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

p:,a,a os the United States ship Ontario,
70 his friend commodore Bainbr'dge' as
hs;,g the correct statement OF a transac-
flor in all it, relations, highly interesting
10 our country, will be read with plea
,pre by every person of American feel
;no-and. as vindicating the rules and
.b,ra r,er of our naval service, we trust II
w;;l obtain the decided appreciation OF the
department.
United States Ship -Oniario.
New-York, May 1875
To Com. Bainbridge, Boston.
My DEAR SIR.
Youbaye seen that during my late cruize.
had correspondence with Lord Coch-
rane upon the subject Of salute, in which
reference was made to ship formerly I'M
der your command. The transaction is
me to which more importance has been
,,ta.hed than it merits--and as this IN
necessary importance has arisen from ms,
conception, permit me to relate 10 you all
the facts, together with my view OF the
subject.
IS When | was first on my way 10 Ihh'' l
often reflected upon the proprieiy otmy sa-
lu,rg Gag which was not recognized
br the Government of the United Safes
was of opinion, that ii was not strictly
nroner but under all circumstances.
deemed il advisable and, therefore. upon
anchoring at Valparaiso, in Jan. 1915 |
acquainted the Governor, that woaio sa-
m,e. if an equal number OF guns would oe
,o,,rued. The governor informed ne 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 tort; that he would send on 10
,conaint the military officer with my arrl-
val and that ON the following Tornrg ne
would notify TO me when he was Prepar.
al 70 return NY salute, which be WOULD
do gun for gun. During the whole OF the
Allowing day. | was accordingly prepar'
ed to salute, and expecting every moment
= mesa b. from the governor. No mes
sage Siassa =, did come--no salute was
red-nor Wig ..ny satisfactory explanation
over made 10 NE on the subject. The
very least therefore, | could 90, unoer
such circumstances was, to determine not
70 salute the fort at any subsequent visit
Still however, would not omit any marx
of personal civility to the CHILEAN othcers'
and, therefore. when Gen. Sar Ma''n visit
ed my ship, | saluted him with 10 guns
and | saluted the Supreme Director WIN
a lik, number OF guns, upon his making
q similar visit.
returned from the Columbia River to
Chill. with the determination not to salute
where my offer had once been neglected;
nm, sill TO cultivate friendly relations
with the government wherever this p"in'
of honor was not concerned. With inns
DISPOSITION, on my arrival at VALPARAISO.
paid visit to the governor Don LUIS de la
Crsz. and also to Lord CochraHe, VINO
during my absence had obtained cop'tnahu
OF the Chill squadron. Soon alter WISHING
Lord Cochrane received letter from
him. in which he begged to remina me,
s for TIE length of my services, he said must
have made me aware OF the fact, that ships
of war when arriving in friendly port.
had ever been in the habit of saluting pub
lieIy-that there was only one exception
within his rememb 'ance, which was the
American frigate Essex at Gibraltar, IN
I8os-she, abstained from saluling the
flag of Lord Keith, the British Admiral,
and Lord Keith felt it his duty to require
the salute, or on refusal, that the Essex
should forthw ith quit the port, which lat
ter alternative was embraced. The style
of this letter was unexpected and offensive.
From desire to conciliate, had overcome
my feelings at the neglect OF my own otter
to salute. had even paid the hrst visit TO
Lord Cochrane, personally stranger 10
me. Instead OF receiving return OF my
visit from that officer, the first notice OF II
frou him was complaint OF my not hav-
inc first saluted him, accompanied by an
intima,ion that if did not comply,
should lie expelled the port, as The Essex
had once been for similar neglect. II
was impossible not 10 feel the arrogance
of this pretention-but determined not