The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-04-24
STATE PAPERS.
GRE.4T BRITAIN IND AMERICA
Correspondence besween Mr.. See Cannixg and she
non. ID. NJ. Erskine.

[eves Pondenee besween Mr.. See. Cannixr and she
non. ID. NJ. Erskine.
CLAID 8EfoRE rARLIAMRNrl
Despatch from Mr.. Secretary Canning to the
hon d. M. Erskine. dated Foreign Office, Jan.
%, 1909.
SIR,
Your Dispatches from No. IS to 40, both
inclusive, have been received, and laid beioe the
king The most serious attention Of his males
TVS government has been directed to the impor-
tant matter treated in those dispatches and es
peciatiy to thoss confidential communications,
which you represent yourself to have received
from different individuals of influence in the
American government, respecting the polit
veal relations of Great. Britain and the United
States. &c.. t;2
1t must be confessed, that the conciliatoty dis.
position, which these individuals describe to you
rs existing On the part of the American admins
trstion. does appear either in the acts OF the
government o. in the debates OF congress-But
the ntimations, which have been given to you of
the difference between the personal sentiments
of Mi. Jefferson and those Of his probable sue
country, snd the hopes, which you have been
!ed to entertain, that the beginning of the new
presidency may he favorable to change of
policy in Arhesica, If opportunity and encou-
ragement fo- such change shall be afforded by
this country, have induced his rnajesty's govern.
ment to review and consider the most important
points of disagreement between the two govern.
merits and have received his majesty's com.
'Inand to send you such instructions on those sub
Jects, rs must, if the government of The U States
DC SERIOUSLY disposed to accommodation, lead
to their immediate and satisfactory adjustment
The hrst OF these points is the affair of the
Chesapeake. Nothing prevented an amicable
conclusion ofthis discussion by Mr.Rose, except
the refusal of the American Government to with.
draw the proclamation issued on the I'd Iuly
l8OY nv which fhe ehioe nf, rf,T
were interdicted from the hsrbors of the S.
while those OF France continued to be allowed
free resort to them.
The construction given by Mr. Madison to the
resolution of the Committee, to whom the con.
sideration of the foreign relations of the U States
was referred at the opening of the present ses.
sion OF congress, undoubtedly goes considerable
way to remove the objection to which the pro-
clamation liable.
OF the exclusion of the ships of war of both
Belligerents from the ports of neutral state, ne-
sher Belhgerent has right to complain. The
particularly Of that regulation alone gave to it
character of hostility
iftherefore, the ships of war of France shall
IN point fact have been excluded from the ports
OF the u. States, and such ships of that de scrip.
lion as were in those ports at the time of passing
the resolution, shal have been warned to depart
his majesty would no longer insist upon the for.
NAL reeai of the proclamation preliminary to
the adjustment of the differences arising from
~, however, either that the proclamation should
be Withdrawn, or its operation formally declared
70 be At an end but it will be sufficient il that J
withdrawal or declaration is recorded according
TO the arrangement which Mr.. Madison profess |
sed hir self ready 10 a6opt) in the same instrr-
rnent, or at the same time, with the terms of re-
Paraton which his majesty is now willing to Of
fer.
= The terms of reparation which Mr. Rose
was authorised to propose, were in substance
LIST: A formal disavowai b, his majesty of the |
act of Admiral Berkeley
ID. The restoration the men forcibly taken |
from on board the Chesapeake, reserving to his
majesty the right OF claiming in regular way
srom the American government the discharge OF
such OF them as might prove upon inyest-
CATION to be either natural born subjects of
his majesty, or deserters from his msjesty's SER
vice:
: Sd. Apecuniary provision suitable to their res.
,pectiye situations in life, for the widows or or
phans of such men (not being natural born SUBJ |
jects ofhis majesty, nor deserters from his ma
jesty's seryice) as may have been unfortunately |
killed on board the Chesapeake.
In return for these CONCESSIONS, his majesty re.
quired -
: 1st.' A disavpwal en- the part of the American
government for the detention by Commodore !
Barron of deserters from his ,najestys service |
of his denial of having such persons on board of
the ship under his command, and his refusal TO |
deliver them upon demand
I'd. a like disayowai Of the outrages commit. |
sed on the persons or property OF his majestys |
subjects at Norfolk, elsewhere, in cGnss- |
quence of this affair, an engagement was also TO !
be required, that the American government |
should not in future countenance any OF ats agents,
civil or military, in encouraging desertion from
his majesty's service.
The last point being according to the state |
Ynent in your No. AZ, to be provided for by spe.
eial Act of Congress, it is not necessary TO obtain
any specific enlargement or declaration respect
ing it ard as it above all things desirable TO
simplify az mitch as possible the conclusion of an
arrangement which has been long pending |
as recurrence to the details of the Chesapeake, |
of the causes which led TO it, and of the discus
sions immediately arising out OF it, might lead to
complicated ard frlitless controversy, has majes-
ty on his part, would be contented at present to |
wave aay demand for the respective disavowals !
on the part OF the government of the United |
States, that being the other hand. conteIited |
TO receive back the men forcibly take out of the
Chesapeake the single and sufficient act of
-eparation. - :, |
TO which, however, his majesty would still be |
willing to add the provision Tor the widows and |
orphans Of men killed in the action, but act
Of his nsjesty's spontaneous generosity Tbig |
arrangement, have every reason to believe, both !
from what Mr.. Pinkney has stated TO me, and
what Mr.. Rose reports of Mr.. Madison's unoM- |
eial conversations would be satisfactory to the |
American government upon this subject. Whe-
sher this Arrangement shall be Settled bya formal
conversation, or by the exchange of ministerial
notes dated the same day, and reciprocsily deliy-
inn 80 left 70 he ncl