The Enquirer

Copy of a letter from Mr. Lyman, American Consul in London, to the honorable Stephen R. Bradley, esq. a senator in Congress, dated May 3, 1809.

I take this opportunity, by the Pacific, one of our packets, to address a few lines to you at Washington, where, on the arrival of that vessel in the United States, I presume you will be, and learn both from public and more private means of information, the important change which has lately taken place in the policy of this government by the revocation of the orders of council. This event, although other orders are substituted therefor of a nature so highly objectionable, is nevertheless considered by all our friends here, as vastly important: first and principally, as it furnishes an example and establishes the fact, that the U. States can make the interests of this country feel, and that very sensibly; and secondly, as we have no participation in the revocation of the old and the substitution of the new orders, we are thereby pledged to nothing, and at full liberty to take advantage of occurrences as they arise and pass. You will say, what has done all this? My reply is, the steady policy of our government and the support of the people as evidenced in the late presidential and other elections. I do not consider the repeal of the embargo and substitution of the non-intercourse law, as a change of policy, but only of measures; and it was so regarded here. Indeed, it is generally allowed that the non-intercourse would be more severely felt than the embargo, notwithstanding, you may be assured, that the latter, if continued, would have answered the most sanguine expectation. This country is wholly commercial, and suffers extremely by any obstructions to trade. Mr. Spence lately published a book entitled Great Britain independent of Commerce, and lord Sheffield has always been endeavoring to prove her independence of our commerce: but facts prove that neither understands the question. Mr. Burke understood it better, who said that our commerce was the food which nourished this political body. The U. States instead of being the dupes, which sometimes I fear we have been, of the policy and artifices of France and England, may make them subservient to our interest, aided by a little seasonable coercion. I hope you will pardon these few hasty suggestions, which my present situation rendered so obvious. It is sometimes useful to know only the impressions which are made by the same objects in different situations... Monitor.