Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-06-22
M ~ THE NORFOLK LEDGER.
COMMODORE BARRON's DEFENCE;
TcoNrlNuKD.

Gordon, who has Cerlalniy 40 ulSPos...Ass,"
speak more favorably of me than ne tninSs
/, merit; and to the representation OF My cO''-
duct by numbers vino saw me during the az
tack.
Wounded bymary circumstances growing
out. Of this affair.". acknowledge that none
has been more MORT flying and Illuminating
) than the imputation conveyed by the next
specification. 1t indirectly charges me with
desersion of my post, during the acton
and nv a refinement In malice, lnsinnates
motive for that desertion, which neither tue
evidence or opinion of the court OF enquiry
would permit TO be directly charged; mean
want of personal resolution. 10 this I'M
putaion, though sanctioned by otfaclai dighi-
ty, my honor and pride forbid me silently 20
submit. 1t prcsupposes that my duty ought
to have made me stationary In some particular
part of the ship during the attack. w nat IS
that station? There is none. My duty re-
quired me to be In such positions as Woaid
best enable me to observe the manGuvres OF
my antagonist, and direct those of my own
ship. Wounded by the first broadside, dur
ING the whole attack never Quilted the quar-
ter Geek. The Witnesses concur IN say
ine, that I was In the most exposed situa-
tons. The gangway (which persons unac-
.quainted with naval affairs would lnter rom
the charge to be place of security and SAFE
ty1 is the only part of the vessel entirely un-
sheltered even from musket balls and merits
the emphatic appellation OF " the slaughter
house.'' given TO it by one of the Witnesses
How Unsuitable and cruel is that spirit OF per-
sccution, which deduced from the utmost cx-
posure of my person, and a total contempt OF.
individual danger, the dis graceful imputation
of cowardice conveyed by this charge.
This question has been proposed IN the
words of the charge TO many of the witnesses.
Z 1t has been negatiyed by all of them, That
hailed the Leopard twice soon after her
firing commenced, and said / would send my
boat on board, is true. That mind is incapa-
bic of either generous or intelligent views,
which will not distinguish between a ruse de
gnesre and anact Of cowardlce. My antago-
= nists haye~done me more jastlce, They per.
ceived my true motives. They discovered,
and they Acknowledged IN shggestel the only
expedient for gaining time, to complete my
preparations for battle. In the accounts of
this transaction which they have published,
they aseribc my hailing. not to cowardiy
disposition to terminate the conflict, but to a.
wish to gain time to prepare my ship to main
tain it with greater obstinacy. The beat of
drum, nviolation of my orders, had notified
the British commanders of my preparations TO
meet him. He instantly commenced the at
tack-My OWL crew I perceived were con-
fused, and unpfepared. A few moments
were all important 10 nay preparations. Was
it criminal or coWardly, by an article of this
sort, to attempt to anuse my enemy, till |
was in situation to repci him
Ideny that I ordered lieut. Smith to GO into
the boat, or that gave him any message to
be carried TO the Leopard during the attack.
will not detain you by an analysis of the tes-
tirnony on shis point. To those who will take
the trouble 20 examine the details of the evil
deace given at this trial, anu that before the
court oil enquiry, 1t will be matter of curl
Gus speculation TO enquire by what means
such various L contradictory accounts should
exist, In the representations OF transaction,
so short In duration. There is scarcely any
one circumstance, of which different repre-
sensations are not made. 1t would defy even
: the powers of sir Isaac Newton to reduce
them into chronological order--Take the
trouble to analyse the statements on this head
and you will perceive, the only order givento
lieut.. b. Smithto go into the boat, was given
after the surrender.
The two remaining specifications may be
comprised In one answer. 1t is not pretended
that any expression calculated to dispirit. the
crew was used by me, except those stated in
the last specification, in which it is alledged
that s ordered the men to keep down that
they would all be cut to pieces.
The only witness who states flor will not
SO misaaply the word as TO say PROBES these
) expressions, is Mr. Babet, a young nidship-