cession, on the subject of impressment, on board the merchant vessels of the United States, upon which Mr. Canning already knew the opinion and feeling of our government. Mr. Canning replied, that the proclamation was not intended to have that effect, that it was simply a statement of the principles and practice, upon the points to which it relates, which the British government understood to be warranted by publick law, and long established usage; that such a statement did not exclude the idea of amicable discussion and adjustment with a power which favoured a different doctrine, and sought for the introduction of a different practice; that as it did no more than declare with truth and precision the past and actual state of their rules upon these interesting points, no more was done by it to shut the door against negotiation and arrangement with the United States, than would have been done without it by the mere operation of the rules themselves, of which it was declaratory; that while in this view it could have no inconvenient effect, it was manifestly useful, and imperiously required in another; that it was indispensably necessary for the information of their naval commanders, especially upon distant stations, who, after what had lately happened, would, without some such guide, be at a loss to know how to regulate their conduct, and would thus be exposed to the perpetual hazard either of falling short of their duty or of exceeding it, in matters of the highest moment; that it was so far from being meant to wear an unfriendly appearance, or to increase the difficulties in the way of a good understanding with our country, that it was believed by his majesty's government to exhibit their disposition to conciliation in a way not to be mistaken, and to facilitate the establishment of such an understanding; that the proclamation had been prepared nearly three months ago, but had not been published until it was ascertained that the subject of it could not be affected by any negotiation of which the result could soon be known; that the effect of Mr. Rose's mission, whatever might be hoped, could not appear for some months, and that in the mean time it seemed to be proper, that without changing the state of things to the prejudice of either party, their navy should not be left to conjecture their duty on subjects of such delicacy and importance, upon which so much had occurred to produce misconception and irritation; that it was impossible to consider in connection his (Mr. Canning's) first note to Mr. Monroe, upon the receipt of intelligence of the affair of the Leopard and Chesapeake, the promptitude with which the king's government had disavowed an intention of asserting a claim to search national ships for deserters, the explicit prohibition of such a practice in the proclamation, at a time when it was very general. ly maintained by the press, and notoriously countenanced by publick opinion, as lawful, expedient and essential, and the mission which was about to proceed to the United States, without being persuaded that, in the transaction in question, the views of government were of the most friendly character. These explanations were followed by others of a less satisfactory description. He said in the progress of the conversation, that he ought not to leave us under the impression, that there was any prospect that the government of Great Britain could recede from its declared pretensions relative to searching on the high seas the merchant ships of neutral nations for British seamen; that the present state of the world, and the nature and mode of that hostility which France was now waging against this country, of which the great instrument was avowed to be the systematick exclusion of the trade, productions, and manufactures of Great Britain and her colonies, from their usual market, rendered it to the last degree hazardous, if not absolutely impracticable, to stipulate for the abandonment of a practice to which the navy and the people of England attach so much importance, even although the government should itself be persuaded that it might be done with safety. We endeavoured to impress upon Mr. Canning, the unfortunate influence which such views and sentiments could not fail to have upon any negotiation which might be attempted, in whatever form, between the two countries; but although his manner was as conciliatory as it could be, he did not allow us to believe, that these sentiments would be relinquished, or consequently that Mr. Rose would have powers upon the general topick of impress ment. We have not since heard from Mr. Canning, but we are every moment in expectation of an appointment for another interview. We deem it to be so important that you should be in possession of the foregoing details, before the government of the United States takes its course relative to Mr. Rose's mission, that we have determined to send this despatch by Mr. Rose himself, who is so good as to offer to take charge of our letters. As he sails immediately in a frigate now at Portsmouth, the presumption is, that he will arrive before Mr. Monroe, who will sail in a few days in the Augustus for Norfolk. We shall add in a postcript any thing that shall occcur before Mr. Rose leaves town. We have the honour to be, &c. JAMES