Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-19

le DEGREES OF Berlin and Milan were reneal- I
d on the conditions proposed By our law,
nd that they should Cease to nave effect on
he first Of November following.
This Information was communicated to the
British government by Mr.. pinIney, and the
reply OF the marquis Wellesley was that the
orders in council should be removed when the
French DEGREES had actually ceased to have
effect. The general inference and opinion |
from this answer, was, that the second Of |
November was fixed upon for the repeal of
the orders in council; that being the day on
which the actual repeal of the French de-
crecs was to take effect; for until lately, it
has been carefully concealed by the British
government that the orders i'll council were
issued, not for the aggressions of France on
the .4n,srican commerce., but for the retala-
ton of the restrictions of Dcnaparte on the
British commerce, for the removal Of which
1t now seems America is required to Coop
crate with England or the alternative is war;
Ignorant OF those hidden views of the Bri-
tish governmcnt--conhding in the promises
OF the British ministers to remove the orders
IN Council whenever the French DEGREES were
Notwithstanding the declarations of
the French government meriting, at least, e.
qual credit with those of G.. Britain-know-
ing that in any negotiation between France
and Great Britain, the later would be per-
fectlY satisfied with the declaration CT the
former on any specific point and seeing the
president ofthe y. States give full credit to
the repeal ct the DEGREES of Berlin and Milan
by issuing his proclamation on the Cd of No
vembcr declaring the fact, several of cur fell
low citizens embarked their property on voy-
ages to France; several of the masters of
those vessels, had positive Instructions in case
the French Nvc L IaI ~,
fish, not to enter but to proceed to port in
Great Britain, and there to discharge their
cargoes. Every one of these vessels which
were met by British cruisers were captured,
carried into England for adjudication and
have lately been condemned. 1t was not all
at once an easy matter to reconcile the cap
ture and condemnation of this property with
the repeated professions of the British gov
eminent as to the removal of the orders in
council as soon as the French DEGREES should
be abrogat4d
Although the French government ceased
to capture our vessels and cargoes bound TO
and from England and her colonies after the
flrst OF November, which was in fact doing a
way the Berlin and Milan DEGREES as they
affected America, France in our opinion We
ry unjustly and very injudiciously seized al.
American vessels and cargoes as they arri-
we'd, after the I'd of November, holding them
In scquestration until our non-inportation law
went into actaidt Liberation against q. Britain
coniormablyto stipulation. This act ofFrance
was urged by Great Britain as evidence that
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES were not re-
pealed. The British ministers were quite
positive that those vessels and cargoes would
be condemned in France, and they accor-
dinghy directed their executioner, sir William
Scott, to postpone the condemnation of the
Americans until he had the precedent from
France. This was to be confirmed evidence
OF the non-repeal of the Berlin and Milan de-
crees. But, 10 those American vessels and
their cargoes have been restored to theirpro-
prietors by the French government The
modification and ire of the British ministers
burst forth IN voiley, and poor sir William
Scott, in violation Of his better knowledge *
OF MS conscience, is directed to pronounce
an unjust and Ubiquitous condemnation with
out a precedent from France to bear him out
nit. Observe how this lawyer is obliged to
quibblc in order to serve the turn Of his mas
ter.
He says that the revocation of the French
DEGREES were made coDditional-either that
Great Britain should revoke her orders in
council & blockades, or that America should
join France in confederation to force her to
do SO and that, as neither of these conditi-
Ciio NiS thihiNti, IL 1OilOWS TIC CT6nCn
DEGREES cannot be revoked. Now we take
the liberty of telling the person styling
himself sir William Scott" that he has here
uttered deliberate falsehood.
He knows perfectly well, that the United
states did not stipulate for the removal of
the British orders or French DEGREES, or any
other conditions, than to carry into effect the
1o1-imfio7fation against the nation refusing
torepeal or modify. He knows that France
declared her DEGREES to be repealed, ON fhe
conditions stieeifedn oar la7p of The 1st of
HToy. He knows that the United States have
fulfilled their compact with Franco, by hav-
ing nowin operation the non-importation law
against Great Britain. He knows that the
emperor of France has publicly expressed
his satisfaction with what has been done by
America, and as a proof of it the American
vessels and cargoes have been restored He
knows too, that the non-importation measure
is the most severe warfare we can wage "a
gainst Great Britain, and the most advanta-
geous to ourselves. His masters know these
things too, and they have determined to a.
dept measures TO drive MS into an active war
"a war that will produce prizes for their
naval commanders, and cheer up the droo-
ping spirits of the nation, by news Of cap
lures and plunderings, as a sett off for the
loss Of commerce, and the blood and treasure
wasted in Spain and Portugal.
Fit was not the fixed purpose of the Brit
ish government to drive us into a war-whv
after SO many months suspension of the trial
OF the Fox and other vessels, bring those ca
ses to issue at the present jnncturc why
hurry the condemnation ut the moment when
France gives proof Of her sincerity in the
removal Of her DEGREES by the Liberation of
our property?
is It because Great Britain was afraid that
IN short time she would be left without pre-