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

ton, those reasons were very fully and
forclbly stated and If he has not
transmitted them to YOU, 1 can only
attribute it to the peculiar delcacy
and embarrassment Of his situation,
tor which ne probably trusted TO the
Presidents goodness TO make SO ne
allowance and he might the more
reasonably be led to that reliance on it,
as full and ample communication
was also made upon the subject bv
His M jesty's Secretary of State fer
Foreign Affairs 10 Mr.. Pinkney, to
whom the whole of Mr.. Erskine's o.
riSinal instructions was read, and who,
1t was natural to suppose, would con-
Vey to his government SO much infor-
nation upon very momeRtous occa-
sion, as would relieve Mr.. Erskine
from the necessity of rnteri into mi
mute details of the understanding
that had occurred. At all events, no
complaint can be substantiat=d against
Ills Majesty's government on this
score, seeing that they not only instruc-
ted the Minister who had made the
d.savowed arrangement as to the mo.
tives which occasioncd the disavowal,
but ais with Frlnkuess, promptitude,
and most scrupulous regard to natl
.onai honor, gave notice to the = nerI-
can Minister In London Of the disa-
vowal, of the motives OF it, an i of the
precautions spontaneously taken by
His Majesty to prevent any loss or in
jury accruing to the citizens ofthe u
nited States from reliance IN any a
greement, however unauthorized,
made in his majesty IS name, The mere
allusion to this latter circumstance
dispenses me from farther noticing
the effects which you describe as be-
ing produced upon the United States
by the circumstances of thisagree nent.
How far they are irrevocsble 1t is not
for me to determine-but the word ir-
yepayq6le seems to imply that a loss
had been sustained on the occasioned
by the public or by individuals OF
of this country. So far as HIS Males
ty could be by possibility supposed
answerable for su-h an eventual loss,
he has, as l have before stated, taxed
the utmost precauuoh to avert it.
AS to the expectation entertained here,
that the explanation of His Majesty's snare
in TINS transaction should be made through
me, IN sht con ent myself with Simply
observing, that was not provided with IN
structons To that effect, because 1t was
knOwn mat tn explanat on,in Ques ,on had
already been given. But It eccofds VITA
the sentiments OF ms majesty towards this
country TO observe also, thATne considered,
thai as sOme time must necessarily elapse
between my appointment and my entrance
on ne du,es of my Ministry, il would be a
more trieadiy mode OF proceeding 10 state
w.tAoet delay, and through the channels
have already mentioned, The motives that
compelled His Majesty TO dIsavoW the "a
greemeot, than to leave the American go.
yernmenJ ~ uAcsrtaIIIy IN these respects.
tiii tRe unavoilably protracted period OF
my aTrVailn America. say this n regard
to the orig nal notification OF His Majssty's
DISCRIMINATION, and OF the motives OF It,
WI On being already made, IL could not be
supposed in London THAI repetition of
them would be eXpeSted from me and of
course no such Case mas been foresrsn IN my
instructions. but If, beyond this any Incl.
dental explanation or discussion should be
wished Tor by this government, came fully
prepared SO Iuter into them, / even con-
sider them To- nave taken place between us.
/ have certainly derived great Satisfaction
from the seVeraf hours, which we have spent
in conference upon these suBjec,s, because
they have enabled me to remove some mis-
understandings, and to refule many msre-
/ presentations; which you yourself informed
me of, IN regard to the conduct OF the Bri.
fish government. consider such mutual
explanations as highly benehci i TO right
, understanding Of the views and interests OF
/ the two couh. ries, and shou with much
{ pleasure n W renewed theni. if you mad
not informed me that the President mad been
pleased to prescribe another AMI different
mode Of conducting our negotiation
will nevertheless avail myself Of that
/ mode which he still permits TO repeat TO YOU
! that HIS Majesty has authorised me, not +.
/ outstanding the ungracious manner IN
win ch his former Offer of satisfaction for The
affair of the Chesapeake was received, 70
| renew that which Mr. Ersk ne was ins.r rue.
| ted to make. Xau have said that you 50
| fully understood the particulars Of that Of.
/ fer, that deem II unnecessary TO rec tpitu.
late them here; l regrei that, since they
were so clearly understood by you, you