Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-11-24
From the Richmond Compiler.
Lord CoCHRAEE,


LoRD CoCHRAEE.
The seizing of the $4,000 dollars, has
excited much feeling in Boston and in balti-
more.-The Macedonian was laden on Anne
rican accountable trade was fair one
and the seizure is alleged to have been
gross and uniusti6able robbery. The facts
reported are these:
The cargo was sold at Callao TO the agents
ofthe Philippine Company for cash.
The specie was contraband article-It
could not be shipped in neutral vessels
therefore, ii was stipulated that the amount
should be paid on board the Macedonian d"
Calico, at the purchasers risk--that IS, they
were to take the risk of shipping the specie.
Meantime, Cochrane declares Callao IN
state OF blockade, and orders all neutral yes
sells out, with permission to 60 to another
port, the port of Guermez.
The Macedonian proceeds to that port
without taking in her specie at Callao--but
her captain orders il to be taken by land to
that port. For IFS security, he obtained
regular pass in his own name, and a permis-
sion from the Vice King-he settled his &C
counts, and received his balance from the
Philippine Company-and he considers all
responsibility on their part at an end
On the road ~ Guermez with SO, 200 dolls.
he is way laid by a detachment from Soch-
rase's squadron, who capture the cash.
The balance of &c 900 dollars is put on
board ola French brig, to be landed in some
,nlace of safety on the coast-Lord Cochrane
obtains information OF this circumstance cap
lures the French brig, and takes the specie
out of her.
He then distributes the whole spoil be-
tween the government of Chill, his officers
and crews, aad himself.
The American Vice Consul at Valparaiso,
was demonstrating against the capture, and
demanding the restoration of the money.
The reasons, pro and con, may possibly be
summed UP IN few words Lord Cochrane
will perhaps urge, "The Philippine Com
pany were bound to deliver you the money
in bond, until then the money was at their
risk. II was theirs until it was shipped on
board your vessel Nov as | took it on
shore, took only what was Spanish pro-
perry, which had right 10 take. You
must look to the Philippine Company, who
will make yor whole As for my part, | only
make the loss tall where ii ought 20 fall, up
on my enemy, or rathsrthe enemy OF Chill.
The owners Of the Macedonian reply -
"The Company were bound TO ship the mo-
ney at Callao, but we prefer transporting 1t
by land to Guermez. This was our own
choice, and BY so doing, we dispensed with
their obligation to deliverit on board. We
took the risk then on ourselves. And be-
sides, we adjusted our accounts at Callao,
and received the balance due TO US. 1t was
our property, therefore, not theirs aud the
loss falls upon US, neutral, not on them an
enemy.-Therefore we look TO you, not to
them, for Reimbursement"
The strength Of the argument seems TO
lie with the Macedonian and if so, the Chi
Ii Government must reimburse us for the
acts Of its agent. Chill indeed should " re-
iorm" the customs of her officers sltoge-
Their" They distribute prize money with
out the process of a prize-court. Whereas,
pirates alone take upon themselves to use
property without a regular investigation to
decide whether ii be coed p-Ise. Had this
course been taken with The cargo Of the Ma
csdonian, might have appeared that the
capture was unlawful-anj Chill might have
been saved the necessity of re-imbursing to
the tune of $40, 900 dollars.
Ii is siugulsr that about the epoch of this
seizure, the following official letter should
have been addressed TO Lord Cochrane,
complimeniing him upon his respect for neu-
trail rghls. This document i, copied from a
6le Of the London Times, Gin September
lasi,l now before U.s.