The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-07-21
CHE Gnquircr.
RICH ~ ON y. sR JU1r.

We arrived at Portsmouth on Wednciiay
the 18TH inf. after mott fu!:ry and fi;s uius
march. But no obaacles, however great, could
extingsi!h the ardour of our troops. They
bore heat and thru, fatigue ard neep'cGhefi,
with as much fortitudc and perseverance, as
the veteran Regions of Bonaparte could have
done. "The flcih might have been fometimes
weak; but the fPirit was always arong." Tacy
were volunteers in the irrvice of their country:
and they were determined that no murrnurs or
repiangS !hould tarnifh the caufs in which they
were engaged the character which they
had afumed. could throw in new cap.iva-
ton TO this picture, by drawing in the back
ground the hofpitality, the fympathy, and the
congenia euthufiaf,n which they every where
experienced on the road. We have Teen the
eye OF many veteran folder lighted up by
iPark from the altar Of '76. We were conf
dered and called the Defenders of our common
country: and on many an occaiion have the
inhabitants on the road cheerfuliy and volun, a.
rIiy offered us tholr accommodations, which
they would have refufed to the purfe or requcits
of an ordinary traveller. Patrio,irm is an ex.
alsed and holy PATTON of the foul and 70 long
as the lame degree of it pervadrs our country,
WHICH we have 70 often witneifed on our march,
woe be to the foreign invaders, who fhail dare
to diturb our repofe
We entered Portfmouth on Wednesday a.
antry of war. We received the mott reflect
tui iaIutations from the Richmond and Peterf
burg Horie, and the Infantry OF Portfmouth.
Geii. Mathews did nor appear on parade nor
mas he even to this moment, done us the homer
of whiting and reviewing Us.
We are for the prefent ftationed in feyeral
houfes in Portfnouth. All our tents did not
arrive from Richmond until lat night, and I
Preiume that we ihall in few hours leave our
Preient quarters, to feek the tented field %
f107, org we fhali remain in our prslent poi;-
ton, 1t is imponible for Us to form the mott
d'ttant conjecture. view of our prefent fitu
alton, however, leads me to believe, that we
ihall in few days remove our quarters to the
coat or Lynhaven bay or the Capes.
lis Impothble and unneceiTary for me to
itate to you, all the various reports which have
traniPIred fince our arrival. Thoufands of
them have ariien like bubbles and like bub-
b!es, burlted into "thin air." But will mere
ly relate fuch interefting circumstances, as feem
to be mott probable in themielves, or have i'm
Preiied upon them the itamp of credtable au-
| thority.
'' On Tuefday morning Mr.. r. Lee, one of
Mathews's aids, and Mr.. Archer of Norfolk.
vIiited the Brtiih fquadron in Lynhaven Bay,
for the purPofe of delivering the difpatches
from Mr.. Erik;ne, which Mr.. A. had iut
brought from Warrington. Theie difpatches
imply a9Uiled Commodore Douglas to retire
from the territorial ju,ifdi6ton of the u. States
MIR. Erikine had no other authority for the
britiih iquadrons on the American itation are
not at all refponfble to the Britifh miniaar in
the U. States, except in certain conditional
cafes but are generally under the confront OF
the admiral who is tationed at Halifax. Where
MT Erlkine could only adVie, admiral Berkc-
ley could command. Mr.. Lee was received hy
Commodore Douglas in mott Cavalier and IN,
decorous fyle. The Commodore exnre6ad
his contemPtuous aftonifhment at MIR. LIS Wifi !.
He aiked him, whether he was ignorant that
the PIehdent's proclamation forbade all inter
courie between Americas citizens and the Rr-
tIih ihiPs; and how he could think of ayinp in
the face OF thoie laws, by paving him the ba1or
of Wilt. AS foon as Mr.. Lee had delivered
the dhPatches, fignal was given to the OF her
veifeis, and their captains immediately repaired
to the Commodore's ihip. You are already
incenied enough at the outrageous conduct of
the brltiih and have no Inclination to make
your blood Indignantly boil, by a fuIl defcrin.
tion of the conversation which enfued. One n,
two anecdotes will be fufIicient TO bow vo,,
the iplrt OF the whole. The Infamous Hum
phreys tauntngly aiked major Lee, whether
he was not afraid of being infec1ed by keenipo
company with murderer and an ahafiu. iuch
as he himielf had been Represented TO be. The
enquired about the fate of the Britiib conGnI
and his lady and infolently demanded. wbe.
Their the mob OF Norfolk had hung them or
thrown them into prfon.-They called The
corresponding committee of Norfolk ,,ob
they called Gen. Mathews the leader of tba,
mob: they !aid that they were at leah en-.
titled to an official copy of the Prefdent's pro.
clamalion, under the Zeal of the fecretarv &c
fate; and they expressly denied the authority
OF the Britiih mlnilter to interfere on the nre.
fent occafon. Every one of thofe CAPTAINS wan
lniolent and inlulting in the extreme; EXCEPT
Sir Thomas Hardy, capt. of the Triumph
the celebrated friend and compa lion of s,ord
Mellon. He is faid to have in his cabin the We
~ ioPha on which that great man breathed his
lat.
" The preceding facts are calculated to con.
vince you, you needed any additional proof,
that we have nothing to expeel from this fou,d.
ron, but iniult and outrage. Their conduit
has been perfectly confident throughout this
trdniaction. The eye in vain turns every where
to feek fome folitary fpot, on which humanity
may delight to relt. But not one bright foot
occurs, to relieve the gloom and barbarity of
the lahdicape. The conduct of thefe men has
been as much deititute of The polifl of gentle
men as of the fpirit Of men Of honour. What
ihall be faid Of their cowardly and cold. blood
ed attack upon an unrciiiting aud defencelefs
friend What ihall be faid of the commodore
menacing letter, in which h. declares his refoJu.
ton to- blockade Norfolk, if they did no, iun,.
diHfri2 gADm their manly refolutons Of re6a.
ance? What fhai be faid of his fibfrouent
and cowardIy provocatioD, where he meauly'
-. r.