Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-06-08

JdmtS Diuuie, Oh tHe United states ship
Ontario, to his friend Commodore Balm
bridge. as being the correct statement of
a transaction, in all its relations highly
interesting to our country, will be read
with pleasure by every person Of Ameri-
can feeling-and as vindicating the rules
and character of our Naval Service, we
trust it will obtain the decided approba-
ton of the Department.
United States ship Ontario,
New- York, May 10, 1919.
To Commodore cambridge, Boston.
My Dear S;r-you have seen that
during my late cruize, had cores
pondeRce with Lord Cochrsne, upon the
subject Of a salute, in which reference
was made to ship formerly under your
command. The transaction is one to
which more importance has been attached
than it merits !; aud as this unnecessary
importance has arisen from misconception,
permit me 10 relate to you all the facts,
together with my view of the subject.
When was first on my way TO Chill,
/ often reflected upon the propriety Of
my saluting flag which was not recog-
nized by the government of the United
States. l was Of opinion, that it was not
strictly proper; but under all circum-
stances, / deemed it advisable and,
therefore, upon anchoring at Valparaiso,
in January, 1918, l acquainted the Gov
ernor, that / would salute, If an equal
number Of guns would be returned. The
Governor informed me that some troops
were stationed few leagues from town,
and that they might be put in motion in
consequence OF any unexpected firing at
the fort; that he would send off TO &C.
quaint the military officer with my arri-
val, and that on the following morning he
would notify TO me when he was prepared
10 return my salute, which he would do,
gun for gun.-During the whole of the
following day was accordingly prepared
to salute, and expecting every moment
message from the Governor. No mes
sage, however, did come no salute was
fred I: nor was any satisfactory explana-
ton ever made to me on the subject. The
sery least, therefore, could do, under
such circumstances was, to determine not
to salute the fort at any subsequent visit.
Still, however, I would not omit any
mark Of personal civiiity to the Gillian
officers and, therefore, when General
San Martin visited my ship, saluted
him with fifteen guns, and / saluted the
Supreme Director with a like number Of
guns, upon his making similar visit.
I returned from the Columbia river to
Chill, with the same determination not to
salute where my offer had once been neg
iected; but still to cultivate friendly re-
lations with the government wherever
this point Of honor was not concerned,
With this disposition, on my arrival at
Valparaiso, paid visit to the Governor
Don Luis de la Cruz, and also TO Lord
Cochrane, who during my absence had
obtained command of the Chill squadron.
Soon after visiting Lord Cochrane, l re-
ceived letter from him, in which he
begged to remind me, [for the length Of
my services, he said, must have made me
aware Of the fact,) that ships of war,
when arriving 10 friendly port, had ever
been in the habit Of saiuting publicly: that
there was only one exception within his
remembrance, which was the American
frigate Essex, at Gibraltar, in 1902 she
abstained from saluting the flag Of Lord
Keith, the British Admiral; and Lord
Keith felt it his duty to require the sa-
lutte, or on refusal, that the Essex should
forthwith quit the port, which latter al
tentative was embraced. The style of
this letter was equally unexpected and
offensive. From desire to conciliate, /
had overcome my feelings at the neglect
of my own offer to salute. / had even
paid the first visit 10 Lord Cochrane, per-
sonally stranger TO me. Instead of re-
ceiving return Of my visit from that OF:
ficer, the first notice Of it from him was a
complaint of my not having first saluted
him, accompanied by an intimation that if
l did not comply, should be expelled
the port, as the Essex had once been for
a similar neglect. 1t was impossible not
to feel the arrogance Of this 2retension
but determined not to suffer it to influ.
ence my good disposition towards the
government of Chill. In my answer to
Lord Cochrane, therefore, l stated that
was aware it was usual, upon the arri-
val Of vessel of war at foreign port.
to salute publicly; that it was my knowl
edge of this circumstance which had in.
duced me, upon arriving at Valparaiso, in
the preceding January, to acquaint the
then Governor with my arrival, and to
inform him would fire the customary
salute il an equal number of guns would
be returned; and that as my offer TO sa.
iute was not accepted then. he would