Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-09
oS7ER 10 Nh. Monroe.
Washington, July l6, 1911.


had the honor to receive the letter which
YOU addressed to me under yesterdays date,
requesting an explanation from me, IN conse-
quence of my letters of the Sd and l4th INST.
of the precise extent in which repeal OF the
French DEGREES is by His MaJesty's govern
ment made condition of the repeal OF the
British Orders, and particularly whether the
condition embraces the seizure of vessels and
merchandise entering French ports III CONTRA
vention ofFrench regulations, as well as the
capture on the high seas, of neutral vessels
and their cargoes, on the mere Allegation that
they are bound to or from British ports, or
that thew have on board British productions
or manufactures as also, stating that in your
view of the French DEGREES, they comprise re-
euIations essentially different in their princi-
pies, some of them violating the neutral rights
ofthe United States, others operating against
Great-Britain without any such violation.
You will permit me, sir, for the purpose of
answering your questions as clearly and con-
cisely as possible, to bring into view the
French DEGREES themselves, together with the
official declarations Of the French Minister
which accompanied them.
In the body of those DEGREES. and in the de-
clarations alluded TO, you will find, sir, express
ayowals that the principles on which they
were founded and the provisions contained liz
them, are wholly new, unprecedented, and in
direct contradiction to all ideas OF justice and
the principles and usages of all civilized ma
tons.
q The French government did not pretend to
saw that any one of the regulations contained
in those DEGREES was a regulation which France
had never been in the previous practice OF.
They were consequently to be considered,
and were indeed allowed by France herself to
be, all of them, parts of a new system OF war
fare, unauthorized by the established laws OF
nations.
1t il in this light in which France herself has
placed her DEGREES, that Great Britain is OBJ
hged to consider them.
The submission of neutrals to any regula-
tons made by France, authorised by the laws
of nations and practised by former wars, will
never be complained of by Great Britain; bat
the regulations of .he Berlin and Milan de-
crees do, and are declared to violate the
laws of nations and the rights of neutrals, for
the purpose of attacking through them the re-
sources of Great Britain. The ruler OF France
has drawn no distinction between any OF them,
nor has he declared the cessation OF any one OF
them in the speech which he SO lately address,
"a to the dcputation from the free imperial
Hanse Towns, which was on the contrary a
confirmation of them all. :,
Not until the French DEGREES therefore shall
be effectually repealed, and thereby neutral
commerce be restored TO the situation In which
it stood previously to their PRONUNCIATION, can
His ROYAL Highness conceive himself Justihed
consistently with what he owes to the safety &
honor of Great Britain, In foregoing the just
measures of retaliation which his Majesty IN
his defence was necessitated to adopt against
them.
trust, sir, that this explanation in answer
90 ,our enquiries will be considered by you
sufficiently satisfactory; should you require
anv further, and which it may be in my power
to s;ye, l shall with the greatest cheertulness
afford it.
sincerely hope, however, that no further
DELAY will be thought necessary by the Presi-
dent in restoring the relations OF amlty which
saonld ever subsist between America and u.
britain, as the delusions attempted by the go
,ernment of France have now been made ma
,ifest. and the per6dious plans OF its ruler
av,,osed by which, while he adds to and ag-
rrsyates his system of violence against neutral
SJ. he enaeayors to throw all the odlum OF
his acts upon Great Britain with view to en-
aa.'-sr d;scord between the neutral countries,
"a The only power which stands up as bull
. .1 AGAINST his efforts at universal tyranny
and oppression. .e1 ..n,.ss rnr u;,h as
early as possible to despatch HIS MaJesty.s
racket boat with the result OF our communl-
lps.;nns. as His Majesty's government will ne
esssarily be most anxious to hear rom me-
4nv short period of time, however, Wnien may
n'.s - vou to be reasonable, will not hesi-
ta,c to detain her. =. -, ,:.,...
/ have the honor to be, with the hisnest