148 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., 



merce to all the World. It will scarcely be denied, that this relaxa- 

 tion was dictated by a wise regard for the peculiar wants of those 

 Islands. 



The Undersigned takes this occasion, &c. 



Lo'iis M'LANE. 



The Et. Hon. THE EARL OF ABERDEEN, K. T. 



Mr. McLane to the Earl of Aberdeen. 



9 CHANDOS-STREET, PORTLAND PLACE, 



12th July, 1830. 



The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo- 

 tentiary from The United States has had the honour already, in a 

 personal Conference, to explain to the Earl of Aberdeen, His Maj- 

 esty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, certain 

 Measures adopted by the Congress of The United States, during 

 their late Session, which have an immediate and important bearing 

 on the relations of the two Countries, and upon the Proposition 

 heretofore submitted by the Undersigned, respecting the West India 

 Trade. Having received from the Earl of Aberdeen an intimation 

 of the propriety of communicating those Measures in a more formal 

 manner, the Undersigned has the honour, herewith, to transmit such 

 information on the subject, as he is now in possession of. 



The first of the Measures alluded to, is an Act of Congress of The 

 United States, authorizing the President, in the recess of Congress, 

 to annul all the restrictive and discriminating Measures of The 

 United States, and to open the Ports to British Vessels trading with 

 the British West Indies, in the manner particularly pointed out in 

 the Act, a Copy of which, for the better explanation of the case, the 

 Undersigned begs leave to subjoin. 



******* 



It is a voluntary and leading step, in the conciliating policy of the 

 two Nations, taken in disdain of the restraints of form; and which, 

 if met in a corresponding spirit, cannot fail to produce that friendly 

 intercourse and real harmony, so ardently desired by those who con- 

 sult the true interests and glory of both Countries. 



It concedes, in its terms, all the power in the regulation of the 

 Colonial trade, and authorizes the President to confer on British 

 Vessels all the privileges, as well in the circuitous, as the direct 

 voyage, which Great Britain has at any time demanded or desired. 

 It has done this in the only manner in which it was possible for Con- 

 gress, at the present moment, and, under existing circumstances, to 

 act, without a total abandonment of even those advantages conceded 

 by the present Regulations of Great Britain, and without raising 

 up new interests to oppose or obstruct the favourable disposition ex- 

 pressed by this Government. 



Nor will the Undersigned conceal his hope and belief, that this 

 act will stamp the Negotiation with a new and more favourable char- 

 acter; and that The United States, having thus taken the first step, 

 and particularly defined the terms of their Legislation, the mode of 

 adjustment may be disencumbered of even those objections with which 



