Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-08-04

Contraction rem the National latelsgeaees
of Mr.. Erskine's letters to III. Gannias,'
as bu5Ashedby order gfthe BRITISH House
eff Commons.
Desbatch from, the honorable Davia Erski'ae
to M. Secretary Canning, dated Wash-
ington, 7th Of Aagust, 1909.
SIR,
Before proceed to lay before you such
explanations as | have to offer relating to
the points mentioned in your despatch, No.
II, of the asd May,in which you have ex-
pressed to me his majesty's sntsre disap'
probation of my deviations from the instrsc-
tons contained in your No. 2, transmitted
tome by Mr.. Gakeley, | viii take this OPP
portunity ofinformiag you that the Amerl-
can government did not consult with me on.
the propriety or expediency of publishing.
the notes which. passed between the secre-
tary of state, Mr.. Robert Smith, and ray
self in our negotiations, but according to
their practice they made public the state Of
their foreig n relations at the moment when
they thought was for the interest Of the
u. States that it should be known.
slrhe reasons which. were assigned by the
secretary ofstate for having doneso, were
certainly intended as favorable to his ma
iesty's interests, since he declared it was
with view to exhibit to the people OF this
country the adjustment. ct differences with
Great Britain which had taken place, ADD
the prospect of good understanding. in
order that the members OF congress might
assemble with favorable sentiments towards
Great Britain, as also that the event might
DC speedily and generally known in, France,
so as 10 bring that power TO d hnitive de-
termination respecting its relations with the
U.States.
1t would be not only supcrfuous hus
might be deemed improper that should re-
peat the reasons already detailed liz my 10.
go, of the 18Th of April, which led me to
believe, that had conformed to the, spirit
if not to the letter OF your Instructions con.
tanned in your No. z, since have received
the communication through you of lis na-
iesty's disapprobation OF the manner III
which have executed thera.
Il, remains for me only to declare, that
was greatly influenced in my conduct by The
repeated limitations in your instructions
(in No. 4, Ian. 23) that 9 the sincerity Of
the good disposition protested by the per
sons composing the rev: American adni-
nis1ration was the point most important in
the view of the British government
That disposition was fully convinced
was entertained by this government, which
they were ready to evince in any way con-
sistent with the power they held By the con
s1illlt:on OF the US. !
His majesty having though t proper to
cause you to communicate bis surprize and
regret, that should have received such a
note as that from iMr. Smith in answer to
the offer for reparation for the affair OF the
Chesapeake, as proof Of the acceptance
by the government of the y. S. Of the no.
norable PREPARATION rendered by his majesty
s. in the same spirit of Cancellation in which
it was proposed" l am therefore PrecIud-
&C from offering any observations upon that
subject other than such as have @entursd
to make in the prec=ding. number of my
dispatches.
As further apology / may be permitted
to observe, that as / had { conceive) full
reason for believing that the disposition of
the governmental the .. S. was conciliato-
~, l may have dwelt in my own mind,
while writing my note In, answer to that of
Mr.. Smith, upon that impression, and may
have on that account attributed to Mr..
Smiths note, stronger appearance of con.
Citation than the language of it may jus
tiiy.
1t is remarkedby youin your No II, Of
the 23d May, that my Instructions did not