Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-23
&c H NJ o Nd,
FOR THE VIRGINIA Rcys.
JOUR- FOREIGN RELATIONS.
No. III.

Every confederation which we can
give the subject of our misunderstood
ings with England, erjoins caution a.
gainst the prevalence of credulity in
her friendly disposition or in hers6.
deity to engagements. Facts the
most d6depiable correspond very GU
riously>io prove that il is probable chat
the MtisA ministry acted most
treacherous part in the arrangement
which we Hade with Mr.. Esskine.
We wish TO avoid every thing like
Partially or prejudice against Great
Britain we sincerely desire lasting
peace with her; and shall never throw
a solitary obstacle in the way of an
amicable adjustment ofexisting differ
ences. But we cannot avoid being
upon our guard, and warning our
'conutrvmen against the unhappiness of
again becoming her dnpss, and rem.
dering themselves a subjecs for the
sibes and the jeers of the whole world.
It is, from this cause, that we have
taken the freedom to suggest to our
Congress to go OF in moderate and
firm manner to perform what the &c.
casion demands, and not to suffer
Themselves to he amused by promises
never TO be performed, and which. if
perior ed, would perhaps, afford the
United States no substantial relief.
1t will be reco'lected that the arrange
ncnt between Mr.. Erskine and our
government was concluded at WASH
irgton on the 10 h d y OF April, 1909.
By tracing events back little anteri-
on 10 that period to a5out the time that
Mr.. Oakley left England we shall per-
haps discover the true motive for In.
structiug Mr.. Erskine TO make that ar
rangement; for be assured, let the
councils of the U. S. be governed by
Justice, or by whatsoever else OF hon.
orablr principle they may, G. Britain
is iuvariably controlled By her inter.
eats, and by the hopes aid the fears
which arise from those interest, and
by nothing else.
The os SENSIBLE as well as the pri-
vate Instructions from Mr.. Canning
tosMr.s Erskine authorising the ar
rangameat, were dated ON the 23d OF
January, 1909 On the 10th of the
same month and year the battle Of
Corunna was fought and Sir Iohns
Moore was killed: On the 18th the
British army under the command Of
SIR John Hope, embarked at Co,unna
Tor England; and on the 18th Coruu~
ia was entered bv the French. On
the 19.h. also. parli was about
to 'n+es and it was necessary for the
y misty TO cover their unfortunate
campaign in Spain by some measure
Pleasing Aosthe people of G. Britain.
accordingly reconciliation with A.
1ntrica, always 81 favorite object with
the mass OF 'lIe population OF England,
was determined upon; and what has.
tened IT was, that before Mr.. Oakley
left England (Which ne did not for
some time after the date of Mr.. Frs.
kinc's instr uctions,) on the 9th OF
January the House of Commons re-
solved TO investigate the conduct of
Lis royal higbness the Dake of York
as-sMnmander in chief on the 9Th,
likewise. Ferrol was taken possession
al by the French; on the 21st of Feb
'uary also tie town of Saragossa in
spain was taken possession of by the
troops. pfN spcleon; and the deposit
ton of she king of Sweden, the mad
ally of England, had been resolved up
en- by his subjects. This was fright.
III picture for guilty cabinet. Ru.
lnhn Spain, q crown prince to be tried
the only remaining ALVIN the north OF
Europe losing his throne, all stared
Canning and Psfeiyal in the face, and
there was no immediately cheering
rrospect but paciiication with Amesi.
ca with that America which had al.
ways extended the hand Of good fellow.
clip 70 tic British Isles. This postars
OF AFFAIRS, we apprehend, produced the
arrangement proposed BY Mr.. Erskine
& whirh was generously accedsd to b,
Gu gor rnmeut.
In April, however, Mr.. Canning.
prnsPe cts hrgsn to brighten. On tn,
9th OF that monia he Archduk.
Charles, at Nisn,a, published de ca
Ta'Ion OF war against France; on th,
1ith Of April four French ships Of tb,
line were dcetrcyeJ =, fles.. IL