Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-07-13

OF delivering the tetIcr viii WHICH = az
Hchsrgedso captain Douglass !; On. arriving
along side his ship, the BelIona, was in-
svited en- board, received by captain Don.
glass himself at the head Of the gang.way,
and conducted 10 his cabin, where ! found
assembled all the captains Of the squadron
~ Immediately informed him that you
had yesterday received letter from him
the auswcr TO which I had bccnreqursted
TO deliver, and placed j. IN his hands, he
read the letter very attentiv+ly, aud then
handed il to captain Hardy from whom II
passed to the other captains in succession.
When they had all prrused j. captain Doa.
glass observed to me, 81 presume SIT,
you are acquainted with the contents OF
this Ie.tsr - told him was perfectly so.
He then STATED tha, his letter must h.'.e.
been nisapprshendcd. thu, itcentainea no
expression Of menace which he recollee e
ed, and thar it certainly was hot his IN
seution 10 use language which could be
construed to convey such ideas: he refer-
red TO captain Hardy saving. tina, he had
shewn him the letter prcvieusiylto It's be
log Sent, and hae requested his 'pinion as
TO iss sentiments captain Hardy cone
CURED with captain Douglass in the opin4
ron and obiec,s Of the communication -.
I then remarked 10 them the particular ex,
preston in the letter, which considered
as the language Of threat and acver ed 70
the circums,ance OF the words . immedi'
a.siy annnlled,' being underscered. lie
said that this unde, scoring must have been
done by his cle.k, wisheu, his direction
and had escaped his obsesva,ien but again
assured me upon his honor, that If any ex.;
precision in the letter wore the appearances
Of a threat, ii was not iaiendsd'.o be so
SO understood. s..4
Cap,ain Douglas next adyerted to the
conclusion of ,he letter, 10 whIchihe al !
ternativs Of peace or war is left TO himself
he said upon this subject, that ne had no
orders 70 commit any actnt hostility, and
that there was no man from whose inten
sicn or wishes sueh an object WAS more re
m$te. Thas hs wss anxious TO preserve ne
relations Of amity, which had existed be-
tween the two governments, and that 20
act Of his should tenl to interrupt their
harmony, uplSss he was ordered by MS
superiors 10 performs such ac;s, ~ which
case, as an officer, he must 90 MS duty
He repeated, however. tha, heshao at pre-
seat no such orders, nor did ne exreefto
receive such. He stated that he had II 10
charge generally, 20 guard his asg, and
those under its pro'ecuon from insult OF
assault, of any kind, and that this. 10 ali
81 uasions he most unaues'iopsb'y 90. bas
.,ha, auy further measure he was not at
presert arthorized, nor was II his intsr'-
tion 10 take. / here sta'cdto him the ma
nv ,nsu! ing menaces which had been coz
muuicated 10 No,folk. as coming IRON
him. He positively denied ever having
uttered any So sh-declared if ihsy had beep
used By any Of his officers, that n. were
unan.norised, and disapproved ct by him,
rsmarkipg at the same ime, that BE haped
all who knew him, wos!d do him the just.
ice 20 believe chat he was 90, 10 sh- Ia.
Bit of using The languags OF threat: he
here too again referred to all the officers TO
say, if they had ever heard him AZ any
time, even when speaklng conalentlal'y to
them. utter such expressions, and they y.
nised ia declaring that they had not.
"A desulsory conversation .heH took place
between CAPITALS Douglas. the other cap
,aias, and myself. which continued Dearly
an hour. ia the course of which many re
marks were made, which had no reference
TO tbs subjec, of your letter, or were 10
apy way couaec,es w,sh j.; these, sir. !
have already communicated TO yourself,
aud TO all my fellow citizens, with whom
I have consersrd upon this subject; but
as they are 20, connected with the subject
Of your letter. prssas,e it would be an
necessary again 70 detail them here. Ia
~. .,n,ersst inn I described