Council issued on July 27, 1826, prohibiting all commercial intercourse between the United States and the British West Indies. At the same time Canning, the Foreign Secretary, who was fond of treating the United States cavalierly, informed him that all further negotiation upon this subject was declined. A lively exchange of notes followed, in which Gallatin and Clay not only had the best of the argument, but excelled by pointed retorts given in excellent temper. Another session of Congress having passed without action, the President, in accordance with an act passed in 1823, issued a proclamation on March 17, 1827, declaring, on the part of the United States, the prohibition of all trade and intercourse with the ports from which the commerce of the United States was excluded. Soon afterwards Canning died. Lord Goderich rose to the post of Prime Minister, and Gallatin succeeded in making a treaty keeping the convention of 1815 indefinitely in force subject to one year's notice. Thus, while the controversy had not been brought to the desired conclusion, at least nothing was lost; the dignity of the United States was maintained; more dangerous complications were avoided; and the way was prepared for more satisfactory arrangements in the future. But it was, in popular opinion, a failure after all, and, the temporary cutting off of the West India trade being severely felt, naturally told against the administration. It was with regard to this transaction that, as we shall see, Martin Van Buren, when
