144 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., 



Islands, because it was required by a due regard to her interests. 

 That being ascertained, no consideration of form or matter of feeling 

 was allowed to interfere. What good reason can be assigned why the 

 same should not be done for the maintenance of greater interests, and 

 under more eligible circumstances? Should that mode, however, be 

 declined, it is hoped that the only remaining one will be adopted 

 without hesitation. 



I will add nothing as to the impropriety of suffering any feelings 

 that find their origin in the past pretensions of this Government to 

 have an adverse influence upon the present conduct of Great Britain. 



Without such an assurance on her part, your Mission, so far as 

 relates to the Colonial Trade, must be wholly inoperative. If this re- 

 sult is produced by a real change of opinion on the part of the 

 British Ministry, with respect to the reciprocal advantages of the 

 Trade, and a determination to exclude The United States from it, in 

 order to promote her own interests, and that is frankly and promptly 

 avowed, the whole matter will be at least intelligibly concluded. If, 

 however, they are not prepared to take this ground, but suffer them- 

 selves to desire that The United States should, in expiation of sup- 

 posed past encroachments, be driven to the necessity of retracting 

 their legislative steps, without knowledge of its effect, and wholly de- 

 pendent upon the indulgence of Great Britain, they cannot be in- 

 sensible of the extreme improbability that any further measure will 

 be taken by Congress, before whom (in the event alluded to) it would 

 probably be the pleasure of the President to lay the whole matter. 



M. VAN BUEEN. 



Louis McLANE, Esq. 



Mr. McLane to the Earl of Aberdeen. 



9 CHANDOS STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, 



12th December, 1829. 

 My LORD: 



I had flattered myself with the hope of receiving, before this time, 

 a decisive Answer from His Majesty's Government to the Proposi- 

 tions which I had the honour to make, some time since, for an ar- 

 rangement of the Trade between The United States and the British 

 American Colonies; but while I regret the delay that has taken place, 

 I am aware that it has hitherto been unavoidable. In the hope, how- 

 ever, that, after the various conversations which I have had the 

 honour to hold with His Majesty's Ministers in the course of this 

 Negotiation, they may be prepared definitively, to dispose of the sub- 

 ject, I beg leave to make your Lordship the present Communication. 



In entering upon the Negotiation, I separated this from the other 

 objects of my Mission, and presented it, singly, before His Majesty's 

 Ministers, that it might receive their early consideration, and prompt 

 decision; and that I might thereby the better promote the views and 

 wishes of my Government. I early informed your Lordship of the 

 anxious desire of the President of The United States, that this ques- 

 tion may be put, immediately and entirely, at rest. In this he is in- 

 fluenced, not merely by a wish to liberate and give activity to such 



