The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-01


question to thit honorable house 20 deter |
mine. ~.
Do the means to which you have alluded
no longer exist ! conceive not. 5
What is the reason, in your opinion, why
these means nollonger exist Of sending Bri-
fish goods from this country to the continent
The reason, in.my opinion, is, because there
is no longer any connection between the u. S.
and the continent direct. i
Prior to last November, do you know that
American ships used TO clear out regularly
from this country to the continent, and there
land their cargoess Yes.
Doyou know more particularly that in the
months of September and October, several
American vessels went on those voyages &
landed their carsoes. l was not Immediate
ly connected with any myself, therefore
cannot pretend to speak to that point.
Do you know that since the month of No
vember last, any American vessels have gone
upon this voyage, with cargoes from this
country for the continent. Not that am par
ticularlv acquainted with.
Do you know of any American vessels,
since Nov. last, having touched at this coun-
try, discharged their cargoes, and gone in
ballast to the continent! Yes.
But none with cargces' None that am
particularly acquainted with.
do you know that considerable quantities
OF West-1ndia produce have been taken in
American vessels tn the continent since the
Berlin decree in the month of November
1906 ? Yes. @
Doyou know of any such cargoes having
been taken to the continent since the month
of Nov. 1907? No
abraham Mann
Did the French DEGREES up to November
last, affect your shipments to America p
They did not
Was the reason of this, that YOU could still
receive remittances from the continent Be:
tore the appearance of the orders in council,
we considered that the course of our remir-
tances was very little interrupted, therefore
we had no objection to continue the gene
raj line of business, making shipments to A
merica.
Have you made any spring shipments this
year? We have made none
On what account have YOU made none
Onaccount of the orders in council concei-
wing that they may issue in war between
this country and the United States; we have
on that account abstained from making any
shipments
Isthere any other way in which the orders
In Council prevent your shipments, in case,
they should not lead to rupture The
consignment OF American produce being
maderto the continent, from which we re-
ceive remittances. t.t.,
he s%!!ia,,e OF your extensive trade is STOP
ped up by the orders in council !. Total
ly, so far as respects our disposition to nro-
coed
am also to understand you, that in so far
as respects what has actually taken place
the shipments, for the spring season, being
malt yolir annual shipments, have 55sSri to-
tally stopped by the orders in council To-
n foy.y I.o Il
shipments nor do we intend it. -. d, =.
This is matter Of fact. Yes. ~srs>
Previous to the 18th of November, was it
pretty well known among mercantile men in
the city that such a measure was intended
1t was general subject of conversation a.
mong persons concerned in the American
trade. So
Had they definite knowledge Of the ma
ture OF the orders in council They appear
ed to be pretty much of the nature that was
expected.
Doyon recollect current expression that
you heard on Change? Yes, / do recollect an
expression heard on Change for some DAYS.
that government had rod in pickle for the
Americans; which was considered as harsh
measure on their commerce.
Dld you communicate to YOUR correspon-
dents IN America, this rumour you heard a
bout the orders in council! Generally. as
postscIipts to commercial letters.
DO you recollect the dates of those letters
Early in Nov. probably towards the middle
OF Nov. certainly before the orders in council
appeared.
You say you suspended your shipments to
America in consequence OF the orders in
Council had You no other reason for sus-
pending those shipments but the orders in
Council None whatever
Had yop heard of the embargo in Ameri-
ca We heard that as a matter of course.
Did not that operate with you to suspend
your shipments / viewed it as a precauti-
onafy measure of the Americans to keep
their property from the effects of the English
orders in Council, believing that the Ameri-
cans had an intimation that such orders were
in contemplation on behalf OF the British go
vernment
Was the non-importation law in America
no induCemeht TO you to suspend your opera
tions? Certainly in some small degree we
considered it as a measure which carried
IL sumo hostility, and therefore would
curtail our shipments in some degree, but
that would not altogether have induced us to
relinquish our shipments, had not the retail
iating measures OF the British government
taken effect.
Do you conclude that the embargo was in
some measure owing to the orders in coun-
Gil have no doubt of it.
Is 1t your opinion, that the embargo in A