Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-19
My LORD,

I have received the letter which you did
me the honor to address to me on the 29th OF
last month, and will not fail to transmit CO.
py OF it to nv government. In the mean time
! take the liberty 10 trouble YOU with the toll
lowing reply, which severe indisPosltion has
prevented me from preparing sooner.
Tbs first paragraph seems to make it pro-
per for me to begin by saying, that the topics
introduced into my letter OF the 10th OF Dec.
were intimately connected with Its principal
subject, and fairly used to illustrate and ex-
plain it and consequently that, if they had
not the good fortune to be acceptable to your
Lordship the fault was not mine.
1t was scarcely possible to speak, with more,
moderation than my paper exhibits, OF that
portion of long Isl ofinvasions OF the rights
of the United States, which IT necessarily re-
viewed, and of the apparent reluctance OF the
British government TO forbear those invaslons
in future. / DO not know that could more
carefully have abstaiaed from whatever might
tend to disturb the spirit which your lord
ship ascribes to his Maiesty's government, it.
instead of being Utterly barren ard unproduc-
tive, it had occasionally been visible in some
practical result, In some concession either to
friendship or TO justice. 1t would not have
been very surprizing, nor very cuipable per-
hsps, if bad wholly forgotten to address my
self 10 a spirit OF Cancellation, which had met
ME most equitable claims with steady and un-
ceasing repulsion which had yielded no.
thing tina; could be denied and had answer
ed compl ints of iniurysby multiplying their
causes. With this forgetfulness, however,
am not chargeable for, against all the dis
cosragements suggested 5y the past, have
acted sill upon presumption, that the dlspo-
si;ion to concIiate, so often professed, would
finally be proved by some better evidence
than perseverance, in oppressive novelties,
as obviously incompatible with such dispo-
s;tion In those who enforce them, as In those
whose patience they continue TO exercise.
Upon the commencement OF the second pa
rasraph must observe, that the iorbearanee,
which it announces, might have afforded some
qualification, il it had been followed by such
admissions as my government Is en,itlcdto ex-
pect, instead of a further manifestation OF that
disregard of its demands, BY which 1t has SD
long been wearied. 1t has never been my
practice to seek discussions of which the ten
tency is merely to Iritate but beg your
lordship to be assured that feel no desire to
avoid them, whatever may DC their tendency,
when the rights of my country require to be
yipdica,ed against preleDsicns that deny, and
conduct iha, infringes them.
If I comprehend the other parts oil your
loriship's letter they declare Ii eject that the
British goyerument viii repeai nothing but
the orders ia csLucl, and that cannot al
present repeal even them. because, III the hrs,
Mace. the French government has required,
in the letter of the duke OF Galore to General
Armstrong Of the 5th of August, not oHly that
Grest-Britain shall revoke those orders, bat
tha, she shall reaot;hce certain principles O.
blockade (suppcse to BE- explained in the pre-
aU,b,e 10 the Berlin decreel which France a.
leges TO be new; and. IN the second place, be-
Cause the American government has Is Won
concludel demanded the revocation OF the
British order of blockade of May 1906, as
practical instance of that same reRufoiaiion.
or. In other words. has made itself party,
not openly indeed but indirectly and ooyertiy,
70 the entire requisision of France, IS you uIi-
derstand that requisitlon.
IT'S certainly tire. that the American go
yernnerst has required, as indispensable IN the
view of rs acts OF intercourse and noD-inter-
e..,rse, the aBnulment Of the British blockade
of Nav. SOC, and further that it has through
,,e declared Ats confident expectation tina, o.
tser bIockades Of similar character (includ--
in- ri,at of the Island of Zealand viii be dis
ra1.,inued. But by what process of reasoning
xopr Ioraship his arrived at the conclusion,
1hs, the royernmear OF the United States ID
,rnded by this requisition, TO become the
champion of the edict of Berlin, to fashion It's
nriDciples By those of France, while II affected
- adhere 70 ms own, and 10 act upon some part
nerSbiD IN doctrines, which II would tam m
duee YOU to acknowledge but could not pre-
-aii upon itself to aTow, l am nos aoie 70 con-
- Ths frank and honorable character
ost.. American government justihes me 10
sz.,-z that, If II bad meant to demand o.
..sss.-ssgii-=Sn an abluratiOa of all snca prnnci-