Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-01

Extract Of Letter from a ,CvyesSoadent 1,
Washington City, to the Editor ofthe Virgn0
.irgns, dated Tuesday, May, goth, 1922
To-day, little after noon, the Presiden,
sent the following Message to Congsess, + in
serted in another part of this paper
The Documents included by this Message
consist of The Letters of Instructions to Mr..
Barlow from the Secretary of State, and of the
Letters and enclosures of Mr.. Barlow to his
Government. OF the Instructions, our readers
need hardly be told that they enjoin it on the
Minister to press France to do us right on
every point wherein she has done us wrong.
,Ir. Barlow's part ofthe documents will, for
heir novelty, be most anxiously sought for by
the curious This gentleman is, we believe,
for the first time, before his countrymen as an
cmbassadorial writer.
sIt appears that he lost no time, on his ar
rival in France, in commencing the business of
his mission.
4" His reception was friendly and fattering.
Sasssno the French Minister for foreign AZ
fairs, appeared wllin, TO listen to all he had
to say, and held out the prospect of treaty.
But something was always lnterposcd to the
perfe ction of it. In the first instance, Bon a
parte was absent in Holland put like a man
of sense, he allowed NJ. Barlow TO go on with
the objects of his mission previously to The
ceremony of "a formal Introduction. After Ma
| poleon's return to Paris, the affairs of the u.
States were postponed to the affairs OF the con-
| tinent of Europe: But, then, Bassano SAID they
| still kept sight of the American Treaty. On
| the 22d of April, however, we do not find that
any thing had been dcfaitively settled ON that
head.
From the month of September, to the
| middle of April of this year, Mr.. Barlow drew
| from Bassano only one Letter on the General
| Relations between the U. States and France.
| That Letter is very plausible one.
| "Bassano justifics the exhorbitant duties
laid in France on importations in American
vessels, by allcdging that they are no higher
| than those imposed on importations IN French
oottoms-an equality which, ,he says, is not re-
| cognizcd by the Laws of the United States in
| relation to French vessels. The emperor, he
AYERS, is perfectly willing to establish primes.
pie of reciprocity in that respect, and expire s.
SEES himself authorised to conclude treaty on
| terms recprocally liberal Bassano finishes by
saving, that the ports of France will be open TO
| American navigation if the United States car
insure the safety of their flag against the Bril-
| fish.
SON the subject of the Repeal of the Berlin
and Milan DEGREES, there is awell written Let
ter from Mr.. Barlow TO Mr.. Russell, detailing
seven cases in proof of the revocation OF those
| edicts.
"But, I will dwell no longer on the subject
full length in day or two, and thus be ena
bied amply to CRAFTY your readers"
| attended BY our correspondent Cor last Thurs
DAYS Paper, bur not received by us from the Po st
ofiSc in this City till Saturday, the 3oth May.
Extract of letter from Member of Con
gress TO the Editor, dated Washington
l May 9th, 1812-receiUed on Friday, tht
18th.
Yesterday message from the PresideH
! was communicated to Congress, together wit
extracts from correspondence between ~
Secretary of State and Mr.. Barlow, whose las
letter to the Secretary is of the date of Apr
22d. and brought over by the Hornet. Upo
. the whole, the dispatches wear better aspec
than seemed to be generally expected, befor
they were communicated. The correspondent
ces of the French Minister of exterior relation
with Mr.. Barlow. are expressed in tone of am
ty and mildness, admitting the reasonablenes
and propriety of the material point: propose
; by Mr.. Barlow, as grounds of a treaty. Hence
1 the idea of such an event, at some short per
| 3D. after the departure of the Hornet, is no
excluded by the dispatches but it would rs
ther seem that our minister entertained som
expectation Of it, as he stated that he SHOULD
detain the Wasp Sloop Of War, for some time
If the French minister and his master be nc
great aueplS-lil H9ShnceTity, tne appearances ar
in favof of such an event. have no reason
doubt bit that the important question as t
War with England will soon be brought fol-
ward-the sooner, the better. If the conduC
of France should ultimately prove to be hoi
tile, we can afterwards take a correspondent
course as to that country, in vindication of OF
commercial rights. Whether she will do us jui
tice, or establish a system Of permanent no.
tility against those rights, win soon be ascel
tanned"
II FoR THE ARGUS.
! | -. A SHORT Story FoR LONG HEADS.