Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-24
To tie Editor oftle National .qdvocate.

NEw-foRK, Feb. z, 1916.
SlR-James Eike, second lieutenant on board
uhe British ship OF war Cumberland, has, as an
pears by the London Times of the 22d Oct last.
contradicted statement made by me, relative to
tne treatment OF the officers and crew of the late
U ). brig OF war Siren while prisoners.
IN the statement, 50 far as it regards the treat.
ment OF the American officers and men while ON
board the Midway, at Simon Town and at the
Cape, remains uncontradicted By the officers of
the Medway Knight content myself by pub
fishing the certificates of the SIRENS officer. bu,
must indulge in the remark, that AN, aston;sb'
ed not one among the Medway's officers would
be found of sufficient courage to second Lieut..
Exc IN ms refutation, and especially, too. when
particularly invited by one of his maiesty's Off
ceas. Inns act of cruelty towards a brother Bri
fish othcer can only be accounted for bv me. thus
that no one individual dare to contradict the facts
stated by me, because his brother officers would
know that he thereby subscribed to an untrtith.
and because each must have suspected the secret
indignation of the Cumberland's officers towards
Elke, for subscribing to that which their honor
forbid them from doing.
Lieut. Etke conceives it his duty to refiIte the
statement, because, as he says, capt Baker was
absent. Ii captain Baker was absent from I ON.
don can Lieut.. Eike induce even the people Of
London to believe that captain Baker could
write at no other placer
~ oil, you may rely, MS absence from London
was " not the cause ofhis non-appearauce Capt
i p'Nef mas better cause for that, although his
treatment direct, and permitted to the American
oulcers and men, was base in the extreme vet
capt. Baker would not be willing to subscribe tn
areintaton that every officer and man on board
ms ship knew to be false Capt Baker left that
duty to be performed by his second lieutenant
Lieut.. Elke has assigned no reason why Mr.
ingraham, first lieut., of the Cumberland, has NOT
dened my statement, and will assign one for
MN. Mr.. Ingraham is an honorable man. and a
gehtleman--had ne been the commanding officer
no cause OF complaint would have existed.
hithougb, every circumstance stated by me
IN my note to capt. Evans is true and notorious 10
every officer and man, both American and British
ON poard those ships, yet Lieut.. Fixes denial
does not surprise me for the man who is so de.
PraVedas to treat prisoners in the manner tie
Americans were treated by him, and Others ON
board the Midway and Cumberland. OR vbo
would permit such treatment, j. The fit instru.
ment to pervcrt truth.
You viii please to publish herewith the cert,-
hoate OF heutenants German and Gordon. and tho,
oil ihornaS Waine, esq. purser in the U. States
am, sir, yours. &c.
Ii. U. S. navy, and late corn'r of The sireo
,a. Saeken's Har5or, Jan. %.
rms IS 10 certify that was on board the Uni.
tea states brig Siren when she was eantnred b.,
uie british ship ofWar Midway, and that liz
statement OF the infamous treatment we rscev.
81, as made by you and addressed 20 captain
HN~ns' bearing date oath August 1915 is correct
l.. GERMAN.
To 1t. N. d. Nicholson, late
Com. U. S. brig Siren.