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fore proceeding to the signature of the subsisting convention of friendship, commerce and navigation, between the two countries, that the omission to provide in the treaty for the indemnities due to citizens of the United States, in consequence of the seizure, detention, and condemnation of their property in his Majesty's ports, was not thereafter to be interpreted into an abandonment of them by the Government of the United States, which, on the contrary, was firmly resolved to persevere in the pursuit of them, until they should be finally arranged upon principles of equity and justice; and to guard against any misconception of the fact of the silence of the treaty in this particular, or of the views of the American Government, Mr Pedersen was requested by Mr Secretary Clay to transmit that declaration to the Government of Denmark. In Mr Pedersen's reply to the official note containing this declaration, he acknowledges its reception, and engages to transmit the same to his Government, which, it is understood, was actually done, with the ratification of the American Government, to which both notes were subjoined, as forming a part of the treaty itself, and as evidence of the solemn condition upon which that ratification was made and exchanged.

The undersigned is now authorized and instructed to state to their excellencies the Danish commissioners, in the most earnest manner, but with all the respect which is due to a friendly power, that the present Executive of the United States will not

be wanting in all suitable exertions to make good that declaration.

The undersigned is also instructed to inform the Danish ministers, that any arrangement of this important subject, which may be made by way to compromise, will be still more satisfactory to the President, if concluded in time to be laid before the Senate of the United States for ratification during the present session of Congress.

The undersigned forbears from pressing upon the attention of his Majesty's commissioners all those considerations growing out of the mutual relations between the two countries, which might be urged in favor of a prompt and satisfactory adjustment of the only subject of difference which could possibly interrupt the harmony which it is the unquestionable desire of the Government of each nation to cherish and invigorate. All these considerations will readily suggest themselves to the minds of their excellencies. The undersigned will, therefore, only add the assurance of his own personal anxiety to contribute by all honorable and proper means, his humble efforts to strengthen the ties of friendship which so happily exist between the Republic he has the honor to represent, and a Government for which he feels the sincerest respect.

The undersigned seizes this occasion to renew to their excellencies, his Majesty's commissioners, the assurances of his very distinguished consideration.

H. WHEATON. To their Excellencies the Danish Com

missioners.

Correspondence relating to the Arrangement of the Trade between the U. S. and the British Colonies.

Mr McLane to Mr Van Buren.
London, November 14, 1829.

THE absence of Mr Vezy Fitzgerald, the President of the Board of Trade, until the 1st instant, deprived me of the opportunity of an interview with him until the 3d and 4th; and the absence from town, and other engagements, of Lord Aberdeen, necessarily postponed any further conversation with him until yesterday. With him I had an interview yesterday, by appointment, and again discussed the subject of the colonial trade, and the objections urged by this Government to any change, for the present, in their colonial regulations.

In addition to what I have already cominunicated in my former despatches, the principal objections to a renewal of the offer of the trade to the United States upon the terms of the act of Parliament of 1825, or to make any change in the present regulations, appear to be the impracticability of changing their policy at the present period, without any alteration in the state of things in the United States; and it is made a serious ground of complaint that the late administration, failing to embrace the terms offered to the United States in common with other nations, resented a measure occasioned by their own wrong, by a heavy, and, what is here denominated an unparalleled retaliation upon the trade and commerce of Great Britain between their colonies and the U. States.

This Government supposes, moreover, that a great portion of

the trade with the British West India Islands, now carried on through the neutral entrepots, and all of that passing through the British possessions in North America, is on British account, and by British subjects, who have thus einbarked their capital, relying upon their Government to adhere to the terms of the act of 1825, and the order in council consequent thereon. All these objections are allowed to have more weight than they really deserve, and the last is urged by the interest to which it relates, aided by those concerned in navigation, with great zeal and activity, and with considerable influence.

After the fullest and most laborious discussion of all these topics, I am perfectly satisfied that no adjustment of this question, which does not remove or obviate these objections, can be made, at least for the present. Of this, the decided opinions uniformly expressed by each member of the Government with whom I have conducted the negotiation, leaves no doubt. Therefore, in my last interview with the President of the Board of Trade, and in that with Lord Aberdeen yesterday, I shaped my propositions in such manner as to get rid, as far as possible, what are absolutely insuperable difficulties to any adjustment whatsoever.

This might be done by reverting to the state of things, so far as respects our colonial regulations, existing at the date of the

British act of Parliament of 1825, and doing by legislation now, what ought to have been done then, and which I professed myself willing to recommend to my Government, if I could be assured that such measures would be immediately followed by a revocation of the British order in council, and the extension to the United States of the advantages of the act of Parliament of 1825. To this view of the subject, presented strictly in accordance with the spirit and letter of my instructions, Lord Aberdeen declined giving a final answer until he could submit it to a cabinet council, which was expected to, and indeed did, take place yesterday.

Mr McLane to Mr Van Buren.

London, November 22, 1830.

I forwarded you by the last despatch, the copy of a schedule of duties proposed by Mr Herries, the late President of the Board of Trade, in relation to their colonial trade. At that time, I had reason to believe that this measure, recommended under the influence of the ministry, would probably pass with little material attention. The recent Occurrences, however, have changed these expectations, and I am now inclined to believe, that, if it pass at all, it will previously undergo some very material modifications more favorable to our interest in the colonial trade.

So far as we have a right to interfere, in any way, with the legislation of this Government in its colonial trade, I shall not be insensible either to the spirit of the arrangement recently concluded,

or to the general interests of our citizens.

