The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-02-21

because the British government having his
communications would not fail to contradict
it, if incorrectly stated We have seen then,
that as to the two first conditions, our govern
mcnt had never consented to recognize the
second in any manner, or either, as prelimin-
sries-and that Mr.. Erskine had SO stated it
20 the British government
Now let us hear what he says about the Sd.
condition. I" AS to the third condition refer
ed to by you, specified in MIR. Cauning's in
structions, have only to remark, that never
held any conversation with the members of
the government of the United States, rel tive
10 it until my late negotiation, or had ever
mentioned the subject to His Majesty's gov
ernment it having for the first time been
presented to my consideration, in Mr.. Can
ning's despatch to me OF the sd of January,
in which that idea is suggested, and is stated
TO have been asscnted to by Mr. Pnsney."
Sir, the history of this third condition may
be worthy Of some further consideration, for
the purpose of showing the spirit" of the
British Ministry. Mr.. Canning, the author
Of this conditions, first proposes it to MIR.
Pinkney in Lonnon, on the 22d day OF Janua-
ry last, and MIR. Pinkney SO far from assent
ing TO it, tells him, as we find by his letter
OF the 23d June, that 1t would never be admit
ted into stipulation---yet Mr. Canning tells
Mr. Erskinc that MIR. Pinkney had assent
Cd to it and he hattcrcd himself that
there would be no difficulty in obtaining
distinct and official recognition of these
conditions from the American govern
ment 20 But letus ,ee what MIR. Canning
says to Mr.. Pinkney upon this point, after
the disavowal In the extract of Mr.. Pink
ney's letter OF the 23d OF June, Mr.. Pinkney
observes, upon the third condition | said
very few words. | restated what | had
thrown out upon the matter of it, in an infor-
NAL conversation in January and expressed
my regret, that it should have been msrepre-
sented' g Mr.. Canning Immediately sid
that he was himself OF opinion that the idea
upon which that condition turns, could not
well Fl ., its way into u stipulation that he
had nevertheless believed it proper to pro-
pose the condition to the United States, thai,
he should ;lave been satisfied with the reiec.
tion of It," On seeing the despatch publish.
ed, as it was by call of Parliament in May,
Mr.. Pinkney could not but feel surprised to
find il contained such an entire misrcpresen.
tation of his opinions and conversatioDs--he
therefore takes occasion to express his re-
gret that he should have been misapprehend.
ed
Mr.. Canning does not pretend that he had
misunderstood him, or that Mr.. Pinkney had
ever assented to this condition, but confirms
Mr.. Pinkney's statement by saying that he
was himself aware that this condition could
not be admitted into stipulation, and he was
willing it should be rejected. Yet, sir, the
despatch requires. distinct and Official re-
cogni,ion Of this condition. And there W
are told, that the arrangement was disavowed
because made without this official recogni-
tion But Mr.. Pinkney was not less surpri-
sed at the statement of his opinion, than were
the President and Secretaries at the entire
mistatement of their conversations with Mr..
Erskine. On seeing the despatch NO time is
lost in calling upon Mr.. Erskine for am expla-
nation He readily and very candidly gives
it, and declares that he never had commune
Gated to the British government such conver-
sations as wercS stated by Mr.. Canning in the
despatch. The Secretary of State and
the Secretary of the Treasury state the SUBJ
stance of the conversations they had held with
Mr.. Erskine OH the subject, and this state
ment corresponds with that which Mr.. Frs
kline tells us he made to his government.--
of Mr.. Canning as respects the second condi-
ton. For it appears that the conversations
related to the direct trade, from the colonies
OF a beligcrent to the mother country, and
for this obvious reason, that this was the
point In dispute, very different thing
from all trade which is mentioned in the I'd
condition. But let us recur once more ts
the extract from MIR. Pinkneys letter of the
23d of June, and hear what Mr. Canning
says upon this point. MIR. Pinkney after re.
ci,in.. the very conclusive arguments which
he had urged to show, that this condition wa.
of no importance to Grca; Britain adds as fol
lows; Mr.. Canning admitted that the 2t
condition had no necessary connection will
the Orders in Council, and he in,imated thai
they would have been content to leave tn,
subject of il to future discussion and arrange
mcnt He added that this condition was in
serted in Mr.. Erskinc's Instructions, because