Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-10

cessation of hostility. No assurances
whatever Of England concerning the two
great points of contest, that's to say, con-
corning blockades & impressmento of Bril-
fish seamen, were to be received; butinthe
first place England must cease herblock-
AIDES s her impressments in any respect
contrayening the American rules. Mr.,
Russell, who was charged with making
the oyertures, was vested with no other
power than to offer these overtures.-
He was not commissioned to traat, dis
cuss or conclude any thing relative to a
suspension of hostiIities or to peace,
unless England should first change in
practice hermaritime principles efblock-
sde, and also, her ancient usage Of man
ming her navy with British seamen.
Upon these most important points the
sentiments of the British government
were fully known, and had been often
expressed and repeatedly communicated
to our government. They were the
same as VS. find in Lord Castereagh's
correspondence with MIR. Russell in his
notes of the Ssth June and 2sth August
1919 In the first it is declared that the
orders in council being revoked by the
Prince Regent no previous order is to
be considered in force, and that no new
blockade vii! be instituted but accord
ing to ordinary and accustomed princi.
pies of maritime law, of which notice
would be given to neutrals if any should
be instituted. The accustomed princi-
pies arc understood to mean, that there
shall be an adequate naval force applied
actually to the objects of blockade with
out any land force cooperating.
In the second, the British minister
declares that the British government
cannot agree to the demand as 2"eli-
minary to the armistice, that the British
government shoald desist from its anci-
ent practice of impressing British sea-
men from the merchant ships of a TO
reign state, simply or the assurance that
a law shall be passed hereafter to prchi-
bit the employment of British seamen in
the public or commercial service Of A.
merica, but he concludes in the follow
ing explicit and friendly communication,
" The British government now as here
tofore is ready to receive from the So
vernment of the United States and ami
cably to discuss any proposition which
processes to have in view either to check
abuse in the exercise of the prac-
tiee of impressment, or TO accom-.
hksh by means less liable 10 veration,
the object for svhicA imhressme"s has
huherts been found neeessary," but they
Cannot consent to suspend the exercise
OF a right upon which the naval strength
OF the empire mainly depends, until they
are convinced that means can he devised,
and will be adopted, by which the object
to be obtained by the exercise of that
right, can be cfFcctually secured.
Upon this subject, it is well known
Mr.. Foster informed our government
that the British was willing to treat
but at that time, the orders in council
being in force, the overture was not &C.
cepted.
This was the state Of things on the
2eth of August last, and there seems to
be wanting only sincere and we'll direct
ed endeavors on the part of the Presi
lent to put an end to the unhappy war
which afflicts the country: Since this
period nothing has occurred as a new
obstacle to peace. On the contrary Sc
cretaIy Monroe in his answer to Admi-
raj Warren, offers to treat on the sub
lect of impressment without an armis-
tice, and in the present state Of war to
endeaver to make an arrangement salts.
factory to both parties, which being done
| it would be inferred from his letter that
all other differences could be easily set
| tied.
1t is extremely to be feared, that Ad