Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-30
His Britannia Majestys Consulate Office ,
NeLp YORK. 22a. Dee IRIz

NeLD YORK. 22d. Dec. 1917.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL ADVOCATE.
SIR-Perceiving IN your paper OF this date
statement relative TO an alledged impress.
ment OF an American seaman being detained
on board his ma jesty's ship Esk and that the
commander treated with contempt the writ of
habeas corpus that was served upon him to
bring up Joha Williams, and appear before the
recorder of this city, feel il my day 10 deny
these charges i'll the most unequivocal man
ner, and offer the following explanation of a
circumstance that is set of i'm a manner calc,i-
lated to excite feelings that every friend TO
Great Britain and the United States must and
does deplore-Lateo on the evening of the 18th
d man delivered The copy of writ addressed
to captain LenoX, of the sioop of war Elk, TO
bring up the body of John Williams, stated to
have been impressed on board that vessel. AL
though the writ was not addressed correctly,
either as to the name of the capt. or of the yes
sci (as the name OF the vessel is the Esk and
the commanders name LennOCk) yet captain
Lennock Immediately euquired for this mulat-
10 lad, whose name on the ships books is John
B Robinson who then, in the presence of the nj
lot, denied that he wanted his discharge but
alone TO obtain protection. Captain Len
mock accordingly wrote lctterto me, request
ing would call OH the recorder and state
these facts, andalSO to mention that fit was re-
quired the boy should be sent back from Ja-
Jalea-with which statement the recorder eX-
pressed his satisfaction.
III must be well known that since the peace
there has been no impressment III the British
navy and it appears this lad was paid oil in
England, aud entered freely on board the
Bermuda, from which he was turned over to
the Esk.
Relying on your wish to set forth the true
state OF this case, ! have the honor, 10 he sc.
Your Obt. Ser't.
JAS. BUCHANAN.
REMARKS.
We cheerfuly give the foregoing a place
and shcnld be very happy if we could admit
that the circumstances, stated by the Bri-
fish consul, exonerateA captain Lennock from
the charge of dIsrespect for the laws of orr
p country, and for the rights ofOur ciuzens The
circumstance of the writ'S not being address.
ed correctly Is of no mOment-it was intended
tor the captain OF "A British vessel of war, and
the only one IN our harbour; as such there
could have been no error in its ira sSnission.
with respect to the recorder being satisfied
with the conduct of captain LennOck we have
every reason TO belieyethat the contrary is the
fact. He issued his writ on sufficient testimo.
ny-It was disregarde ; and not only was the
object of the writ defeated by the vessels put
ting TO sea, but manifest disrespect was
shewn to the laws of the country. The record
er, therefore, could not, and was not satisfied.
The British consul we understand, admitted 10
the recorder, ION whom he called utter the YES
sci had saied) that Williams was an American,
and that he would write TO tue Admiral Of the
squadron TO have him released, * the recorder
expr sSed hinSe tsatisiedwitht the good intent
ohs OF she consul, without any reference to capt
Lennock, whose conduct romans, ia his mind,
without excuse, aud that II is Teprchensible in
the highest de zee. The recorder, as proof
OF the interest Iich he took in the affair, in
structed the marshal who was charged with
she execution of the writ, Uniform the pilot of
as character, dndtO direct him moi 10 take the
ship 10 sea until the pnrport was Effected; and
turther-in case OF his removal from the ship,
in consequence OF refusing TO take her TO sea,
70 inform any other pilot VINO should be put Oh
board. And, moreover, to show that the re.
cOrder was not satisfied, lie has prepared
statement Of facts TO submit TO the executive
OF this state, whose duty it will be, (aud we
doubt motif will be promptly done) TO COM
muuICdte tie same to the government of the
United States. We assure the British consul
that we have no disposition 10 g fan MeemJers,"
but that same duty which he so faithfully dis
Charges to his country, induces us not To ne
glect that which we owe To ours, particularly
III relation 10 a valuable portion Ofour citizens.
Nat. Adv.
The board Of wardeBs has dismissed the pi-
lot who carried the British sioop of war Esk,
20 sca1Ontrary 20 the orders Of the civil duthO.
rites. The pilot however denies that captain
BeBDOck informed him that writ had been
served untilhe arrived at SANDY Hook no.
NORFOLK, Dec. 27.--The u. s. frigafe
Constellation, Com. Shaw, anchored in
Hampton Roads, last evening, i'm "A
days from Gibraltar. The boat having