Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-04
FROM rHE LONDON COURIER,
# ministerial Paher.

We have already stated that a commu.
nication has been male to deputation of
merchants, stating that altho' our govern
rnent have found themselves under ne.
cSssity OF disappearing of the proceedings
OF Mr.. Erskins, they feel themselves bound.
In order to the preserving the public faith,
to make an order to protect all American
vessels which shall sail from the u. States
subsequent 20 the 9Th of June, for linlte
time; that innocent individuals, meaning to
carry on a legitimate trade, may not be
surprised by condemnatioas i'm an inter.
course they had reason to believe lawful.
And in order to put British subjects as
nearly as possible on the same footing as
Americans, communication has also been
m ide to the merchants, that licences will
be granted to all who shall apply for them,
TO export freely to Holland, during sach
tine as that trade shall be open to A neri.
Ga. IL appears TO MS, however, tina. the
relief will D.. very short OF what could be
wished, because the Americans must have
great advantage ia a direct intercourse
FOR colonial prodscc, sc. bus we are not
aw are thac MIA more could by any pos,i-
bility be dom, und-r the distressing cir.
Gu n stances in which this country is placed,
oy wat II IL Iatey occurred IN America,
And here we cannot help lamenting, and
indeed pltyug, the embarrassment into
whica his Majssty's Minister'S have been
drawn by our Mnister-Indeed this is no,
the sole instance in whtch they have been !
made TO suffer, not for their own miscon. |
duct, but the misconduct of Others We
mast say, that wheE We firsS read the Cores
pondeocs between Mr.. ERsKINK and
SIXTH, we were astDnished not that the |
dry, special pleading, and sufficiently i'm.
pertInsn. style of Mr.. SNIra's Letters
surprised u', who have been accustomed 70 |
American Diplomacy but we were aston. |
ished, first, at the terns of the offer made |
with res rect to the Chesz1eake, and ofthe |
abruptne,s and the h istc in which the ar
range ncnS Is proposed aud concluded |
" We orfrr to restore the men, forcibly tax
en out OF the ChestheGke; could we do this |
consizt 'n,y not Oi,y with our honour, ont |
sltn the conStI;uti,n and Law! What.
ever error there might have beenin tak,n, |
t1e me0 from tie CIesghedke, land we de. |
clare W. never saw any, bat on the con- !
trary, hishiy approved Ut the act,) we as
certained that they we're British subjects.
--Cdn We therefore surrender our sub.
JecJs, wa have right ~ the protection of |
Dur Laws, 10 the Gavernmsnt of foreign |
r'Wsrf Can W. strip them OF their British !
claims Gan We distraBchise them? Ma,
W. clnnot do It, with any regard, not o1ly |
ton OF these realms-1esides, there is ano.
ther inpsdiBcnt To the giving back the |
men taken olt OF the Cbcsaheake-One or
two OF them were tried, proved TO nave |
been British SUBJECTS, found guilty of deser- |
t,on, And hung. fnore is another aoint
worthy Of CONFEDERATION I'VE agree to do a |
certain act agreeable 70 America, because |
we are informed that she mas 4" evinccd an !
Intention Of passing certain laws w1ich |
would place the relations OF Great Britain
vita the United states u2on an equal foo,.
ioS with the other beiligerent Powers. -
Tue A"ericln government, in dry and [
not very clear .Olnaer, tells us that" th,s
cluattY - a resdit incident to a state Of
thugs, growing out Of the distinct consider.
'tt'ps' Fnis state nent we should have
tnoi sht would have called forta fro n Mr..
l'RSEINE sOnc cOE nent or o6servation -
Il app 'Frs however To have been passed D.
yer sue s5!eHf,o.--As 20 the Nom Intercourse
Act, enc passing otit might afford US salts.
faction ~ as far rs it rsaderesl the treat
'nent ct Sredt Britain and France equal [
but how an act which forbade all inter-
Course vita us, which put An end TO all re-
lAtions OF Ills MAJESTY with the Cal;ed