Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-01-08
Department ct STAKE,
July I'd, 1910.

1(S =!
July ed, 1910.
SIR,
he enclosed is copy Of letter
OF instruction to MIR. p nkney, bear
ing the same date with this letter.
You will thence perceive, that if the
answer Of the British government, to
the representation and requisi,ion
which our minister at London may
make, should tie Of satisfactory ma
ture, it will be transmitted to " GU WITH
out delay. In that case, you will wake
aProper use ofitfor obtaining repeal
OF the Berlin decree, and ycu will pro-
coed, concurrently with MIR. Pmkney,
In bringing about successive removals
by the twogovernmeuts of all their
predatory edicts.
avail myself Of this occasion to
state to you, that it IS deemed of great
Importance that our ministers at foreign
courts, and especially at Paris & Lon
don, should be kept. the one by the o.
Their, informed of the state of our af-
fairs at each.
X. SMITH.
Gen. John Armstrong, &c. &c. sc.
Mr Smith Secretary of State. to Gen.
- Armstrong.
Department of State,
SIR,
The arrival Of the John Adams
brought your letters OF the 1st, 4,h.
9Th, and 10th April.
From THAI, of the 10th April, it ap.
pears, that the seizures of the Amer
can property, lately made, had been
followed by its actual sale, and that
the proceeds had been deposited in ii
emperor's caisse prive. You have pre-.
sented, in such just colcrs, the enor-
NIFTY OF This outrage, that / have only
to signify to you, that the President
entirely approves the step that has
been taken ~ you, and that he does
net doubt that it will be followed by
you, or the person who may succeed
you, with such further interposition.
as may be deemed advisable. He in
structs you, particularly, to make the
french government sensible ef the
deep Impression made here, BY sosig
nal an aggression on the principles of
justice and of good faith and to de-
mand every reparation of which the
case is susceptible. If it be not the
purpose of the French government TO
remove every idea of friendly adjust
ment with the United States, it would
seem impossible bu: that rsconside-
ration OF this violent proceeding must
Lead to aredress Of it, as preliminary
to general Accommodation of the dif-
ierenees between the two countries.
At the date Of the last communica.
ton from Mr.. Pinkney, he had not
obtained, from the British government
an acceptance of the condition. on
which the French government, was will
lirg to concur, in putting an end to
all the edicts of both against our neu.
trail commerce. If he should after.
wards have succeeded, you Will, of
course, on receiving information Of
the fact, Imm ediately claim, from the
French government, ;he fulfilment of
its promise and by transmitting The
result to Mr.. Pinkney, you will CO.
operate with him in completing the
removnl of all the illegal distractions
to our commerce.
Among the documents, now sent,
10 another copy of the act of Con-
gross, repeating the non-intercourse
law, but authorising renewal of it
against G. Britain, in case France
shall repeal her edicts, and G.. Britain
refuse to follow the example, and
vice versa, You have been already
informed that the President is ready
to exercise the power vested in him
for such purpose, as soon as the oc-
caslon shall arise. Should the other
experiment, in the hands Of Mr.. Pink
ney, have, failed, you will make the
act OF Congress, and the disposition
ct the Prssidenf, the subject Of for
NAL communication 70 the French co.
verpment and it is not easy to con-
ceive any ground, even specious, on
which the overture speciied in III act
Can be declined.
If the non intercourse law, in arv of
ITS notifications, was objectionable to
the emp roT oil the Freeeh. that law