Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-18
4 dollars per annum. I

10 not prStSud, SIT, 10 JUSTIFY the captain
OF the British ship of war who refuse, to
deliver the American ueserter, mentioned in
your letter. not knowing the circumstances
under which he acted.
Il will no doubt, however, occur to y0G,
thatif you could state a single instance where.
| crowds have collected roundysil American
! officer on his landing in England, with Il view
to insult him and entice his men to abandon
| him, as is too often the practice in the Unit
, ed States, such an instance would be more
directly in point.
| have now, sir, the honor to lay before.
you, by order of his royal hgnness the
Prince Regent, the enclosed papers No. 1.
! 2, 8, d, 81 relating to English seamen who
have been detained, against their will, on
/ board OF certain ships of war of the United
States, which have of late visited Great
Britain and TO express his royal highness'
! sincere belief, that these seN eral sources OF
complaint have originated without the con-
currence or participation of state With
; which he Is SO ANXIOUS TO preserve ali amIcd7
bic intercourse, As well as his conviction that
the government of America mas only 70 be
informed of the fact, to take prompt and sa-
tiSfactory measures Tor the correction Of the
practice.
Inc American government will perceive,
from this friendly communication, that 1t is
not on tnis side OF the water alone, that the
Inconvenience necessarily resulting trom he
similarity Of habits, language and muHrers,
! between tneinhdotants ~ the two ccus,ries,
is productive OF subjects Il complaint Az. re-
; greet These are, however, at the same
time natural and strong inducements for a
conformity ~ interests, and most part.cu-
larly tor d readiness to give and receive nu--
! tual explanations upon all subjects OF differ
ence.
have it in charge TO repeat to you, sir,
for the Information of your government that
the government of his royal highness the
Prince Regent viii continue to give tue most
positive orders against the detention of
American citizens on board his males: y's
ships; and that no difficulties, beyond what
are reqsite for clearly ascertaining the "a
tonal character of individuals, whose Gases
are brought before the Lords Commission
ers of the Admiralty, will be interposed to
prevent or delay their immediate discharge.
The Earl of Liverpool, while he held The
Office of his majesty'S Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, I'D interim, was Command
ed to make known the case of William Bow
man, stated by the affidavit of his wife t. be
forcibly detained on board the u. Stases,
ship Hornet. The departure of this vessel
precluded Mr.. Russell from making the
necessary representation to the command
VI
Russell will have probably stated the Cir
! culnStances of the case to this government,
l am inhopes there viii be no difficulty in
obtaining has release.
OF the papers enclosed, those marked No.
!, consist OF copy of a letter from Admi-
| raj Sir Roger Curtis, commander IN CHEZ at
PDrtmouth, to Mr.. Croker, the Secretar, to
the Admiralty, enclosing copy q, the de-
position upon oath of Charles DAVIS, an
| Irlshman by birth, VINO was lately saryiag
| on board the U. States frigate Constitutons
under the name Of Thomas Hollands ; md
| of a letter from Captain Hail, Of his maies-
ty's ship Royal William, to Admiral Sir Ro-
ger Curtis giving an account of the same
Charles Davis, and of his escape from the
Constitution frigate.
No. q contains the copy of letter from
Captain Han to Sir Roger Curtis, transmits
ting statement OF the names and descripti-
OnS of % British seamen on board the Com
stitution and Wasp.
No. 3. contains a copy of a letter from
Sir Roger Curtis to Mr.. Croker stating the.
real name and birth place of William smith.
who ran away from the u. States frIgate-
Constitution, and who proves to be native
of England and whose name is John ray5.
lor
No. 4. contains the copy of another LETT
lSI lIOh OH ROSGE OuTIlS TO 1r. CrJker,l
transmitting the affidavits of George War
rem and Daniel Murphy, British seamen who.
| Runaway from the Constitution and Hor-
| net and of the wife of William Bowman,
who is alluded to above.
And No. S. contains the deposition upon.
| cath of John Taylor, mentioned in No g.
The correspondence between the Earl OF
! Liverpool and Mr.. Russell, on the subject of
| Bowman, do not enclose, concluding that
| Mr.. Russell will have already transmitted
| copies of it to his government You will.
| however, find in No. the statement of the
| circumstances attending Bowman's forcibre
! detention.
j have the honor to be, &c. &c. &c.
! (Signed) AUG. J. FOSTER:
Mr.. MONROE TO MR.. FOSTER.
DEPARTMENT Of State, lime 8, 1912.
SrR-Ih have had the honor to receive your
letter of June 1st, with the papers enclosed,
relating to several British seamen who are
stated to have entered into the naval sef=
vice Of the u. States.
Withous repeating what had the honor
~ state to you in personal interview rese
pecting the deserter from the Cleaner, and
the conduct Of tho armed party from that
vessel who pursued him some distance in-
to the country ] shall conine my remarks
to your complaint of the detention of British
| seamen in American vessels, twenty-eight Of
whom are said to be on board the Constitute
| on. Although the fact cannot have been
| admitted on the evidence produced, because.
| it is contrary to the laws Of the United
| States, yet it will be enquired into. 1t is
| also possible, that the seamen so detained
admitting the fact Of their detention, map
| nave become legally American citizens. in
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