The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
 |
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Dear Sir,—Herewith you will receive a packet,
which being wrapt up in a large one for me, from the
and not observed before the rider had set out.
I find myself under the mortifying necessity of
setting out to-morrow morning for Washington. The
intricate state of our affairs with England, produced
by the mixture of fraud and folly in her late conduct,
and the important questions to be decided as to the
legal effect of the failure of the arrangement of April
on our commercial relations with her, are thought
by the Heads of Dept to require that I should join
them.[8]
The main question is, whether the nonintercourse
comes into force agst England, thereby putting her
on the same footing with France.
You will see by the instructions to Erskine, as published
by Canning, that the latter was as much determined
that there should be no adjustment as the
former was that there should be one. There must,
however, have been other instructions, comprehending
the case of the Chesapeake, and other communications
from Canning accompanying the British
orders of Apl 26, as referred to in Erskine's quieting
declaration last made to Mr. Smith. I believe, also,
that Erskine's letter to Canning, not disclosed by the
latter, will not warrant his ascribing to Erskine the
statement of conversations with Mr. G[allatin], Mr.
S[mith], and myself. Pinkney will also disavow
what Canning has put into his mouth.
I presume, from letters which reached me yesterday,
that Mr. Smith has communications from Paris
as late as the 10 or 12 of June; whether by the return
of Mr. Coles or another conveyance is uncertain.
The disavowal in England reached Paris the day
after the arrival of the arrangemt transmitted by
Mr. Gelston. Our affairs with France had taken
no decided turn; owing, as alledged, to the absence
and occupation of the Emperor. The return of
Gelston will probably put us in possession of a final
estimate.
Accept my sincerest respect & attacht.
Erskine wrote to Secretary Smith:
"Washington July 31st, 1809.
"Sir,
"I have the Honor to inclose to you a Copy of an Order, which
was passed by His Majesty in Council on the 24th of May last.
"In communicating this Order, it is with the deepest Regret that I
have to inform you that His Majesty has not thought proper to confirm
the late provisional Agreement which I had entered into with you
on the part of our respective Governments.
"Neither the present time, nor the occasion will afford me a favourable
Opportunity for explaining to you the Grounds and Reasons upon
which I conceived I had conformed to His Majesty's Wishes; and
to the Spirit, at least, of my Instructions upon that Subject—nor,
indeed, would any vindication of my Conduct, (whatever I may have
to offer) be of any Importance further than as it might tend to shew
that no Intention existed on my part to practice any Deception towards
the Government of the United States.
"I have the Satisfaction, however, to call your Attention to that
part of the inclosed Order, which protects the Commerce and Shipping
of the United States, from the Injury and Inconveniences, which
might have arisen to American Citizens from a reliance on the provisional
Agreement beforementioned; and I cannot but cherish a Hope
that no further bad Consequences may result from an Arrangement,
which I had fully believed would have met with His Majesty's Approbation,
and would have led to a complete and cordial Understanding,
between the two Countries.
"With Sentiments of the highest Respect and Consideration,
"I have the honor" &c.—D. of S. MSS. Notes.
| The writings of James Madison, | |