The Delaware gazette. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1809-1810, 1809-12-16
From Mr.. Erskine to Mr.. Smith.
WaShingfen, .fue. IA, 500.

From Mr.. Erskine 10 Mr.. Smith.
Washiagten, -fae. IA, 1909.
SIR.
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter of the 9th inst. informing me
that you had Just received a letter from Mr..
Pinkncy, incosing printed paper, purporting
to be copy of q dispatch to me- from Mr..
Canning, which states, among other things.
. from the report of your conversations VITA
Mr.. Madison, Mr.. Gailatn and MIR. Smith, ii
appears ...s,.5,ss.,,sss z
g LIST. That tfSss Aup'cs,ss sgosernHHSs2ent is
prepared, in the evesN Of his malesty's con-
sentng To withdraw the orders in ,uncil Of
January and November 8o7, to withdraw co.,
temporaneously on lis part, the Introduction of
its ha bors TO ship. of war, and all on-inter-
course aud non-importation acts, SO far as re-
spects Great Britain, leaving them in force
with respect to France and the powers which
adopt, or act under, her DEGREES.
3D. That America is wiling to rcnourcc lt!-
Iing the present war, the prcten,ion of carry
ing on, in time Of war, all trade with the enc
mics colonies, from which sLe was excluded
during peace.
3dly, Great Britain, FOR the purpose OF Sc
curing the operation OF the embargo, and the
bona fde intention of America to prevent her
citizens from trading with France and the pow
ers adopting and acting under the French de-
Grecs, is 10 b, considered as berg at liberty to
capture all such American vessels as may be
found attempting ito tradel with the ports of
any OF those powers, without which secu,ty
Tor the observance Of the embargo, the raising
Nnon1inaliy with respect to Great Britain, alone
would, in fact, "a se it, with respect to all the
world"
The explanations which you request of me
upon that subject. shall be given with cantor-
and will proceed, accordingly, to lay before
you, an abstract OF the communication which |
Laid before his majcsty's government relative
TO The unofficial conversations which had held
with Mr. Madison then secretary Of sae)
Mr.. Gailatin, and yourself, at the time, and
upon the occasion, alluded to by his maiesty's
secretary of state Mr.. Canning) in that part
OF his Instructions TO me, of which you inform
me, you have received printed copy from
Mr.. Pinkney.
Upon referring to my dispatches, addressed
10 his majcsty's government, OF the Sd and
4th December last, in which these communi-
cations are detailed, conclude that the con-
rersa,ions alluded to, must have been held some
days previous to that period add were TO the
following effect
Mr.. Madison Chen secretary of stated is re-
presented by me to have urged various argu-
'nenls, tending 10 prove that the u. 5. had ex-
sited all their efforts to pcr&uadc the French
government 70 withdraw their Unjust rcstrc-
'lons upon neutral Commerce, and that recourse
might have been had to measures Of mere acti-
witty and decision against France than mere re-
monstrances, bu, that in the mean time, Great
Britain had issued her orders in council, before
IL was known whether the United States would
acqWesce in the aygressions Of France, and
.acrcby rendered it impossible to distinguish
oesween the conduct of the two bcligcrents,
"ao had equally committed aggrqssons against
las Z, STATES.
Y