Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-20
5th day Of October, 1907, until Trcdses.
day tde 4h day Of November, 1907.

$3.50 49, = ~ hkANS
President, and
Captains Isaac H4N, and } Member.
isaac chauncey, s thereof.
The following opinion and report was un,-
nimouSiy given, and directed by the court
to he transmitted To the honorable the
Secretary OF the Navy OF the United
States.
PURSUANT to an order from the ho.
norabie Robert Smith, Secretary of the Ma
Wy Of the United States, to CAPTAIN Alex
ander Murray, directed, dated the twelfth
day OF September, in tlm' year OF cur Lord.
one thousand eight hundred and seven. the
court proceeded to enquire into the causes
oil the surrend of the Chesapeake, a friea,e
or the United States, then under the COM
mand OF James Barron, Esquire, a captain
III the Navy of the UHtited States, to a Bril-
fish vessel OF war, which surrender was
made Gas is in the said order statet) with
out that defence being made which III rrLt
have been expected from the known yaior
OF Americans and having heard all the
evidence adduced, as we'll by the Judge Ad.
vocate, as by the said captain James Bar
ron, and having maturely and thoroughly
considered the same, Captain James BAR
ron having declined to offer any defencs)
REPORT TO the honorable the Secretary Of
the Navy of the United States, as by This
said warrant is required, Il state OF the
matters touching The said surrender. toye-
Their with their OPINION thereon, as fellow
eth:
lit appears to the court, that the u
nited States ship Chesapeake then under
the command of James Barren, ESQUIRE. =
captain in the Navy of the United States.
sailed from Hampton Roads, on an intend.
ed cru,ze in the Mediterranean sea, on the
morning of the 22d of June last past, hav-
ing ON board a crew consisting o. more
than three hundred and seventy men, and
completely EQUIPPED with every thing neces-
sary for such ship of war, sailing on suoh
Il cruize.
at appears to the court, that captain
Barron vas appointed commodore Of the
SHIPS and vessels destined for the Mediter
raneun service on the 5th day of MAY last
Fast, and hoiSted his broad pendent on board
the Chesapeake, the first time he Came ON
board OF her after her arrival in HAMPTON
Hoads, to wit, on or about the 9th DIV of
June last past.
Sit appears to the court, that comma
ldore Barron visited the Ches,Deake only
twice during the period she remained IN
Hampton Roads, and before he came on
n.ard to proceed to sea ; on neither of
winch occasions, did lie examine particu.
! larry INTO her state and condition.
4-lt appears 70 the court, that the guns
OF the chesapeake we're never exercised
before she proceeded to sea thar bev.
crew were quArtered but a few DAYS nre.
yicus to that time, and had never been CAL.
led to quarters more than three times pri-
or to her sailing for sea.
Sit appears to the court, that the shin
was reported TO commodore Barron TO be
ready for sea on the 18th day uf June. ,hat
he came on the 21st and that the shin sail
ed on the morning of the 22d of June last
past.
O. It appears TO the court, that antece
dent to the sailing OF the Chesapeake, there
had been received on board of her some
persons who had been claimed by the Hr;-
tlsh government as deserters from their
service, but who were not ordered to be
aehvered up by the American officers
nat there was also report in circulate
on, and generally known on board the Che
sapeak e, that threat had been used by the
captain of the British ship of war Melam-
Pus, to take these men from the Ch.sa.
peake-That commodore Barron had full
KnLwiedge OF the facts that such men we're
on board his snip, that they had been de.
manded by the British government. and
mad not been delivered uD, the court arc
perfectly satisfied but no positive evil
dence has been adduced to prove. that the
report OF the threat above mentioned was
communicated to him before his shin sail
ed.
lit appears to the court, that the Che.
sapeahe IN proceeding from Hampton
Roads to sea, passed British squadron AZ
anchor in Lyuhaven Bay, who at the time
OF her passing them were making signals
to each other, which was not only reported
to commodore Barron by one of his officers
but actually observed by himself.
Sit appears to the court, that the Bri-
fish ship OF war Leopard of fifty guns, one
OF the squadron then at anchor within the
limits Of the United States, weighed imme-
aiatcly after these signals were thrown out,
and stood TO sea.
9-lt does not appear 70 the court, that
at this time there was any vessel in sight.
or any other object to induce her to 90 to
sea- but the Chesapeake
lot appears TO the court, that at the
time the Leopard got under weigh, the wind
was at south-soUth-west and tn, refore fair
Tor her to proceed TO sea but that instead
OF availiug herself of this t. clear the land
she hau cd by the wind, close round c me
Henry, and stood to the southward. under
easy. sail thereby showing that it was NOT
her intention to get oft the land speedily.
ll--itappears to the court that fer this
the wind became light and battling. ard
hEely TO shit, and came out from the east