The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-01-03
FROM ruE sArloKAI IkrEIIlcE EscEa,
EXPOSITION,
OF rnE coNbucf OF THE HoSoURABfE
FR.lN'cLs LINES JACKSON:
IN HIS coRREsroSDEScE WITH -
ROBERT SMITH, ESQ
SECRETARY OF STATE.

uon az iarges C0nhden.iy relied upon the iu'-
iilmcnt of the arrangement Of tho 10Th Of A.
pIl, 1909, proposed by Mr.. Erskine in the
name of his Sovereign, anti accepted by Mr..
Smith in behalf Of the President. This re
lance was justified by the official form of the
compact and the so.cmnity of its promulga-
ton at Washington. Ii was, therefore, with
extreme surprizc that the American admins
tration, and the people of the United States
in general, received information that His
BRITANNICA Majesty had refuscd--not to ratify
the provisional agrcemcnt, for it was sup
posed TO have been ratified alrcady--but TO
complete the stipulations which the arrange
mcns clearly required.
The agitation which it might be Imagined
would naturally arise from the unexpected
avulsion of national faith and hope, by the dis
avowal OF the compact on tho part of the
British Monarch, was considerably assuagcd
and reprcssed by the implied promise of a.
tonerlcnt and the pleasing idea Of approach
ing amity, in some form or other, suggested
by the prompt appointment of a new Envoy
to succeed MIR. Erskine. The delay between
the period of his annunciation as the success
sour of the Minister whose act had been dis
avowcd, and that of his arrival in America
British Cabinet was influenced by spirit of
insincerity but the President and the pco-
pie were still cheerfulIy disposed to receive
the new missionary with untliminishcd cordi-
ality, and to promote, by every honourablc
means, an harmonious temper and perfect
ly good understanding between the two coun-
tries.
The choice of Mr.. Jackson was certainly.
not happy one for the occasion. England
had thirty gentlemen of the diplomatick corps
unemployed at the time he was selected
and it was considered as singular election,
that he alone, among SO many ministerial a.
gents disengaged, should be considered the
suitable individual to conciliate America--
The seizure of the Danish feet was an act
ffenormous atrocity ipsthe eye OF y neutral
power; and whether MIR. jackson was an Of
hcial agent In that affair or not, he was, with
hue and cry pursued by the reputation of it..
A good and lawful objection to Mr. jackson
also was the offence which Denmark, pow
er in aini;y with the United States, might
Justly take at the reception of man in the
capacity of Minister, who had been instru-
mental in wounding her sensibility and invad-
ing her rights. OF course, he could not be
the most pleasing of all possible characters
to treat with &C crnment, whose pride and
whose boast it had been under three success.
sive Presidents, to preserve the nation in a
posture so strictly neutral, that the Sovereigns
OF Europe could not reproach it with solita-
tary departure from the respectable stand
which it had taken under General Washing
ton. The moment of Mr. Jackson's arrival
nevertbelcss,was anspicious to reconciliation;
the citizens Of the United States were rcluc-
tant to engage in war until urged to it in the
last extremity the administration had no
prejutiiccs against Great Britain and in ev-
cry quarter of the Republick the people were
wearied by hope continually deferred, and
sighed for the restoration Of permanen.
state of things, which should admit of GER
tainty in the pursuits of llic, and put an end
to the prolonged anxiety of the nation. The
universal sentiment was in favour of peace
and friendship with the British.
Mr.. Jackson came, and the Secretary Of
State fastened frcm Baltimore to Washing
ton to meet him. The fact is notorious
there was not the delay of an hour interposcd
by the administration to his immediate reccp-
ton. The President, as soon as decency
could permit, (and at a much earlier day than
usual repaired from his residence In Virgin
ia to the seat Of government, and received, In
the usual and official mode, tie Representa-
tive of the. King of Great Britain, who sp.
proaclscd in the scmblahce Of Minister Of
Pcatc.
From the tcnour Of Mr.. Smiths letter Of
the 9th Of October, addressed to Mr.. Jack
son, it appears that the Secretary of State
had several conferences with the new Envoy,
previous 10 that date. In rcciting the. points
which had been the topicks Of their discus
sion, he states rhc result 10 be :---
I. That Mr. Jackson had no instructions TO
explain the reasons for disayowing Mr. Ers-
kipe's arrangement.
2. That on the subject Of the Chesapeake
only he was authorized to tender reparaiion,
the oficiaI OF which should be subject to his
rcsisisn and ultimate appreciation before full
hlmcnt.
3. That he had no Instructions 20 make