138 THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON. 
“Reasons” proceed from beginning to end on the hy. 
pothesis 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 Roundell 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 
honor in not vindicating it against the charges of the 
Americans. In view of-this dereliction of duty, Sir 
Alexander volunteers to supply, more swo, the place 
of Counsel, and to respond to the American Agent 
and Counsel. 
Against what charges? 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 Alabama, and only es- 
capes the same admission as to the /Vorida by tech- 
nicalities as unsatisfactory to impartial minds in En. 
gland as in America—As the London Télegraph 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 which distinguishes Sir Alex- 
