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

cabuco again got under weigh, TO stand
out aHd the San Martin was also under
weigh. These man9uvres, and the char
acter of Lord Cochrane, induced me to
believe, that there was design to intimi-
date US from sailing i; or, TO attack us, if
we attempted TO 20 to sea. did not
choose TO be driven from my purpose by
either of these intentions. In the morning,
therefore, at 10 o'clock, having cleared
ship for action, I weighed and stood out
to sea, passing near the San Martin and
the Chacabuco. They offered 10 modest
alton but, soon after returned into port.
The conduct of these ships satisfied me,
that Lord Cochrane had no intention to
endeayour to detain me by force. / had
him the preceding day of my
determination to sail, and did sail accord
ingly-Yet his own frigate, the Maria
Isabella, made no movements, nor did the
frigate Lautaro, although / got under
weigh from within 100 yards of both, ,in-
der light breeze. In fact the publication
in the Chill G dzette seems conclusive on
that subject. 1t states that as the sudden
departure Of the Ontario from Valparaiso
had excited various rumors, the literal
correspondence between the Admiral and
Captain Biddle is published for the salts
faction of all. The rnmors there were
probably as absurd as they have been
here-and to put an end TO them it is
published, that difficulties had occurred
between Lord Cochrane and myself about
a saiute-and that afterwards Lord Cocll-
rane had requested me to remain 10 port,
which / had declined doing aud had sailed.
My own belief is, that the object of his
movements was to oyerawe us by the
force of his squadron, and induce us to
remain from the fear of being attacked.
To thus leaving Valparaiso, l violated
no duty whatever TO the government Of
Chill. Lord Cochrane had 10 right to
detain an American man of war until his
ships could be ready for sea. In point of
fact, they did not sail uuiil two weeks af-
ter my departure. Was bound to delay
executing the orders Of my government,
by wasting that much time 10 Valparaiso?
My destination too was in course di-
rectly opposite 10 that of his squadron.
How then could my sailing, in any way
interfere with the projects Of his squad
ron A. An instance much stronger Than
this, had occurred 10 the previous De-
cember at Lima. Just as the Spanish ex-
petition was about sailing against Chill,
an English frigate was on the point Of
leaving Lima for the same place. The
government of Lima requested her COM
mander TO defer his sailing. This he re-
fused, because he had not been treated
with proper respect 10 the port. Yet al
though the frigate he had would obviously
carry, and did actually carry to Chill the
first intelligence of the expedition pre-
pairing against it, yet the government Of
Lima made no effort to detain her by
force.
With regard to personal civility, SO far
from repelling advances from Lord Coch-
rane, it will be seen that l rather waved
than insisted on rigid rules of ceremony.
My own opinion of the usage on such oc-
casions, founded on more than nineteen
years experience iD the navy, is this on
anchoring In foreign port where there
are men of war, the man Of war of the
port sends an officer on board with mes.
sage of civility and offers Of assistance,
&c. The commander Of the foreign ship
hen makes visit, which is returned by
he commander of the man Of war Of the
portland an intercourse is thus opened,
which is improved or not, according to
he disposition of the parties. Although
his is the most usual course, yet it is not
always pursued, either from inadvertence,
rom an opinion that these matters are in
themselves Of small importance, or from
4 difference of sentiments as to its pro-
1riety. Sometimes a man of war, upon
her arrival, sends in the first instance TO
he man of war of the port al offer to
salute, on condition of receiving gun for
yun% but this course is not frequent, nor
IS it, 10 my opinion, the most correct
hough it is not any way exceptionable.
Up to the dale of my sailing from the
United States, you know, we never had
any regulations about salutes 10 the navy.
But to confirm my opinion on this subject
can state, that Immediately on my arfi-
val at Rio Janeiro, ap officer came Oh
BOARD with the compliments Of The Portu-
,uese admiral, and offers of any assist
ance might want. When beating up to
Callao. the Spanish commodore sent his
irst lieutenant on board before | had an
;hored, with compliments oil congratulate
ion on my arrival and offers of assistance.
10 this department, I recognized the char
,cter Of officers and of gentlemen. To
10th Of them l paid visit on the day
and my visit was in due course
To neither of them did pay