Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-06-12


reciprocity of advantages in those relations.
But although an official declaration Ofthe Em-
peror s intention and readiness to conclude a
treaty ON such principles may be fairly taken
as an adoption of the principles; yet consi-
dering the irritation of the public mind in the
United States, arising from recent injuries,
and the difficulty with which it can be brought
TO believe in a change of system so suddenly
adopted and So vaguely announced, / thought
it best TO obtain, if possible, a more precise
declaration as to certain points which had
created so much difficulty.
{" Accordingly / asked an interview with
the Duke for the 2Sth. ] went to him on that
day with a paper in my hand, of which | here
enclose a translation.
Ny intention was TO induce him to sign
that paper, or the principles it contained, eI
ther in its present form or such other form as
he might deem more consonant with the dig
nifty OF his government, such as putting them
into the aIswer to a letter which | might
write him, if he should think that the most
elig bic method.
After we had read over the paper together,
and / had explained the motives Of my propo-
sition, lac replied that every one Of those prin-
cipies was adopted by the Emperor and would
enter into the treaty, and therefore it would
be useless to announce them in d separate de
claration endeavored to convince him Of
the a0vsn'a gcs that would result to France as
wei Us 10 Tie u. States from an immediate
restoration OF confidence among the Ameri-
can merchants. The great want of -Four in
France ~ well as Spain, and the acculnula-
ton Of French produce perishlng on hand for
want Of foreign were sufficient
reasons for SEEING the first occasion not in
consistent with the Emperor's general system,
for giving activity to neutral capital in the
ports Of the empire.
Z" He then copied the heads of my paper and
said he would lay the proposition before the
Emperor, and give me an answer the next
day. | did not however get this answer till
last night. He then invited me to an inter
view and, after reading over the paper as
before, and commenting on every clause. he
declared the Emperor's decision precisely TO
the following effect " 1t is not proper for me
to sign this declaration but you may notify
it to your government, word for word, as if it
were signed for the principles are all adopt
ed, and from this day forward they will be in
operation. | have given the order to the
chief of the customs for what concerns his de-
partment the court OF prizes is ordered to
expedite its part of the business, and | shall
instruct the consuls to give the certificates of
origin But you will observe this regards on
ly the produce of the u. States. Colonial
produce cannot for the present be admitted,
even in a French vessel, on a simple certili-
cate of origin, without a special licence."
" then desired him to cause one more or
der to be given from the proper department,
to the effect of depressing the rapacity of pri-
vateers. Toe emperor owed it to his own dig
nifty to order his courts to subject, at least, to
cost and damages, the owners Of such priva-
teers as should capture innocent ships without
a pretext, a business that was long known to
be carried on, as well it might be under the
present sys,em of certain impunity, with the
sure prospect OF a great deal of partial plum
der, and lie hope OF an advantageous compro
mise with the claimants. lie acknowledged
that something ought to be done in the case
:" ANS observation on colonial produce in
duced me TO bring up again the subject OF spe-
clal licences, repeating what | had often sa
ted before, tire Just objection that the Pro4i
dene had instructed me to insist upon against
that system. He said thatifthe President de-
sired it, 1t should be discontinued but they
hau not yet been able to find a substitute lie
declared to me, as ne has often done before.
that the Emperor would do any thing on this
SUI jeCt that should be most Agreeable to the
u. states, provided it did not open a dsor to
tne ntroduction Of English produce.
*. always insists upon it that the special
licences are u clear advantage, as far as they
8, ~ the m and navigation OF the U.
States. The system is an extension OF favor
to them inasmuch as it relaxes the principle
OF the French navigation act, which conine.
toe carry Ing trade Of tie colonies to French
ships.
lie added that the Emperor did not pre-.
tend that this was out of pure friendship to the
Americans. +" We have need Of coffee and
sugar. We can get our supply in this way,
but if you can point out anot her that shall be