The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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Monday, Feby 22. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
Monday, Feby 22.
Mr. Rose having signified by a note last evening, a wish for
an interview to-day, 2 oc. was named when he called for the
purpose.
His object appeared to be to express his hopes that a failure
of our negociations, might be still consistent with a future adjustment,
either here or in Engd and to speak of the difficulty
under which he should find himself in making known to
his Govt the points on which the failure wd have taken place;
as he could not give this explanation, after a refusal of his
preliminary, witht showing that he had departed from his
instructions. With these remarks he mingled expressions of
much solicitude that no unfavorable inferences might be
drawn from the obstacles arising from his instructions, and
that he might be instrumental in promoting a removal of
them, which he thought he could best do by personal communications
at London.
It was observed to him, that without meaning to express
his Govt understand the points on which the business failed,
by intimating that there were sufficient indications that if
the preliminary had been complied with or got over, the views
entertained by the Govt on those points wd have necessarily
produced a failure. It was intimated also that the place most
proper in itself for adjusting the matter was here, not in
G. B. and that the propriety was strengthened by what had passed.
If, in the first instance, London had been proposed, it was
with a view to hasten the result.
Mutual observations were made pointing out the inconveniences
of referring the subject to a settlement under new
instructions: His attention was drawn to the experiments
which had been made to avoid delay, and it was repeated to
him that there was still a willingness to write a letter detached
from & subject to an acceptance of the reparation, in
which the principles & practice of the U. S. in the case of Deserters
could be stated; with the addition now authorized,
that an order had issued for discharging from the pub. ships
all British subjects. It was remarked that could not be mentioned
but in a certain way, such as such a letter wd admit,
because the order was not the result of either legal obligation
or of example; his Govt instantly refusing to discharge
Americans voluntarily accepting a bounty.
He manifested satisfaction at this course, & signified that
it could not fail to make agreeable impressions & promote
salutary objects. He was reminded that this was more than
his instructions aimed at: and it was for him to decide how
far it wd balance the objections to a departure from the letter
of them.
He professed to be gratified with the spirit of the conversation
but without any apparent change in the course he was to
pursue, and retired with an understanding, that I wd see him
at any time he might wish to resume it.
| The writings of James Madison, | |