved for Future coi,yentons .arine,.-
ment, and pledge given TO tie.Urited States fox
resumng the cOnsd eration of L at convenient
season with that view, and if in the meantime
such AN lntormai understanding should Be. slIbsti-
tutcd, as in its practical effect w1i.d remoys
the HeXation complained of, it might perhaps H.
yet possible to conduct the negotiation 10 aresut
winch would not be unacceptable to the ;-especk-
I've governments and IN pursu nee OF tins sug-
Sestlon, the British commissioners presente,i to
the undersigned, the 9Th d.iy of November
last, the official note, OF which COPY IN here.
with mclosed. The undersigned transmitted to
Their government for its consideration 4 ccI,v, of
th's note, together with statement of the, cir
cumstances connected with it, and, without ei-
wing 1t eirsancton, agreed in the meaaliIne. to
concur win the British commissioners, rs thew
were invited 20 do, IN an effort to adjust the SIT
Puiatiohs OF treaty, u'on the remaining objects
on tneir mission, and leave thc effect OF what
should be So adj listed to their gov. r.il,,cnt
1t appears that the president OF tie United
States considers this collateral proceeding ,i;iop
concern OF such paramount Importance IS un-
suitable to the nature OF It, well III the mode,
as IN its terms In this opinion, The president
does but continue to respect the considerations
which heretofore induced him To beiiey. that an
arrangement upon ans POINT ought to stipulate
WIN precision against the practice in Question
and that the manner OF it would properly be thai
which should be chosen for the Arrangement OF
the Other Hoi1ts of discussion, and in tue nssruc
tions which, III conformity with that Opinion lie
hssnow giVento the undersigned, he does but ma
nIest MS reliance upon the spirit of Justice and
aTnitys which he IS assured his msiesty.s eo
vernment Will bring to the renewed consd "a
tion Oh SUBJECT so Interesting TO the right, and
feeling OF g friendly Nation, ior such d dust
ment OF thls as wel as of every ol.,er Quest =,
belonging 70 The relations Of the two Countries
as shall confirm tl-lr dispositions to ,nutua, kind
ness, and promote the happiness and prosperity
OF both.
The subject of compensation viii ncrI,a,.b e
sufficiently explained by the enclosed COPIES Of
two notes from the undersigned to lord Holland
and lord Auckland, and to lord Howck
1t wall appear from the last of these notes that
this subject, for which the projected treaty id
not provide, was not TO be affected by If hut on
the contrary, that the rights of the United Stats
and The CLAIMS OF their citlzens were understood
to be reserved for future adjus nent as com.
pletely as if no treaty had been made and II
Will occur TO Mr., Canning tiat the project Of aa
article On this point, which eyhad the h3n,l. 10
leave with hin At their last interview, is in t,e
spirit OF that understanding, and IS besides so en-
tlreiy free from BIS lion, that no motive is Ike
~ TO exist agains. the ..,.opton oft.
There IS another object to which the under
signed nave the orders OF the president to invite.
t Z attention. OF his majestys government as al
fectng materially, and giving Il new and unex
Pected character to the proposed treaty They
*iiude to the written declaration relative to the,
french decree of the 21at Of November last. by
Which his majesty's plenpotentiaries accoRipa.
med Their signature of the treaty a declaration
winch IN IT'S actual fsrm crestes unnecessary en-
ba'rassInents in the way Of all acceptance OF the
treaty by the United States. The urdersitsned
persuade themselves that as this proceeding, TO
which no sanction was given on their part, mpos-
ed on the United States no new obi cation, could
only DC intended to deci,re that IN s ming Or ra
hylng the treaty it was understood by Great Bri-
tain that nothing contained ia il would be bar
TO any measure, Which if no such treaty had been
81 med, would be lawful as a measure of retajia-
ton against her enemy, and the occasion Which
produced 1t does not now appear 10 exist as then
supposed, it will not be tlo.g ht that any cling
IS sacrificed by Withdrawing it us unnecessary.
The undersigned request Mr. Canning to &C
cept the assurances Of their distinguished consi
deration
(Signed) JAMES MONROE,
VIZ PINkEEY
The Right XJao,oIh
George Cunning, &c &c. Cos
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