I am in hopes you will have been able to enter into proper arrangements
with the British Minister for the protection of our seamen from
impressment, before the preparations for war shall have produced
inconvenience to them. While he regards so minutely the inconveniences
to themselves which may result from a due regulation of this practice,
it is just he should regard our inconveniences also, from the want of
it. His observations in your letter imply merely, that if they should
abstain from injuring us, it might be attended with inconvenience to
themselves.
You ask, what should be your conduct, in case you should at any
time discover negotiations to be going on, which might eventually be
interesting to us. The nature of the particular case will point out what
measures, on your part, would be the most for our interest, and to your
discretion we must refer the taking such measures, without waiting for
instructions, where circumstances would not admit of such a delay. A
like necessity to act may arise on other occasions. In the changeable
scenes, for instance, which are passing in Europe, were a moment
to offer when you could obtain any advantage for our commerce, and
especially in the American colonies, you are desired to avail us of it
to the best advantage, and not to let the occasion slip by for want of
previous instruction.
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