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

the members Of Congress might assemble
with favorable sentiments TOW ards G Bril-
tain. as also that the event might be speedi
~ and generally known in France. so as TO.
bring that power. to a de6mtive determine
zion respecting its relations with the u,
s..
1t would be not only superluous but might
be deemed improper, that l should repeat
the reasons ALREADY detailed in my No 90. of
the 18Th April. which led me to believe,
that i had conformed to the spirit If not to
the letter of your Instructions contained in
your No. 2 since l have received he com
munication through you of his IN %jcs,y's dis
appreciation of the manner in which I nave
executed them
1t remains for me only TO declare, that I
was greatly Influenced in my conduct by the
rspc ated irtimations IN your Instructions.
lin No. 6 Jan. % that "the sincerity Of
the good dispositions profrssed by the persons
composing the new American administra-
ton 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 consis
tent with the power they held by the Con.
~stitution of the u. States
His majesty having Thought proper 10 cause
you TO communicate his surprise and regret,
that j should have received such a note as
that from Mr.. Smith, in answer to the offer
for repatriation for the affair of the Chesa
peake, AS a proof of the acceptance by the
government of the United States, of the no.
norable PREPARATION rendered by his majesty,
" in the same spirit of Cancellation in which
1t was proposed ;" l am therefore preclud.
ed from Offering any observations upon that
subject, other Than such as / have ventured
to make in the preceding lumber of nv dis
pa ches.
AS a further apology, I may be permitted
to observe, that as l had q conceive J fail
reason for believing that the disposition of
the government of the United States was
conciliatory, / may have dweit 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, a stronger appear
ance of Cancellation than the language of it
may Justify.
Il lis remarked by you, in your No. IL, of
the 25d NJ ~. that my instruc ions did not
authorize me to hold out the expectation.
that his majesty would send an envoy extra
ordinary to C include d treaty with the 90.
vernment of the u. States, until his ma
Jesty should have received from him an
authentic and official recognition of the con
ditions which | vas directed to require
The conditi ms were undoubtedly not re
cosnized IN the formal manner reeuired'by
you because this government had not sui
hcient authority 20 make any engagement as
to what should be the determination of the
U States, through its legisla i've assem-
blies, upon The state of their foreign rela
tions.
1t rested with the Congress alone to de
clare. that the non intercourse law should
be continued or not, and in what. manner it
SHOULD be carried into effect. The Presi
dem could do no more than ACT upon the
law as it existed 1 nave already furnish
ed you. in my No. 30. with my reasons for
believing that all the conditions would have
been accomplished by the Congress, which
had pledged themselves in the most solemn
manner, to resist the restrictions upon their
neutral rights, against such powers as should
infringe them.
L had informed you, in some dispatch es
sent before L had received my Instructions,
that the American government did not know
witt sufficient accuracy, what nations had
issued or enforced DEGREES violating neural
rights but that when they could ascertain
that fact, there could be no doubt that the
Congress would make the nor. intercourse
act to comprehend all such p wers as should
adopt or act under the DEGREES of France.
1t appears from the general tenor of your
dispatches, Nos. 10 and IL, that his IN les
TVS government were not willing 10 trust
to assurances from the American govern
ment, but that official pledges were to have
been required, which could not be given
for van of power, some OF them also be
ing of a nature which would prevent a for
NAL recognition.
Had believed that his majesty's govern
meDt were determined to insist upon those
conditions being complied with, in one par.
%ticular manner only, / should nave adhered
implicitly to my instructions but as | col
lected from them, that his majesty was
DESTROYS of accomplishing his retaliatory
system by such means as were most compa
tible with a good understanding, with friend
ly and neutral powers, 1 felt confident tina,
his majesty would have approved of the ar.
rangement had concluded, as one likely ,c
lead 10 a cordial and complete understand
ing and Cooperation on the part of the u
States, which CO operation never could be
obtained by previous stipulation, either from
the government of the United States, who
have no power to accede to them, or from
the Congress, which would never acknow-
ledge them as recognitions to guide thei,
conduct.
have, &c. &c.
lSigned)
d. M. ERSKINE.