The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-08-15
; WASHINGTON AUGUST 9.

WAsHINGToN August 9.
There will be found in our preceding CO.
lumnsa short debate in tho British House of
Commons on n call for further parts of the
correspondence between Mr.. Canning and
Mr. Erskine, from which it appears that
Mr. Canning has resisted their production
on the ground OF prejudicing pending ne
gociation, with what color of justice we leave
1t to the reader to determine. Until such
stronger light IS she'd on the subject. we
must continue to believe thar Mr. Erskine
has been, either formally or verbally, au,ho-
rised 70 make the propositions submitted by
nm to our government. We partially IS
signed our reasons fer thi, belief before the
appearance OF the note of Mr.. Canning tn
hin. This note, FROM the astonishing COM
pteS;ion Of its contents, strengthens our first
Impression. 49, ~
f. lis date naturally gives rise to the snspi-
cion that some other instruction, formal or
verbal, ensued, above twenty days having G.
lapsed between its date and the departure
of Mr. Oakley for this country. =
1t does not, as usual, Recognise Mr.. Oak :
ley as its bearer, thence strengthening the
inference that subsequent Instructions were
penned, Of which he was the bearer :,
It does explicitly recognize instructions
heretofore given. Why are these within ED
= lt contains no illusions TO the affair OF the
Chesapeake, which from the strain Of Mr.
Erskine's correspondence with the Secretary
CT State, made so important a feature, if not
indispensable preliminary TO the propositions
relative TO the revocation of the Orders in
Council i, g :,.-i. go,
ltcontains allegations which we believe to
be totally unfounded. 1t ascribes 70 Mr. Ma
Olson, Mr. Gallatin and Mr. Smith, or the
authority OF MIR. Erskine, the declaration
that the American government were pre-
pared to .'renouDce during the present war
the CARRYING on all trade with the enemy's
colonies from which she was excluded during
peace" principal for which Mr.. Madison
as Secretary of State. had strenuously con
tended, as strictly confornable to the law of
nations. and all important to the Ameri
can merchant. We do not believe that the
members OF the cabinet named ever authori-
scd Mr. Ersklne to make this assurance to his
government. And as Mr. Canning has al
ready, IN memorable instance, been con-
victed OF misreprescnting the declarations of
our government, we must, until a full disclo
sure OF the correspondence is made, ascribe
THIS misrepresentation to him. The other
assurance, SAID to have been derived from
Nh flnkney. that his government would a
gree to authorize the capture bv British CRUZ
sei's of all American vessels trading with
France, & the powers adopting& actingun-
der the French DEGREES, is alike incredible
We do not believe thatRlr. Pinknev ever gave
it we do not believe his governm ent autho-
rised it; we do not Believe the American ma
ton would have acquiesced in it if it had But
to what rational motive can we absCribe this
allegation of Mr.. Canning, supposing MFRS
kline not to have authorised it. To the same
motive we reply, that prompted Mr.. Canning
solelnniy to declare, on the floor of Parliament
that Cur government had not offered to re-
move the embargo so far as it affected En-
gland on her revoking her orders, when. in
truth, the offer had been long since made
to the same motive that prompted the more
recent publication in this country of his eel
eorated letter to MIR Pinkney, without pub
fishing the reply both Of which steps had
the effect for a time of fagrantly misrepre
senting the opinions and conduct of our gov
eminent. As in these two instances, so in
that now under notice, MIR. Canning has call
cuiaied upon Installing into the minds of the
American people suspICions of the virtue or
hrmness OF those who administer their affairs;
and certainly nothing could more admirably
subserve this purpose than the general be-
lief that Messrs Madison, Gallatin, Smith. |
and Pinkney made the propositions imputed
TO them.
MIR. Canning no where expressly declares
that this note was the whole instruction Ell
W" w A'i' even IeldllVc To the or
ders i'll council. He says. "you are at IL
berty to communicate his diShatch in extenso
to the American Secretary of State" For
what purpose Doubtless TO obtain, if in.
Uored by circumstances, a recognition of the
three stipuations made essential conditions
OF the revocation of the orders. A govern
ment so constantly in the habit of Welding to
circumstances as that of Great Britain, en-
tertained hope that events in this country
would arise that might lead orr government
to yield even to those humllating terms.
heir friends here, no doubt, advised them,
that our people were on the eve of rebellion.
and their government on the brink Of dsso
luton 1t was judged that no price would
be deemed too great that should avert these
awful calamites. Under this state of things.
Mr.. Erskine was authorised to communicate
This dispatch to the Secretary of State. Did
he communicate 1t! No. Why! Because diff
terent state of things existed from that it CON
templated state of things which, he must
have well known, would have rendered its
presentation in the highest degree insulting
state OF things, which justified his acting
under some other dispatch, framed to meet
different events--evcnts which manifested
the triumph OF principle and the abortion of
British hopes in this country. " For his |
hurhoSe," says Mr.. G.. " you are at liberty |
to communicate this dispatch" What pur-
poser To obtain distinct and official recog-
milton of the above degrading conditions
from the American government. Well, if
ms HurHoSe could have been answered by
communicating this dispatch, Mr.. Erskine
WOull have tp1 HE ,,,t t,.,,,