Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-01-24

: With the highest consideration,
Sir, your most obed't servt.
WIN. PINKNEY. :
The Right Hon. Geo. Canning, &c. &c.
LONDON, Oct. IL, 1908.
have the honor to transmit enclosed
a copy of my reply to Mr.. Cauning's letter
20 me, of the 23d of last mouth, accompa-
'nying his official answer of the same date to
my note of the 23d of August.
have the honor to be, with the highest
SIR, your most obedient
humble servant,
WIN. PINKNEY.
Hon. James Madison, sc. sSc.
TO MR.. CANNING.
GRrAr CUMBERLAND PLACE,
Oct. 10, 1903
Sir,
If my reply to the letter, which you
did me the honor to address to me on the
23d of last month, should be of greater
ength than the occasion may be thought to
r. quire, you will, am sure, impute il to it's
real cause, an earnest desire on my part,
arising from feeling of sincere respect
for you, that the statement, which am to
give OF facts deemed by you to be impor-
tant, should be full as well as accurate.
will not fatigue yeu, sir, with assuran-
ces that no person could be less disposed
than am, to find fault with the object of
your letter, which appears to be to guard
against all misrepresentation of I" what has
passed in our last interviews beyond wha,
you fad recorded in my note" You have
told me, that l have, personally, no con-
Germ in THAI object, and did not requir.
TO be told that my government has as little.
understand, indeed. that the circum-
stance, which has suggested a peculiar mo
tive tor tins proceeding, was one of those
newspaper misrepresentation, which eve
ry day produces where the press is free,
which find no credit and beget no consc-
quence, and for which it is greatly to be
feared your expedient will provide no re-
medy. OF my Conduct, when that eircum-
stance occurred, in giving you unsolicl ted
proofs that had transmitted TO Mr.. Secre-
tary Madison. faithful report of our con
ferences, mistaken by pubic runor or pr
vate conjecture, it is not necessary for me TO
speak; Tor you have yourself done justice
TO IL.
The motive, to which am indebted for
the honor of your letter, appears to have
been instrumental in producing another
effect equally unexceptionable. But you
VIII allow me to say, that, until the receipt
OF that letter, had not been appraised, by
the slightest intImation, that il was in any
degree owing to such cause that you de-
clined, on the part OF his majestv's govern.
ment, after two Conferences in which had
been suffered, if not encouraged, to unfold
myself, individually as well as officially, at
great length and with perfect frankness, to
give an answer to my verbal overture.
AT our first interview ION the 29th of
June) verbal Communication was not dis
countenanced, but commended For, af-
ter had made myself understood as to the
purpose for which the interview had been
requested, you asked me il thought of ia
king a more formal course, but Immediate
ly added that you presumed did not for
that the course had adopted was well
suited to the occasion. MY reply was in
substance, tina the freedom of Conversation
was better adapted to our subject, and
more likely to conduct us to AN advantages
Gus conclusion, than the constraint and for
mality OF written intercourse, and that I
had not intended to present a note. At
the second Interview ION the 22d of JULY
II did not occur to- me that had any rea-
son TO conclude, and certainly I did not
conclude, that verbal communication had
not continued to be acceptable as a preps-
ratory course; and It was not until the
tnlrd interview ION the 10Th of Juiyl that
" was rejected AS inadmissible. Blu; even
then was not told, and had not the smallest,
suspicion, that this rejection WAS to be as
crlbed, either wholly or partially, 70 the
motive which your letter has since announ.
ced to me. That this motive had, never
theless, all the inAsence now imputed
to IT, L am entirely confident, and take
notice OF il only because, as have not men.
toned IT TO my government in my official
account OF our conferences, / can no other
wise justify the omission, either to il or to
you, than by shelving that had in truth
no knowledge of the fact when that account
was transmitted.
may take occasion TO set firth, in the
present letter, the import of all that can be
material OF our several conversations, &C.
cordng to my recollection OF them but
there are some points to which ought to