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

regret at the awkward circumstances in
which he perceives so plainly am placed,
| is as ridiculous as it is vulgar.
Lord Cochrane affects to think he has
convicted me of contradiction. 1t will, /
think, be perceived he has not done SO.
repeat that it is usual to salute, but as a
matter OF courtesy and that it is entire
ly optional with the man of war. Since
there is no power in government to COM
lpel foreign man of war to salute, that
salute is sometimes practiced, that it is
oltentimes omitted. The opinion adj
yanced by Lord Cochrane, that il is an
insult TO the flag Of the port for foreign
man Of war to omit to salute, is perfectly
absurd nor would any officer, conscious
he himself merited any respect from
others, or who knew the respect he owed
to himself, ever make disturbance upon
such a matter. Equally absurd is it to
suppose that a government has right to
order foreign man of war ont of port for
emitting to salute.
/ Lord Cochrane speaks of the practice
of all other services with which he has
had communication, and says he is not ac-
quainted with the regulations Of the gov
eminent Of the United States but the
very circumstance, that government
has right TO regulate its own mode
of answering salutes, makes it manifest
that it cannot be obligatory upon man of
war to salute; that it must be optional
with her to salute OF not, as she sees fit.
1 | considered the letter of Lord Coch-
rane, as SO vulgar and indecorous, that /
could not answer it to him aud, there
fore, / wrote to the supreme Director, to
acquaint him, that, upon my arrival, |
had visited the governor and the officer
commanding the naval forces, and that
both visits were intended as testimonies of
respect towards the public functionaries
OF Chill that, on the following day, the
Governor had visited me on board, and
recognized in his frank department and
prompt return of my visit, disposition
corresponding with that which had uni
formly manifested ia my several visits to
the port that, with respect to the con.
duct Of Lord Cochrane towards me,
felt deiicacy in commenting upon it to
him; and, with respect to my own con-
duct towards Lord Cochrane, did moi
deem IL necessary or proper to discuss it =
that these we're matters for communica.
ton with my own government; and that
the object of my letter was to assure him,
| that upon my arrival, my conduct had
been respectful towards the officers with
whom l had communicated, and that
trusted he would not readily be persuaded
to believe had been wanting, in these
respects towards the officers of the gov.
eminent of Chill.
The commanding officer Of the naval
forces had now informed me that he would
not return my official visit, and had en-
deavored to dragon me into saluting.
1t was therefore, proper, as the flag had
not been treated with proper respect, that
should not remain in Valparaiso longer
than was indispensable. This considera-
ton, and this alone, determined me to
relinquish my intended journey to St. ia
go, to take on board the supplies necessary
for the continuance of my voyage; and to
sail without delay. Being ready to sail
on the Goth of December, and about to
get under way, / received letter from
Lord Cochrane, saying, that 10 cOnse-
quence of the friendly disposition had
protested towards the government Of Chill,
and the ties of amity which he trusted
would long subsist between the United
States and that state he had to request
of me, as the officer commanding ship
of war 10 the port, that l would abstain
from proceeding TO sea until the squadron
which was under sailing orders should
have weighed. answered that to enable
me to say, whether it would be in my
power TO comply with his request, I de-
sired he would inform me at what hour
the squadron would actually sail. He
replied that part Of the squadron would
weigh Immediately, aud the remainder as
soon as practicable not being later than
the next evening before dark. wrote 10
him, that although it was important to me
to proceed to sea without delay, and
was anxious to have sailed that morning,
yet, from the desire felt to meet the
wishes of the government of Chill, as far
as was in my power, had concluded
to remain in port that day. but, that it
would be my indispensable duty to sail
the next day, and proceed upon my fur
Their destination, that / hoped the delay
Of day would be sufficient; aud indeed,
as my destination was round Cape Horn,
my sailing would not, should think, in
any manner affect the views of the squad
ron. 1t should be remarked that just as l
received Lord Cochrane's first letter, re-
questiug me to remain in port, the frigate