Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-15

i
'r your majesty will be thus constantly main
tanned ON the most formidable footing and
the French territory, protected by per-
manent establishment, which is recommend
cd by the interest. the policy, and dignity of
the empire, will find if,elf in "a situation which
VIII make it more deserving Of the title cf
invio,lble and sacred.
1t Is long time since the actual govern
ment CT Great-Britain proclaimed perpetual
war, 4 hightful project which the must un-
brid!ed ambition would not have dared TO
form, and which presumptuous boasting
could only have avowed frightful project
which might, however, be realized, il France
Could hope for nothing but engagement with
out guarantee, of an uncertain length, and
even more disastrous than war.
Peace, Sire, which Your majesty, in the
midst OF your great power, has 50 often of
Tered to your enemies, will crown your glo-
'lous lsb1rs, If England, excluded with per-
severance from the Continent and separated
from all the states whose independence she
mas violated, consents at length TO enter up
on the principles which form, the basis Of
European society to acknowledge the law
OF nations, and the rights consecratcd b.
the treaty of Utreck..
In the mean time, the French poop e mus.
remain in arms honor commands it; the
interest, the right, the independence 81
tie nations engaged in the same cause; and
| an oracle still more certain, which has often
been pronounced by your majesty makes
| It an imperious and sacred law
GR. MONROE 10 MR.. Fos7RR
Department IF STATE, Jane Sd. 1912.
SIR--ln the letter Of May S0;!i, which |
mad the honor to receive from YOU on the
ISt instant, perceive difference in 4 par
ticuiar passage Of 1t from a passage OH the
! same subject, in the despatch from Lord
Castlereagh to you, which yen were SO rood
as TO communicate to me entire, as appears
from the tenor of the letter to have been in
| tended by your government. The passage
! in your letter to which ailutie is as follows
America, as the case now stands. has
not a pretence for claimiHg from Great
Britain repeal of her orders in council
She must recollect that tie British govern
inent never FOR moment countenanced the
idea that the repeal of those orders could
depend upon any partial or conditional. re-
peal OF the DEGREES of France. What She
always avowcd was hc; readiness to rescind
her orders lii council as soon as France re-
scinded absolutely and Internationally her
DEGREES. But could not enter into a3v other
engagement without the grosscst iniust;cc 70
her allies as well asto neutral nations in pc
neral; much less could She do SO if any spe-
| ciai exception was to be granted BY France
upon conditions utterly su5versivc of the
most important and indisputable maritime
| rights Of the British empire"
According to the tenor of the despatch of
| lord Castlereagh to you, my recollection is
that in stating; the condition on which tho
orders in council. were to be repealed in re-
! lation to the United States, it was specifed
| tl:at the DEGREES Of Berlin and Milan must
not be repealed singly and specially in rela-
ton to the United States, bur be repcaI-
ed also as to all other neutral nations. and
that In no less extent of repeal Of the de-
crecs had the British government ever pledg-
ed ITSELF to repeal the orders i'll council.
However susceptible the passage in YOUR
letter may be of construction reconcilable
with the import of the despatch from Lord
Castlcreagh. yet as q similar phraseology of
your government on other occasions has had
construction less extensive; and as it is
| Important, in every respect, that there
should be no misunderstanding, or possibility
| OF error, you will excuse me for requesting
that you will have the goodness to inform
me whether, in any circumstance, my re-
collection of the import of this passage in
Lord Castiercagh's despatch is inaccurate
have the honor to be, &c.
(Signcd) JAMES MONROE.
Dug. j. Foster. sc &c.