Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-30

nv that on one occasion it was propos-
ed by him to take back his copy and
re-write it, which proposal was over
ruled by the Judge Advocate, on the
ground that there would not be time
to do this before the meeting Of the
Court Martial, when the minutes must
be read.
The examination of Mr.. Harrison
having been gone through, the Judge
Advocate produced to the Court the
interrogatories and cross-interrogato-
ries which had been sent to Mr.. Mon
roe, together with copy ofhis replies
to the same, as sworn to before ma
gistrate.
The letters which had been produ-
ced by the Judge Advocate, and on
which these interrogatories were found
ed, were the following, as far as we can
rely on our memory:
A letter from Commodore Porter to
Mr.. Monroe, dated March 10, 1926, in
which he asked permission to pay his
respects to Mr.. Monroe, request
which, it was said, would have been
made at an earlier period, but for the
peculiar circumstances Of the moment,
and the change which had taken place
i'm the administration.
!, A,letter, ir reply to the above, dat
ed March 10, from Mr.. Monroe to
Com Porter, declining the visit, lest
it might be attributed to desire to in
fluence the conduct which the new Ex-
ecutive would have to adopt towards
Com. Porter, who had been recalled to
answer for the affair at Foxardo.
A third letter, dated March 10, from
Commodore Porter to Mr.. Monroe, ex-
pressing his gratitude for the senti-
ments of friendship contained in the
letter of Mr.. Monroe, and assuring him
that he should not, if permitted to have
paid him visit, have touched upon a
ny subject in conversation which could
have been unpleasant to MIR. Monroe
in its character, or have led to any un-
, The object Of the Undergraduates was
to prove the authenticity of this cor
respondence, and to arrive at some con-
elusive facts as to the part which MIR.
Monroe had taken in the recall ofCom.
Porter, and any influence which might
have been exercised to induce him to
take that step. On these points the
replies of Mr.. Monroe were most apt
and forcible. He went into a full mar
rative Of facts and circumstances, out
of which arose his answers 10 the in
terrogatories. We understood this
narrative of facts to state that Commo-
dore Porter's return in June, 1--WE be-
lieve it was June,O 1924, was entirely
unexpected by the late President; that
it was without orders from the Navy
Department, without advice sent to
the Department, and at time Of pecu-
liar interest and difficulty. When the
late President was informed of the ar
rival of Commodore Porter, he was de-
sirous to prevent the Commodore from
paying him a visit; and for this pur-
pose, he applied TO Commodore Chaun-
cey, to see Commodore Porter, and pre-
vent him, in the manner which would
be least injurious to his feelings, from
seeking an interview with him. This
was done, and the interview did not
take place, in conformity TO the wish of
the President, who was DESTROYS, by
this, behaviour, to mark his sense of
the Improperly of Commodore Por-
ter's conduct in returning from his
station without instructions. The late
President imagined that Commodore
Porter would thus be induced to re-
turn to his station. Some time, how
ever, passed away, without any indica-
ton of this kind being made by the
Commodore; and the delay was over
looked by the Executive, who recol-
lected the services of the Commodore
during the late war, the wound he had
received, and his debility in conse-
quence of severe indisposition. When
all the effects, however, of the Commo-
dore's injuries had disappeared; and
he still made no effort to return to his
station, although piracy was pursuing
its depredations on our commerce, and
the presence of an officer of rank was
required on the spot where these mis-
chiefs were perpetrated; it was, at
length, by the direction Of the Presi-
dent, directed, in formal Order from
the Department, of October 2lst, 1924,
that he should forthwith repair to his
station. IL was intimated in this Or
der, that he had shown no desire to be
relieved from his command; that this
city was not included in his station; that
whenever he wished to bsrelieved from
his command, the Department would,
at its earliest convenience, comply with
his request.
1t was further stated, that he was not
confined to Thompson's Island, nor
required to lead every expedition in
narcno IT. tb;c nrlar Cor, Dorta,