The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-12-10
r. de valansui, brig lIyprrinn Francis
Poet ship Hesperus.
His Majesty ship rha,tou. Gibraltar !
bay, 9th Septcmher. 1921.

|. Ills Majesty shin fha.iou. Gibraltar
bay 9Th September. 1924.
GESrtnutN-I have The honour To ae.
knowledge the receipt If your letter, con
,eying the thanks oi thu masters Of the A :.
mrriean vessels ut Gibraltar, for services
rendered by his Majesiy's Naval force in
the Bay, on Sunday evening last, in con.
junction with officers bclonging Ia the
Royal Welsh Fnsilrcrs, with others of his
Majrsty's 43d regiment, who happened
casually AT The lime IN be IN buard his
Alajrsty's ship under my command. Those
officers simultaneously volunteered their
services, aud with the greatest zeal and
prompfItude pushed of with the ships
boats, and were rs forward and anxious IL
afford assistance 10 the American ship
Nancy, which had unfortunately taken fire
al this anchoragc, as we ourselves aud,
permit mr. In add. likewise, in Justice Ia
those gallant officers, that if their rxeriious
were not, on This occasion, equally ellica-
cious with those Of our iars, il must he
attributed solely In the want nf experience
ON an elrment 81 foreign To their general
occupation.
In reply 10 your letter, ! beg leave, ON
the part of myself. aud the respective ulli
GERS and seamru of both ships employed
on the occasion, Ia express our most sincere
and grateful thanks for 81 nattrring mari,
ut your nttcat'on ; mon. particularly the
gentlemen who so handsomely conveyed
In ,nr the sentiments Of their fellow citizens,
together with those who, in support of
our pretcnsions, have done us the honor 10
confirm them by their signatures and
avail myseltof this opportunity TO assure
you that ] sail tver feel most sensible of
The very handsome manner in which the
American mercantile interests, 1T this port,
have thought proper to aeknon ledc, ~ well
as appreciate, our efforts on this disastrous
occasion.
Permit me nt the same ,imc, To observe,
that those efforts originated IN n sense of
duty, which we conceive the ties Of con-
sanSonity and friendship, so happily exis-
ting between our two independent nations.
render imperative and compulsory and in
consequence of the 1atteriDg way in which
You have thought proper to notice our tx
crtions and eulogisr Our conduct, must be
attributed To partality and congcnlal srnti
mcnt rather than 10 either merit or desert /;
more particularly As we feel confdent that
Americans would, with equal prompiiudr,
energy and perseverance, have acted to
wards an English ship, similarly cream.
3tanccd, rs We did towards Yours We,
therefore, under this pcrsuaslon, do not
consider ourselves entitled To any pafticu-
lar notice or applause, aud can only re-
ceivc the satisfactory testimonial of your
appreciation as mark OF esteem aud
friendship; from "A people Identified with
ourselves. aud possessing in high degree
those principles of honor, rcciitude aud
liberaiy, which are the prominent features
of grea nation, as we'll as the characte. .
istCs Of brave and generous pcop'e
through the influence of which, gentlemen,
you and your Consul have been led 10 view
our pxert,ous with too partial an eye, and
extulled far above what we conceive they
merit.
The whale boat which you have so obi
eingly sent for my acceptance, have thank
fully received on your 0lcn terms viz. " as
token of remembrance of IN event which
you do me the honor In add entities me-
Ia the gratitude of all A mrrlcan sPamen. -
Believe me, gentlemen, that this paragraph
greatly enhances her value, aud is more
gratifying to my feelings than any thing
el,s sou could have presented, and | shall
ever consider II ~ a lnemento not only III
American gratitude, hut also of American
liherahty aud friendship
May now beg al You, gentlemen, TO
accept Of this feeble acknowledgement of
your attention and kindness, and to be ms
stlrcd your liberal aud handsome procrcd
ings are duly eslln atrd, rs well rs consld
cred strong indication that sympathetic
feelings exist and are rcciprocaily cherish.
ed in both nations, by which We are en-
couragrd to believe that the greatest differ
cnce which can be alleged between ms, is
confined, and trust ever tcM be, Ia the
vast ocean which separates the two conn-
tries.
have the honor to remnin, gentlemen,
your most ohrdent servant,
j. +. STURT, Captain
To the Masters of the several aud
respective merchant vessels, In