Star.
London, England, 1807-09-10 00:00:00

AMERICA

WASHINGTON CITY, JULY 29.
Much error having appeared in the accounts cir-
culated, of what patted between the Government and
Mr. Etfkine, in the cafe of the feamen, to obtain
whom the Leopard made the late attack on the Che-
fapeak, we are induced to Elate, that, as we under
Rand, on application by Mr. Ertkine for their Curren.
der, he was informed that it conld not be done, and
was referred to the written anfwet's given by the Se-
cretary of State, on a previous application in another
cafe, for the principles on which the furrender of
Britith deferters was refilled.

It was remarked to Mr. Erfkine at the fame time,
both by the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary
of State, that although the Government could not
deliver up deferters, it was fo far from countenancing'
defertinn, that general orders had been Urged to our
Naval Commanders, not to permit any Britiat defer.
ters to be recruited for the Ametican fervice. They
alto informed Mr. Erilciae, a few days atter, that
they had fufficient reafon for believing the feamen ir,
queftion were native citizens of the United States ;
this being the refult of an inquiry f made by Capt.
Barron, in purfuance of orders from the Secretary of
the Navy.

On this point Mr. Et fkine exprefTed no opinion.
This was not afked, becaufe his opinion could form
no part of the ground on which the Government
proceeded ; and it was not offered, becaufe it appears
to have been his praftice, and to have been held as
his duty alto, to do no more than to tranfmit, with-
out remarks, whatever documents or information re-
lative to fads, he might judge proper to be forward-
ed to the Britifh Admirals on different Rations. In
this cafe he accordingly merely Rated, for the infor-
mation of the Britith Naval Commander, that the
refult of an inquiry made by Captain Barron, had
fatisfied our Government that the (earner,, for whole
furrender he had applied, were citizens and natives
of the United States.
This anfwer was written Jan. 7, 1807.
It was produced by an application for the furrender to their
allegiance of certaia Bridal feamen, who having united with Ame-
rican feamen, left on hoard a veal ordered to Halifax as a prize,
, brought her into the United States, and were charged with mu-
tiny, piracy, and an attempt to murder their °Seers.
The anfwer listed, that not only no prerogative for the purpofe
in queftion is vetted in the Executive of the United States ; but
that neither the law nor the pradtice of Nations impale on them
an obligation to provide for the furrender of fugitives from the
jurifdidtion of ether Powers. The obligation can only refult
I from fpecial and mutual itipulations, which do not exiit between
the United States and Great Britain ; and which, indeed, as limit.
ed in the expired Articles of the Treaty of 1794, do not compre-
i bend any other offences than thofe of actual murder and forgery.

The information reported by Capt. Barron was as follows :
WILLI Aht Watte—prefred from on board the brig Neptune,
Capt. Crafts, by the Britilh frigate Melsmpus, in the Bay of Bi(
cay, and has ferved on board the faid frigate is months. W.Ware
is a native American, born on Pipe Creek, Frederick County,
State of Maryland, at Bruce's Mills, and raved his time at Lid
m ills.

DANIEL MARTIN—Was preffed at the fame time and place. He
is a native of Welt Port, in Maffachuffett, about 3o miles to the
Eaßward of Newport, Rhode Illand.

Jo UN STRA c n N.—born on the Eaftern more of Maryland, Queen
Ann's County, between Centerville and Queens Town.
William Ware and John Stnchn have protedtions; Daniel Mar-
tin lays he loft his after leaving the frigate.
John Little, alias Francis, and Ambrofe Watts, efcaped from
the Mclampus at the fame time ; known to the above perfons to be
Americans, but have not been entered by my Recruiting Officer.
William Ware, Daniel Martin, and John Strachn Rate. that
Come time in February laft, there was an entertainment on board
the Melampus, lying then in Hampton Roads, that while the Of-
ficers, &c. were engaged, and all the ihip's boats, except the Cap.
rain's gig, being boifted in, themfelves, and the two nth T men
mentioned, availed themfelves of a moment to (size the gig and
row off—that as loon as they got into the boat they were bailed,
to know what they were going to do—they replied they were
going alhore--,4 Drift fire of musketry inftantly commenced from
the fidp—that, in defiance of balls, and at the hazard of their live%
they continued to pull, and finally effected their efeape to land,
namely, Sewell's Point—that they carefully hauled up the boat
on the beach, rolled up the coat, and placed that and the oars in
the boat, gave three cheers, and moved up the country.
This Report is in a train, we learn, to be formally verified in
every material circumftanee, by ^ recurrence to the fources of
evidence pointed out by the feamen refpedlively.—Nat. 'roe/.
Wsthington City, July 3t.
IT TM PRESIDENT or THE UNITED STATES or AMERICA,