Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-10-07
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
NARRATIVE.


Part TIE SECOND Eye.ts Subsequent 10 lie
Capture of F'erncnaine.
The liberal and generous terms of this
capItnlaiion made with an alarmed and
tliail enemy evidently prepared 10 sur
render at discretion, might be appealed
to In support Of the pure and honorable
views OF tie cORqucrors Of A nelia.--iIad
| fheir objects been rlrE,!cr ;nd devastati-
on, ~ has been most falsely and impu-
DENLY asserted, why should they have
catered INTO conditions for the safety and
protection of private propert, Why
give permission 10 the inhabitants Of tie
island, hostile TO the Patriot cause, 10 re-
move their persons and effects at any
time within the space of sir months! Ne
Yer Was more leniiy displayed towards a
Vanquished enemy, or terms so generous
more srrnpulousiy observed! The worst
efforts OF malice and deiraction are chal-
lenged to prove by crediiabIe testimony.
their violation in a single instance.
l-etus now enquire into The nature and
circumstances Of some transactions which
took place Immediately after tie reduct-
on of ihe Island, AND which perhaps have
served as color 10 most Of HE SIAN
Gers which have been propaga;ed against
the Patriots. Tie first is the condem-
nation by the Court OF Admiralty of for
ty African slaves, found upon the Island
at the lime Of lis capture, and brought
there short time previous 10 that event,
from The coast of Africa, III a vessel fit
ted out and owned, IL IS believed, in ihs.
United States, bat sailing under Portu-
guesc colOrs. These slaves were seized
and couasca,ed as Spanish property, al
though no doubt belonging TO citizens OF
the United States who were prevented
from preterring their Claims, lest they
should thereby incur the penalties of the
laws of their country. Whether the deci-
sion of the Judge i'll the case was right
or wrong shall got undertake To deter
nine. II is sutficien, for nv purpose tn
have S.lewn !hat The proceeding Was re-
suiar and .iudcia! and not the arbitrary
act Of tue Patriot General. Another cir
cumsiance which, perhaps requires some
explanation, relates Ia tie conduct of q
small privaieer boat, whose p.rat:caiacts
have reflected discredit upon the Patrio1
cause, notwithstanding ter owners 4 GREY.
were entirely unconnected with it. 70
prevent The enemy if possible from re-
ceiving supplies at Augustura. several
small vessels we're commissioned by th1
General, 10 cruise in the DeigIbouriugW2-
iers, aud these were in some insfaSSe1
commanded by men WHO never ougis1 t.
have been entrusted with the flag Of the
raj was not IN y situation 10 demand nor
they TO give sufficient securities ior iheir
good conduct. An oath however was al
WAYS exacted from Them before they fe-
criyed their commissions, hinti!ns jNcur
to regulate themselves ia all eases cOu-
formally to the laws and usages of mars
time nations, and they were most express
" and particularly charged, upon no pre-
fence whatever 10 land upon the enemy's
coasts, nor in any manner 10 MODEST or
disturb the pcaceable inhabitants of The
Provinces.-The violation OF this order
by CAPTAIN Morrison and his crew Tor
the purposes Of plumber, met with a fate,
which, dreadful as it was, excited mo-
sympathy or compa sion among ihose
whose tiag had been furnished by this
band of pirates.
Having endeavOured 10 give a correct
view Of these two events supposed 10 be
most liable 90 misconceptions and mlsFe-
presentation, the narrator will dlsmIs> tins
part of his subject without further com
menf.-these were the only Instances oF
conhscation or depreciation, and he leaves
it to me public TO decide whether The
one was contrary TO law or justice, or
tie other fairly clargeable to the Patri-
Ots.
The easy and bloodless conquest of
1 the Island CT Aulella strengthened lile
| hopes and stimulated the enterprise os
/ those who had achieved il, aud they
| eagerly asd anviously expected the ART
val of those TelniOrCemeniS WHICH wougp
| enable them TO strike more eflectua a. de-
cisive blows.-The enemy eyinced las COM
! sternation and alarm at this event by withs
! drawing all his intermediate posts ana
! sThe case Of The French brig jean and
/ Charles Of Nautz has been overlooked. Si;S
| was captured on her passage from me haven
ma 10 NanIz, and brought into Amelia Island
| for adjudication IN consequence OF pert OF her
| cargo being tie property OF Spanish subjects,
| by the priyatecr schooner Republicans, cap
! tain MunsOn. who had been commissioned
| by McgregOra short time before. 1T hdppeu-
| Ell that the Judge OF Admiralty, resigned his
! Office , few days after the argiva! OF ibis prize,
| ~ before any proceedings ere had ~ e cases
| Ia this dilemma, the general WAS exceedingly
! peruleNed iOw 30 act aud for lbe hiSi and ON
| ly time called a council Of war consisting OF
the field officers and captains ofhis army, 10
which, the following questions we're proposed
viz.
list Isitihe policy Of this republic, to per-
init cruiZets Sailing under It's Gag TO bring su-
to its ports for adjudication neutral siiips iE
consequence Of being laden ~ Patt wiih enc
I'd Has captain Munson acted in c0uforn,i.
~ 20 the terms Of his commission, by bringing
into This port. for adjudication, the French
brig jean aud Charles Of Nantz, becanse part
Of her cargo is The property of Spaniai sub
jects'
Both questions ~erc decided unanimously
in the negative, aud il was thought the general
would Immediately issue an order for the re-
lease OF the brig.-Aft er much delay, however,
d military commission Is appointed, fof her tiias
! composed ian the first instance Of colonelt 20
sey * Irwin and Lieutenant cOiOuci Parker.
| Tie first aud last having refused to act. aHo-