Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-02
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
March "a.

Mr.. Harper presented petition of Joseph
Hilton, of New Hampshire, praying com
rcnsation for services rendered as a revolu-
ticnary officer--Referred.
Mr.. Reed presented petition of Samuel,
jeremiah and John Peabody, of Massachu.
sets, owners and masters of the schooner
Equality, praying that half of the nett pro-
Ceeds ola Quantity of cotton which was found
by them floating on the high seas, and has
been regularly lbelled and condemned, may
be paid 70 them.-Reierred.
Mr.. Reed also presented the petition Of
Samuel Tucker, praying compensation for
Revolutionary seryices.-Referred.
Mr. iced also presented the petition of
Eli 80 Ihorndke, dece ised, William Ha-
man and Benjamin Giles of Massachusetts,
praying indemnif'c lion for the loss of their
vessel and carg, which was Illegally CAP
tured by Spanish ship of war in the ve5r
1S0e.-Referred TO the Secretary of State
Mr.. PiIkin said, that he held i'll his hand a
statement and representation, on oath. of
Capt Samuel Chew of New-Haven in the
stacc of Connecticut, which he would beg
leave TO present to the House. Can't. Chew
states tha- Ae was supcrcargo on board the
brig Thames, and on the 18Th OF January
1912, sailed from St. Ubes, bound to n.
Haven, win q cargo of salt and fruit that
on the % ofJuly following, the brig was TAX
en- possession q by French squadron con-
sisting o. two frigates Of Al guns each and
a sloop of war OF 10 guns, under the com.
mand Of Commodore Forretin, and that he
was told by the officer boarding him, that
the brig would he burnt the next morning.
The officers Of the squadron informed him
that they sailed from Nantz on the 9Th JaDu-
airy. That or board the French vessels
were the crews Of the ship Asia from PHI
lldeiphia, bound to Lisbon, and Of the brig
GerShom Of burberry, last from Boston,
bound TO Oporto, 10Th laden with corn and
Hour. That the officers of the squadron in
formed him, that on the 18th & sd 4 Jan
.uaTy, they had cdfifured and burn the shin
Asia and brig Gershom. He also states, that
he enqyircd of the Conmodore the reasons
Of burning Them and was informed by him,
that he had orders from tbs government TO
burn all .americaH U"8SCi. sailing TO or from
an @nemH's foTf. That on the Cd Of Feb
Tuaiy the Com adore put on board OF the
Themes tre Captains and crews ofthe yes
sells burnt, being 81 in number, to be landed
lr 80 first port, nd that on tie 16th day of
~, he landed them at St. Bartholomew.
Capt. Che" states, likewise, hat when the
commodore released the Thames, he gavc
him adocument or writing, subscribed with
his own hand, and written in the French Ian
Er' p, * whichIs annexed TO his statement.
This document contains list of names of
the men composing the crews Of the vessels
Captured It also states, that they we're cap
t"rHd on voyages from Philadelphia K Bos-
ton to Lisbon, ladeTwith grain and -four, by
the division under the command Of Monsr.
Forretin, member of the Legion of honor.
and mat Hcy acre c1hfnred in hursuaace
9 NE bistrHctioHs effhe minister Of may1ae
and hhc colonies.
Mr.. p. said, that this statement, with the
original document annexed, in the French
language, ard under the hand of the com
mOdore Of the squadron, had been fsrward-