Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-05

StriCuoAS ~ relation TO SreaI krttaln,
III the event of a revocation of the or
ders in council. But that state OF
things so far as 1T related TO France
was 20 result from ostr oJcR laos known
or anticipated by your government
when they authorised an arrangement
and It was not proposed by us that the
continuance OF the non-intercours {
with France should be made a conditi-
on OF that arrangement. Whilst on
that subject, | will add an observation,
though perhaps notimmediately connec-
ted with the object of this letter. l
think that the object of tint propositi-
on, so far as it agreed with your pre-
vious understanding of the intentions
OF this government, has been substan-
TALLY carried into effect on our part.
1t is true that your government might
at the date of the instructions have ex-
pected from the incipient proceedings
Of Congress, that Holland would be
embraced by the restrictive laws oil the
United States. Not only however
was the omission nominal, since A,ne-
rican vessels were at the time by the
DEGREES of that country refused admis-
sion into its ports but under the same
construction of our laws by which the
commercial intercourse with Holland
was permitted, that with Portugal was
also considered as legal in the event 81
that country being occupied by British
troops Ia the name of the Prince Re
gent.
1t is therefore principally as respects
the second condition which relates To
the colonial trade, that erroneous ins
ferences might be drawn from the ex-
, prcssions used in Mr.. Canning's in
structions- Although the subject must
! have been mentioned here incldentallv,
and only in transient manner
as it is one 70 which l had paid part,
cular attention, and en- which my ops
Mon had never varied, thiak that
can state with precision in what view.
! have aerays considered !, and mus,
have alluded 70 it.
! ! never could have given couutc-
nance to an opinion that the United
States would agree, or that it wouia
be proper to MAKE any arrangemcn;
whatever respecting the colonial trade,
a condition Of The revocation Of the
orders in council. The two subiecte
Were altogether uncoanecsed, and ar.
confident that such proposition was
never suggested either By You, or bv
amy member of this administration
Such an arrangement could be Effected
eniy by treaty and il is with consi-
derahle degree Of surprise that l see
your government now asking not only
resistance to the French DEGREES, but
the Abandonment of branch Of oug
commerce, as the price of the rtvoca
ton OF the orders in council. This
seems to give a new character TIC q mea
sure which had heretofore been repre-
| sented as an act of retaliation reluctant.
| ly adopted, and had been defended
solely on the ground Of supposed ac-
quIescence on the part of the United
States in the injurious DEGREES Of apo-
Their nation.
2. In the event of treaty embra
cling all the points in dispute, and par
tlcular!y that of impressments, without
which / trustno treaty will ever take
place, it was my opinion, and l may
certainly have expressed it, that if the
other subjects Of difference were arran-
ged t,;at respecting the colonial trade
would be easily adjusted. had con-
sidered the principles recognized in a
former. correspondence, between Lord
Hawksbury and Mr.. King on the sub
ject of the colonial trade, and subse-
quently again adopted in the treaty ne
gociated by Messrs. Muproe and Pink
ney, as general basis agreed on un-
der different administrations, by both
governments, from which neither could
now recede, and susceptible only ofmo-
Obligation as to details. The instructi-
ons to our ministers in London on that
subject had also been published & were
known to your government. thore-
fore believed that the United States,
IN the event OF treaty, would still be
disposed to wave Cor the present, in the
manner and on the terms contemplated