Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-08-05

kline, for their surrender, ne was informed
mar 4 Could not be done, and WAS referred
% the, written answer gwen by tie Secre-
Itary of State, ON previous application in
another case, for the principles OH which
the surrender of British deserters was re.
msed. IL was remarked TO Mr.. Erskinc,
AT the same time, both by the Secretary
OF the Navy and the Secretary of State,
that although the, government could not
dc iver up deser lers. it was so far from
Communicating desertion, that general or
dcrS had been issued tn our naval COM
mandcrs NOT to permit amy British desert
ers 70 be recruited for the A nIerican SER
vice. They also informed Mr.. Frskine a
lew days after, that hey had suliiciens rea-
son Ter believing that the seamen in cues
: ticn were native citizens of the United
States; this being the result of an enou;-
ryf made by Captain Barron, in pursuance
OF orders from the Secretary OF the. Nav.
On this poine Mr.. Erskne expressed no
opinion. iils was not asked, because his
opinion conid form no part of the ground
! Oh which the soi eminent proceeded; and
R was not offered, because it appears to
! nave been n practice, and to have been
held as his duty also, TO 10 no more. than
to transmit without remarks, whatever do
cuments or informal on relative to facts. he
might Judge proper to be forwarded to the
British Admirals on different stations. In
th's case, he, accordingly, merely stated
Tor the information of the British naval
commander, that the result of an enquiry
made by Captain Barron had satisfied our
government that the seamen, for whose
surrender he had applied; were citizens
and natiyes of the u. States.-JIat Incl.
800.
This answer was written JAN r, 1907.
1t was produced by an application for the
SURRENDER to their allegiance, of certain
BRUSH ;seamen, who having united with
american seamen left on board vessel
ordered to Halifax as prize, brought her
INTO the United States, and were charged
with rnutiny, piracy, and an attempt to
murder their officers. The answer stated
mat not only no prcrogative for the pur-
pose IN question is vested in the executive
ct the United States; but that neither the
law nor the practice Of nations imposes on
them IN obligation to provide for the sur.
render OF fugitives from the jurisdiction o.
other powers The obligation can result
only from special and mutual siipulations
which. do not exist between the United
States and Great Britain and which, in
deed, az limited in the expired articles of
the Treaty of 1874, do not comprehend any
other cffences than those of actual murder
and forgery.
t The information reported by Captain
Barron was as follows: -
WILLIAM WARE, pressed from on
board the Brig Neptune, Captain Crafts,
by the British frigate Melampus, in the
bay OF Biscay, and has sc rived on board the
SAID trisate Is .months. William Ware is
a native American, born on Pipe Greek.
bruce's Mills, and Served his time at said
mills He also lived at Ellicott's mills.
near Baltimore, and drove Wagon scye.
raiyears between Hagers Town and Bal
timore. He also served Is months on
BOARD the u. >. Frigate Chesapeake, un-
der the command of commodore Morris
and captain James Barron--He is an Ind;-
an looking man.
DANIEL MARTIN was pressed at the
same time and place. He is native of
West Port, in Massachusetts, about s0
miles to the Eastward of New Pert, r node
isiand-served his time out of New York
with captain Narrowly, in the Caledonia.
refers to Mr. Benjamin Davis, Merchant.
ana Mr.. Benjamin Coree, of West Port
lie is colofed man.
JOHN STRACHN, born on the Eastern
Shore OF Maryland, Queen AIMS County.
between Centrevilie and Queens Town.
refers to Mr. John Price and - Prat,
esq. on Kent Island, who knew his reIat;,
ons--Strachn sailed in the Brig Martha
Band, captain Wevill, from Norfolk 70
Dublin, and from thence to LiyerpooJ. He
there LETT the brig and shipped on board
an English Guineaman. He was pressed
on board of the MeIampus off Cape Fjnis-
ter, to better his situation, lie consented to
enter, being determined to make his escane
when opportunity offered. He served ON
board the frigate two years. He is a white
man, about feet inches high.
William Ware and John Stracbn have
protections-Daniel Martin says. he lost
his after leaving the frigate.
JOHN LITTLE, alias FRANCIS. and
AMBROSE WATTS, escaped from the
MelamPus at the same time, known TO the
above persons to be Americans. but have
not been entered by my recruiting officer
William Ware, Daniel Martin, and John
otrachn state that some time In Februar,
last, there was an entertainment on boorI
the Melampus, lying then in Hampton
Koads-that while the officers, &c were
engaged, and all the ships boats excent the I
captains gig, being hoisted in-Them- /
serves and the two other men mentioned.
aVailed themselves Of moment m .e,,e
the gig and row oH-that as soon az ,bev
mad got into the boat they were haired 70 /
know what they were going TO do-Tbev |
repi'eu, they were going ashore-a brisi |