Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-17

llNaRlC& "a q AhAiSS s'ifA -
| ed.
One of the specifications under the "a
charge states, that the Leopard appioachea
! under ali the appearances OF being prepared
! for action: These appearances are not stated,
nor can imagine what they were. ihe crew
we're not observed to be at quarters--Ihe
tornpions were not discovered TO be out, tall
after the British officer came OH board; nor
had the trainings Q. her guns, and the hustle
among the marines, then been discovered
Some Of these circumstances occurred when
was below with the British officer, and were
unknown 10 me; others we're not observed
/ till after his departure.
Possibly it may be said, that although none
of these appearances, separately considered,
ought 10 have excited suspicion !; yet their
combined operation ought 10 have created
belief, that am attack was designed. To this
| reply, that each circumstance being sus-
ceptibie Of an easy and natura. solution, at the
moment Of its occurrence, It cannot be heiiev-
ed that the cir connection and dependence would
then have occurred to me. Much less can 1t
be imagined, that any inference, which might
have been drawn from their combination would
have outweighed the many obvious conside-
rations which rendered such an attack lii the
greatest degree impr 1bable. Against il, were
opposed the recollection Of numerous cases
in which seamen had been demanded OF our
ships, and refused without hostility tenn
per In the British councils more favorable
then to the United States, than at any for
mer period the recent arrangement by a
depending treaty of the differences between
the United States and Great Britain; AID "a
bove all ; the daring extravaganza OF the act
itself---4As well Nigh: have anticipated AN
attack III Hampton Roads.
] cannot but deem my situation peculiar.
ly unfortunate, when it is imputed to me as
crime, that, for these trivial occurrences
did not infer the probability Of an outrage,
which the whole American nation has pro-
nounceI unprecedented in audacity, and which
Great BritaiE herself has since disavoWed.
One circumstance [ ought no! 20 pass
unnosiced-csp; Gordon has stated, that,
at table, expressed ny suspicious OF the
Leopard. most solemniy affirm tnas
made no such communication. couiG
no have made i'll entertained 90 suspl.
con. He mus. have miscooceiyed my tx
preston doctor bullus ADD cap ain Hal!
were s, table --nesher of the IN heard II;
aud It expressed il could not have escaped
their notice. Thar captain Hall did net
near it is proved, b. his own osib -~he
moreover states what were my rematss,
which are very dliferen; froal shose ascr'tl
ed TO m by csp; ain Gordon. That doctor
bui!us did DOT hare it, is proved By evi
dence less eqalyocai even ,han his owa de,
ciAratlon-- il canno. be- inlsgin d tha;, h. ar
log sach "a expression Of my suspicious,
and being witness Of al chat passed with
he British officer, he would have been so
uomindfni or the saie.v Of bis wife sDi
children as TO have icss them On deck 10
the stes; moment before ,he stack. Capt.
CoTdon'a account Of The eonves So ioa is ln-
deed somewhst sirgulat--he recot,ec,s 90
remarks which led go is, none which tol
ioWed g: Il produced 90 expression Of ST.
nlar suspicion from him, or any other
person al table. None cf those enqaigies
we've made as &c the extent and cause ct
any suspicious, which would have natural
iy growo cut OF such CONTAMINATION.
! he remark he ascribcs 10 mr is insulsted;
CUT OIL from every thing which preceded,
or followed 10 conversation.
IL seems dificuli too 60 reconcile his
Subsequent conduct with this representa-
ton; leaving the csblo uoder q prrs aasion
that entertained suspicious OF he mcve.
men's ct the Leopard, was it DOT 10 81
expected that he would have examined she
gun-deck, caused the lumber 70 DC Temos
cd. ADD Go use the expressions Of The re-
gula,ions) "aave the ship ready for 80 i'm.
~ e.