The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-07-31

'dChson 10 replace you, ny whom 1 snail
transmit to you YOU letter of recall.
1 am, Sc.
GEO. CANNING.
(No. IL
Oeshateh from the hon DaUid Erskine 10
Mr. Hecrefary Cannins, daicd Wash,sg
ION, 1SIk Irrtt, 1909.
SIR,
had the honor of receiving your des.
patches, Nos /, 9 s, 4 aud $ of the Esd
January, aad your separate of the 2nd Fe
ornary with its several Enclosures. which
we're deiive red TO me on the 7th, by MI.
Oakley. his majesty's ecretary Of legation,
who arrived ON the 3rd instant in the bay
OF Chesapeake. in his majesty's ship Rosa
mond.
lost no time in enoeavoring to carry in
10 eject the important Instructions Contain
ed IN those dispatches, & accordingly wait.
ed upon the Secretary of State. (Mr Robert
Smith) for the purpose of ascertaining. ,fi
orally, the general disposition of this gov
eminent, to enter into an amicable discussi
on OF the differences between the two coun
tries. as 1t appeared that the spirit of your
instructions seemed to req uire my particular
attention to that point. as being likely o af.
tord the best ground for forming an opinion
OF the sincerity of those conciliatory profes
sions which / had stated to YOU. I had re
ceived Informally from several member Of
weight and influence in the late and present
administration of this country.
The Secretary of State (Mr. Smith0 hav
ing repeated to me the most unequ,vocal as
surances of Il cordial desire being entertain
cd by the President aud himself, for an ac
COMMUNICATION of all the points of dispute be.
tween the u. S. and G. b. opened the
SUBJECT TO your despatch, No. 1, namely, he
reParation proposed to be rendered ON the
part OF his majesty for the attack on the
chesapeake, upon which Mr.. Smith observ.
ed, that as a proof of the sincerity of his
wishes that the affair might be amicably
set!ied' he proposed to me, previously to the
delivery OF my note upon that subject, tina,
"sshouid endeavor to agree upon some terms.
which would not onlt be accepted. but which
miSht preclude the necessity of any unfrierd
~ discussions of the causes and CONSEQUENCE
OF that occurrence.
As TINS proposal appeared to confirm the
assurances he had given me of his wish for
an amicaoie accommodation of that affair.
willingly acceded to 1t, and explained to him
The nature of the PREPARATION which was in
tended to be offered. With the terms of
Satisfaction for that injury, as far as they
weht' ne appeared to be satisfied but OBJ.
served, that he had fully expected some as
suranCc would have been given, that an ade
quate punishment for (what he ter med)
a Migrant act OF aggression, should be inf ct
ed upon the naval officer, by whose direct
ons 1t mad been committed, or that at least
a court martial would have been ordered by
his majesty upon his conduct !; and he adj.
ded, that as the President had d welt with
so much force upon the propriety and ne.
! ceSsity OF some redress of that sort, he was
afraid that he would think it incumbent up.
on him to require it.
In obedience to YOUR commands, I ne mn
torlly declined holding out the least .xpec-
tation, that any further mark Of his males
tvs disPleasure would be shewn towards ad
'nlral Berkeley, on account of the part he
took IN that transaction.
After a days consideration on that point
by the President. assisted by hi, cabinet. II
was communicated to me by Mr.. Robert
Smith, that any demand Of further punish
uent would be waved.
i found IN The Course of several interviews
j had with Mr.. Smith, that any aIiu,ions
which might be made by ne TO he details
OF the affairs of the Chesapeake, of the eau
ses which led to it. and of the discussions
"hieh toi'owed, would be likely to bring OIL
a Complicated and ~fruItless controversy.
therefore founded my official note upon
the circumstance of the equality which had
been produced by the operation of the non
intercourse act, IN the relations of the u. S.
with The be!ligerent powers, as having afford
cd the opportunity to his majesty to offer an
honorable PREPARATION for the affair of the
Chesapeake, which it is universally known
was only withheld on account of the Dart;
alityof the proclamation which has been since
merged in the general effect OF the non-in
tercOurse act.
The reply of MIR. Smith acknowledges the
operation OF the non intercourse in producing
that equality, and only intimates that it
was a result incident to a state of hings
growing out OF distinct considerations"
nave the honor of inclosing a copy of nv
note marked (A) to Mr.. Smith, of the 17th
INST. and this answer, marked (B) winch
terminated our negotiation on this subje CT.
have the honor to be, with
the highest respect. &c
lSigned)
d NJ. ERSKINE.