Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-21
Mr.. FoSTER IN sfR. MONROE.
PhiiaQclthia, Sent. 4, 1911.

Royal Highness the Prince Regent, acting in
the name and on the behalf Of his Majesty,
relative to the late violent aggression COM
mitted by the United States Frigate the Pre-
sident. on his Majesty's Ship Little Belt, and
have the honor of communicating to you the
inclosed Documents which have been trans
rnitted to meby my government to be laid be-
fqIs-that of the y. S. comprehendinp copy
ga letter from Lord James Townsend COM
na&Gng Nicer at Halifax dated May so,
4olA mcloS statement of the action by
he o&cersEbf the Little Bet-the report of
Ne Commissioned of his Majesty's Navy
B5sId. at Halifax, in respect to the damage
donethe Little Belt /; copy of Rear ADM
raj SAVERS letter inclosing his Instructions
TO Captain Bingham, as well as list of kill
ed and wounded ON board the Sloop of War
and hnaily copy OF the correspondence on
the subject which took place between the
Marquis Wellesley and Mr.. Smith American
Charge d'aiftirs in London of that of Capt.
Bingham's official letter you already are in
Possession.
In communicating to you, sir, these Docu-
ments, am particularly directed to call your
attention to the instructions Of Admiral Saw
yer which furnished the strongest evidence of
the pacific and friendly intentions of his Ma
jesty's government towards this country.
The very pointed manner in which the Com
enjoined Captain Bingham to avoid giving Of
fence to the government or subjects of the u
nited States Is of itself presumptive proof of
the truth of that officers statement, even if
there were not such strong evidence as APP
pears from the deposition of the different Of
fcers on board his Majesty's ship as to the
action having been commenced by Captain
Rodgers.
His Majesty's government were entitled to
l.. n -.
observe to you, sir, in my former letter, that
the American government would have mani
tested a prompt disposition to obviate by an
early disavowal and by just repatriation, the
necessary tendency of such an event to dis
turb the friendship subsisting between the
two states, and this expectation was the more
Natural from the example afforded by his
yMajesty's government inthe case of the Ches-
/ . SUI however, not having been the case,
NJ anfcommanded by His Royal Highness to
lose no time in communicating to YOU the pa
pers inclosed, which explain in the fullest
manner the circumstances of the transaction,
and the very great extent of the outrage
Committed, by which many valuable lives
were sacrificed, and in demanding the i'm
mediate disavowal on the part of the United
States of the act of aggression committed a.
gainst his Majesty's ship, as also in requiring
a just PREPARATION of the injury received.
have the honor to be, with sentiments of
the highest consideration and respect, Sir,
your,most obedient humble servant,
- AUGUSTUS J. FOSTER.
Il thehon. James Monroe, &c. &c. &c.
I MR. MONROE 10 Mr. 1osrER.
Defarfnenf Of State, Sehf. IA, 1911.
have had the honor to receive your LET
ter of the 4th inst respecting the encounter
between the United States' frigate the Pres;-
dent and his Britanic Majesty's shin Little
Belt, which have laid before the President
OF the United States.
In the first interview which took placeIbe-
tween us, after your arrival at Washington.
/ stated explicitly that no instructions had
been gwen to take any seamen from on board
a British ship OF war, nor any order whate-
yer Of a hostile nature Imsdc the same de-
claration afterwards, at your request, in a
more formal manner I; and it is with the Same
-frankness that now again repeat Il.
Such declaration was deemed proper. in
efder 70 obviate misrepresentation which
might DISTRICT any conciIiatory and satisfac-
\ tory propositions with which You might be
charged. 1t was in conformity also with the
candor and friendly policy which have been
shewn by this government in all its transact
ons with Great Britain.
"a VIC eiiS"CI 10 your former letter was IL
mited to this disayOwal of hostile intentions
on the part of this government. it need scarce
~ be remarked, that no further view OF the
subject could then, nor as yet can, be enter
cd INTO, on the demand OF the British govern
Tncnt, without forgetting an essential preliui-
nary to such demand.
it might be added that with the circum-
stances Of the transaction, as officially before
ths government the true ground ON which il
claimed attention, was that of violent aV-
erosion by British on an American shin. IN
situation & manner authorizing the strong
est appeal to the British government for re-
dress. 1T an instant representation and de-
tpend to that effect were not made, il was a
proof only that this government permitted
The event ofthc encounter to temper the feel
ings and rctard The complaint, prompted by
the origiWand character IF Il.
II IS not seen without surprize that the case
OF the Chesapeake is cited as an example
supporting demand Of PREPARATION in the
present case. NJ other remark will be
made than that the fifth year is now elapsine
without separation in that case, although SO
PaipaDiy and even conlcsscdly due to the
I Itn