Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-01-18
Mr. Pinkney 10 Lord Wellesley y.
Great Cumberland Place, Sept. 18th,
1910.
NV Lord,

My Lord,
In my note Of the 1st instant, had
the honor to inform YOUR Los dship, that
it had heen stated to me, in letter
from Gottenburgh, that in consequence
of some misconception of the effect of
the order for ests blishipg a blockade of
Elsinore in May last, American vessels
had recently been prevented from pas
sing the Sound, by the English naval
force in that quartet; and requested,
that If this statement was correct, such
explanations might be transmitted to
the British commander as might, at
least, con6ne the blockade in question
to the port against which it had been
professedly instituted.
As have not received any answer
to that note, and consequently do not
know whether any order has been CIV
ell TO remove the interruption which it
mentions, / feel it to be necessary, to
lsv before your Lordship, the enclosed
original protest of the master of the
American ship Alert which appears
to establish the existence OF that inter-
ruptiop, in form as exceptionable as
it could possibly assume.
Whatever may be the ground upon
which sir James Saumarez has tho't
fit to issue his orders, to close the pas
sage of the Sound to American yes
sells, returning in the pr secution of a
lawful trade to the United States, or
proceeding in a contrary direction your
loYdship will, | am persuaded, think
with me, that my government has fair
claim to be made acquainted, either
through me or through such other
channel, as your lordship may deem
more proper, with the intentions of the
British g vernment on the subject.
Before l ooncude this letter, must
call your lordship s attention to the par
ticular circumstances of the case,
w ich has mainly produced it, and to
the redress which those circumstances
plainly require.
The Alert has been seized and
sent TO Enpland, by the Afr ca,' for
salvage. T peril from which soe was
saved, IL she was saved from any peril,
was created BY the injustice of the cap
turing vessels 10 turning her from the
regular course OF her homeward voy-
age.
That the commander Of the Afri.
ca or those under whom he acted,
should be responsible to the utmost,
Tor he Gloss occasioned by that injustice,
seems 20 be perfectly reasonable but
its dirk cu!tto imagine, in what way he
can expect to derive from it right to
inflane the loss for his own advan, ape.
trust, that the attempt VIII be repress-
ed IN Il suitable r-anner and that, in
place of salvage to be paid by the in
jured neutral, compensation viii, III
some mode or other, be awarded to
h'Rl for the damages he has been made
to sustain.
The impre ssment or board the CA
lsrt,' of four American seamen by the
Africa capnos be passed unnoticed.
THIS abuse could 20 fail to BIZ interest
lug under any cIrcumstances--but on
tins occ sion, surprising the enclosed
narrative to be true] It is noto5ly crs-
ractcrised by an utter disregard of the
rights # the American govern ent,
and by the oppression of its citizens,
but IS practised nnder a shew of friend
ly protection, aud aggravated by eve
r. practical wrong which could well be
associated witt IL.
/ have the honor to be, &c. &c. &c.
Signed
WIN. PINKNEY.