13S THE TREATY OF WASIIIXGTOX. 



" Reasons " proceed from beginniug to eucl on the liy- 

 potbesis that the British Agent and Counsel had neg- 

 lected their duty ; that neither the Case, Counter-Case, 

 nor Argument of the British Government, by whom- 

 soever prepared, nor the several supplementary Argu- 

 ments filed by Sir Boundell Palmer in his own name, 

 contained a proper exhibition of the defenses of the 

 British Government ; and more especially that Agent 

 and Counsel alike had all been false to their country's 

 Iwnor in not vindicating it against the charges of the 

 Americans. In view of this dereliction of duty, Sir 

 Alexander volunteers to supply, more siio, the place 

 of Counsel, and to respond to the American Agent 

 and Counsel. 



Ao-ainst what chai'o-es? The existence of an un- 

 friendly state of mind toward the American Govern- 

 ment in Parliament, or in some of the British Colo- 

 nies at the period in question? Sir Alexander ad- 

 mits the fact in stronger terms than we had charged 

 it. — Failure to exercise due diligence in arresting the 

 equipment of Confederate cruisers to depredate on 

 our commerce? Sir Alexander admits: and proves it, 

 under three heads, as to the Alahama, and only es- 

 capes the same admission as to the Florida by tech- 

 nicalities as unsatisfactory to impartial minds in En- 

 gland as in America. — As the London Tdegrapli says, 

 in another relation. Sir Alexander, whilst indignantly 

 protesting against our accusation of British officers, 

 admits their failure to do their duty, which is the 

 foundation of the accusation. But for that marvel- 

 ous confusion of ideas Avhich distiuQ-uishes Sir Alex- 



