Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-14

communication. have the honor TO be, &c.
CS,ened1 JAMES MONROE.
Mr.. J1orfer, Charge d'IGars
ofhis Br1tannic lNJrsty.
Err. FOSTER TO NR. MONROE.
Uashisg.on, July 5, 1911.
SIR,
The assurances which you did me the 10.
nor to give me yesterday verbally, that no il.
structions whatever were given to Commodore
Rodgers which could under any construction
be meant 70 authorize his attempting to reco.
yer by force any person claimed as an impress
ed American citizen from OH board any OF bis
maiestv's ships of war, were amply sufhcien.
to convey 10 my mind every satisfaction upon
that subject: the reports, however, current
in the United States, and connected with Com.
modore Rodgers conduct and proceedings, as
well as the differences which will be drawn
from the expressions which lie used to the
captain of his majesty's sloop Little Belt, BE-.
ing of tendency to create doubts in Great.
Britain as TO the nature OF the authority under
which be acted, willingly accept your offer
of making me the Same statement in a more
formal manner, in order that ] may trSEsnjit
it to my government to prevent al! possible
mistake o.! so important point.
The question arising out Of the rencounter
between the United States frgate President
and His Majesty's sloop Little Belt will then
remain limited to the act itself You are al
ready, sir, in possession OF the British coal-
mander's statement ofthe circumstances which
attended it; his account, and that of the Aae.
rican commodorc's differ very materially with
respect to some of the most important fea-
lures Of the transaction, but in this they agree,
that the chace which brought on the action
commenced on the part Of Commodore Rod
gers: fer i, cannot be maintained that the adj
vance made by Captain Bingham for the pur-
pose of ascertaining # the sail deserted by .;m
was His Majes!y's ship Gucrrier, which it
appears he had orders 10 Join, was for the pur.
pose of chasing, even if that could be urged
as plea By the American commander. As
soon as he found his signals unanswered, be
bore away until to his infinite surprise he
found himself the object Of the strange YES
sel's eager pursuit and hostile attitudes. What
could be Commodore Rodgers intention is
not apparent. That he could not discover 1T
the distance Of 70 or 100 Yards that the ship
before him was flush deck sloop though Il
was but little after 8 O'Clock, on the 9th ri
NAV; that he could not make out her colors
at half past O'Clock that his guns were
double shottcd /; and that with the security lie
possessed from the great force and superior
sailing Of the ship under his command, and
the circumstance Of belonging to heutral na.
ton, he did not rather hold off during III.
night if he wished to speak the sloop, than b.
running under her stern in a menacing attitude
incur the risk Of provoking Glisundcrstand-
ing, must appear unaccouatablc TO the COM
Prehension of every appropriated person. ard
Will | am sure, sir, seem 10 you sufficient
reason. II there were no other 10 warrant my
demanding that an examination be instituted
into MS conduct with view TO suitable saii.-
faction being afforded 10 His Majesty for the
loss Of so many of his subjects so wanton!y
slaughtered, and for the Insult offered 20 bis
flag. But should Captain BinghaIn's charges
be brought home to Commodore Rodgers, f..
his having refused to state the name OF the "a
ton iIe belonged ID, though asked to do so OF
their hearing each other in the DIR, and Of
firing broadside into the sioop without pTo-
vocation. which might at og.ce have su1k .
small vessel, am convinced | need Only
appeal to the justice Of the American goreE.a-
Tneni, tor that government 10 sac in It's proper
light the magnitude of the outrage, and offer
to ms majesty every reparation ,ias Can app
pear due.
1t IS with great pleasure, Sir, that | avail
myself af this opportunity to ackBosIedgc the
Prompness with which you carne forward
with the assurances alluded 70 in the first pat
ct this letter, and the readiness which you
showed to receive any communications from
me IT. regard to The unhappy occurrence Whlch
forms the subject OF the remainder.
have the honor 20 be, with the tighes.
consideration, sir. your most obedient nnns-
bic servant AUG. J. POSTER.
HonorG5Le JGmes Monroe, Gc.
MnSpoY