Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-15
Mr.. FoSgER TO Mr.. MONROE.
HasEia gton, July "a, 1911.

/ have had the honor 10 receive your letter
dated on the 18th instant, In answer TO mine OF
the Sd. in which expressed a desire TO have
stated In more formal manner your denial
20 me Of orders having been given to Comnio-
aore Rodgers which could under any censtruo-
ton authorize that commander to attack any
Of his Maiestyss ships of var IN search OF any
person Gained as an American seaman, and In
which also demanded that an examination
should be instituted into that officers conduct,
with view 10 suitable rep4ration being afford
ed ID has Majesty for what appears a wanton
and unprovoked attack made by the trigate
under his conmzIed, upon his MAJestys siOoP
Of war, the Little Belt.
the denizl asked for, YOU have given me,
and beg TO assure you, sir, that though
troubled you with the demand. because the
extens;vrress of the Tumor, which had attn
buted such orders to the Anerican goFe
meDt, had made il my duty SO 20 do. yet ne
yer entertained an idea for one momeat that
The gosernmcnt of the United States cou!d
have issued such orders, because they must
have been considered as manifestations OF d.
rect intentions of hostility which would have
been incompatible with the relations of arnity
subsisting between America * Great-Brltain.
On such point, sir, simple denial was ali
] asked and what | expected to receive. 1t
was therefore with pain that found you had
connected it with illusions 70 other topics, CAL
cuiated to produce irritation, on which whate-
yer complaints you may have to make to ne,
/ shall be ever ready 10 receive and forward
them for redress TO the Commander In Chief
of his Maiestv's naval forces at Halifax, or to
lint he no
Of which In your note il answer 70 nine on
distinct subject of the most serious lmpor-
lance, you will pardon me If l must consider
as matter of regret, especially IS you WISHED
me to receive the communication you made
me as given in an anicable spirit.
Moreover from the tenor OF the part OF your
letter in which you have connected the ques-
ton of impressment with that OF an attack ON
a British ship of war, an inferenoeis forced
upon me, which you surely never could nave
meant me 10 draw, but which, nevertheless'
the passage CONVEYS, namely, that alfh'ngh
the government Of the United States had not
given orders for the recovery by torce Oh aAy
American citizen claimed t'oIn British ma
tional ship, they still maintain they might have
been justified in so doing. The right OF search
mo shin of war has been so positively DIS
avowed on the part OF His Aiajrsty,s govern
>ment. and so disclaiIned by th~t CT AE.erica
that I could not have expected any doubts
would ever again have ben thrown or the
matter, and vet the language OF your letter
until it is explained, viii certainly authorize
such doubts as far Is relates 10 the American
government.
have 70 answer Al al from you, sir, to my
demand for an inquiry beng Instituted into
the conrluct Of Capc4!u Rodgers. Ihisl O.
mission has occasiJned TO re tire more sur
prise, because In addition to there appearing to
be no cause why the goyernment OF ARerica
should decline 10 listen to so Just demand
on nv part, there seemed 70 be every reason
why they should even for their own satisfaction
have desired TO cleanup the circumstances OF
his most extraordinary proceeding. viii IN
deed frankly own TO you that | did think Or
reaching the city 10 have found that otlcer's
conduct already, BY the spontaneous act OF the
government Of the United States, undergoing
en- examination, instead Of hearing that he has
been sent Immediately TO sea again, winch
seemed 10 denote an appreciation OF his beha-
yior and thought could the more rely on
this being the course the president would have
nursued, from ! consideration OF that which
His Majestv's government had taken In the
case ofthe Chesapeake when every PREPARATION
practicable at the instant the intelligence
reached London of that unfortunate event,
was made to you, sir, promptly and unasked
for.
feel the more regret, sir, at the course
taken by your government In this affair, be-
cause have been necessarily obliged in con-
sequence to suspend carrying into execution
chat part of nv instructions by which l was
directed immediately on my arrival here to
offer sucb.further reparation FOR the attack on
tao Chesapeake frigase as would, | am con-
vipced, have proved satisfactory. ] had the
boaor 20 state TO vou,- in cur first interview,
thzt had such instructions. although omi,-
ted to mention it In my note, because as you