Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-15
Mr.. FosrER 70 uR. @owaoE.
WAsnlxcron. Nav 30. 1a12.


SIR-Notwithstanding the discouraging
nature Of the conversation which had the
honor to have with you few days since ut
your Office, and the circumstance of your
Continued silence in regard to two letters
from me furnishing additional proof of the
existence of the French DEGREES, neverthe-
less there does now appear such clear and
convincing evidence in the report of the
Duke Of Bassano dated the 10th of March
of the present year of those DEGREES having
not only never been rescindcd, but Of their
being recently extended and aggravated in
the republication of them Contained in that
instrument, that cannot but imagine it will
seem most important 10 the President that
it should be communicated to Congress with
out delay, in the present interesting crisis of
their deliberations. and therefore hasten to
fulfil the INSTRUCTIONS of my government in
laying before the go, eminent of the United
States the enclosed Moniteur of the 10th of
last March, in which is contained that re-
port as it was made to the ruler of France
and communicated TO the Conservative Sc
nate.
This report confirms, if any thing were
wanting to confirm, IN the most unequivocal
manner, the repeated assertions of Great
Britain that the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
have never been revoked, however some
partial and insidious rclaXations Of them
may have been made in few instances as
an encouragement to America TO adopt
system beneficial % France and injurious 70
Great Britain, while the conditions on which
| alone it has been declared that those DEGREES
will ever he revoked are here explained and
amplified in a manner to leave US no hope
Bonaparte having any disposition torenounce
the system ofinjustice which be has pursued
| so as to make it possible for Great Britain
| to give up the defensive measures she has
been obliged to resort to.
/ need not remind you, sir, how often il has
in vain been urged by Great Britain that q
| copy of the instrument should be produced
| by which the DEGREES Of Bcnapafte were
| said to be repealed, how much It has been
| desired that America should explicitly state
that she did not adopt the conditions on
| which the repeal was offered.
1t is now manifest that there was never
more than a conditional offer OF repeal made
| BIZ France which we had right to com
| plain that America should have asked us to
recognize as absolute, and winch II accept
ed in its exte1tb by America would only have
formed fresh matter of complaint and new
/ ground for declining her demands.
America must feel that it IS impossible for
1 Great Britain to reScind her orders IN coun-
! Gil whilst the French DEGREES are officially
| declared to re 4ain IN force against All natl
ons not subscribing tn the new maritime code
| promulgated n those deGrees, and also with
out something more explicit ON the part OF
| America with regard to her understanding
as to the conditions annexed by France to
| the repeal q those DEGREES. For, after what
has passed, unless full and satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION be made on both these points,
| Great Britain cannot relinquish her retail
atory system against France, without IMPLY
ing her consent TO the admissibiIity OF the
Conditions in question.
/ These observations will, am sure, APP
pear sufficiently obvious to you, ST, on pc
rusiHg the inclosed paper.
Ii viii be at once acknowledged that thi.
paper IS republication OF the Berlin ard
| Milan DEGREES, in more aggravated form
accompanied as it is With Az extension Of all
che obhoxicus doctrines winch attend those
| 0ccrces, innamed by q declaration tilat Bo-
naparte has anBexod 70 Franse every inde.