Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-22

Accounts; and indeed it was not probable |
that the British Commander would hastily at
tempt to bring vessel of SO superior force |
to action. Whether the attack were design
cd or not on the part of the Americans, we |
arc not prepared rs yet to affirm though it |
is stated in the National Intellgencer, (the
government papcr,) "that the commanders
oil public vessels were generally instructed to
submit TO no questi2n from any foreign pes-
scts 7chich shalt sgser ihe sembiance ola threat
IN manner or zvord - an order this, which if
II did not result from hostile feelings, is of the
most absurd character. 1t goes to give a
kind OF nervous sensibility to the honor OF the
American commanders; and leaving it to
them 70 inter pref the manner Of their being
hailed or questioned, subject, in many ca
ses, In which no two of them could agree,
lays the foundation ofperpetual irritation and
constant quarrels. Its absurdity, in fact, is
SO apparent, that the intention Of the order
mas been interpreted to be, by some persons,
to provoke quarrel with Great Britain, and
IN induce her to be the first to declare hos
tilitics: thus saving the American govern.
ment the odium OF an act to which they are
said to be inclined. Another view of the case
has been given in some of the American pa
pers, which assert that the American pub
lie vessels had received orders to search our
ships Of war for impressed Americans, and
20 enforce the search by force, if refused.
AnexPeriment we confess rather dangerous,
and so much so, that unless an open quarrel
were intended it could scarcely haze been
determined This, too, would be to allow
principle which they protested SO violently
against in the affair Of the Chesapeake. and
which has been disclaimed by the British CO.
vernment.-We cannot therefore fix upon
this as a solution othis yet mysterious occur
renee. There is more probability in anoth-
err account, which states it an affair of mere
etiquette. Rogers hailed the Little Belt to
know who shew was, & where from. The com
mandcr of the British sloop instead of answer
ing, returned the same questions. Upon this.
Rodgers, thinking himself entitled to the first
answer, hailed second time, and instantly
received shot, which he returned, and tEeu
fhestooh discharged her6roddside, and the ac-
ton commenced. Now epen uhon Iris erou7,d
the conduct Of Rodgers af,iears most asroci-
oms. Was his honor rendered so trembling
ly alive by the Instructions of his government,
mentioned above, that he construed the mere
refusal to answer his hail, into sthrcat,' .
and an insultf Or did it arise wholly from
hot-heade6 6rutahsy.--Ihe. 4ntericda account
HseLf completely Justjfes cahtaf,i BINGHAM.
and fhroFrs The .srisih ufon Rodgers Rodg-
ers had no right to an answer fromthc slooD.
and for captain Bingham to have given an an
swer, not knowing the vessel hailing, would
have been gross dcrehction of duty And
1t reason be asked, it is simply that the
sloop was beilgerent and the frigate ne,l-
fraL The neutral had therefore nothing to
to fear from answering the hail; but the bel
lgerent not knowing but that she was hailed
by an enemy (for the affair happened in the
night) might have exposed herselfto capture
by making known her name, country and
force.
Private letters, however, state that the first
shot was fred by the American This is
stated too to be captain Bilgnam's declara-
ton. The arrival of his dispatches viii
therefore be awaited for with much anxiety.
Iphich IS the offending 1iarty Is clear enough,
but the extent of that offence can only be
known from official information. 3
We deeply regret this occurrence, as IT
may affect the feelings of the two countries
towards each other If however, the. Ame-
rican government be not possessing covert
Bonapartean conduct, lis solemn disavozvul.
The funiehment Of Rodgers, and renarufios
asfar as rettaration is POSSIBLE, forthe loss of
so many valuable Hvcs ICHesaheakc1 may
prevent retaliation which national Justice
and honor both demand.
We hope, too, that the disavowal of, the
American executive will be prompt and hon
orable, and that they will not resort to their
r nStfof shutting Policy, or attempt to confound
the affair with that of the Chesapeake, to
winch 1t bears no manner of resemblance.