The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-22

indispsnsably necessary TO due discussion OF the
subject, that reference should be made BY me
To- those who are best acquainted with AL the Cir
cumstances respecting the decisions which have
taken place, and the rules which have been esta-
biished in our courts of admiralty and appeal, as
well as with the principles and practice, accor-
ding to which the law is therein administered
Lave not yet received any report, in consequence
of the reference which, have made, but hope
at no distant period to be enabled TO give fun,
and trust, conclusive answer, upon this most
important point. trust that you will no; cons-
der the interval of time which is necessary for a
due investigation of so considerable question,
rs delay either inexpedicnt or misplaced
have the honor to be,
With great consideration,
-. Your most obedient humble servant.
(Signcd) MULGRAVE.
JAMES MoxRoE, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
Es.ree. Of letter from Mr.. Monroe 20 Mr.
Madison.
LoNpoN, Feb. 10. 1906.
Gas soon as Mr. Fox took possession of his
| Office he requested an interview with the foreign
ministers, which took place yesterday. We were
introduced separately Mine lasted about half
an hour. As soon the ceremony of the inter-
view had passed, observed that / presumed he
had been too short 4 term in Office to have made
himself acquainted with what occurred between
his predecessors and myself, more especially the
last one. He said he had not had time to read
The papers, though he presumed he had general
idea on some of the topics. In respect to the
immediate question ofseizure, he asked me whe-
Their had made to them, or they to me, any pro-
position gave short sketch of the part which
our respective governments had acted, since the
| commencement ofthe present war, towards each
| other l told him my government had been rea-
dy to form commercial treaty with his, on the
expiration OF the late onei that it had agreed to
postpone it to accommodate his, and with desire
that the arrangements which might be formed,
being entered into at a time when each had suf-
fcient leisure to attend to the object and found
ed on liberal view of their respective interests
might place their relations on such footing as 70
secure their friendship from interruption, at least
at an early day that in the same spirit it had
sought to put out Of the way certain causes of a
transient nature which might possibly create mis-
understanding i'll the course of the war, such as
the impressrPent Oh our seamen, blockades by
proclamation. &c according TO project which had
been presented to lord Hawkeskury, and to both
| his successors: that those gentlemen never gave
any delintlve answer to that project, and urged
rs cause of their delay. the other and pressing
engagements OF their government with which l
was well acquainted as also, that its conduct
towards tie United States in the course of the
present war, was as cOnsonant to their principles
and wishes In the most important points as they
could desire Il 20 be that left the business on
that ground when went to Spain, in the eXpec-
tation that no change in the existing relations be
tween the two countries would be made in my
absence.
assured him that was astonished to find on
myrcturn, that the contrary those relations had
experienced the most essential change that an
attack had been made on our commerce, on q
principle which had heretofore been SO complete
ly settled between our governments, and aban-
doned by his, as to have been a case for which
no provision was even proposed in the project re-
terred to. explained to him the ground of this
remark, and informed him that had written Sc
ver;,l notes 20 lord Mugrave on the subject, to
which had not been able to obtain an ans yver on
the main question, though he seemed DESTROYS by
keeping it open, in his short replies that should
not consider it as decided against the United
States ] could not avoid intimatng to him that
the friendly disposition which our government
had shewn, had been most ungenerously requit-
ed BY his; that it seemed as Il it had pursued a
gust and friendly conduct towards the United
S.2tes, ill tire moment that the new coalition was
formed, and gave the present blow, when the
prospect was favorable to success, and kept the
business in suspense to see the result of affairs
r. the continent and in the United States. He
heard me with much attention and apparent inte-
rest, ntimated that he had been accused OF being
too friendly to America, and when / spoke of the
treaty with Russia, he observed that he had
thought that the arrangement made by ii was
good one, though did not understand him as
pledging hmselfby thc remark, TO its cond tons
l requested thathe would make himself master
soon in his power, OF the correspondence
between lord Mulgrave and myself, and give me
an interview, which lie promised. am happy
to add, on view Of all circumstances, that
think the prospect of arranging our affairs with
this government, especially that one which res
pects the trade with the colonies of its enemies,
on satisfactory terms, very favorable one. 1t is
certain that nothing more favorable to such re-
suit was, or could reasonably have been expected
from the first interview with the present minis
ter"
! am, sir,
With great respect, sc.
(Signed) JAMES MONROE.
No. a. LONDON, FEBY. %, 1906.