Sir F. Rogers
Writing away from the papers I may not be strictly accurate in my
remembrance as to the circes; but my impression is that reference of
the question was made to
Mr Seymour whilst he was in England.
This is quite accurate.
If so he must have been precluded, in consequence of his absence from
the spot & without documents, from answering the enquiry of the S.S.
satisfactorily. He, therefore, probably reserved the subject for his
return. This, however, is conjecture on my part. But the further
and more substantial explanation of the delay in settling these
claims is that they were disputed by
B.C.—that there was reason to
conclude that they
wd be adjusted in the financial arrangements
which
wd take place on the union of the Colonies, & that
Mr Seymour
not being in the administration of the
Govt Mr Birch c
d not have
ventured
upon any definitive proceeding. These are generally the
reasons why it has not been possible to press for a settlement of
this question.