Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-09-22
crew ef,he Eliza received the most polite
attention, which captain R. wishes grateful.
w 10 acknowledges.

dksSusIon1 whit optoiu AAs WASuSS SaoASASA-
ly TO acknowledge.
A pamphlet has been published at Halifax
ofthe trial of John Wilson, alias Jen.
kin Ratford. for mutiny dissertion and
contempt. It will be recollectcd that
this was one of the seamen found on
boardthe Chesapeake. 10 this pamphlets
we observe the following correspond
ence.
To John Erskine Douglass, esq. captain
of his msjrsty's ship Beliona, aud seaior
officer, &c. &c. Chesapeake.
His maiesty's ship Leopard, at sea.
2sd JHne, 1907.
SIR,
IN obedience to our sigma! this
morning to weigh and reccnnoitre S. +.
by E. have the honor TO acquaint you,
that having arrived off Cape Henry, to the
distance of about four or FIVE leagues |
bore up pursuant to orders from the com.
mander in chief, TO search for deser:ers
on board the United States ffigate Che sa
peake. On arriving within hail an officer
was dispatched according to my instruc-
tons, to shew the order TO her commander
together with the. following note from my.
self:
The captain of his Britannia majessy's
ship Leopard, has the honor 10 enclose
the captain of the Uri;ed States frlgate
Chesapeake, 40 order from the hon. vice
admiral Berkely. commander in chief of
his majes,y's ships 90 the North Amer
can s,agion, respecting some deserters
from ships, therein meu,ioned) under his
command, and supposed now 20 ba servlos
as part of the crew of the Chesapeake.
I" The captain of the Leopard will not
presume to say any thing in addition to
wha, the commsnder 10 chief has stated,
more than to express hope, that every
circumstance respecting Them may be ad.
iusted, in such manner thar the harmony
subsissing between the two countries may
remain undis,urbed."
The boat after an absence Of three quar-
tiers Of an hour, returned with the follow
ing answer.
81 know of no such men as you &c
scribe the officers that were en the re.
cruiting service for this ship, were parti'
culary instructed by the government ,hro'
me, not TO enter any deser.ers tron his ID.
u,sjesty's ships, nor do know OF any beng
here.
81 am alse instructed never to permit
the crew of any ship ] command, to De
mustered by any other but Der own officers
it is my disposition to preserve harmony
and hope this answer to your dispatch
will prove satisfactory.
Commander of the y. States ship Chesa-
peake.
On the receipt of this letter motives OF
humanity, and an arden. desire to prevent
bloodshed, induced me if possible to en-.
deavor TO make the search without recuf
ring to more serious me- asures, by repeated.
ly haling and demonstrating without effect
then directed shot to be fred across the
bow after which he was again hailed. the
answersI were equally esasive; concrivlng
therefore that my orders would cot admit
Of deviation, lament to state that telt
under the necessity of enforcing Them by
firing into the United States ship; few
shot were returned but none struck this
ship-at the expiration of ten minutes
FROM the frs. sho. being fired, the pendant
aud ensign OF the Chesapeake were low.
cred. then gave the necessar, direction
for her being searched, accordingso my
Instructions, and herewith send } ou state
men.* of the number and pames of the de
serters found on board. Several otherEn.
glish subjects composed part of the crew
OF The friga,e, bu, as they did not claim the
protection of the British flag, and not WIKI.