The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-07-19

versation. wh;sh according to our UNDER
standing Of diplomatic rules is always con-
sidered as informal and EnD ficiGt, why does
Smith, sf;s grave ss::S ss printed
book, which he takes three months to
write. endeavonr to palm it on the public
as thing that had the stamp of public
document. a written diplomatic note, sign.
ed. sent. received and filed in the Depart
inent ct state g Any person who should
hear such an assertion from person who
had filed the high Office of Secretary of
state, without knowing who he was. would
naturally and almost necessarily conclude
snat such y Communication did really pass
and pass In this manner.
We VIII now ask Mr.. Smith as states
man. what was his object i'm making to Mr..
sierruuer this string of interrogatories,
(Which the President would not let him send.
Was ii not morally Certain that the French
minister, suspecting the dri,t of such close
questions. would use diplomatic caution and
give answers calculated todeteat their pur.
pose Was it political! To draw that mi
mister and his government Into commit
meut against our claims. especially it nego.
ciations were pending, as we suppose, and
aSlMr. Smith doubtless knew? Was it to
ts presumed that, whatever answ er he might
Tve, t,woaid be permitted by Congress to
Bterfere with the non i'm portation act with
Which it had no stipulated relation
Suppose MIR. Serrurier mad said that no
indemnify for the past would be made, would
II have been consistent with the terms and
object ot the compact foe us 20 violate il on
Shat accounts Would it have been consis-
ssnt with the conduct of the y. States in
their arrangement with Mr.. Erskine 49,
Nenld It have been. prudent. by such an
example, to obige the u. States either to
require G. Britain TO do TIE like, in addition
20 the repeal Of her orders, if she should of
FER to repeal them; or to forfeit our ma
liona' character for equal and fair dealing
with the two beliigerepts ! In addition &c
All these things take into view the approach
OF the Sd OF March which was to close the
session, then distant about nina days. DE
duct from these days the time fer Mr.
Seriurer's answer. which might be hasten
*! or retarded according to his own views;
anu then say whether any advantage was
likely to arise from thtusting the new mat
ter OF the correspondence, whatever might
be its result into Congress, i'm the last bust
ling moments of the session: saw, whether
It would have been most likely to aid the
majority IN deciding CT the important busi-
ness before them, or to augment the me1as
CT the minority, or of a small portion of II,
for frustrating the business altogether, as
was evidently their intention
What must have been the condition of
the PRESIDENT with such Secretary Estate,
awaiting himself of his official station, parti-
cnlar'y OF his agency between him and TO-
reign ministers, to teaze and perpex !. No
wonder that the most amiable and placid
temper. such as Mr.. Madison is known to
possess, should sometimes be disturbed We
May readily Admit in this respect the &C.
count OF Mr.. Ssniea, that freifulnes was OBJ,
served: and we must as readily excuse it.,
whether The conduct exciting it be resolved
into the folly OF weak assistant, or. as now
seems TO have been the case, the workings
OF a secret and insiduous toe, watching aud
boarding every little incident, every word
and look, for the future purposes of anbi-
zion or revenge.
To be concluded IN onr ner..