COMMERCIAL AGREEMENT OF 1830. 149 



it was supposed to be embarrassed, when submitted to Lord Dudley, 



and by the Answer which, on that occasion, was given to Mr. Gallatin. 



******* 



In closing this communication to the Earl of Aberdeen, the Un- 

 dersigned will take the occasion to repeat his deep interest on the 

 subject, and a renewed hope of an early and favorable issue. The Earl 

 of Aberdeen will not fail to appreciate the spirit and motive, by 

 which the President was actuated, in recommending, and the Con- 

 gress in passing, the Act, to which allusion was first made. The 

 effects of delay upon the commercial enterprize of The United 

 States, and the disappointment of interests, desirous of a different 

 measure of Legislation, though they offered embarrassments were not 

 the greatest difficulties attendant upon that Act. 



***-**** 



If, as the Undersigned will continue to hope, the British Govern- 

 ment should find it their interest to realize these expectations, their 

 Measures will derive additional grace from the frankness and 

 promptitude with which they may be adopted; and if, unfortunately 

 these hopes are destined to experience a disappointment, it is not less 

 the duty of His Majesty's Government to quiet the public expecta- 

 tions thus excited, and to mitigate, as far as may be in its power, the 

 injurious effects thereof, by giving an early Reply to the Application 

 which, in behalf of his Government, the Undersigned has had the 

 honour to submit. The Undersigned avails himself, &c. 



Louis M'LANE. 



The Rt. Hon. the EARL OF ABERDEEN, K. T. 



The Earl of Aberdeen to Mr. McLane. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, 17th August, 1830. 



The Undersigned, &c. has the honour to acknowledge the receipt 

 of the Note of Mr. MacLane, &c., dated the 12th ultimo, communi- 

 cating certain Measures which have been adopted by Congress, with 

 a view to remove the obstacles which have hitherto impeded the re- 

 establishment of the commercial intercourse between The United 

 States and the British West India Colonies. 



Previously to the receipt of this Communication, His Majesty's 

 Government had already had under their consideration Mr. MacLane's 

 Note of the 16th March last, explanatory of the Proposition contained 

 in his Letter of the 12th December, 1829, with reference to the 

 same subject; and the Undersigned assures Mr. MacLane, that His 

 Majesty's Government, in the earnest and dispassionate attention 

 which they bestowed upon this Proposition, were actuated by the 

 most friendly feelings towards the Government of The United 

 States, and by a sincere disposition to meet the Proposals which he 

 was authorized to make, in the spirit with which they were offered. 



But the Undersigned considers it unnecessary now to enter into 

 any detailed discussion of the points embraced in those previous Com- 

 munications of Mr. MacLane, because they are, in a great measure, 

 superseded by the more specific, and, therefore, more satisfactory 

 Propositions, contained in his Note of the 12th ultimo; to the con- 



