Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-26

VIC ihiS'AN Stiia NC bApu5ll 10 q CfOEs
martial ; although did not TN ter
stand him to say that this would DC the
case. He said that admiral Berk eley,
in what he had done, ha acted wholly
with5ut authority. l iii not propose
70 enter into any discussion upon the
subject, and therefore conseated my.
self VITA sperking Of the appointment
rs unfortunate.
In both OF these conversations, Mr..
Cummings language and manner were
in the highest degtee conciliatory.
Gx,ract o. letter from William Pink
ney, Esq. minister pleaipotentiary
OF the Uai,ed States in Lonlon, TO
the Secretary Of STATE, dltcl Lon
don, Nav %, 1909.
Z" IN the interview which took place
Ton May Isl M Canning said, that the
British minister had acted in his late
negotiation and engage ncnts with you
not ONLY without authoritg, bat in di-
rect opp Jsition to the most precise in
ls;ructious that the instructions actu-
ally given to him had been founded on
his own letters received here in luua-
ry, in which were set forth tn. parti
culars OF several oavsrSa nstnar had
passed between him Aad Mr.. Madison,
ir. Gal!atin aud yourself, but especi-
ally the two last; that itaPpeared from
these conversations, that, in the opini-
on of tae Persons with whom thev were
held, the government OF the United
States would be willing that Great Bril-
tain should consider the measures then
contemplated by Congress, relative to
non-iatercOurse, and the indiscriminate
exclusion of belIigereut vessels from
our waters, rs presenting IA opening
for the renewal ofanicable discussions
with this country that it would be dis
posed, III the case Of the Chesapeake,
60 receive as sufficient reparation, in
addition 10 the prompt dlslYowal and
recall of Al. Berkeley, the restoration
of the seanen forcibly taken out Of that
vessel; thar, on the subject of the or.
ders in council, it would have no OBJ
lection in case they were revoked as
regarded the United States to repeal
the embargo and non intercourse laws
as to Great Britain, and to continue
them as to France and Holland and
such other countries as should have in
force maritime edicts similar to those
of France, so long rs those edicts re-.
manned; that it would allow it to be
understood that the British cruizers
might capture American vessels at.
tempting to violate the emblrgo and
non-intercourse laws SO modified that
1t would even agree TO abandon during
che Presentwar, all trade with enemies'
colonies from which we were exs.uded
IN peace that it was prepared 20 re-
guiate bV treaty, the Commercial re-
lauons OF the two countries, upon the
basis of the mo.l favored nation, or up-
on that of reel rocal equality and. in
a word, that it was extremely DESTROYS
OF re-establishing the most perfect
good understanding and the most
friendly connection with Great Bri-
tam.
Mr.. Canning proceeded to inform
me that IN consequence of these re-
! presentations, some parts Of which he
said I had myself confirmed in two
conversations ia January, he had franz
ed and trans nitted to Mr.. Erskine
two sets of instructions, da,ed the 23d
OF that month, but not forwarded till
some time afterwards, the first OF
which related to the business of the
Chesapeake, and the second to the Or
ders IN council, and the proposed com.
mercial arrangements. These instruc.
tons together with the passages in
'ir. Erskine's letter, written believe
N December last, which contained the
above mentioned representations and
some other details which ought not
TO repea', Mr.. Caring read to me.
" Although MIR. Canning made me
acquainted with Mr.. Er5kine's IN
structions, he did not in any degree
aPprize me of the explanations, trans
mitted by thai minister, Of the grounds
and motives Of his proceedings and
| could not be sure, from any thing
which Mr. Canning had stated 20 me-,
that 1 had bsen made to understand