The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-12
!Ansimenes WHICH the Ensii.n government

mas so OFTEN declared on tnat SUBJECT IL
may nevertheless be remarked that the
French government has not manifested the
least symptom Of disposition TO make
peace, or 10 any manner to depart from pre-
tensions which have hitherto rendered una
vailing the willingness of the English gov
eminent to terminate the war
s, The same observation may be applied to
the conduct of the French government in the
war which il Is making against commerce
a war in which il was the aggrcssor, and
which it carries OH with an obstinacy which
does not relax for moment. 1t is without
reason that in the note delivered NJ. Labou-
chere, it is said that the English Orders in
Council occasioned the French DEGREES a.
gainst neutral navigation and commerce
the Orders in Council were not the cause,
but the consequence of the French DEGREES
The French DEGREES are still in force no
measure has been taken for their repeal
1t rs by no means reasonable to expect that
we should in any manner relax from the
measures of self defence which our safety
requires, and which can shelter us from the
attacks of the enemy because he himself
suffers in consequence of the measures which
he has taken. and yet testi6es no disposition
90 relax in them.
[.Mo Sgnoture.l
No. 4.
LONDON, 18th Feb 1910.
The undersigned having received from
ther Excellencies the Ministers, orders to
repair Immediately to England with written
Instructions, for the purpose of commun.
eating TO the English government the situa-
zion of Holland and of Initiating 20 it the
methods which appeared most likely to avert
Che tate which treateDed the country, in
stanty proceeded to- the Briel. He arrived
there on the Cd February. departed from
thence m the Sd, landed at Yarmouth in the
evening of the 5th, Immediately ser out for
A1ndon and arrived there on the evening of
the 9Th. On the morning of the 9TH, he re
auested an audience of the Marquis Wei
lesley, minister of foreign affairs. which was
9ranted to him on the same day, a, halfpas
five O'Clock After having communicated to
his Excellency the tenor OF his instructions,
and thoroughly discussed the principal ques.
zion he lett the minister, having received
promise that he would lay the communica-
tons before the Council, and would acquaint
him with the result.
, Not having received anv intimaton from
his Exceilency until the IIth, he under.
signed addressed a few lines to the Minister,
requesting him to enable the undersigned to
give some account or indication of the ideas
and disposition of the English government,
oy conveyance which then off red. In con-
sequence he received, at twelve an invitat;-
On tor the same day, at nine in the evening,
at which hour he went and received an nm
Stnciai com nunication without signature, of
which copy is annexed.
III TINS new conference, the conversation
fnrnsd upon the degree of probability which
might exist in any case, that these first steps
whatever nigh, be he conduct of the British
ministry, would be followed by pacific senti-
ments on the part Of France; & especially on
the inconvenience which would arise to Eng
tand from admitting the principle, that hav-
ing once taken measures OF reprisal, as the
min'ster denominates them; those measures
must OF Sessity cease with the causes which
produce them
II appeared that the English ministry at
tacies INFINITE weight and importance to
the Orders in Council, which form The
immediate object of the overture of the gov
ernmen' of Holland and that, whether
france concur in hat overture or not, the
Ministry is convinced, hat there is no means
NOR" ehcacinus in weak aning the resources
OF france In fact those ne asures appear TO
FORM the fundamental basis of the system
upon which he present ministry POUNDS all
MS principles and every part of its conduct,
and /. would appear tba,, so long as the war
snaii contlnae, it is only from change of
ministry that we may expect other measures
The minister then stated, that while on
1hc one hand. it was extremely uncertain
whether any declaration IT even occasion ON
TN If part would be productive of changes
for the better; on the other, it would be al
ways impossible to rely upon their s,abiIi Y.
ana mat, IN all cases, any sep which should
appear incompatible with TIE honor and dig
nity OF The English nation. would be totally
Out OF the question. even though it might APP
pear reconcileable to its interest.
!, Inc undersigned endeavored to convince
One Minister, that in this particular case
tbe true interest and the permanent prospe-
fity OF all commercial states, impcriously
demanded that they should not look With in
ollie 'tnce at the critical situation of Hol
kapd but co-operate, on the Contrary, to a
vert The stern, He even confined himself to
requesting a conditional declaration only
put what he herewith transmits, was all that
ne could obtain. HIS general observation and
one information which he has been able to
collect, lead to the following conclusions:
mat the principal question of peace or
war occupies but impe fecty the public |
mind; that habit reconciies it to the consinu
ance OF the war, and that the consequences,
rtr rem being felt at present, are rather fa- !
Vorable to the interest OF individuals.
Iha the sysem Of commercial restrictions |
Is inherent IN the present ministry, and for |
1le same reason, is the object of the criticism |
of opposition that is then probable, that for |
the moment, they will continue to act, more
or less, in conformity to that system, as well |
towards ha1sfica as towards all other now