Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-06-03

tin slipped her cable, and stood out in the
ofiDg the Chacabuco sloop of war, also
stood out The San Martin anchored Sc
veral miles out-the Cbacabuco returned
at night, and anchored so close to u, that
lexpected the two ships would get foul.
In the morning, The Chacabuco again got
under weigh, TO stand out and the San
Martin was also under weigh. These ma
nruvres and the character of Lord Coch-
rane, induced me to believe, that there was
designto intimidate us from sailing, or to
attack Us, if we attempted to 60 to sea. |
did not choose to be driven from my puI-
puse by either Of these intentions. In the
morning, therefore, at 10 o'clock, having
cleared ship for action, weighed and stood
out 70 sea, passing near the San Martin and
the Chacabuco They offered no moesta-
ton, but soon after returned into port.
The conduct of these ships satisfied me,
that Lord Cochrane had no intention TO en-
deavor TO detain me By force. had in
formed him the preceding day of my de-
termination to sail-and did sail according
ly. Yet his own friga'e, the Maria Isabel
la, made no movements, nor did the trigate
Lautaro, although got under weigh from
within 100 yards of both, under light
breeze. In fact the publication in the Chill
Gazette seems conclusive on that subject.
1t states that as the sudden departure of the
Ontario from Valparaiso had excited vari-
Gus rnmors, the literal correspondence be
tween the Admiral and Captain Biddle is
published tor the satisfaction of all. The
rumors there were probably as absurd rs
they have been here-and to put an end TO
them it is published, that difficulties bad
occurred between Lord Cochrane and my
self about salute-and that afterwards
Lord Cochrane had requested me to re-
Iiain in port, which had declined doing
and had sailed Ny own bcliefrs, that the
object of his movements was to overawe
Us ny tie force OF his squadron, and in
duce us to remain from the fear of being
attacked.
In thus leaving Valparaiso, I violated no
duty whatever to the government OF Chill.
Lord Cochrane had no right to deta,n an A !.
merican man of war until his ships could
be ready for sea. In point oil fact they did
not sail until two weeks after my depar-
ture. Was bound to delay executing the
orders of my government, by wasting that
much time at Valparaiso My destination
TOO was in a course directly opposite TO that
of his squadron. How then could my sail
ing in any way interfere with the pojects of
his squadron? An instance much stronger
than this, had occurred in the previous De-
.emher at Lima. Just as the Spanish ex-
petition was about sailing against CHILEAN
English frigate was on the point of leaving
Lima for the same place. The government
of Lima requested her commander to defer
his sailing. This he refused. because he
had not been treated with proper respect
in the port. Yet, although the frigate wo'd
obviously garry, and did actually carry to
Chill, the first intelligence of The expedition
preparing against it, yet the government of
Lima made no effort to detain her by force.
With regard TO personal civiIity, so far
from repelling advances from Lord Coch-
rane, it will be seen that rather waved
than insisted on rigid,rules of ceremony.
Ny own opinion Of the usage on such oc-
casions, founded on more than nineteen
years experience in the navy is this: on an
choring in the foreign port where there are
men of war. the man OF war OF the port
sends an officer on board with message of
civiIity, and offers of assistance, &c. The
commander Of the foreign ship then makes
a visit, which is returned by the comman-
der of the man Of war OF the port-.nd an
intercourse is thus opened. which is irnpro-
we'd or moi according to the disposition of
the parties. Although this is the mot u
sual course. yet it is not always pursued.
either from inadvertence. from an opinion
that these matters are in themselves OF small
Importance, or from difference of sen,i-
ment as 10 its propriety. Sometimes man
of war, upon her arrival, sends in the first
instance TO the man OF war OF The port an
offer to salute, on condition of receiving
gun for gun: but this course is not frequent
nor is it in my opinion. the mos, correct,
though it is not in any way exceptional