PERTAINING TO UNRATIFIED TREATY OF 1806. 97 



had contended for, and expected to have obtained ; we persuade our- 

 selves, however, that the great object which was contemplated by any 

 arrangement of the subject, will result from that which has been 

 made. The article in the treaty, in connexion with the causes which 

 produced it, forms an interesting occurrence in the history of our 

 country, which cannot fail to produce the most salutary consequences. 

 It is fair to presume, that the sentiment of respect which Great 

 Britain has shown by this measure for the United States, will be felt 

 and observed in future by her squadrons in their conduct on our coast, 

 and in our bays and harbors. It is equally fair to presume, that the 

 example of consideration which it affords in their favor, by a nation 

 so vastly preponderant at sea, will be followed by other Powers. 

 ******* 



We have the honor to be, with great consideration and esteem, sir, 

 your most obedient servants, 



JAS. MONROE 



PlNCKNEY. 



Mr. Madison to Messrs. Monroe and Pinhney. 



DEPARTMENT OF STATE, February 3, 1807. 



GENTLEMEN : The triplicate of your communications of November 

 llth has just been received. Those of September llth had been pre- 

 viously received in due time. 



The turn which the negotiation has taken was not expected, and 

 excites as much of regret as disappointment. The conciliatory spirit 

 manifested on both sides, with the apparent consistency of the inter- 

 ests of Great Britain, with the right of the American flag, touching 

 impressments, seemed to promise as much success to your efforts on 

 that subject as on the others; and notwithstanding the perseverance 

 of the British cabinet in resisting your reasonable propositions, the 

 hope is not abandoned that a more enlightened and enlarged policy 

 will finally overcome scruples, which doubtless proceed more from 

 habits of opinion and official caution than from an unbiased regard to 

 all the considerations which enter into the true merits of the question. 



In the meantime, the President has, with all those friendly and 

 conciliatory dispositions which produced your mission and pervade 

 your instructions, weighed the arrangement held out in your last let- 

 ter, which contemplates a formal adjustment of the other topics under 

 discussion, and an informal understanding only on that of impress- 

 ment. The result of his deliberations which I am now to state to 

 you, is, that it does not comport with his views of the national senti- 

 ment or the legislative policy, that any treaty should be entered into 

 with the British Government which, whilst on every point it is either 

 limited to or short of strict right, would include no article providing 

 for a case which, both in principle and in practice, is so feelingly 

 connected with the honor and the sovereignty of the nation, as well 

 as with its fair interests, and indeed with the peace of both nations. 



The President thinks it more eligible, under all circumstances, that 

 if no satisfactory or formal stipulation on the subject of impressment 

 be attainable, the negotiation should be made to terminate without 

 any formal compact whatever, -but with a mutual understanding, 



