Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-14

hhi'tcu III IT'S STANDARDIZATION, the merchants
have It IN their option, to load the vessels
generally employed for that purpose, when
they will be lowed off by US.
5th Art: All merchandise that has been
removed from Alexandria since the 18th in-
slant, is to be Included in the above arti.
cles.
9th Art. Refreshments of every descrip..
ton to be supplied the ships and paid for at
the market price by bills on the British 20,
.vernment.
9TH Art. Officers will be appointed to see
that the articles Nos. 2, 8, a, and S, are
strictly complied with, and any deviation or
non compliance on the part of the inhabitants
OF Alexandria will render this treaty null &
void.
have the honor to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient
Humble Servant,
JAMES A, GORDON.
Captain of His Majesty's ship
Sea Horse, and Senior off,
Ger of His Majesty's ships
before Alexandria.
To the Cosncil of the iowa
OF Alexandria.
Upon the Mayors receiving them he sent
for the members of the Committee nf Vi
GLANCE. These terms wefe borne bv one of
the officers Of Capt. Gerdon's frjyatc. who
stated but one hour was allowed him to wait
for a reply to them. Upon their being read
| by the Mayor and one of the Committee. IL
was observed to the officer by the Mayor and
one OF the Committee, that it would be i'm.
possible that the Common Council could &C
cede TO several OF them--that the munich
pal authority of the town had no power to
REGAL the merchandise that had been sc Mt CUT
subsequent to the 1eth of August The rer
ply OF the officer was, in that case it wopld
| not be expected.
lie was further informed that it would not
be in the power of the Common Council to
| compel the Citizens to assist in gettingu up the
sunken vessels. The officer answered that
their sailors would then do it. He was re =
| CURED to explain what was intended by the
term Herchandze as used i'm the 4th article
He answered that it was intended to em-
brace that species of merchandise only
which was intended for expectation, such
as Tobacco, Flour. Cotton, Bale Goods. &c.
ihe Mayor and one of the committee re
| quested to know whether the Commodore
Intended to require delivery of any more
OF the merchandise than he could take away
with him. He answered it would not be re-
| quired. This explanation was afterwards
recognized by Capt Gordon. With these
verbal explanations the preceding terms
were submitted to the Common Council. II
VIII be here proper TO remark that when
these terms were proposed and submitted 10
the Common Council, General Hungerford
mad not arrived with his army, nor did il
| reach the suburbs Of the town until the night
| OF that day. The town was still without spy
means Of defence, and it was evident that n q
defence could avail, but that species of force
which would be calculated to drive the shps
from their moorings. No communication
had been received from the officers of the
| general government, and the Town appear
ed to be abandoned to its fate. Under these
circumstances the Common Council coulc.
have no hesitation as TO the course TO be
| pursued. The citizens Of the town of all
descriptions, with aR immense value of pro-
| perry we're entirely in the power OF the enc
| my, whose naval commander according 70
the proclamation of the President of the u.
states, dated OH the first Of September, has
| declared his . purpose to be to employ the
force under his direction in destroying and
laying waste such towns and districts upon
the coast as may be found assailable." A
similar declaration had been made BY Cap
tain Gordon to the committee who bore the
| nag. Against the attack of such an enemy
| was the town of Alexandria without apv
means OF defence whatever. The people
OF the town were at his mercy, and compel
led to yield to such terms as the q vicior'
might think fit to prescribe. II the member,
OF the municipal authority and citizens O.
the town had given loose to the feelings O
Indignation which the occasion had excited
and had sacrificed the town and exposed
their wives and daughters to the wanton in
suits OF an unrestrained enemy. they woulC
n - k..N~ 81 IL.
The consequences.