The Delaware gazette. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1809-1810, 1809-12-06
DOCUMENTS,
1Fhich accompanied The Message Of the President
Of the UaHtd States.
Mr.. Jackson to Mr.. Smith.
Washington, liM October, IL

Washington, llM October, 1909.
SIM have had the horror of receiving your
official letter Of the 9th inst towards the close
of which you inform me, that il has beer
thought cxpedient to put an end TO all verbal
communication between yourself and me, IN
discussing the important objects Of my mission.
Considering that very few days have elapsed
vince delivered to the prcs!den; crcdentia let
Ter from the king my master, and that nothing
has even been alledged to have occurred, to de-
,rvc me OF the facility Of access, and OF the
credit to which, according to immcmorlal usage,
by tiat letter entitled, hsli-y- there does
not exist in the annas of diplomacy precedent
for such determination between two ministers,
who have met Tor the avowad purpose of termi-
mating amicably the existing differences between
their respective countries: but. after mature re-
lection, am Induced to acqulesce in it by the
recollection Of the time that must necessarily
elapse before ! can receive his majesty's COM
rnands upon so unexpected an occurrence, and
Of the detriment that would ensue to the public
service, If my ministerial functions were, in the
interval, to be altogether suspended. shall
therefore content myself with entering my pro-
test against proceeding which ran consider
III no other light, than violation, in my per-
son, of the most essential rights of public mi
mister when adopted, as in the present case, with
out any aicdged misconduct on his part. As
matter of opinion, cannot. own, assent to
the preference which you give to written over,
verbal intercourse for the purpose of mutual ex-
PLANTATION aud accommod ton. have thought
it due to the public character with which have
the honor to be invested, and to the con hdcnce
which. his majesty has been most graciously
pleased to reposc in me- to state to you nnrescr-
vedly my sentiments on this point. shall now
proceed to the other parts of your letter, and
apply to them the hes. consideration that can
arise from zeal proporioned TO the increase of
difficulty thus thrown in the way of the rcs.cra-
tion of a thorough good understanding between
our respective countries.
You state, sir, very truly, that an arrange
men, had been made between you and Mr.
Erskine, and that his maj sty had thought pro-
per to disavow that arrangement.
| have, here in the outset, to rsgret the loss
of the advantage Of verbal Intercourse with
you, as shonid have avai'ea myself Of it to
enquire whether by your statement, it We're
your intention to complain of the disayowa it.
self or 1, tota! want Of explanation OF it, or
Of the circumstance 81 that explanation nst
having been made through me. observe that
in the records Of this mission there is no trace
OF complaint, on the part Of the United States,
Of his majesty having dlsavowcd the act of his
minister. You have noti1 the conference. we
have hitherto held, distinctly announced any
such complaint, and | have seen, with plea
sure, III this forbearance, on your part, an in
stance of that candor, which Doubt not will
prevail in ali our communications, IN as much
as you'd could not but have thought il unreal
sonahe TO complain Of the disayowai OF an act,
4 dane under such circumstances. as could on,n
lead 10 the consequences that have actually fol-
| lowed
II WAS not known when left England, whe-
Ehe9 III, h.fss,nc had, according 10 the Liberty