The Sun.
London, England, 1807-08-15 00:00:00

AMERICA.

NORFOLK, MONDAY EVEN INC. JULY 6, 1807.
The agitation which our town WAS thrown into
by the recent occurrence, had in some degree began
tie sub,ide, and our citizens were waiting in calm.ex-
Pedalion for the measures which our Governinent

might adopt, when on Friday a movement of British
ships again excited it. On the ailernoon of that day,
the Bellona, Triumph, Leopard and Metampus came
up from Lynhaven Ilay, and anchored in Hampton
Roads, in such a manner as evidently proved that
they t'esigned something serious. On Saturday a
Pilot-boat came up to town, the Ma.ter of which

reported that he had been brought to by the Bellona
Ole Commodore's ship), and charged with the fol-
lowing letter front Commodore DOUGLAS to the
Mayor of • this place .

• " His Majesty's Ship Ilellona, Hamton-Roads,
" SIR, tidy 3, tgo7.
" I beg leavelo represent to you, that having
obierved in .the Newspapers a Hee)letion, made by a
Coin. tiatee on the eeth mt. pru:obiting any eonunu-\
rilcation bet st etat his Britannic 111.eeity's Consul, at
Norfolk, and his Snips lying at anchor in Lynhaven
Bay, and tins being_. measure extremely hostile,
n.'ot only is depriving• the British Consul from dig;
charging ill? duties of his orrice, but at the 'same
time preieniing me (ruin obtaining that information
so ansoiuttrly iiecce.,s:ey for iiis- Majesty's service, I
nm tla, re t. ire determined,.it this intringexueitt is out
immettiately to prohibit every vessel, Wilma •
•
, either i,t or out of Nortiiik, to proceed to fneir ;. dea
tinatioit, ti,,ttl I know the pleasure of my Oi.verli;••
men(, or the Giannander in Cheat on this ivation. !
. You 0104 ue perfectly aware, that the British
Flag .tiewr has, nor will be insulted with impunity..
You inu4 also be 'aware, that it has been, and is
still, in toy power to obstrat the whole trade of the
Chesapeak, since the. late circumstance, which
desice.t trout, trusting Shat general unanimity would
be restored. Respecting the circumstance of the.
deserters, lately apprehended frOm the United 6tateS"
Frigate Cheisapeak, that, in nays opinion, must be
decided bet tkeen the two Goyertunents.a/ene. it
therefore rests with-the inhabitants of Norfolk either
to engage in war or remain ou \terms of peace.— •
" Agreeably to my intentions, I have proceeded
to ilainpton Roads with the Squadron under My
command; to await your answer, whielt.l trust yew
will labour me with without delay.
I have the. honour to be, Sir,.
• • " Your obedient (tumble Servant,
• "J. B. Dm/Q.l.as."
" To Richard t.ee, Esq. Mu; of ut*Nuriolk, •Virginia." •
P S. I • inclose you two letters, diretted to the
British Consul at Norfolk, which you will be pleased
to for•A and biro. " J.
•
The Mayor convened the'Recorder and-Aldermen,
When the following answer was agreed on, and or.
to be sent : •
" SIR, " Norfolk, 'fitly ai 1907..
•
" I have received. your menacing letter of yester-
day. Tile day otv,which this answer is written ought
tot itself !,0 prove to the Subjects.of your Sovereign,
that the American People are not to be intimidated
by menace, or induced to adopt any measures,: ex-
cept 1.1 a sense of their perfect propriety. ''Sedeced
by the false slim of security, they may Ae. same.
times surprised and slaughtered,. while •iiiiiirepered
to resist a supposed friend; that delusive SeCurityis
stow, however, passed for ever.
" the lite o:currence has taught usto confide our
• safety no longer to any thing bat our own force. We
410 not seek hostility, nor shall we avoid it. :We
are prepared tin' the worst you may attempt, and will
,do wli.itever shall be judged proper to repel force,
whenever your etfurts shall render tiny act of our
ilecoL minty. Thus much for t he-threat's of your-letter,
which Can be considered in no other light thanis
addressed to the supposed fears of our Cinzenti, -
4` in answer tO ally part of-it which is particu-
larly. Addressed to me, as the.first Judicial Officer of
this Borough, I have but to say, that yon. must be
aware, that the Judiciary of no 'country possesses
- any other powers than these conferred' upon' it by
the law.
" The same channel through which you have do-
rived the intelligence stated by yourself, must have
• 'also.finootinced to you, that the .att of which you
, complain is an act of individuals, and not of the
vernment. If this att be wrong and illegal, the Ju-
. diciary of this country, whenever the. case is Properly
brought before it, will take care to do its duty. At.
Present it bath no judicial information of any out-
- rage ontlie. laws, and therefore will not att.
"If you, Sir, 'Lase to consider this itat of indi-•
viduals as a measure extremely hostile,' and shall
commence hostility without waiting the decision of
our two Governments, although you yourself ac-
knowledge that it properly belongs to them alone to
decide, the inhabitants of 'Norfolk will conform to
}'our example, , and prated themselves against any
lawle” ttggression which may be made upon their
Praotis or property; they therefore leave it with you,
either to engage in a war, or to remain on terms of
Peace until the pleasure 'of our respective qc.wern.
Meets shall be known,
" Your letters, direaed to the British Consul of
' this plaCe, halve been forwarded to him. ,
" I have the honour, to be, Sir,
• ." Your most obedient Servant,
RICHARD LEE, Mayor."
' e •
lo john E. Douglas, Ese:•ceinmataline His Britannic
Alajestyes.seips in Hamptonitoads."

ORK GAZETTN, JULY 11.---The following
information we received 13st evening &oral Phila-
delphia. It was written on the add came
irr the-stage which Lett that place at, ve o'ciciLit yes-
terday morning. This morning's Mail will eithqr
coPtirtn or contradiet it :

" The British Fleet have bombarded Norfb lk ~the ..'".1...-
i4cknt-counqy is in arms. The neW3 arrived by exprcshalla
's PoiiiiiYel.y true.'