The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-09-28
government of the United States agains. G

|
on the knowledge of such declaration beiEr
made known here-but, sir. am led TO be.
teve that at this period il will Nc; be de- n
cd lnadmissiblc on your part to receive, nor
improper or mine TO make the request, that
you viii be pleased to grant an ord, T. for Tie
discharge OF these seamen, feehsg c1nsci.
Gus (shuuid they even not be protected with
the usual documents afforded 20 cIiGcns OF
the United Statcs) that an English seaman
would not declare himself otherwise than
such uncer existing circumstances.
sieSe the present opportunity also to
forward to you twenty one documents, as
proof OF the citizenship of that number of
seamen, said to have been impressed BY
SHIPS OF war on this station the greatest
number OF which have been heretofore uu.
successfully claimed by me, On behalf of the
United States, and which may still COM
prise at this time some part OF the crews OF
his maJesty's ships on this station.
beg further co state to you. that I have
received numerous applications from or
board various of his majesty's ships on this
station, for the relief of seamcn, who doubt
not are entitled to the projection of the "A
"erican government, many of them having
with them the proofs IF their citizenship, as
am led to believe from the assertions CON
tanned in their communications. Applicant.
ons have also been made for the relief CT
many without success: the latter amount in
number To forty-six, as per list of names Gu
closed, several of whom | understand have
been shifted (since their impressment) Oh
board of other vessels than those they were
at first taken on board of. All Of which |
beg to Cffer for your consideration, feeling
| as do anxious to extend my last efforts In
behalf OF those seamen who are entitled to
them, and at the same time being impress.
sed with the idea that il would be foreign TO
you, sir, to retain any Americans in the SER
vice of the Navy of G.. Britain Contrary to
their disposition during the present conhict
| therefore takG the liberty of adding to my
| former request, that you will be pleased to
grant orders that such scamsn may he dis
Charged from duty on board his majesty's
ships on this station.
With sentiments ofthc highest respect, &c.
(Signed) VIM. II. SAVAGE.
Copy of VIC Admiral Stirlings Secretary's
Letter, In answer to mine to the Vice Ad
miral Of 9th August, 1872.
.idmirGiS Penn, aue. Z, 1919.
SIR am desired by vice admiral Stir
ling To acknowledge the receipt of your let
tsr OF yesterdays date, and 10 acqualnt you
that directions were given some days $40
that all seaaen in the squadron under his
command who can prove themselves to be A.
merican bnrn subjects, should be sent to th.
prison ship uEtil an exchange OF PRISONERS is
consequence of the late declaration of wax
by the u. States against G. Britain.
return herewi the papers which &C
companied your letter, And am, sir &c.
(olsGed) CHAS. STIRLING. Junr.
Secretary.
Extract Of a Letter from VIM. Fl. Savage,
Esq. late Agent for American Seamen and
Commerce at Jamaica, to Charles Stirling,
Jr. Esq. dated
I" In answer to my letter of the 9th ult
you were pleased to inform me that direc-
tons had been given by the vice admiral,
some days prior to the date OF my letter for
the removal of all native Americans (who
could prove themselves such) from On board
his majesty ships to that OF the prison ship
but as some time has now elapsed since
Yoi were pleased to give me this informa
ton, aud learning that some instances of de
tention at present exist on board his maes-
tvs schooner DeCouverte, am led to em.
brace Tie subject again, as in one instance
shall nope to satisfy vice admiral Stirling
OF tne mans being entitled 10 his removal
from duty on board his majesi,'s schooner
OF var. me person alluded to is Eli n
surfing, an American seaman, who was i'm
pressed from on board the British merchant
ship Brilliant, at the bay of Honduras, in the
early part of the year 1910, by his maj ls,y's
SOnooner FLOR gel MAR, ana has been detain-
ed on board of various of his maiesty's ships
an this station, although provided with re.
gular protection, which instrument this man
GIT conveyed to me about the 10th of Sept
following, and which was by me forwarded
TO admiral Rowley, accompanied las usual
III Ike cases) with request that the man
might be discharged. On the receipt of my
letter, the admiral answered through his
secretary, the the nature of Strings i'm
preSsment was such that he could not CON.
Ipiy with my request ; but which wer
was unaccompanIcd in return with l. pro.
lection in question, and what has become of
it am unable to say.
About this period / was led to under
stand admiral Rowley, that all American
seamen who should be impressed from On
board any British merchant vessel, would
be retained in the service Of his majesty,
but thar all American seamen who should
be impressed from on board of American
vessels, would on application, accompanied
~ proofs, be discharged. AS this informa-
ton was received about the period of my ap-
lpicatlon tor the discharge of Stirling, /
was led to conclude it stampt the nature
of his imprpssment, and what confirmed il
in my miGd was thet / received similar as
surances to various applications mace for
| American seamen who mad under various
circumstances, shipped OH board of British
ships, aud were from thence impressed
on board of his majesty's ships If war, all
OF which | hope the admiral will be