Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-25

rom !. W.Zubre, Esq. who holds commis.
sion as Consul of the United States at S,ettin,
that ON the ! 9TH ult. fzuentg-three American
scamen passed that place under escort of a
French guard to be put on board the ships Of
war at Antwerp. i, is represented to me
that these seamen had been torcbly presseda a,
Dantzic and other places on the Baltic by or.
der of his exccllency the Minister OF Marina.
In confirmation of this fact, have letter.
from Captain Charles Payne, of the America
ship Atlantic, taken into Dantzig by French
cruiser stating that twelve of his men, includ.
ing his mate, had been pressed in this way a,
that place. These twelve men probably CHI
stitute part of the twcnly-thrce aboye.men.
toned.
1t is nv duty to engage your excellency to
cause an enquiry to be had by the competcn,
authority into these facts and to procure tie
release of all of the seainen above mentioned,
who are citizens of the United States.
pray your Excellency to accept, sc.
(Sisned)- JONATHAN RUSSELL
His Ercellency the Duke ct Bassano.
Extract o,ea letter fftm Mr.. Russell TO tie Sc
cretary Of S.ate If tie United States, dated
PARIS, l5th JULY, 1911.
On the 5th of that month (Niay) received
note (No. ~ from the Duke of Bassano,
dated the 4th, containing list of sixteen A.
mcrlcan vessels whose carsoes had been id.
mitted by order of the Emperor. imned.
ately transmitted to you several copies OF this
communication, and gave you on the 9Th
such an account (No. - of the admitted cases
mate of the political value Of the measure a.
dopted in their favor.
Although was fully impressed with the
importance ofan early decision in favor of tue
Captured vessels, none OF which had been in.
Guided in the list above mentioned, vet |
deemed it proper to wait few days before
made an application upon the subject. By
this delay gave the government here an op-
pertunity of obtsining the necessary informa.
ton concerning these cases, and of pursuing
spontaneously the course which the relations
between the two countries appeared to require.
On the lth, however, having learnt at the
council Of prizes, that TO new order had been
received there, judged it my duty no longer
to remain silent, lest this government.should
erroneously suppose thai what had been done
was completely satisfactory to the U. States,
and, constituting my silence into an acquies-
cence In this opinion, neglect to do more.
therefore on that day addressed to the duke
OF Bassano, my note (No. g with list OF A.
n:erican vessels captured since the Ist Of No.
vember. On the 10th, learnt, that he had
laid this note, with general report on it,
before the emperor, but that his majesty de-
clined taking any decision with regard to il
before it had been submitted to council Of
commerce. Unfortunately this council did
not meet before the departure of the emperor
for Cherbourg, * during his absence, and the
festivals which succeeded it, thcreswas no as.
semblagc of this body.
Immediately on receiving the commune.
ton OF the duke of Bassano OF the 18th of Nav
l addressed him note (No. ~ concerning
the brig Good Intent, detained at St. Andero
Although this vessel had in fact been captur-
cd, yet from the peculiar circumstances Of the
case, l hoped that she would be placed on
the same footing as those which had been ad-
mitted The answer (No. s. which was re-
turned by the duke OF Bassano, dated the 2sth
and received the 23th announced to me, how-
ever, that this affair must be carried before
the council ofprizes. Wishing to rescue this
case from this inauspicious mode of proceed.
ing, again addressed him in relation to it, in
note (No. g. on the Cd of June. fl could
not obtain at once the restoration of this vessel
it was desirable, at least, that she should lie
admitted to the benefit of the general meg
sure, which insinuaicd might be taken IN
favor of the captured class mentioned in my
note OF the lth of May.
AS IN this note have stctcd the case Of tie
Good Intent to be analogous TO those of tie
Hare & the John, it may be properto explain i
to you both the points of resemblance and
diversity, IN order to reconcile this note with
my declaration that no captured vessel was On
the list oft the 18th Of May. The cases agree in
the destination to places under the authoriiy
OF France, and in the arrestation by Iauncbcs
IN the service of the French government
they differ in the Hare and John having alie4-
dy, before thcy were taken arrived n tie