It ought not to escape you, however, that, although until further legislation on this subject by the British Government, the trade will be carried on according to the recent arrangement, yet that, by the act of 7th of George IV, passed subsequently of course to that of 1825, but before the date of the order in council of 27th July, 1826, the free warehousing system, in the northern ports, for American flour, was authorized, and that article might be taken there, in British ships, to the West Indies, at a duty of 1 shilling per barrel. That act was general, and nominally applicable even to those nations who had complied with the conditions of the act of 1825, and was in operation when Mr Gallatin and Mr Barbour renewed their negotiation. How far we can, with propriety, oppose the present bill, under these circumstances, is not entirely clear, even if the interests of our commerce required it. I need only add that the whole subject will command my constant attention.

Mr McLane to Mr Van Buren.

London, December 14, 1829.

Finding myself unable, in the course of my verbal conferences with this Government, to obtain a definitive answer to the propositions I submitted for an arrangement of the colonial trade, I determined to ask for it by letter, that I might be able to announce the views of this Government in a more formal manner.

I accordingly addressed a letter to Lord Aberdeen, on the 12th instant, and, having this day received his answer, I have the honor to enclose, herewith, copies both of my letter and his.

Mr McLane to Mr Van Buren.
London, March 22, 1830.

I have the honor to forward, herewith, a copy of my note to Lord Aberdeen, of the 16th instant, requesting the answer of this Government, without longer delay, to my letter of the 12th December last.

In my official depatch, No. 6, of the 14th December, 1 informed you that, until the decision of this Government should be known, I should continue to enforce the views of the President as often as it might conduce to a favorable result. I have accordingly done so, in repeated conferences with the Duke of Wellington, Lord Aberdeen, and Mr Herries.

From the general character of my interviews with these ministers, I did not doubt that their desire for delay was compatible with a disposition to reciprocate the liberal views by which the President is actuated. I therefore felt authorized, by your letter of instructions of the 27th December, to acquiesce in it as long as that could be done without risking the adjournment of Congress.

I did not imagine that any hazard would be incurred, if I were enabled to communicate the result by the packet of the 24th instant; and I accordingly, in all my interviews, urged an answer

in season for that opportunity. Receiving, in the course of my various conferences, more than one suggestion of the propriety of committing to paper, for the purpose of more ready reference, some of the general considerations connected with the present state of the negotiation, and in reply to the principal objections to a favorable adjustment, I eventually determined to do so, in the form of a note, which should, at the same time, make a last request for the decision of this Government. At the time of presenting this note, I repeated my desire to have the answer before this day; but I regret to add that it has not yet come, and that I shall, consequently, be prevented from forwarding any result whatever before the packet of the 1st April, which may possibly not arrive before Congress rises.

Under these circumstances, my note to Lord Aberdeen will fully inform you of the present state of the negotiation, and the general character of the measures which I have felt it proper, conjecturally, to state, as likely to follow a decision on the part of this Government.

There certainly ought to be no motive with this Government longer to delay their answer, unless that of ultimately assenting to an arrangement; and the United States ought not to lose, for a year, the opportunity of their legislation, in the event of a rejection of their proposition. In this view, I take leave to suggest that it may not, perhaps, be in expedient, in case the packet of 1st April should be delayed, to

provide for a decision in the recess, by a prospective legislation, authorizing the President, in case of an arrangement, to comply with the terms, on our part, by his proclamation; or, by similar means, to execute the views of Congress in the event of an unfavorable decision.

Mr McLane to Mr Van Buren.

London, November 13, 1830. I informed you by my despatch, number 25, dated the 6th instant, that some attempt would probably be immediately made by this Government, by revising their system of colonial duties, to reconcile their northern provinces to the restoration of the direct trade with the West Indies. I have now the honor to forward a schedule of duties which contains the scheme of the ministers for this purpose, and I look to its final adoption without any material change.

It will be found to be less unfavorable to our trade than I had reason to apprehend at the date of my despatch of the 6th of April last, (No. 15) which was communicated to Congress previously to the passing of the act of the late session, of the 29th May, and perhaps not more unfavorable than, in my despatch of the 20th August, I led you to expect it would be.

The total repeal of the duty upon bread, in every form, and upon the lower qualities of bread stuffs, peas, beans, rye, calavances, oats, barley, rice, and live stock, and the admission of salted provisions at the duty of twelve

shillings per cwt. confer important advantages which we have never before enjoyed in the trade; and the augmentation of the duties upon other articles will tend rather to increase the price to the planter than to diminish the amount of the supply from the United States.

Mr Van Buren to Mr McLane. Department of State, Washington, November 27, 1830.

SIR: The act of Parliament, of 24th June, 1822, (3 Geo. IV. c. 44,) contained, section third, a provision allowing certain articles therein specified to be imported from the continent of North America, &c., into certain enumerated ports in the British West Indies, in vessels of the country of which such articles are the growth, produce, or manufacture; provided no articles should be so imported, unless shipped and brought directly from the country or place of which they are the growth, produce, or manufacture.'

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The act of 5th July, 1825 'to regulate the trade of the British possessions abroad,' recites, that, whereas, by the law of navigation,' (6 Geo. IV., cap. 109, s. 11,) foreign ships are permitted to import into any of the British possessions abroad, from the countries to which they belong, goods, the produce of those countries,' &c, and the law of navigation referred to in the foregoing, section 11, regulating importations in foreign vessels into the British possessions in America, is in the following words; And be it further enacted, that

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