Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-07-31
you, by whom I shall transmit to you
Jour letter ofrecall.
s am, &c.
.(Signed)
GEO. CANNING.
No. IL.


1909. <
Sir-I had the honor of receiving
your dispatches, Nos. 4, 2, 8, a and S,
of the Esd January, aud your sepa-
rate of the, I'd February with its seve-
raj Enclosures, which were delivered to
me on the 9TH, by Mr.. Oakley, his
majes,y's secretary of legation, who
arrived on the Sd inst. in the bay of
Chesapeake, in his majesty's ship Ro-
samond.
i lost no time in endeavor;ng to car
ny into erect the important instructions
contained in those dispatches, and ac-
cordinely waited upon the Secretary
Of State, (Mr. Robert Smith) for the
purpose OF asc ersaining, officially, the
general disposition of this government
TO enter into an amical)le discussion of
the differences between the two coun-
tries, as it appeared that the spirit of
your instructions seemed to require
my particular attention to that point,
as being likely to afford the best ground
for forming an opinion of the sinceri-
ty of those conciliatory professions
which had stated to you, i had re
ceived informally from several MEM
bers Of weight and influence in the
late and present administration of this
country,
The Secretary of state (Mr. Smith)
having repeated to me the most une-
quivocal assurances of a cordial desire
being entertained by the President
and himself, for an accommodation of
all the points Of dispute between the
United States and Great Britain,
opened the subject of your dispatch,
No. /, namely, the reparation propos-
ed 10 be rendered On the part of his
majesty, for the attack on the Chesa-
peake, upon which Mr.. Smith observ-
ed, that as proof of the sincerity of
his wishes that the affair might be a
micabiy settled, he proposed to me,
previously to the delivery Of my note
upon that subject, that we should en-
deavor to agree upon some terms,
which would not only be accepted, but
which might preclude the necessity of
any unffiendiy discussions Of the eau
ses and consequences of that occur
renee.
As this,prcposal appeared to con-
firm the assurances he had given me
of his wish for an amicable accommo-
da,ion of that affair, willingly accee-
oed to it, and explained to him the ma
ture of the reparation which was inten-
ded to be offered. With the terms of
satisfaction for that injury, as far as
they went, he appeared to be satis6 ed
but observed, that he had fully ex-
,pected some assurance would have
been given, that an adequate punish
ment fer fwhat he termed) fragrant
act OF aggression, should be inflicted
upon the naval officer, by whose direc-
lions j; had been committed, or that
1t least a court martial would have
been ordered by his majesty upon his
conduct and he added, that as the
President had dwelt with SO much
force upon the propriety and necessity
of some redress a tia sort, he was a.
fraid that he would think il incumbent
upon hfm to require it.
in Obedience to your commands,
peremptorily declined holding out the
least expectation, that any further
mark of his majesty's displeasure
would be shewn towards admiral
Berkeley, on accounted the parthe took
IN that transaction.
After days consideration on that
point by the President, assisted by his
cabinet, it was communicated to me
by Mr., Robert Smith, that any de-
mand of further punishment would be
waved.
found in the course of several In.
tervicws | had with Mr.. Smith, that
airy illusions which might be made by
ne to the details Of the affairs of the
Che sapeake, of the causes whith led
10 it, and Of the discussions which fol-
lowed, would lie likely to bring on a
complicated and fruitess controversy
I therefore founded my Official note
upon the circumstance of the equality
which had been produced by the ope-
Taticn of the intercourse act, in
the relations Of the United States with
the belliasrent powers, as having af-