Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-09-23

the American frisate Chesapcake) on char
yes of Deserfioa, Mating and Confen,,,,.
Rcar-Adm. Hon. SRA. I. Cochrane. K.
D. President.
Capt. l. pickmorc, Capt. ]. E. Douglas,
w. Fahie, p. Beaver,
l. Hawker, n u Cochrope
IL clearly appears on the trial, that the
prisoner was born in London--was vo-
iunteer IN the service-had beensomc years
III n. NJ. S. Leopard, but last i'm the Hall
tax. That, on the 9TH of March last, the
ship being then in Hampton Roads, the pri-
soner was sent with four other men, under
petty officer, in joily-boat, to weigh
kcdse anchor then taking advantage OF the
dusk OF the evening, the men mutined upon
the oihcer, and some cf them threatened
TO murder him but the rest interfering,
they desisted-and landing at Sewelis
point, the five made their escape A few
! days alter, the deser.erS were seen para
ding the streets of Norfolk. in triumph un-
der the American flag One of them. Ii.
Saunders, being accoStcd by LORD Town
send, asserted that he had no intention of
idesertIng, but was compelled by the others;
and would embrace the frs, opportun..J to
return on board. At that momcnt The pri-
soner, Jenkin siatford, took the arm of Saun-
4 N~'S' liLdl nNlluCE ne nor allk OF
tue others should return to the shp--with
ia contemptucus gesture, asser.ed-that
they were then IN the Land Of Li5erty,
and instantly dragged Saunders away -
nat tie PRISONER had entered on board tho
Shesapeake--hadp proceeded to sea in her
ana had been found OH board that ship, af-
| ter the action (by an officer Of H. MS Leo
pdrd) hid il tie coal-hole.
a variety OF other circumstances were
developed in the course of the evidence
lhe whole of which tended to prove, that
although deSertcrS from the American ma
val or military establishments had been
readily gwen up by Il. N. ships OH the sta
ton yet, on the other hand they had e.
YER been refused by the Americans, when
demanded by British officers.
Two men had entered on board II. NJ 8.
Chichester who being demanded by an A
mcrican officer as descrters from their SER
wee, were instantly restored, notwithstan-
eng they were coniessedly Englshmen.-
put, w. Phillips, corporal of marines, John
Mahony, S7th regt. and others, having de-
serted from the Chichester, and entered
WIN their uniforms on, into the American
service, were positively refused to be given
up TO the British officer sent to demand
them.
1 he evasion and duplcity of the Ameri-
can commodore, IN denying that there were
any deserters on board his ship, were stri-
Slhgly contrasted with the humane and ho-
norable conduct of Captain Humphreys {;
"no' evidently demonstrated the greatest
reluctarce to pursue the steps, which the
refusal OF the American Commodore rem
dered absolutely necessary.
Nfter full and patient hearing of the
evidence, on both sides, the court withdrew
TOR about half an hour; and, on its return,
the JudSe advocate pronounced the SEN
tence--DEATH
he president addressed the UNHAPPY
criminal ina most pathetic and impressive
style-lamenting much the depravity,
which had induced him TO desert the cause
ot his King and Country in the present e.
ventful moment; when the very existence
Oh that country was threatened by invete-
rate q implacable enemies, Oh every quar-
ter-and earnestly recommended him to
occupy the remaining moments of his life,
In making his peace with the Almighty.
The charges being fully proved, the Court
sentenced him to death which sentence
was Carried into execution Yesterday mer-
ning' at quarter past nine o'clock, at the
lore yard arm of his majesty's sloop of war
halitaX-the ship he deserted from. He
was one of the four men taken ont of the
American frigate Chesapeake.
I-HaHfar Royal Gazette of Sent. 1sk.
APPLICATION g2Gs then made 10 Lieut..
Sinclair, The Hnerfcan officer at tie rem
devious, cut zOilAout e6cct.
The case candiGly considered are
now to make plain and concise statement
OF what we conceive to be the true nature
OF the present controversy between us and
Great Britain.
The English writer's in Canada, insist
that the sailors who are the immediate
cause OF dispute, having entered into the
British navy, and taken The kings bounty.
and then deserted, could not be received
ana protected by us, and that therefore a.
ny British cruiser had right to rctake
them whenever she found the,a, on the high
seas, "this being the only mode of recoy-
ering their deserted seamen" And some
oi the Boston prints have for some time been
engaged in softening down Tie public re-
sentiment, and preparing the way for At
length maintaining that the attack of the
Leopard on the Chesapeake was a neces-
sary and consequently lawful act. Last
ly, letters from Halifax published and cir
culated in several of our newspapers.
charge us with "being in the practice If
crimfjng English seamen.
! When we see such grounds openly taken
or countcnanced among ourselves, il is bipb
| time for those who hold different lanpnace
to come out anG make a stand in behalf If
I f.fr