Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-15
Mr.. FOSTER TO Mr.. MONROE.
philadelphia. September 4, 1911.

PhiLadeL,sAla, Se;ttem5er 4, 1911.
SIR,
| have now BY an express messenger from
England received the command OF His Royal
Highness, the Prince Regent, acting in the
name and on the behalf of his Majesty, rela-
tive to the late violent aggression, committed
by the United States F:igate, the President,
on his Maiesty's ship Little Belt, and l have
the honor Of communicating TO you the enclo-
sed Documents which have been transmitted
to ne BIZ nv government 70 be laid before
thas Of the United States, coinprehendlng a
copy Of letter from Lord James Townshend
Commanding officer at Halifax. dated May so,
1914. inoiosing statement OF the action by
the officers of the Little Belt-,he report Of
the commissioners of his Majesy's Navy
Board at Halifax, In respect to the damage
done the Little Belt, a copy of Rear Adml-
raj Sawyer's letter inciosing his instructions
to Captain Bingham, a5 we'll as list of killed
ard wounded on board the Sioop of Wars
hneily a copy of the correspondence on the
subject which took place between the Marquis
Wellesley and Mr.. Smith, American charge
d'aG.ires in London Of that of Captain Bing-
hams Official letter you already are in posses
sion.
In communicating to you, sir, these docu-
,nents, an particularly direeted TO call Jour
attention to the instructions Of Admiral Saw
yer which furnished the stronges, evidence Of
the pacific and friendly intentions of his ma
iesty's government towards this county
The very pointed manner in which the COM
man.ier III Chief On tie Halifax station had en-
joined Captain Bingham 10 avoid giving Of
fence TO the government or subjects OF the
United States, is of itself presumptiye proof
Of the truth of that officers statement, cYep if
there were not such strong evidence as ap-
pears from the deposition OF the different off,
GERS Oil board his rnajes:y's snip as =. the at
ton having been commenced Cy. Capt. Rodg-
erS.
His maiesty's government were entitled TO
expect. IS hare had already the honor to OBJ
serve to YOU, sir, n my Corner letter, that
the American government would have mani
Tested a prompt disposition 10 oevigte by an
early disavoual, and by iust reparat!on, the
necessary tendency Of such an event 10 disturb
the friendship sa5sis>ing between the two
states, and this expectation was the more ma
turzi from the example afforded by his TlFa les
ty's goycrnnaeht in the case Of the Cbesa-
peake. Such, however, no. having been the
case. am commanded BY his royal highne.s
10 lose no time III communicating to you the
papers enclosed, wh;ch explain in the fullest
manner the circumstances OF the transaction,
and the very great extent Of the outrage COM
ni;ted, bs wfich 50 many valuable lives were
sacrificed, and III demanding the i!nm.d iate
disarowai on the part OF the United Stases Of
the act of aggression committed against his
m.jesty's ship, as also in requiring just re-
partition Of the injury received.
have the honor 70 be, with sentiments Of
the highest consideration and re>pect, sir,
your most obedient humble servant
AUG. J. FOSTER.
To the Hon. James INonroe, &c. &c. &C.