Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-25

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with 4 peculiar eagerness, aud in the oracles
Of which some readers, and American read
ers too, hold it a merit to place an implicit
faith. Whether this paragraph originated
with the officers at Gibraltar. the ministry at
home, or the editor oil The Courier, it may
safely be denounced as false and malicious,
upon the authority OF the following statement
of facts. They are derived from uuqnes-
tionable authority, and were transmitted to
his country by an old residenta at Gibraltar,
well acquainted with all the parties, and a
gentleman of superior intelligence and ster-
ling integrity, !,
Lieutenant Downing, OF the Guerrero had
been tried by a court martial, on charges
founded upon a, complaint OF 1t. Smith OF
the eth regiment, and acquitted, and resto-
red to duty by commodore Stewart. Soon
after the Franklin sailed, Lieutenant Down
ing, accompanied by his friend. Lieutenant
Griffin of the Peacock, went on shore. in uni
form, and to the mess.house of The 9th, for
The purpose Of giving notice to the officers OF
that regiment how improperly Lieutenant
Smith had conducted towards him, both be-
fore and at the court martial. This is the
only practicable mode in Gibraltar of posting
or publishing an English officer, and it has
been uniformly adopted, and without offence
to any other than the particular officer de-
nounced. The regiment was on parade, and
Downing and Griffin found only two captains
of the 9th, to whom the object of the visit
was made known. Downing said that Smith
had behaved unlike a man of spirit or honor,
in making a personal controversy, which he
had promised should be privately adjusted, a
subject Of public complaint and judicial in
vestigation ; that be did not consider him,
nor should he treat him, as an officer or a
gentleman, for be had pe1ured himself as a
witness on the trial of his own complaint.
The captains requested that this communica-
ton should be made to Smith himself, and an
effort was made by Griffin to bring him to the
mess house, but he was on post al the Rag
ged Staff, and could not or would not leave it.
He was told a message would be left there
for him and G. returned to bis friend and the
captains, and said that Lieutenant Smith
could not leave his post. Downing then re-
quested the captains to make knownto Smith
particularly, and their mess-mates general
ly, what he had said, and added, thatiiSmith
belonged TO the American army or navy he
would not be alloWed to disgrace it another
day. They were received and treated by
these captains with the greatest courtesy and
parted on polite terms. Downing ard Grit
fin took a turn Or two to look al the reg iment,
and soon after went on board their ships.
The next morning, Captain Brown Gin the
temporary command ofthe squadron recei-
we'd a despatch from Gov. Don, containing a
letter from Colonel Henry, OF the 27th,com-
planning that Do1en,ng hGdbeen ssenon shore,
and out d arrest. The Governor stated that
he had not been advised of the result of that
trial, and therefore should forbid Lieutenant
Downing's being admitted to garrison. Cap
tain Brown replied. that Downing had been
restored TO duty by Commodore Stewart, pur-
suant to the sentence of a court martial. and
he could not think it just to forbid his enter
ing The garrison. merely because he he'd APP
peored there out Of arrest. The governor
reloined, it was not on that account alone,
but because he endangered the peace OF the
garrison, and wished Captain S. to order
d. not to enter it aud this was done.
After Downing had been restricted i'll this
manner two days, and the fact was general
ly known on shore, Lieut.. Shea, of the 9th,
came on board the Guerrero, and delivered
Downing a challenge from Smith. This was
refused. by the advice of Dis friends that
Smith had forfeited his claim 10 the charac-
ter of a gentleman by the conduct mention
ed but Shea was assured that if any friend
of Smiths would espouse his quarrel, he
should be accommodated. Shea said he had
not come to fight tor Smith that he was es-
teemed in the regiment as a gentleman and
a brave man, and able TO fight his battles.
This visit was repeated the next day, and
the day after, and nearly the same CONVEX
sations took place. At the second interview,
Shea said that Smith's,conduct was approved
by general Don and the regiment, and al the
third, threatened Downing with consequent
ces intimaiing that he would be published