Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-06-19

init here enclosed. TO his eycellency the Duke
OF B1ssano. minister Of foreign relations co
Rpies OF the protests of Thomas Holden, mas
4 ter Of the American brig Dolly of New ork,
and Stephen Bayard, master of the Atnefi-
can ship Telegraph of New York, by which
his excellency will learn that these vessels
have been met with at sea, bv his imperial
and royal majesty's ships, the ~hIedusa, capt
Raoel. and the Nymph, capt. Plassaw, who,
after having plundered them ola part OF their
cargocs, destroyed the remainder by burning
the ships.
1t is d painful task TO the undersigned TO be
: obliged 80 frequently 20 call the attention OF
his excelIency 10 such lawless depredations.
1t appears to him, that in the whole catalogue
of ootrages on the part of the cruizcrs of the
Y belligerents Of which the u. States have such
great and just reasons to complain, there are
none more v~exatious and reprehensible than
this.
Upon what ground can such spoliations be
~ justified? Will it be alledged that the des-
truction Of these vessels was necessary in order
to prevent their carrying information to the
enemy, and thereby endanger the safety of
these frigates upon a trackless ocean ? This
would be a poor defence. After boarding
8these peaceful traders, they might easily have
laid their course south, when they intended
10 20 north. They could even have maintain
ed their assumed character of British ships,
1lnder winch 1t seems they began the commits
sion ofthese fragrant acts, and thus have pre-
vented all information of their cruizing in
those latitudes.
But it appears that plumber and not safety
was the object for which they have thus dis
gTaced the imperial flag. For his excellency
will probably have learnt from Brest. where
the frigates entered, that the twenty boxes of
spices, and other articles taken from the Te-
legraph, were ~smuggled on shore, and, it is
said, were sold for the benefit Of the e~quipage
ofthe Medusa.
Thus is the property Of citizens Of the Il.
States seized, condemned and sold by officers
IN the imperial navy, who became at once
captors, judges and vendors of the property Of
unotfending ~neutrals. Such dissraceful VIC
lations of every principle on which nations
consent to 1--we in peace, ought never to go
unpunished, and surely in this case they will
not.
The undersigned, therefore, most earnestly
calls on his excellency, the Minister of Foreign
Relations, as the official guardian OF public
right, 10 lay a statement of this outrage before
his majesty In such a point OF view as shall
produce a speedy compensation to the captains
Holden and Bayard, and the owners of the
ships andcargoes, for the losses they have
sustained and mis- majesty will doubtless take
measures to avense the dignity and signalize
the justice of his government by furnishing
such a crime in - manner TO prevent its repe-
tition.
The valuation of the Dolly and her cargo
and Of the Telegraph and her cargo, is here
with enclosed the delay in obtaining these
valuations has retarded for some weeks the
presentation ofthis letter and the undersign-
elcannot but indulge the hope that his sx-
celiency will now give as early attention to