Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-23
NAVAL.

very c'Ssoeh Oh ba!tllnorc, ana, even now, 3ter u
lapse OF twenty-five years. although the puInoer VI
thuse VINO felt that anxiety is lessencti 1.-The expla-
nation OF Captain Phillips will be read wi,b inter
est by all SIch OF his fellowct;zepS capa-
bic at the time OF the transaction, of properly esti
mating his merit
IL will be seer. ;hat the publication of the Naval
Chronicle, Il very Interesting work, by Charles w.
Peterborough, Esq. has called forth, at this time,
the statement, OF transaction, wch, al the tirsc ot
IT'S occurrence, wascGveiope6 i'll degree OF mys tery
calculated to operate mJuriously TO Capt Phillips.
The corccalInent oi t,e circumstances from the
public was always source of dissatisfaction TO
many Of his friends, who could not believe it proper
that the character of an esteemed officer should be
sacrificed 10 promote any particular policy of the
government, which was tier supposed to re the
cause that induced the dismissal of Captain Phillips
from the public service, ,ctout inquiry INTO hiS
conduct. BGh. Fed Gar.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 13, 182i.-Deas Sir,-I was
yesterday handed your Naval Chronicle, and find
in it accouu; of the transaction which occurred
while was i'll command of the United States ship
Baltimore, between her and British squadron
der the command of Commodore Loring off the port
of Havana, IN November, 1898. This article in
your very valuable work, have peIused with much
satisfaction which was greatly increased finding
you IN possession of many particulars, which was
apprehensIve had been lost at the time of the conha
grafton of the records at Washington. In every
particular you nave stated, you are perfectly coz
rect--but must express my regret that the nara
tive gave into the hands of Nix StodGcrt, in Phila
delphia, to be handed to President Adams, was ms
appears by his letter, shown TO him and that
Il has shared the fate Of other records burnt the
capture of capital. AS this event involves so
many circumstances important to my character
naval officer, feel assured that you will readily
aid IN any attempt my part TO place the circum-
stances fully before the public.
am aware that it may be said by naval officers
and Others, that ought 10 have left my ship
but, peculiarly situated rs was, without com
mission, and impressed as was and still am, with
the belief that, time Of lcdr, every government
ship has right to ascertain particularly where
doubt exists) by the commission of the commander
of every neutral other ship of war she may fall
i'll with, if they cruising under legalsed flag
and recollecting, with extreme nortifcatoH, the
circumstances of my peculiarly embarrassing situa
ton, having been ordered to without my com
mission, any other documents prove the natl
ona character of my ship; ask, under this comhi
nation of circumstances, if could refuse the invi
tation of Com. Loring to visit his ship. Blu. there
were other and more important motives that induc
ed 10 adopt this mode of conduct. If (it occur
red TO mel Com. Loring should ask, in l sent
an officer board his ship, for u sight OF my COM
mission having none to show, how was to answer |
his request But going in person, could say can
Cdiy mad none, explain by what authority was |
cruising, and thereby avoid degrading and unp.ea-
SAINT communication between my officer and Com. |
Boring. When the Baltimore got within hail OF !
the Carna.c, Cor. Loring himself hailed her be- |
iDg answered that the ship the United States |
sloop OF the Baltimore, he politely Invited me
come on board the CarDatc. went on board, |
was received with the respect due my rank BY |
shc Commodore HIMSELF ut the gaugwsy, w..o insi-
ted me INTO his cabin.
Shortly after being there, he requested that l
would permit him to my commission | then |
stated him. though reluctantly, the fact that had
no commission. He expressed his establishment,
and then asked me what document had to prove
the character of M ship. i was compelled re-
ply that mad the private signals existing at the |
time between Admiral Vanderports squadron and
tne ships of the United States. I,erug expressed
surprise that | " III possession OF these signals
ana finding II expedient to comply with his wish oil
examining them, lac found them correct, and was
thereby satisfied Of the character of my ship. At
me same time. he observed, that it fortunate,
as we were peculiarly sit'iated, that We beth were
IL possrsson of these signals; and that it was pc
cuiary so. as he had only received his the day be-
tore he left Jamaica. And he further observed that
til1 either of without those signash e should
certainly have captured my ship, and sent her to
jamiica And this is another proof of the propri
city of my visit board Loring ship: since 1t has
alwuys been the practice in Nary, believe
that tine private signals made known only to the
\ commanders, and, consequently, there would nave
been gross impropIiety in suffering any Of my OH
sers TO have had possession OF them, for the purpose
Of comparing them, requested, with those i'll pos
session of LoGing; he being placed, with regard to
the signals, exactly in TIE same situation ias my
sell.
Ii j: be asked why jeepardized tie safety CT my
ship u second time, by Leaving the United States
.s4th another convoy without my commission, an
swer, that when my snip was completely equipped,
manned. aud ready for sea, l. Yellot, Esq. Navy
Agent ut Baltimore, after saying my snip ready
for sea- exrce ssed extreme anxiety for the arrival
OF nv commission, (for ne knew had not received
It1 as was OBTAINING the SHIP, which ne consider
cd Infor:anate. / remarked, that could not sail
without, il, az should expose myself to, and anuci
mated some unpleasant occurrence Of the nature of
ina; ,vncn actually took place. and my ship 10 dan
ger nv 8 linz yglout that document, which, in the
SEQUEL, proved OF SO much ampoTta:Ice. Another
,iay e.aIsed, aud my commission not having come
70 hand, the committee, authorized by the Navy
Department TO fit the Baltimore for sea- insisted up
on my proceeding with my snip to Hampton Roads,
and tlat nv commission, as received, sIoald
be forwarded to me with all possible despatch; there
were then about 100 sail Of American vessels await
ing Ire convoy consisting Of tie Constellation. Com.
TTuxtun, lad the sloop OF war Baltirnorc.
Thus urged, ! proceeded immediately to Hampton
Ecads, where found tho Constellation, and COM
anunicatcd 70 Com. T.uxtun that my ship was rea-
DIV fot sea b:.t stated at the same me, that had
lot received ny commission. and was unwilling TO
sai vith0ut il ne expressed great surprise, but OBJ
stfved thai, asJ vas calling under MS command,
the character of my SLIP would disputed, and
that we mast both tic careful not TO separate. We
then sailed with the convoy for Havana, (ivhcre
lhey all arrived safe ) and after cruising short
time of that port, large feet OF vessels, with valu
able cargoes, came out to sea, placing themselves
Under oar convoy. of which arrived safe IN their
several ports of destination in i,se nied States
H., 1f1fNt, ,.4ir 4 flnFi