The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-17
COPY
LONDON, guls 81. 1907


> 49,. LONDON, Suly 81, 1907.
The undersigned ministers extraordinary and
plenipotentary ofthe United States of America.
have the honor to inform Mr.. Canning that tl,,.y
are instructed by the President of The United
States, to propose TO his majesty's government
arenewal ofnegOciation relative TO the objects of
the mission of the undersigned, with a'view to
a more satisfactory result than is found in the in
strument signed on the 31st of December last by
ms maJesty's plenipotentlaries and those fthe
United States. -, -.
The undersigned are persuaded that his ma
Jestys government will see in this measure an
unquestionable proof of the sincere desire ofthe
President, to place the friendly relations of the
two countries beyond the reach of those misun
derstandings which either the absence or the in
adequacy OF precise arrangements on subjects of
the greatest delicacy and importance might from
time to time occasion. .
1t is under the influence of this solicitude that
the President has charged the Undersigned TO ex-
press to his majesty's government, his unfeigned
regret thatthe instrument above mentioned does
not appear to him to be such As he can approve 6;
at the same time to declare his entire confidence
that the Just and liberal sentiments, which ami.
mate his majesty's government, correspond g
with those which belong to the government OF
the United States, cannot fail TO lead without de
lay difficulty to such issue of the negocilti-
on which is now proposed, as shall be suited in
all respects to the rights and interests of both ma
tons, and therefore calculated to ensure a long
continuance of the friendship which so happily
subsists between them
The undersigned have already had the honor
| to present to Mr.. Canning paper which, taken
IN connection with project on the subject Of i'm
pressment and another on the subject of certain
claims to compensation by American citizens,
presented by the Undersigned at the same time,
will be found to exhibit u complete view of the
alterations which the ms rtIrnent above mention
| ed is deemed by the President to require. They
forbear to trouble Mr.. Canning with recspitu-
lation of the details, which these papers contain
but there are some explanations upon the topics
OF impressment and compensation which they do
not furnish, and which il is therefore incumbent
upon the Undersigned TO avail themselves ofthis
occasion to give.
1t one of the primary objects Of the mis-
sion Of the Undersigned to adjust with his ma
jesty's government, formal and explicit arrange
ment, relative to practice by British ships OF
war, which has excited ing very great degree
the sensibility ofthe American people, and claim
ed the anxious attention of heir government.
The practice alluded to, is that Of visiting on tie
main ocean, the merchant vessels Of the United
States, navigating under the American flag, for
the purpose of subjecting their crews to a TASTY
ard hImiliating inqusition, and impressng, as
British seamen, such Of the mariners as, upon
that nquislton, the visiting officers declare to
be so. The effect of this practice is that tie flag
OF an independent power is dishonored, and one
of the most essential rights OF its sovereignty
violated that American citizens either nista-
} ken for British subjects, or assumed 70 be such
without sufficient enquiry, are forced from the
quiet pursuits Of lawful commerce into the Sc
we're and dangerous service of toreien military
navy, to expose their lives in fighting against
those with whom their country is a. peace and
that the meachant vessels OF the United Sates
arc frequently thus stripped of So large potion
OF their hands, before their voyages have been
performed, as to bring into the most imminent
peril, and sometimes to produce the actual loss,
of the vessels, their csrgoes, and thsir reasiin-