The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

FROM THE NEW-YORK MERCANTILE ADVERTISER OF MONDAY LAST

AFFAIR AT WASHINGTON.

The National Intelligencer acknowledges that there has been a current report, for some days past, of an unpleasant conversation having taken place between the French and British Ministers some time in the last week, after leaving the table of the President. but it is but just to add, that later reports state, that, whatever unpleasant feelings may have existed between the parties, have been entirely removed by subsequent explanation.

Of the circumstance alluded to, the following explanation appears in Relf's Philadelphia Gazette of Saturday :

"The etiquette of the Court table at Washington, is established by usage, and enjoins that the oldest resident Foreign Minister should have precedence as to place and attention.

The French Minister had been here representing his nation, prior to Mr. Canning's appointment and residence near the Court of Washington; but in the mean time, the former had occasion to return home, leaving merely a Charge des Affaires to represent him. Mr. Neuville returning to his station, it would seem, claimed the usual precedence, and accordingly took the appropriate seat at the President's table. It is improperly stated in a Baltimore paper that the dispute originated at the table. This would indeed be a species of the highest indecorum : But the fact is, that when the party was breaking up, and in the lobby of the President's house, Mr. Canning, in a jocular manner, told the French Minister that he had "out-generalled" him, but that he should not do it again.

Mr. N. conceiving it an unfair imputation, became very violent, and some harsh expressions were exchanged; and the French Minister at length touched the handle of his sword, upon which "indication of personal hostility," Mr. Poletica, the Russian Minister, interfered and the altercation was closed—for the time."