Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-12-30

4 letter the next wee X ~ the British MIN
Ter plyniipQts ptiary. The letter was sha. Any,.
but very ineligible. Gentlemen are !,
questsd 10 attend 70 the whole. Il
81 ~pHILA paLpurA Dec, IL, 1871 4
'"Jir. Ts,9c,yon, sssrrrstary Of stat., to ID,
Ilasimsnd, Aliaistrr Penifoteal;a,y +
Great Britain.
I" SIR, M s e..s@ I
-. have laid before the preaide,, J,
the United States the letters of Nov. sns
and December 9Th, with which you hcn ~
ed me ]; and in consequence thereof al
particularly Of that part Of vsur letter =
Dec. 6th. where you saytha. you are ius. ~,
authorised 10 enter MO negotiation II.
tie purpose D! arranging ithe ,omlnsfei
intercourse betwera The ,wo coua,ri5, /
have the honorsto irfta, yo,. that am j
dy to receive communication Of yoaf ii
powers for that purpose, at any time va
shall think propsr, .aadto proceed innn,J,a
ately to their Object.
Z" / have, SC.
ssIH JEFFERSON
Such was the principle and such the s,1.
Of diplomatic propriety under the admins.
sration Of president Washington. Ii,
British nir~tsr .plenipo,en,iary re.u,u,i
an answer the following day. I will real
every part of it as fini il, tha, sen,lcmD
may Judge on q fair view OF the whole.
"PAILApEApHrA, Dec. IA, 17si. !
" Nr. HanNoad. Minister Psen;bstcntiav
erGrrat Brita's, to M. JeEsrssu, Sc.
er"ary q State.
T." SIR,
I" In answer to your letter of ycslsr.
dav. can only repeat what l have bcis:
statrd in nv first conversations with wa
after my arrival and subsequently, in ny
letter of the 9th Of this month viz; ,n
| have no special commission empowering
me TO cancMde. any MJHlifie arrangrmsm
upon the subject o! thu commercial inter.
course between Great Britain and the l..
States. But that ! conceive mysyIf GuIy
competent to enter into negotiation with
this government, Tor that purpose, in Ii.
discussion Of the principles which m
serve no the basis and constitute the apy
lations Of my such drGnlive arrangrmtu,
/" This opinion OF my eompeIrnCy ID
founded upon my instructions inasmugG ~ /
they are 60 regulate WY personal conduct
aud upon the conviction that the C,,sy u
credcnce from his majesty investay m,
with n general brm;potratiary charae,tt,
which | had The honor OF presenting 70 lht
President of the United States, and N,Y I
consequent recognition Of mo IN thu, cha.
raster, are authorities decidedly adequanb
to the commencement Of a preliminary ne
goeia,ion.
/ have he honor to be,
With sentiments Of great respect,
Sir, your most obediens and NOS
humble servant
GEO: HAMMOND" Z
The course Of correspondence had non
shewn, that the British minister plenipoes
tia'y believed himself fully authorised TO az
as ncsociator, because he had presented Bis 4
letter of crcdencc TO the President o. the !,
States and been received accordingly, and
because too he had instructions to regulate
his personal conduct, but which he did NOT
shink proper 10 communicate, and whichh
does not appear TO be at liberty to comma'
nic:tc to the American government
If the letter Of credence could be regahfI
ed as aulhorising the negotiation, it hada n
ready been presented to the President III
the United States. That this did not con-
stitute the competent authority, therefore,
must have been decided by the Presldsn4 81
beyond controversy, at the date of the l.'
ter which invited the British minister pie
niPsten,iary tocomnunicase his full Pow
ers.
Its now to be recollected that inhis e
s-r of the 3oth of Nov. the minister ha
Ia T.. 4 =