The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-06-03
Evfrosf Of letter, an american rlut1,uon

HNfraf Of a letter from an american gentleman
at t6' Cape oFGood Hope, dated March lob.
= ALI the American veiiels that put in ar th;s
place iince its capture by the Britif,, nnder.
went long and tedious examination, before the
feveral Commanders of the different flips of war.
| competing his Britannia Majefty's fquadron in
the Bay, who by appointment of the Comman
dant, Sir Home Popham, formed themfeIves in
to CoWmiftee Of Enquiry or Prise Committee.
ihefe characters, being apparently unacquaint-
ed with mercantile laws and cuftoms, were to-
tally unqualified for the talk of invefigating
commercial traniactions, and discharged the
| trnit IN the mott awkward manner, utterly void
OF every tpecies of regularity and with a fuper-
CIRCUS indifference, whereby many Americans
iutfered Infamous iniuts and abuie. The inter
rogatories put to fevera matters and fupercar
goes of American vef1eIs, were prepofterous and
Insignificant, and their impertnance is in many
inttances iniuHeraaie. The pocket-beok was
taken from the pocket of a fupercarpo, from
Philadelphia; the captain of whole vefIeI. for
independently ipeaking in behalf of his proper-
ty, was abruptly told that "THR AMRRIcANs
! WERE ALL SET OF WORTHLESS DAMN'D
RAsCALs." Officers were fent on board fome
ofthe American vefels, with orders from their
commander TO take charge, without coRflltinp
or giving any information to the agents of the
property, why or wherefore upon application
to the committee, no fatisfaetiou was given ::
one laying, tor inflance, the lhip was to be fent
to England for adjudication the other contra.
dieting it, turning to fome frivolous fubie6t, 90
ing out OF the room and leaving the enquirer :
lone, amazed at their fsfidious impudence. In
this triillng manner, many of the Americans
nave been ridiculonlly treated their property
lett IN the moe dangerous fate of fufpence, to
encounter the impetuofty of the eafterH gales
that daily threatened the fips with Imminent
d@npPr- Vyft
/ the owners or captains, and as though or 9
| tbouiand dollars was not worth their notice by
representing this precarious lituation, the fuf-
ferer runs hazard of being egregioufly infulted
with the mplt approbrious language An elder
ly matter of fhp, of Philadelphia, whole an
parent age alone commanded refpect. when
complaining Of the perious ltuation of his fflip,
was harihly told to go to beH. No redrefs for
their grievances could be obtained the fquad-
ron was frequently abient, and the fecretary to
the committee, who was left on fhore acknov-
/ ltdgcd he knew nothing !! The flip Union.
of Philadelphia, Immediately on her arrival was
taken pofeiiion of by order of the commander
OF one OF his majetty's fhps, and an officer IA
toned on board Mr.. Robinfon, the fupercar-
go, repeatedly applied for the plea of this pro-
ceedng, obtaining no fatsfadory anfwer. he
waited on the commandant, as the creator of
this committee, who replied, " Tou ,,,;y5f ar
9VeA flt ne RiHg aqHsfioH regarding the court Of
| admf0'i1" After which he addreffed note
to the committee, demanding determined and
Deceive aniwer, whether the fbip was TO 90 to
England, and upon what pretext few DAYS
! after, the iecretary Informed Mr.. r. oficiaily.
that the fhiP was to be fent to England for adj
Indication. The only fnppofed caufe of the
detention of the Zip, is, her having failed from
Amiterdam to Batavia. In this fcandalous and
unwarrantabe ftYle, many America have been
triHsd with in fuch cafes where the nature of
ihe bulinefs was too evidently clear TO bear in
/ ipettion, they aiIumed the ncanncfs of fcoAine
aud animadverting upon the form and f1ape Of
perions before them, with the utmoG ndecency
ana dIireipeet, who, owing to their then Deepen.
dant circumstances were Obliged to fibmit to fbe
offence"