MONROE, P. S. Mr. Canning's note (erroneously dated on the 17th, instead of the 15th instant,) of which a copy is enclosed, states the existence of a mutual understanding between him and us, "by which, on the receipt of the first accounts of the unfortunate encounter between the Leopard and the Chesapeake, we agreed to confine our official discussions to that single subject, until it should be finally adjusted." It may not be improper to mention, although the fact is of no real importance, that this statement is inaccurate. Upon the receipt of intelligence, that the proposed treaty of December last was not likely to be accepted by our government, there was an understanding (as heretofore explained to you) that it might be necessary to suspend our proceedings, until the arrival of more precise information upon that point, and perhaps until the arrival of our instructions. Mr. Canning confounds that epoch with the more recent one to which he alludes. His conduct, in forbearing to press our negotiation after the affair of the Chesapeake was known, was undoubtedly such as we approved and desired, but it did not arise out of any agreement with us. P. S. October 24. We received yesterday evening a note from Mr. Canning, dated the 22d, transmitting the answer of this government to our note of the 24th July. Copies of these are enclosed. JAMES MONROE, Mr. Canning to Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney. Foreign Office, October 17, 1807. GENTLEMEN,-The mutual understanding, by which, on the receipt of the first accounts of the unfortunate encounter between the Leopard and the Chesapeake, we agreed to confine our official discussions to that single subject, until it should be finally adjusted, has alone prevented me from returning long ago an official answer to your note of the 24th of July. The nature of Mr. Monroe's instructions has unfortunately precluded that settlement which his majesty's government so anxiously desired, of the question respecting the Chesapeake by negotiation between that gentleman and myself. But that question being now put into a train of separate adjustment, by the appointment of a minister on the part of his majesty to proceed to America for that special purpose, and the return of Mr. Monroe to America making it necessary that you should be apprized of the sentiments of his majesty's government, as to the state in which the treaty signed by you and his majesty's commissioners, on the 31st of December last, is left by the refusal of the President of the United States to ratify that instrument, I have to request a conference with you for that purpose, previous to Mr. Monroe's departure. I have the honour to be, &c. GEORGE CANNING. Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney to Mr. Canning. London, October 18, 1807. SIR,-In our interview of yesterday you requested that we would explain the ground of the opinion which is expressed in our letter to you of July 24, that the occasion which induced the British commissioners to present to us the note of the 31st of December preceding, had ceased to exist. We hasten to comply with that request, as we shall do to give an explanation of any other passage in that letter which you may desire. We were of opinion, at the time when the British commissioners presented to ns that paper, that the decree of the government of France, to which it related, ought not to be considered applicable to the United States, because such a construction was plainly repugnant to the treaty subsisting between the United States and France, and likewise because the decree might be understood to relate only to France, and the dominions subject to her arms. We alluded, however, in our letter of July 24, to circumstances which had occurred since the date of the decree, as fixing unequivocally an interpretation of it which we at first supposed to be reasonable. Great anxiety having been excited by a different construction, which many believed the decree to be susceptible of, the minister of the United States at Paris requested of the minister of marine, who was charged with its execution, an explanation of the sense in which it was understood by his government, who assured him that it was not intended that it should in any degree interfere with the provisions of the treaty of 1800, between the United States and France. We relied also upon the fact, not only that no countenance had been given by any practice or judicial decision in France to a different construction, but that the practice was in precise conformity with the view above suggested; and that, in a cause, in which the question had been formally brought into discussion, the court had sanctioned the conclusion, that the treaty between the two nations was to be exactly fulfilled, and that the decree was to be so construed as not to infringe it. We think it proper to confine ourselves to the explanation which you have desired of the passage alluded to in our former letter, and not to enter in this communication, in any other respect, on the subject of the paper with which it is unnected. We have the hononr to be, &c. JAMES MONROE, Mr. Canning to Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney. Foreign GENTLEMEN,-The considerations which have hitherto suspended our communication on the subject of the |