Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-01

ID, al he wasl x wise, wi h my deter mitali- |
D to remain ,here ill the business was con.
Guided. The evidence before him seemed
10 be satisfactory, that as nothing could be
gained, of the existing ministry, but by
force, any change of the attitude taken on
our part, was likely to do harm, and that
il the ministry retired, the danger of such
an effect. would be increased by a change
of attitude. This latter idea was strongly
urged, in private letter to him of The I'd
Of February, 1906, with my earnest ad-
vice against such mission. AS the ship
by which that letter WAS sent, arrived al
Philadelphia, on the Goth Of March, con-
Guided that he had received il By the 3Oth.
II was written in consequence of intell-
gence from the u. ). that .uch a mission
was decided on by the government. As
had received no answer to any of my com.
municalions from Madrid, or London, al
Ter my return, nor any acknowledgment,
at my service at either pace, or express
on of desire, that l should come hone
or remain there, il seemed by the measure
alluded to, as IL it was considered, that
was rather in the way than of use, to the
administration. It's reserve To me for so
long ime, aud the appoin mcnl Of an as
sociale, after the receipt OF my private let.
ter ct February I'd, and a pubic one OF
nearly the same date, and after the change
IN the administration was known made a
deep impression on my mind O hat fleet.
Special missions were never well received
by those on the ground, and perhaps ne
yer will he, while men are governed by
those useful passions, which stimulate
hem to vutuous actions. Such mission
reduces the resident minister, however,
respec able, for his talents and character to
a CIPHER, from the moment it is known
hat it is contemplated, and II il does not
DESTROY him. il is because his character is
sufficiently rong To bear the shock. The
footing on which had left my country, a
consciousness OF the zeal and Integrity OF
my conduct III the public service, and oil
my personal attachment and devotion to
he administration, with firm belief tina.
no change could be made to advantage,
may possibly have eDcre.sed my scnsibi-
ivy 10 the MEASURE. Had such an one
been contemplated, Thought ,haj I should
have heen the first 10 hear Of 1t in a pri-
but had to gather the intelligence from
the newspapers, the correspondence OF
Others, the hints Of Lord Holland, and e..
ven of Mr.. Fox Mt. Mad sous first letter
TO ne on aay important subject, " h CHI
was Of the lIih of March, 1906. aimos,
10 months after had left Madrid, and 8
after my return 10 London, was received
on the ash OF April. IL seemed to be
intended 20 announce, the proposed inca.
lure, and from its stiIe, taken IN connrc-
iio. with the preceding circumstances,
contributed greatly to confirm the impress
son which they had already made. The
facility which it afforded to my depsr.
ure appeared TO me 10 be the strongest
feature in il.
The letter which Mr.. pinkney
brought me, which was delivered 70
him and by him to me open, was in
the same tone. Ii stated that | was
included in the special mission, ba,
that Mr.. Pinkney had separate com.
mission with him, to take my place in
! case / chose to return home. 1t ex-
pressed no desire that would remain
and Joinin the negotiation. The Join,
commission seemed also to be peculi-
arly adapted to favor that object, as il
authorised one commissioner to &C,
singly in the absence Ut the other, in
which it differed from those which ]
had carried with me abroad, they gi-
wing that power TO one in case only OF
the death of the other. could see
no reason for his bringing with him a
separate commission, to succeed me
in the ordinary mission, if my imme-
diate return had not been contempla-
ted, as sufficient time would have been
allowed for supplying it if | remained
and joined in the negotiation, before I
could be concluded, or for thu vars
ance III the conditions of the ioi1t one
All these circumstances tended o con
vince me that the administration had
Withdrawn it's confidence from me, and
that it really wished to get rid of me,
| was struck with astonishnent at the
idea, and deeply affected by it, as il
was utterly impossible for me to trace
the cause. HID followed the i'm.
lpulse of my feelings, it would have
been, to have withdrawn on the arriv4'
OF Mr.. Pinkney but many conside1a
tions of great weight admonished me
70 pursue a different course. had
lha1 much RON no.,n,rat,Dr ,.,..I NJ