Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-08-27
AMOS DENIsoN, Burgess.
WiLLIAMLORD. Magistrate.

F.
WILLIAM LORD. Magistrate.
The deputation proceeded on board the
Ramiiies. and shortly after an officer inform>
cdthe boatmen that they might return. TO
the shere. as the gentlemen would be lanti>
ed in boat from the ship;; and that Capt.
tiArdy had declared that no further hostili4
ties would be Committed against the town.
Alter remaining ON board al, hour. or more,
the deputation were conveyed III a flag from
the ship, which was met by enc from the
shore. They brought with them very sim
guar and extraordinary communication.~tn
exact copy cannot at present be ebsaiaed,
as Official etiqeutte will not permit il /; but
having read it wien it was received on
shore, as far as memory viii serve US. it
was as follows: t.-S
On board H. M. ship Families,
OF Stonington, Aug. 10. 1914.
GENrLEMEN,
You havinggivcn assurances that no torpc-
does have been fitted out from Stonington, &
you having engaged to exert your influence
to prevent any from being fitted out, or re-
ceiving any aid from your town If yoa send
on board this ship by to morrow enorning at
s o'clock Mrs. Stewart, wife Of Japes Stew
art, Esq. late II. NJ. Consul at New Loadon,
and their children. engage that no further
hnstilities shai be committed against Sto-
hihgtcn; otherwise Ishalt proceed to des-
troy it effectuaAy-For witch purpose pos
sess ample means:
TN. HARDY. Capt.
This letter was received indignantly. No
answer was given. 1t was fact we'll known
that no Torpedoes have been fitted at Ston-
ingt0h, & that the inhabitants are unfriendly
to the system bus neither individuals nor
!, the sown iptge esser "a sssenS. TIER RISER
ting to that place. l9se cosiition sine qua
non is truly sragisf arcieaL Neither the Town
OF Stonington nor the state of Connecticut.
had any legal power ~ comply with it,
which captain Hardy well krew. Aud if
Stonington Point with its rocky foundations
had been in danger of being blown up,
scarcely a voice would have been raised to
have saved It upon such disgraceful terms,
The first duty OF a citizen. we are taught in
Connecticut, is to obey the laws. Mrs. Stew
art isunder the protection of the Govern
! menr of the U. States, and the petition Of her
husband for permissi3H-for departure is'in
the hands OF a proper aathority, who will
undoubtedly decide correctly in the case.
Our countrymsn at a distance, from the
Importance captain Hardy has attached to
che circumstance of Mrs Stewards being
sent of to the Brit sh squadron. may posi- /.
bly, apprehend that she has received insult,
or signitied some tears Tor The personal sale.
ty of herself &chi!dren. So FAR from this beng
the fact, no lady ever experienced greater
civilites from the citizens as no one has
better deserved them. Aad he feelings du-
ring the proceedings ct Stonington, deman>
ded the sympathy ot her friends.
BY the terms offered by captain Hardy,
it was impossible to discover whether he
was most doubtful Of his ability to accom-
plish the destruction Of the town, or DESTROYS
of pretext to save it. He assured the gem
tlemen who accompanied the flag that this
was the most unpleasant expedition he had
ever undertaken.
The truce on the part of the enemy hav
ing expired at 8 o'clock ON Thursday NOR
ming, flag was soon after observed at the
battery to be coming on shore, and there not
being sufficient tune 70 give information Uf
the fact at head quarters and receive in
structioDs, it was determined by the officer
then commanding to send a boat off to rec
ceive the communication Mr. Paxton, of
Sionington, took charge os the boat, and of
fered to con, y the dispatch agreeable to
| its directions. The British officer, Lieut.
Clayton, questioned his authority to receive
1t en1uired whether Mrs. Stewart would
be sent off; and said he would go on shore
Mr.. Faxion replied, that he knew nothing
Of Mrs. Stewart, add that If he attempted to
proceed for the shore he would undoubted.
ly be fred on. He Continued his course,
when centinel was directed to FIRE for
ward of the boat, but the bail passed thro'
the after sail. T'hey immediately put about
and steered for the ship the Lieut.. swear.
ing revenge for what he termed an insult to
tlag.
An explanation Of the circumstance was
Immediately transmitted by General Isham
to captain Hardy, which ne received as sat-
isfactory.
At the moment a flag had started for the
Ramilies from the civil authority of the
town (; which was received on board, by
which was sent the following letter.
SroNINerog> Bose, Aug. IA, 1914.
To Thos. IA. Hardy, Esq. Com. Of Ii. b. NJ.
SIR,
Since the flag went into New.London, for
Mrs. Stewart and family. General Gushing
who commands at New London, has writ.
ten, we are informed, to the Secretary Of