Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-18

ley. ia relation to the mode IN which search
wassto be made |; althoughis will be per-.
,ceived thatthere are ia ii, no Instructions
10 use force and the terms are stadiously.
ambiguous. But you will perceive thatstle
persons Tor whom that search was to be
made. were men said TO be deserters from
six. ships named 10 the margin OF the or
der ]; the Melampus was not among the
vessels there nsmed; iristrue that one OF
the persons afterwards taken out was ade.
sener from the Halifax, which ship was,
named in the list, but il is equally Tue,
thar this an had shipped under an assum-
ed name, and it is proof that !, as wellas
every other officer Of the Chesapeake, was
then ignorant that such aperson was on
board; believing that no person said to be
descrteTs from the British aeet were on
board, except only he three who had G.
scapsd from The ftigate Mciampus, and
discovering that she order did not extend
10 the desrs,ers from THAI ship; cont
cluded sha, 40 search would be attempted
forihsse. men; and, IN this conclusion,
was the more strongly confirmed, from the
knowledge of the spplica'ion, which had
been made by the Blush minlsscr atWash.
ingtop; OF the euquiry wnich mad been
conducted by me. under ttie orders OF the
secretary of the navy, and Of the commu.
nica,ion OF the result Of that enquiry TO
M. Erskine. Will DOT every liberal and
uuprejudiced man admit, that .hese cir
cnmsrances justified the bellef, tina. che
British admiral had purposely omltsd the
Melampus from this order, because be de
sigued to absadon all pretensious 10 the
men who hsd deserted from her. Con-
WINGED thar the persons to whom the or
der referred were DOT on board the Chesa
peake. did Dot believe That capt. HumPh
reys (however pesemPtoiy ne might deem
the ordet would have commenced al al
tack, after receiving my positive assur.
ance that 10 persoa contemplated By Inc
order were on board the ship ! DID,
however, believe, that the communicated
ought TO inspire vigi'anre on my psr'. Il
captain Humphreys dad not rely On cay as
surance, torfoborated as it was by .h=
Track and verbal communication, through
his officer, of every thing which related
70 the men of The Melampas; imagioed
that another communication would have
been made from him before hostl,,es com
meoced, aud hat abundant time would
have been SLOWED to make his necessary
preparations for bAt,le. Under these ion
pressions, Il did oos thInk, that fhe occa
SION war; an ed .esor, rs measure ct so
decisive nature, as the forcible deensiun
of the Officer. ! resolved, however, 20
clear the snip for acs.oo IS 5000 as he de
parted; COT doab,ug, tina all my arrange.
Gneoss would be completed before az al
tack was made !; if Indeed captain Huaiph
rles should 90, be satisfied with the repte
sen,ation had made TO him. [. in these
expectations was afterwards disappoins.
ed, the disappointment tnav DC traced TO
a disobedience of my orders.
90 the most deliberate examination of
this part Of my conduc', my conscience
and jndgmen, acquit me OF }aIl repsoach
The most sndicsve OF my enem,es eau
suggest 90 different course, which could
naye pursued, bot the detention OF The
British ofcer I'LL my preparedness for bat
tie had been completed. Il t.ad resolved
on that measure, you, slrs, koow well,
that these preparanous could not have beep
made wi:hea. has knowledge Viewing these
preparations as the certain lodlesFioa OF
battle, nothing bu, force could have drtaio.
ed him--ough, TO have rsso''ea 10 such
a measure? If the detention had not been
considered in itself an act ol hostility, il
would at least have warranted belief .na,
the seamen, who were the subject Of the
order, were on board the ship. then