Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-26
From the National Intelligencer.
,fessrs. Gales & Seaton,

the Georgetown {" Messenger" ofthe
18th inst. observed statement OF
Ian affair which took place at Messina,
between some Of the officers of our
squadron and the master of an Eng.
|lish merchant schooner, extracted
from Gibraltar paper, and evidently
fabricated for the purpose of deceiy-
ling he public, and furnishing the
character of American naval officers.
This statement issues from the Chro-
|niclc, a paper notorious for its vile
misrepresentation. Ii such bare
faced falsehoods are suffered to pass
uucontradicted, it will be tacit ac-
kn1wledgement of their truth, and at
feet materially our reputation. As a
member of our navy, feel deeply in
terested, and, as an eye witness to ma
ny of the acts which occurred at Mes
sina, / cannot avoid coming forth in
behalf Of my brother officers, and con-
tradicting so much of the statement as
1 know to be false, and throwing such
other light on the affair as has come
within my knowledge.
Whilst our squadron were in the
harbor of Messina in the month Of
last, a sailor belonging to
the Java went on board the English
schooner Ann, capt. Bell, for the pur-
pose of seeing an acquaintance, from
whom he received Gas a presently a
small piece ofleather; he was search
ed and charged with theft by the mate,
who, like other arrogant Englishmen,
the Office Of Judge and execu-
toner. The American sailor, not
his repeated protrsta-
tions Of innocence, and a corrobora.
ton by the man who gave him the
leather, was seized and most inhu-
manly logged i; to which punishment
capt. Bell gave his avowed sanction.
The American sailor did not knock
the mate down Gas stated in the Gil
braltar paper) nor did he commit any
act of violence whilst Oh board the
schooner. At such daring and outra-
geous conduct every officer of our
tecame highly and Justly
incensed, and painted for an opportu-
nifty of wiping of 50 foul stain up
on our national character, and bring
ing to an account the man who was
capable of so base an act. Whether
the affair was mutually referred by
the American and English consuls to
the SiCilian government, ! cannot po-
sitively say but am of the opinion it
was. This reference did not, howe
yer, prevent capt. Bell from boasting
IN the hotels and streets of Messina,
of his yalorous mates conduct he,
with half a dozen of his staggering
companions, assembled every evening
at a hotel, to which our officers were
i'm the habit of resorting, where he
publicly reviled our government and
gave the most insulting answers to the
queries of our officers. Whilst in one
Of his vaporins moods, surrounded by
his friends, three midshipmen belong
ing to the WashiLg ton, appeared in
the room in which they were, and in
dividaally. mot collectively, recollect]
demanded satisfaction for his conduct,
which he declined giving in an honor
able way. al;edging, that he had a ia.
mily, which, by the bye, have since
been informed was only a cloak for
his cowardiCe. However, after a
great deal of coaxing, he retired with
one Of the officers to a spacious
room," into which none were admit
ted but the " co'?batants," and al,
though capt. Bell was of Bristol
mettlc." and had obtained "a degree!
Of A. NJ. in the Pearce and Bclcher|
school," he soon found it necessary to|
knock under to Yankee prowess, and
belchsd forth enough most piteously !
There was not a single blow struck
by any other officer, not did he engage
the same evening with any Of them al
ter he had been SO fairly flogged. In,
the interview which afterwards took
place between capt. Bell and two of
our officers on board the schooner. al
''loaded pistol was not "snapped"I
at Captain Bell /; on the contrary, al
though his conduct deserved immedi-
ate chastisemept, the gentleman who
waited on him displayed an uncommon
degree of forbearance, forbearanceI
scarcely warrantable. The partial
disturbances" which took place onl
/. tho 10Th and o0fl,., are to no aft,.;