Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-18
P.1LApEl,.tA. August IL.

for his residence in Orange
county yesterday, (Frday) the secretary of
state and secretary of the treasury, were ID
remain two or three days; the secretary Of
the navy goes to Souta Carol'na, and The
secretary at war, for Boston.
The members of the executive govern. |
ment have had several conferences with |
the ministers Of the henigsrents, during I
their recent meeting Mt Washington.
Mr.. Erskine we eau now, say with full
and perfect confidence, WIS, as we were the
srst to predict, sacrlScei ny the perhiv of
his own government ; and whenevef ,t comes
before the British people, (for 70 talk OF
parliament would be ridiculous y il vill b.
found that Mr.. Erskine acted wi-h fideIirv
TO his country and his Instructions, which
do him honor as a man, and credit IS a MI
mister.
We can further undertake to state pos.
itivey, that not only n we Mr.. Erskine's
authorised engagements been broken with
perthy but such faishood has been en-
p'oyed Ivy Mr.. Canning In open parliament,
and in the documents published as would
disgrace mountcbank AT Bartholomew
| fair.
Messrs. Madison, Smith and Galatin,
have been made by Mr.. Canning, to say not
only what they never said to Mr. Erskine
but what even Mr.. Erskine never accused
them of Mr.. Canning did require of Mr..
Erskinc to make such propositions, but
knowing with what indignant feelings they
would have been spurned at, he never did
| osfer or suggest them to the secretary of
state, nor to any other member OF the CO.
vernment /; and further, we can say with
the same confidence, that MIR. Erskine was
not directed to exhibit his Instructions to
our government he was feft at liberty to
exhibit them if he chose but he knew full
well that they contained matter so offensive
from their faishood SD offensive from their
insolence; so insulting from their manner
and matter, that their exhibition would at
once close discussion.
| We can still further say, that the arti-
Gle published as the instructions, is not
only imperfect. by humiliation but I'M.
perfect as being separated from otlIer in
siructions. Aurora.
| II has often been truly said, that very of.
| ten, what we regret as an evil proves to be
great good. Such in the end will be the
rejection by the British government of the
engagement made by its Minister Erskine,
with the executive of the United States,
for the restoration of harmony and friendly
intercourse between the two countries.
| The readiness with which our executive
accepted the proposals, has Obtained the ap-
plause OF even the enemies of the govern
ment; although it engaged the British 60.
lvcrnme mt, TO nothngmo than TO cease from
the pl1uder of our property put afioat nv
our merchants, pursuing neutral, lawful
and honest commerce. After so many years
of wanton wrong against US the generosity
and fairness of our dispositions would not
,permit us still to d ,ubt the fu6lmenl Of so
reasonable an engagement, and we fulalled
every part of the engagement stipulated on
our part even. by anticipation I'VE did
more, we restored property that might le-
lgaliy and justly have been forteited, for
offending against a law then n-force. The
little which we required, and the readi-
ness with which we accepted the British
Offer, and fulfilled our part of the agreer
ment, led the other bslligerent TO suspect
our government to be either secretly
Ileagaed with England or hostilely inclined
towards her, and perhaps il would have
been a difficult matter to have removed
that suspicion, had not the blind infatsa,ion
that has preciptated her TO the verge of
ruin, and the want of good faith on the
! part OF the Brush came TO remove ii o.
therwise our sincere efforts to preserve
peace, wonld probably have involved US in
war against all the powers of Europe, a.
gainst the law of nations, and against the
freedom of the seas, eventually against our
own liberties
The i'll conduct ofthe British government
has had another effect, we may fairly call
1t good eject it has released the minds
of many good citizens from doubts and sus.
! PIGEONS which great pains had been taken
to impress upon them-it had been inculca-
ted by several presses and by private dis.
| courses, that our government was not dis
| posed to make an amicable arrangement
with Great Britain; that on the contra py
. Britain had made repeated offers to do
| more than was required by Mr.. Erskine's
engagement, aud that it had been refused by
Mr.. Jefferson.
The veil of deception is now removed,
and the whole visage of imposture is dis.
tinct'y seen by all, particularly by large
body among whom are some Of our most res.
pectable citizens, men whose principles,
when strictly adhered to, forbid their TAX.
ing an active part in pohtics-men who
having, perhaps unavoidable prejudces, un-
der their circumstances, were rather dis.
posed TO look with indulgence towards the
British government, and indisposed towards
the American administration men who,
nnder the persuasion that peace was not