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


i have the honor TO be,
win the highest consideration,
5r,
your obi. humble servant.
WM: PiNKNEY.
The Hon. James Madison,
sc, sc. &c.
LONDON, Dec. ,, 1893.
have the honor to send enclosed, a
copy of MY reply to Mr.. Cummings letter
to me ofthe odd uit. a copy of tue letter,
e. which it is IN answer, was transmitted
few days since by the British Packet,
and duplicate has been sent to Liver"
pool.
The Union is no, yet arrived from France,
and We have no Intelligence of her.
have the honor to be,
with the highest consideration,
Sir,
ycur most obi. humble sers't.
VIM: PlNKNEY.
The Hon. James Madison.
FOREIGN OFFICE,
November 22d, 1908.
SIR.
Iregret exceedingly that an unusual
and un'ntermitting pressure OF Official bu-
siness has prevented me from hnding an
carliel opportunity to reply to your letter
of the 10Th of last month.
TIE observations which | have To offer
upen some parts Of hat letter are not, in
deed of such nature, IS to make 4 matter
of auv great importance whether you re
ceiye them week sooner or later, as they
refer less to any point of public 'nteres to
..t,ts fhan a
sed personally between ourselves.
But I should have been much mort fed
IL Won could have been led TO believe ne
d. ficieat in attention TO you; the manner.
As well as the substance, Of the conmuni-
eatIcn which j haSe had the honor to re"
ceiye from you, emitting 1t 10 the most
prompt and candid consideration.
Your understanding Q. the motives, VIII
induced me to accom- aEy my official NOE,
of the I'd September, with my letter o. the
same da q, IS so far imperfect, as that you
seem 10 imagine that the wish 10 guard a.
rainst Misrepresentation WAS ;lie only mo-
tive which induced me 20 wrie that letter :;
and thar, from that motive alone, L shouiI,
in any case, have tToubieO you with i,
Whereas, I must have expressed myself
very incorrectly indeed, If did not con
vev 70 you the assu-aiice, thar, II what mad
passed between US IN conversation had not
been referred 70 by you in your official let
fer of the esd Of August, certainly should
not have thought 1T necessary or proper
10 Dreservc any written record oi your Vcr-
bal communications, which understood
al the time to be confidential; and which
T certainly was so fa- from attempting 10
g circumference" that have no doub,
hut what expressed myself las you say }
didO in favor Of "thc course which you a"
douted as well suited to the occasion" But
vnn state. st the same time, most correctly,
that il was as preparatory" course
thar / understood and encouraged THIS
verbal aud CONFIDENTIAL communication. i
never did, or could understand i rs being
intended to supercede or supply, the place
of an official overture. ! never d'i nor
could suppose that the overture OF your go
vernment and the answer OF The Brush go
yernment U it, we're intended tobe entrns-
,ed solely 10 our recolections According
w. when the period arrived az sch you
sppeared TO be prepared to bring forward
AN o&cial proposal, did, 40 aenot express
my expectation thai l Should receive that
proposal in writing.
Il is highly probable that did not, (as
YOU say did not) assign 10 you, as the mo
live of the wish which then expressed
nv nermasion that written commune
cstions are less liable to mistake than yer
hi eues. because that consideration issuf
ee,cntly obvious, and because the wnoie
course and practice is in that respect, so
e1f,,lished and inyar'able that ! really
eould not have supposed that the asst. -
mont Of any specric motive to be neeessa-
~ 10 account for my requiring a written
statemsnt of yonr proposals previous TO my
returning an official answer to them.
had taken for granted all along that
u.n would, and such must be, The ultimate