Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-15

would be strange indeed, when the neu
trality of Holland had been recognised,
while that Of lay. (ilaly, whose crown
was on the head of Bonaparte) was only
doubted.
Mr.. Erskine was instructed to require,
not only that the pon.inteicourse act should
be repealed. but that England should have
the benefits of partial repeal. II such
we're the instructions given, he would ask
the noble lord if they had been fulfilled,
when though he had gone TO the full ex-
tent of the concessions he was authorised
to make, ne had not gained even one OF
the conditions he was instructed 10 OBJ ain,
as would appear on p%fusal ofthe papers
before the house. If those did not carry
conviction of the facl, nothing he could
bring forward would. For reasons already
stated, he should decline entering al pre-.
sent farther into the subieGs. Before he
resumed his seat he must however stale
that he did not personally known Mr.. Er,
sk'ne he never entertained any prejudice
against that gentleman but with respect
to his conduct on receiving a nole from
the American secretary of state, he
though, him censul able. He ought to
have returned it unanswered, and put an
end at once 10 the correspondence on re.
ceiying such an extraordinary commune
cation.
Mr.. Norris would nqs have risen, had
not the Fight hon. gentleman stated that,
had been runpured out OF doors, that Mr..
Ersk,ne had not exceeded his Instructions.
He did not think such u5ncurs could ori
~ nj atrytfh br
nor did he bsEegs tina, asr. Erskine had
~ritsen line % them Oh the subject. He
would not then enter into defence OF his
citation, as he was carlain that he would
rather suffer any thing, than have one
word uttered in his behalf that might be
detrimental TO the public service.
MIR Canning did not make the assertion
iron, his own knowledge. An hon. gen.
tleman had ated. when making motion
on the subject, that such ramour had gone
abroad.
Mr. Norris said, he was not in the hous.
when that motion was made.
Mr, Marryatt defended ministers, and
objected 10 the prodpGtisn Ct the commu
nica;ioR from Mr.. ErskIne III prssent as
It the Pleadings we're heard on one side,
they ougnt also TO be heard on The othef,
to enable them TO Judge ofthe case from
The facts tina. came out.
MIR. Barring, IN speech of some length,
defend d the conduct of the American GO
vsrnment. and spoke in favor OF Nj, En-
skine.
Mr.. Stevens, replied to the arguments Of
the last speaker, and defended ministers.
he hon. m mber did not think that dis
cussiops on this subject in this house were
hkely to promote Cancellation on the part
OF the country in question. He should
therefore oppose the motion Of the noble
lord altogether.
Lord II. Petty stated in reply; that all
he desired on this subject was, that disclo.
sure which 10 The Justification of the par.
Iies was absolutely necessary. The ques
ton, as affecting decree of that country,
rendered the papers he moved for of ne
cessiiy IN the calculation of the matters
connected with II. But from The speech
u the right hon. gen lsman he felt it a sub.
lect CT congra,ulaiion, in learning hat ne.
gocIa'ion " as nov pending x asst was NOS
bis intention or his wish TO throw any i'm
pediments in its way he hoped the house
would agree with him in delaying the pro-
duclIon CT those papers, the necessity OF
which IT was his object to convince the hon.
gentleman of--The noble lord consequent.
ly withdrew his motion.