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problem, which, to judge from the appeals made by the British West 
India merchants — would be deemed questionable.^®^ 
Finally, the Administration papers contended that the sit- 
uation as it then existed was not due to anything President 
Adams had or had not done. It was due solely to the change 
of policy on the part of Great Britain. The British shipping 
interest had taken alarm at the new system of reciprocity and 
their clamors had “scared’' the Ministry which was “glad 
to back out” by an order in council.^^^ 
That Great Britain saw fit to recede from all her implied engage- 
ments, nay, from her recorded promise, ... at about the time that 
new complaints from her ship-owners were beginning to tingle in Mr. 
Huskisson’s ears, and that her retreat should be covered by diplomatic 
sarcasm from the ancient quiver of her Foreign Secretary, is not, we 
think, in candor, chargeable as a fault upon the Administration.’^®® 
In the face of this defense the Opposition papers retorted 
that an attempt was being made to get up the “old fever” 
against England with the aim that then “the friends of the 
Administration” would make it “an American and British 
question, and take advantage of the patriotic prejudices” of 
American citizens “to blind their eyes to the political blunders 
that have been committed”. And so the argument went 
thruout the year 1827 and into 1828 when it gradually died 
down or became supplanted by later issues. But it can hardly 
be doubted that the situation arising from Canning’s refusal 
to negotiate regarding the colonial intercourse played an im- 
portant role in arousing public opinion in America against 
President Adams. In preparing the way for Adams’ down- 
fall in 1828, the loss of the British West India trade in 1826 
and the subsequent failure of the President to regain it in 1827 
exerted an influence which has hitherto been underestimated 
by American historians. 
Neiv York American (for the country). May 8, 1827. 
NationaX Jow'nal, March 20 and May 15, 1827. Daily National Intelligencer, May 
10, 1827. Gazette of Maine, April 10, 17, 24, 1827. 
Daily National Intelligencer, April 5, 1827. 
Neiv York Evening Post (for the country), Dec. 29, 1826. 
