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

(A.)
Extract of letter from MIR Pinkney 10
MrCanning, dated London, October 10
1903.
AT our FIRST interview, on the 2o;h
June, verbal communication was not DIS.
countenanced. but commended For, al.
ter had made myself understood as to
the purpose tor which ,hs IN erview had
been requested, you asked me i( l hough,
OF taking more forraRi COZ sc bu. i'm
mediately added that you presumed did
not, Tor that tn caUrs- | had adoo ed va,
we'll suited 20 the occasion Ny reply
was in subs'aHce, thu, he f., ed0ra 1f con-
Versa,ion was betteF pdapted O our SUB.
Jeel and more likely 10 conducl us 10 an
advantageous conclusion, Than he con
STRAND & toimaity of written in ercourse
and ha. had not intended TO preaent
note. At the srcond interview, on the %
July, 1t did not occur 10 m hat had an
reason 10 conclude, and certainly did no
conclude that verbal communication had
not continued to be acceptable AS a prepa
ratory course, * it was nnl until the third
interview, Oh tn 29h July, that it was
rejected as inadmisshle,"
(B.)
EXTRACT.
From Mr.. Gaming 10 dfr Pinkney.
dated NV. %, 1903.
"Itis highly probable tnat did not
(asyon say [ did noD assignto you rs
the motive ofthe wish which then ex-
pressed, my persuation, that written
communications are less liable to mis-
take than verbal ones because that
consideration is sufficiently obvious,
and because the whole comrse and
practice of Office is, in that respect SO
established and invariable, that real
iy could not have supposed the assign
ment OF any specific motive to be ne
cessary to account Coz my requiring
a written statement cf your proposals
previous to my returning an OFFICIAL
answer 10 ;hem.
" l had taken for granted ali along
that such would, and such mus, be the
ultimate proceeding on your part
however you might wish to prepare
the way for it by preliminary CONVEX,
sations."
Extract of a letter from Mr.. Erskine
TO Mr.. Smith, dated Washington,
July 3ist, 1909.
g Neither the present time nor the
occasion viii afford me favorable CD
portunity for explaining to you the
grounds and reasons upon which I
conceived had conformed to his ma
jesty's wishes; and to the spirit, at
least, of my Instructions upon that
subject, nor indeed would any vindi
cation of my conduct Cwhatever may
have to oHer} be OF any Importance
further than as it might tend TO shew,
that no intention existed on my part to
practice any deception eowards the go-
yerqmenr of the United States"
From the same TO the same, dated Au-
gust 14th, 1909.
" Under these circumstances. there.
fore, finding that could nor obtain
the recognttions specified in Mr. Can
ming, despatch Of the 23d of January.
which formed but orc part of his in
srructions 10 me, in the formal man
ner required, considered that it
would be in vain to lay before the go
sernment of the United Stages the
despatch in question, which / was a,
lioerty to have done in extsnso, had |
thought proper. But as l had such
strong grounds for believing that the |
object Of his maiesty's government
could be attained, though in differ. |
ent manner, and the spirit, at least, of |
my several letters Of Instruct on be I
fully complied with, felta tho !
rough conviction upon nav mlad that [ |
should be acting IN conformity with |
his maJesty's wishes and accordingly !
concluded the late provisional agree
nent on his majesty's behalf with the |
government OF the Dotted States.
The disaYowal by his majesty is !
painful proof to me that / had formed !
Ia erroneous Judgment ofhis maiest, 3
Jews and the intention of NJ instrnc.
ionsj and / have most severcly to la
nent that an act of rhine though unin-
en'ionally should produce any en-