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Indiana University Studies 
stated in his Register that he was “happy to learn that there 
is every reason to believe that the negotiations with Great 
Britain touching the colonial trade . . . are in a fair 
way of being promptly and satisfactorily concluded’'. The 
Daily National Intelligencer believed that the difference be- 
tween the two countries was merely “one of form”, and that 
the hope might be indulged that the two powers would “yet 
reconcile their interests in some mode or other”. The Rich- 
mond Enquirer was not so confident as to the outcome, but it 
was very confident that another attempt should be made to 
adjust the question by diplomacy. It believed the country was 
offered two alternatives — “either to lose the benefits of the 
trade”, or immediately to push negotiations, accepting the 
best terms available. In view of the heavy responsibility 
resting upon the Administration, it believed that no set of 
men ever had stronger inducements to exert all their talents 
“for repairing the mischiefs” which they had committed.^^® 
It trusted that the Administration would “make up for their 
neglect, and repair their transgressions” by a new and more 
effectual negotiation, tho it believed it would require “all Mr. 
Gallatin’s skill” with some concession on the part of the Ad- 
ministration to extricate itself with any sort of credit.^^^ A 
New England paper felt some doubt as to the efficacy of diplo- 
macy, believing that the whole question presented “a Gordian 
knot, which will require an Alexander in diplomacy to untie, 
if it ever is untied by negotiation”. 
If any American was fitted to play this role of “an Alex- 
ander in diplomacy”, Albert Gallatin was probably the man. 
In his qualities and career as a diplomat, Henry Adams places 
him “first among the men of his time”.^-^ But in this task, 
he had been able up to this time to accomplish little. Since 
the preceding August he had been engaged in a more or less 
fruitless exchange of notes with Canning. The latter, as 
pointed out above, had not been content merely to state that 
Great Britain declined further negotiation regarding the Brit- 
ish West India trade question. Had he done so, the question 
Niles’ Register, XXXII, 39, 40. 
Daily National Intelligencer, March 17, 1827. 
Ill Quoted in St. Christopher Gazette, May 18, 1827. 
Richmond Enquirer, March 30, 1827. 
^^^Ibid., March 13, 20, 1827. 
Providence Patriot, May 26, 1827, 
i‘i Adams, Life of Albert Gallatin, 629. 
