The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-04-05


fish ordinances enforced during maritime
wars, to which she bore neutral relation,
am constrained, unwelcome as the task
is, to call your attention TO the following
more prominent instances.
In the summerof the year 1904, the Bril-
fish frigate the Cambrian, with other cruz
sers in company, entered the harb6r of ".
York. The commander, captain Bradley,
IN violation Of the port laws, relating both
to health and revenue, caused merchant
vessel, iust arrived, and confessedly with
in the limits and under the authority of the
y. States, to be boarded, by persons under
his command, who. after resisting the Off
GERS OF the port, in the legal exercise of
their functions, actually impressed and car
RED of a number of seamcn and passengers
into the service of the ships of war. On an
appeal to his voluntary respect for the laws,
he first failed to give up the offender to JUS
tice and finally repealed the officer charged
with the regular process for the purpose.
fhis procedure was not only fiagrant
insult To the sovereignty of the nation. but an
intraction of its neutrality also, which did
not permit a belligerent ship thus to aug
ment rs force within the neutral terrific
~.
To finish the scene, this commander
went SO far as to declare, i'll an official let
ter. TO the minister plenipotentiary of his
Britannic majesty, and by him communicate
edto this government, that he considered
his slip, whilst lying in the harbor of New
York, as having dominion around her, with
in the distance of her buoys.
All these circumstances were duly made
known 10 the British government in just ex-
pectation of honorable PREPARATION. None
has ever been offered Captain Bradley
was advanced from his frigate to the COM
mand OF a ship of the line.
AT subsequent period, several British
friSates under the command of Capt. Whit
by, OF the Leander, pursuing the practice of
VeXing the inward and outward trade OF our
ports, and lowering for that purpose, about
the entrance of that of New-York, closed a
series OF Irregularities, with an attempt to
arrest d coasting vessel, on board of which
an American citizen was killed by cannon
bali which entered the vessel, whilst within
less than mile from the shore.
The blood of citizen thus murdered, in
trade from one to another port of his own
country, and within the sanctuary of its ter
ritorial jurisdiction, could not fail to arouse
the sensibility of the public, and to make a
solemn appeal to the justice Of the British
government. The case was presented more
over 70 that government by this, in the &C
cent which it required and with due con
hdence that the offender would receive the
exemplary pun shment which he deserved.
That there might be no failure of legal proof
OF fact sufficiently notorious Of itself, I'M
exceptionable witnesses to establish it were
sent to Great-Britain at the eXpence of the
U. S.
Capt. Whitby was, Notwithstanding homo
raoly acquitted; no animadversion took
place on any other officer belonging to the
squadron; nor has any apology or eXplana-
ton been roade since the trial was over, as
coneiiiatory offering to the disappointment o.
this Country at such result.
Il case Of another character occurred in
the month of Sept 1905 The mpetueux. a
French ship Of ~ guns, when aground within
few hundred yards of the shore of North
Carolina, and therefore visibly within the
territorial jurisdiction and hospitable protec-
ton OF the United States, was fired upon,
boarded and burnt, from three British ships
OF war, under the command of capt. Douglass
Having Completed this outrage on the sove-
rcgnty and neutrality of the United States,
the British commander fet no scruple in pro-
ceeding thence into the waters near Norfolk,
nor in the midst of the Inequalities enioved
by Him, 10 add to what had passed refusal
to discharge from his ships, impressed citi-
zens of the United States not denied to he
such, on the plea that the government of the
United States had refused to surrender to
the demand of Admiral Berkeley Certain
seamcn alledged to be British deserters; a
demand which it is well understood your go
vernment disclaims any right to make
1t would be very superhuous to dwell on
the features which mark this aggravat, ! in
salt But mus be permitted to remind YOU,
thai IL so serious light was similar viola
ton Of neGtrai territory, by the destruction
of Certain French ships on the coast of Por-
tugal, by British squadron under the COM
mand OF admiral Boscawen, regarded by the
court OF Great Britain, that minister e1-
traordinary was dispatched for the express
purpose of eXpiating tie aggression on the
Sovereignty OF afriendly power.
Lastly presents itself, the attack bv the
British ship of war, Leopard, ON the Ameri-
can friSate Chesapeake case too familiar
in all its circumstances To need a recital of
any part of them. 1t is sufficient to remark,
that the conclusive evidence which this e.
vent added to that which had preceded, of
the uncontrolled excuses of the British naval
commanders, in Insulting our sovereignty, &
abusing our hospitality, determined the pre-
Sidefrt 70 eX end to- all British armed ships
the precaution heretofore applied to few
by name, of jnterdicting to them the use and
privileges Of our harbors and waters.
This was done by his proc amation of Ju-
,ly 9, 1907, referring to the series of &C
currences, ending with the aggression on the
frigatc Chesapeake; as the considerations
requiring it. hnd if the apprehension from
the icentions spirit of tire British naval com
handlers thus deVe .oDed and uucoutrcifeJ