Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-03

.ras we contend it to have been) orr.
ginally just, that system win be JUST.
iablv continued in force, not SO long
only as the DEGREES which produced it
are nischievously operative, but until
hey are unequivocally abandoned.
And if it be thus consistent with
Justice to persevere in that system, il
is surely no mean motive Of policy for
perseverance, that premature depar-
ture from it, while the enemy's O.
ginal provoca,ion remains unrepealed,
might lead to false conclusions, as to
the efficacy of the DEGREES of France,
and might hold out a dangerous temp
tation to that power to resort to the
same system on any future occasion :
A result which, not Great Britain
alone, but all commercial nations are
deeply interested in preventing.
have now, sir, only to express my
sense ofthe candor and liberality with
which this discussion has been con-
Quoted on our part, and my acknow-
Judgments for the justice which you
render to my disposition to treat you
at all times with reciprocal respect.
and to listen to you with the attention,
TO which personally as well as officially
you have every claim.
cannot forego the hope that it may
yet fall to our lot to be instrumental
IN the renewal of that understanding
between our two governments, which
is as congenial to the feelings, as it is
essential to the interests, of both coun-
tries; which nothing but the forced
and unnatural STATE of the world could
have interrupted and which there
Is, on the part of the British govern
ment, the most anxious and undated
desire to restore.
| have the honor to be,
with the highest consolidation,
Sir,
your most obedien humble
servant
GEORGE CANNING.
William Pinkney, esq, &c. &c. &c.
GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE,
November %, 1908.
have had the honor to receive YOUR
letter of the ED inst. and to transmit
copy of it to my government.
Without desiring to protract dis.
cussion In the conduct of which neither.
your sincerity nor mine, will, ] feel
assured, be doubted by any one, l may
De permitted to say, that the authority
under which / acted in our late COM
munications, was not contingent, as you
now appear to conjecture and that the
remark, contained in my letter of the
10th OF October, E" that the provisional
nature of my offer, to make M propos-
al In writing, arose out of circum-
stances" will be found explained in
the same letter, by passages which i'm
mediately follow the remark.
have said in my letter OF the 10Th
of October, that" / had NO prec;se
instructions as to the manner q CON
Quoting and illustrating the subject"
conhded to my management bup Won
VIII suffer me TO enter my friendly pro-
test against all suppositions that" the
manner, the time and the conditions
OFT the overture were left to my own dis
cretion," that, had the power nearl,
absolute over it, or that it was in 2
great measure of my own suggestion y
will tronblc you no further. sir.
on this OCCASION than to assure YOU that
nothing could give me more sincere
pleasure than to see fulfilled the hope
which on express, that it may vet fall
to our lot TO be Instrumental i'm the re-
newal ola Notwithstanding between
our two governments.
have the honor to be,
Wi h the highest consideration, &c.
(Signed,)
VIM. PINKNEY.
The Right Honorable
George Canning, &c. &c.
The said message and the papers
transmitted Herewith were read and
ordered tn lie on Tho .,LI