The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-19
Extract efa se.ser from, Mr. Monroe 10 Mr..
Madison.
LoNDow, October 5, 1904.

| LONDON, October 8, 1904
"In the interview which l had with lord
IHarrowby, we had much general CONVEX
sation ON the topics depending between us,
which, asst correspondent with what has pas
sed before and communicated to you, it is
| unnecessary to repeat. He appeared to u
gree with me with great sincerity in the adj
| vantage to be derived to both countries, from
| the preservation of their present amicable
relations, and to be quite satisfied with the
state in which the negotiation was left, as
surfing me that he would not fail to take it
up on my return, with an earnest desire to
| conclude it to the satisfaction OF both parties
! though he minated that there was great
difficulty attending certain branches of it
He suggested that as | was forced to go to
Spain, he hoped that the suspension would
prove equally convenient to us both, to which
! assented. He thought it unnecessary for
! me to so to Weymouth to take leave of the
king, as he kept no regular court there, and
! my absence would be short; he promised
however 70 communicate to his majesty nv
request TO be presented to him there, as of
his undertaking to prevent it, with which
view he desired me to address him special
| note to that effect ,ob be submitted to the king,
4 copy of which is enclosed.
In the course of this conversation lord
narrowly expressed concern to find the u
nited States opposed to Great-Britain on GER
tain great neutral questions, in favor of the
doctrines of the modern law which he term
ed novelties. l replied, that in adhering to
our principles, the president had endeavor-
ed to arrange them in a friendly manner with
his government that he had taken no step
of an opposite character that he had sought
! no concert with the neutral powers in sup
port of them, as he had supposed that a sat
,stactory arrangement to both governments
might be made by direct communication be-
tween them, which he preferred. He OBJ
served, that although while the negotiation
was suspended, his government would adj
here to its principles, yet that it would act
in what concerned us, with moderation In
| the practice of them.
/ informed you in my letter of the 9th of
September, that case had occurred OF, an
American vessel engaged in commerce be-
| tween Batavia and Holland, as was inferred,
by her having an European destination, be-
ing brought into port and subjected TO trial.
The case is not vet decided, though in his
! remarks, while the cause was in hearing be-
fore the court, the judge maintained the Bri-
fish doctrine; it was postponed to give time
to ascertain what the regulations of the 60
vernment of Holland were i'll peace respect
ing our commerce with that colony. He did
not say If they prohibited the trade, that he
would condemn the vessel. 1t is probable
she may be acquitted or some other point in
the cause without impugning that principle.
1t is understood that several other vessels
engaged in the same trade which were stop
ped and examined at the TeXel by the Bri-
fish cruizers, were permitted TO prosecute
their voyage; hence it is presumable that
orders were given to that effect by the 60
vernments. 1t is certain that on no princi-
pie or preteXt whatever, has more than one
OF our vessels been condemned, on which
Judgment there is an appeal.
The whole subject is now before the Pre-
sident, on which l have to remark, that in
discltarging this trust, have endeavored in
every stage to give full effect to the feelings
and sentiments of my country, in respect to
the objects in question, especially the un-
warrantabe practice OF impressment, with
out taking any step which should compromit
our government, in the part it should take,
when the result was submitted to it. In that
state the affair nov is, for after the exPi-
ration OF g few months, it is perfectly consis-
tent with it, to revive the negotiation in such
/ form as the president may deem advisable.
The proceeding here, lays a foundation for
any course which the public honor and int
rest may dictate. If it is deemed expedient
in pursuing our just rights to profit of time
and circumstances, and In the interim, I'M
less they be secured BY 4 fair and equal trea-
ty, to act with moderation till the occasion
invites to a more decisive and hazardous po-
! Icy, the state of things permits it, Or if it
should be deemed more advisable to adopt
the latter course at present, the. opportunity
is lair for such measure. The situation in
which our government will find itself on re-
ceiving this communication, is a very DIFF
| ferent one from that in which have stood
! throughout. If the latter course is prefer
red, it cannot be doubted that the moderation
which has been so far observed, will strength
en- the government in any the most vigor-
Gus measures which may be thought neces-
( sary.
| virtuous and free people will be more
united in support of such measures, however
strong they may be, when they see by the
clearcst evidence that the cause is not only
just, but that their government has done G.
very thing in its power which the national
honor and interest would permit, to avoid
such en- extremity"
SIR,
! / enclose you copy of my letters to
lord Mulgrave, relative to the late seizures
OF our vessels by his majesty's cruizers. in
the channel and north sea, and OF his replies
] had yesterday an interview with him on
the subject, in which he gave me a report
from each of the Kings law officers in the
admiralty TeSpectinqr the late flcc;e;oro ,,d