Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-21
), las. MONROE.
Mr.. Dzorier charge d'.4fai,es
ofhis Britannia blajestu.
Mr.. FOSTER to MR.. MONROE.
Washington, Juiy 5, 1911.

SIR,
The assurances which you did me the
honor to give me yesterday verbally, that no
instructions whatever had been given to Com
modore Rodgers which could under any con-
struction be meant to authorize his attempt
ing to recover BY force any person claimed
as an impressed American citizen from on
board any of His Majesty's ships of war,
were amply sufficient to convey to my mind
every satisfaction upon that subject: the re-
ports, however, current in the United States,
and connected with Commodore Rodgers
conduct and proceedings, as we'll as the in
ferences which will be drawn from the ess-
pfessions which he used to the Captain of
His Majesty's sloop Little Belt, being of a
tendency to create doubts in Great Britain
as TO the nature of the authority under which
he acted, willingly accept your offer ofma-
king me the same statement in a more for
NAL manner, in order that may transmit it
10 my government to prevent all possible mis-
take on SO important point.
The question arising out of the rencounter
between the United States frigate President
and His Majesty's sloop Little Belt, viii then
remain linited to the act Itself. You are al
ready, sir, in possession of the British COM
mander's statement of the circumstances
which attended it; his account, and that Of
the American Commodore's, differ very ma
terialiy with respect to some of the most inn
portant features of the transaction, but in
this they agree, that the chacc which bro't
on the action commenced on the part OF
Commodore Rodgers for it cannot be main
tanned that the advance made by Captain
Bingham for the purpose Of ascertaining il
the sail described by him was His Majesty S
ship Guerrier, which it appears he had or
| ders to join, was for the purpose of chasing,
even If that could be urged as a plea by the
American commander. AS soon as he found
his signals unanswered, he bore away, until
TO his infinite surprise lie found himself the
| object of the strange vessels eager pursuit
| and hostile attitudes. What could be Com
modore Rodgers intention is not apparent
| That he could not discover at the distance o.
| 70 or lO0yards that the ship before him was
a fusll-deck sioop, though II was but little
after O'Clock, On the 10th of May; that he
| could not make out her colors at half past {
\ O'Clock; that his guns were double shotted
| and that with the security he possessed from
| the great force and superior sailing Of Tho
| ship under his command, and the circum
stance of belonging TO a neutral nation, h,
did not rather hold off during the night if h,
| wished to speak the sloop, than by rnnain,
under her stern in a menacing attitude mcu
| the risk Of provoking a misunderstanding
must appear unacceptable To the compre
| bension Of every unprcj Idiced person, an'
will, ] am sure, sir, seem to you suiiicicn
reason, if there were no other 20 warrant, IN,
demanding that an examination be instituted
into his conduct with a view 70 suitable salts
faction being afforded to his Majesty for TN
loss Of so many Of his subjects so wantonl
slaughtered, ard for the insult offered to hi
flag. But should captain Bingham's charge
be brought homo TO Commodore Rodgers, 70
his having refused to state the name of tn
nation he belonged TO, though asked to do s
on their hearing each other in the dark, an
Of having fred a brosdsidc into the slOo