The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-02-04

L
The following Message and Documents,
were communicated to Congress on Friday
last.
To tic Senate and House Of Rehresentafives Of
The United Sfafes. -
transmit for the information of Congress
copies Of a correspondence between John
Mite hin agent for American prisoners of war
at Halifax, and the British admiral command
ing at that station.
transmit for the like purpose copies Of q
letter from Commodore Rodgers 10 the Sec
JAMES MADISON.
January %, 1918. 4.
"Frigate President, Boston, Jan. l4, 1919.
Sir-Hercwith you will receive two mus
ter Books of his i. M. vessels Moselle and
Sappho, found on board of the British Packet
Swallow. is1
AS the British have always denied that they
detained ON board their ships of war, Ameri-
can citizens, knowing them TO be such, send
you the enclosed, as public document OF
their own, 10 prove how lily such an assertion
accords with their practice.
1t will appear by these two muster books
that so late as August last, about an eighth
part of the Mose]le and Sappho's crews ere
Americans consequently, if there is only
quarter part of that proportion on board their
other vessels, that they have an infinitely grea-
ter number of Americans in their service
than any .dmerican has yet an idea of.
Any further comment Of mine on this sub
ject, consider unnecessary as the enclosed
documents speak but too plainly for them-
selves.
have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed) JNO. RODGERS.
Tie hon. Paul Hamilton,
Secretary offhe Navy.
Erfroef Of lesser iron, John MiteheH, esq.
agent for .dmercGa prisoners Of svar, az
Hai/ar, TO the Secretary Of STATE, dated
5ih December, 1919.
"I cover you copy OF a correspondence.
which took place in consequence of different
applications received, either by letter or per-
sonalIy, from persons detained on board his
Britannia Maics,y's ships Of war in this place.
81 formerly mentioned to you that the ad-
miral had assured that he would discharge
all the citizens of the United States who were
in the feet, and actually did discharge sever
al. This induced me to think should be
correct, anc in the perfect line of my duty, in
requesting an enquiry to be made, and dis
charges granted to all who were citizens Of
the United States /, therefore, covered him
lis, OF the names now enclosed TO you, which
produced his letter TO me of the same date
lis; Dec. 1929
"I read it with surprise, because some of
the men had informed me their captains had
refused to report them to the Admiral. Now,
h.r ;ea lloxx "A . ehei
situation is hopeless.
I" 1t is not my place, sir, to reason with you
on this business. Proof Of nativity, in his
FIRST letter, is strong expression and how
few are in possession Of it, and how many who
cannot obtain it.
The second paragraph in the second let
ter prevents my interfering, and 4 kaUe 6een
o6Hgedto send mon asvoy requesting him 70
ohhiy 10 his commanding officer"
have the homer to be, SC.
JOHN MITCHELL.
Mr.. Mitchell 10 I'D. Warren. Dec. I, 1912.
Sir-Sincc The sailing Of the last cartels In
which you were pleased to send home sever
al Americans who had been in his Britannia
majesty's service, others who are now on.
board Of the Centurion and Sta,ira have re-
quested Of me to procure their discharge snd
to be sent home. Will you, sir, have tho
goodness to direct an enquiry and order the
release of such az are citizens of the United
States. Besides the enclosed list am told
there arc others whose names have not
am, Sc. JOHN MICHEL.
.fdnr;rai Harren's onswer to Mr.. Mitchell.
Dec. I, 1912.
Sri have the honor to acknowledge tho
-. n ,(
some men therein mentioned on board his
msics,y's ships under my commsnd said to
be citizens OF the United States, and in reply
bcs to acquaint you. that whenever have
received representations from the Captains
cf any part of their crews being citizens OF
America, with su.gscfe,tf f~oof cf fheir naffv-