Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-07-08
NORFOLK. July 6.

1T a meeting ofthe committee at the Err
change Coffee House, on Monday The
29M Of June, 1907,
Present-IhoRias Matthews, Noses Myers,
Ulilam NezvSuEa, Francis S. Taylor,
Seth Foster, Thomas .Mezuton, Richard
Biozv, Thomas Blanchard, j. ~. Mur-
dauSh, Thee. .4,miStead
The chairman presented the following
letter from Commodore Stephen Decatur,
which was ordered to be published
Norfolk, LIST July, 1907.
SIR,
Orders from government directing my
immediate attention to the re-equipment of
the Chesapeake, any farther movement of
the Gun Boats, for the moment, must ne
cessarily be suspended. These boats will
however lay where they are, with every
thing on bard, ready for such measures as
the government may direct or emergencies
call for
Allow me to avail myself of the present
occasion TO express the high sense enter
tain of the zeal and patriotism OF the citi-
Gems of this neighborhood, particularly
that portion of them by whose. voluntary
and unexampled eXerticns, these boats,
then laying in 4 dismantlcd state, where in
a few hours completely rugged, equipt and
brought to the point where they now are
GIN ~ ny ldTSCTNlCGS WllCn
continue to be rendered by the seamen and
armed companies of the place, they may in
a few hours at any time be rendered dis
tingushably useful to their country
Accept, Sir, for yourself and the Board
over which you preside, the assurances Of
my high consideration and respect.
STEPHEN DECATUR, Jun.
To General Mathews, Chairman
ofthe Committee, &c.
ReSofUed, That this committee view with
the greatest satisfa Ction and most lively SEN
sibility, the patriotism displayed by capt.
Decatur since the alarm excited by the late
outrage committed on our flag by British
squadron.
Resolved, That commodore Decatur be
invited to partake of a publick dinner.
ReSofUcd, That Seth Foster, mas
.NeTolon, and Richard Bio7u be a commit
tee to wait upon Commodore Decatur with
this invitation, and to make the necessary
arrangements for this entertainment.
Whereas this committee passed reso-
luton interdicting all commune alton with
the British ships until the pleasure of GO
vernment should be known; and whereas
the Collector of tbs port has received di-
rections to make request through the me-
dunn of the British Consul for the release
OF some impressed seamen now on board
the Bellona-ResoiUed, That this commit
tee never did consider the Introduction en-
tered into by the citizens of Norfolk, of
communication between the British Con-
sui and the British squadron, rs extending
to dispatches transmitted under authority
of the government of the United States or
any of its agents.
communication respecting the state of
Fort Norfolk was received from Colonel
Sharp.
The Committee appointed for that pur-
pose made return of the powder IN the
magazine.
a communication was received by the
Chairman from DR.. Shore, chairman of a
town meeting of Petersburg.
THOMAS MATHEWS, Chairman.
Proceedings Of The Committee at the Err
change Coffee House, Sd Juiy.
Thomas Nathe7v8, LIKE Whee-
Ter, William I'ennock, Daniel BeGiineer,
Sch Foster, Il. s. Taylor, Thomas .We7v-
toH,j jun. Thomas Blanchard, Moses N.Y.
ers, IHeO. .ArmSfead.
Whereas it has been represented to us
! that the British Consul has refused to send
his dispatches covering communications
from our government to the British ships
through the conveyance offered by the COL
lector, alledging that the resolutions ofthe
committee have suspended his functions,
and therefore that he would not make a
demand for the liberation of the Seamen
detained on board of the Belloiia, unless
through the medium of the advice boats
hitherto employed by the squadron, or
| In such other mode as he may think pro-
per.
Resolved, That this committee do not
prescribe To the Consul any mode of COM
nunicat on which lie may, in his pleasure,
think proper to adopt-He knows full
well how far the resentment of AN injured
people will brook the appearance in their
own ports Of those very men whose hands
are yet reeking in the blood of their coun-
try. But in an interval wherein the sense
of the government cannot be asceTtained
the committee will hold him infamous who
infringcs the spirit OF the public resolutions !;
| and whether IL may or may not be deem
| cd expedient by our government 90 sus-
| pend tor the present the intercourse be-
| tween its citizeUsa and the British squadron.
We do declare that the citizens Of this com
! munity'have a right as individuals to with
! hold supplies of provisions and water de-
! rived from their own estates, and that it
| will be departing from that just indiguati-
| or already expressed by them ifthey fur
nish or permit to be furnished supplies Of
any kind, until ample retTibution is made for
( the insult offered 70 our national character.
! RESOLVED, Thatthis committee deriving
j their power from the people only, and ape