British minister to the
United States, who succeeded
David M. Erskine in 1809.
An experienced diplomatist, he had lately figured discreditably in the affair of the seizure of the
Danish fleet by British men-of-war at
Copenhagen.
He had become known as “
Copenhagen Jackson,” whose conduct did not commend him to the good — will of the people of the
United States.
The impression was that he had come with explanations of the cause of the rejection of
Erskine's arrangement.
The
Secretary of State, finding he had nothing to offer, addressed
Jackson in a letter in which a tone of discontent was conspicuous, declaring the surprise and regret of the
President that he had no explanations to offer as to the non-ratification of the Erskine arrangement, or authority to substitute any new arrangement for it. The object of the letter, probably, was to draw out from
Jackson an explicit admission, as a basis for an appeal to the nation, that he had no authority to treat except upon the ground of
Canning's three conditions— namely, 1.
The repealing as to
Great Britain, but the keeping in force as to
France, and all countries adopting her decrees, so long as these decrees were continued, all American non-importation and non-intercourse acts; 2.
The renunciation by the
United States, during the present
[
111]
war, of any pretensions to carry on any trade with the colonies of belligerents not allowed in time of peace; and 3.
The allowing British ships-of-war to enforce, by capture, the
American non-intercourse acts with
France and her allies.
Jackson declared that the rejection of that part of the arrangement of
Erskine relating to the affair of the
Chesapeake and
Leopard was owing partly to the offensive terms employed in the
American note to
Erskine concerning it. This note had offended the old monarch, with whom
Admiral Berkeley was a favorite.
In it
Secretary Smith said, April 17, 1809: “I have it in express charge from the
President to state that, while he forbears to insist on a further punishment of the offending officer, he is not the less sensible of the justice and utility of such an example, nor the less persuaded that it would best comport with what is due from his Britannic Majesty to his own honor.”
Jackson's manner was offensive.
He had an unbounded admiration for the government he represented, and a profound contempt for the
Americans as an inferior people.
He treated the officers of the United States government with the same haughty bearing that he did those of weak and bleeding
Denmark, and, after one or two personal interviews,
Secretary Smith refused to have any further intercourse with him except in writing.
The insolent diplomat was offended, and wrote an impudent letter to the
Secretary.
He was informed that no more communications would be received from him, when
Jackson, disappointed and angry, left
Washington with every member of the diplomatic family, and retired to New York.
The United States government requested his recall, and early in 1810 he was summoned to
England.
No other minister was sent to the
United States for about a year.
