The Delaware gazette. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1809-1810, 1809-12-06

ry IS the only dispatch bY wheh Tue conaillous
were prescribed to Mr.. Erskne lor the concln-
sion of an arrangement! on the matter 10 when
it relates" is now for the first time male 10 this
government. And ! need hardly add, that II
that dispatch had been communicated at tine time
ST the arrangement, or IL il had been known that
the propositions contained in it and which were
at first presented by Mr.. Erskinc, were the only
cnes, on which he was AUTHORISED to make an ar
rangement, the arrangement would not have
been made.
AS you have disclaimcd any authority to Offer
explanations for the dsas Oval, as you have been
willing TO ascribc the want of such authority 70
the consideration that other channels had been
preferred, and as you have even considered the
circumstances under which the Arrangements
took place 10 be 81 CHI could only lead to dis
avowal, and therefore superccjng the necessi-
ty of any explanation whatever, it is 10 be re-
GREETED that You had not deemed it proper 10 rem
der precise and explicit, that part Of your letter
which seems 10 imply that you had in our con-
Tersatons, in relation to the affair Of the Chesa-
peakc, following the words Of your instructions,
held out not only the mannr in which the re-
plFaon had been accepted, but even the form
IN which it had been rendered, as warrantng his
majesty in even retracting the offer of reparation
and that you had elucd4tcd the observation by a
reference to the particular expressions which, at
all events put il totally out of his lowcr to con-
hrn any act containing them.
Whatever may have been yoGr Intentions in
,hi' part ofour conversation. or whatever may be
the import of the passage to which have just
siluded, have now the honor OF sisnifying
toyou, that am authorised 10 receive in pro-
per form whatever explicit explanations you may
To et.., l..
this part of the disavowal; and without cnqui-
ring whether your authority be derived from in
structions that have been addressed to yourself,
or that have devolved on you as the successor of
the minister who had declined to execute them.
AS you have at the same time, been pleased to
say that his Britannia majesty had authorised you
to renew the offer of satisfaction which Mr.
ErsSinc was instructed to make, it was also ma
turally expected that you would in your letter
have stated with precision in what that offer diff
tered from the reparation solcmnv rendered by
MIR. Erskne and accepted by the United States,
and that you would have shown in what the re-
paraIion thustendeied differed from his instruc-
tons. And "he1 | hal the honor to intimate
that N order to avoid the misconceptions, Incl
den 70 oral proceedings, it was thought cxpe.
dent thlt our further discussions on the present
occasion should be in the written form there was
no n'rt Of the subject to which that lntination
apii'eA With more force than the case Of the Che
speak; none on which it was more desirable
TO avoid misconceptions and 10 obtain a precise
knowledge OF the propositions which you were
authorised to make; not only because did not
really understand the particulars Of the offer as
distinctly as you seem to haze supposed, but al
50 because, on that point and on that point alone,
you had expressly stated that you hal PROPOSE
tons 10 make, and that you were authorised to
carry them into immediate execution.
On the subject of the orders in council the
president perceives with sentiments of deep re-
greet, that your instructions contemplate neither
an explanation oil the refusal of yonr govern
ment to fulfil the arrangement of that branch OF
the existing differences, nor the substitution Of
any other plan OF adjustment, nor any authority
to conclude any agreement on that subject but
merely TO receive and discuss proposals, that
nlght nc made to you on the part Of the L niteS
states and these, 1t appears, must include a
stipulation on the par: of the U. States to rein
| quish the trade with the enemies colonies cvt n
IN branches not hitherto interrupted by British
orders for capture, and also sanction to the en-
forcing OF an act of congress by the British navy
Were the way properly opened for forma
| proportions from this government, a known
determination on the part of his Britannia ma
| Jelly to adhere to fuch extraordinary pretenfi
ons would preclude the hope of luccefs in fncl
advances, whether regard be had to the condi
lions thenia' es, or to the difpoGtion they in
dicate, in re'urn for the conciliatory tempe
viii h has been evinced By the United States.
As to the demand in relation to the colonia
trade, i has been the leis apprehended, as it i
not in itlelf connected, nor has it ever befor
heen brought into connection, either with til
cafe of the orders II council, or with that a
the Chelapeake. AID it was Reasonable TO pre-
iume, Y tie IDEAS of iuch condition had in til
hrlt initancc proceeded from the erroneous be
net that it was not Objectionable to the Un te
States that it would NOT have BEN pelGHed il
after that error had been afcet tanned and &C
knowled ed.
The other demand could liil e(s have bee
ap rehended. Refides the inevitable and incaI
suitable abuGes incident TO fucb licenfe 10 fc
reign cruzers, the lfipulation would touch on
o. 'hoie vital principles Of sovereignty, whic
I IN mi