Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-05-25

occurrences hare taken place oil Mahop, winch,
Incorrectly reported, might SOW The seeds OF
diseard and trouble between Two nations maue
20 esteem cne another The Spanish an'hofi'y,
charged with this affair. will examine II Win JUS
,ie. aaa when the facts hfe better known, II
~,,i be .s~n that the American Nation merits
none of tue renroaches whirh have been poured
out against H. Without pretending 10 aniIci'
pale the judgment which may emanaie from
this aufbor,.s, we think il our duty 10 make
know some facts extracted from Letter Rri.
Ten by one vii Csc character as man oil honor
Is beyond question.
"0n the 18th Of anuary last, nm ARRAY took
Mace M Nahon between some French and Ane-
.ean sailors, both part ies being nnafmed. On
this aeca ion the Governor Of Minorca issued an
ordinance requiring that all sailors coming on
shore should feembark on bonfd TIER vessels
every evening before sunset. He Addressed ihe
ordnance 10 oil the Consus residing al hahon,
requiring Of them 10 communicate the same 10
the commanders OF The vessels OF war Oh 'heh
respective nstioas.
4" H. conformity 10 this act, until the 10Th
February. no ,ailor belonging 10 the Amer.
lean vessels Of wnr IN pofi obtalned leave IRON
their officers 20 20 or shore Al this date, the
Commander the Java u. :. irgate) was
auth ed By the Governor TO permit his sea.
men TO be OF siarc for week. II ought 10 be
observed TIA nolwfhsisbd,ng the Governors
ordef ihc reh sailors had come ashore every
night. armed
II hns been pretended that the American Of
hcers had takenno steps 10 put an end u the
disputes which had ersrn. 10 rrpel this
accusation II is enough 10 recall % mind one
important iact. Immediately afie, the affair
o. the 18th Of January, the Governor, al the
request Of Captain DowSEs, commander ofthe
+ Law and Ia, fha EFcnfsb n q "A faSl1tnP
at NshnD. AN arrangement. by which the
Frenchssailors should 60 on shore for certain
number of6ays that IN their turn the Amer
lean sailors should enjoy The same privilege
for The same numbered days. and so on alter.
nnfrly. In this way " would be impossible
that the peace oi The tnwn should he disturbed,
sinoe no meeting could take place bewteen the
sailors OF the two nations. II this arrange
uent was not put in execution, II was not the
fault of the Commander Of the Java. This
fact, arising from the di ,pnies which had alrea.
6y taken place, is sufficient 10 d.monstrate that
Capt DowsEs did all that II was possible
Tor him 20 do 10 avoid all conflict, and thai, If
unfortunate OCCURRENCES hav followed, il Is
no, upon him that the blame ought to
fall
"There wns not the least premediiatlon in the
event Of which Lieutenant MEssARp (of the
French Navy became a victim. II was TINS
that IL occurred: This ficer, followed by
many French sailors, were conducting along
the street an American sailor, with the in
! iention They said 10 lead him before the Govern
or, but for what purpose VIC know Mt. The
American sailor. WI ON they were mal.treafing,
cried ont d" Murder - Al his crr many oi
his comrades ran 10 his assistance, and in
skirmish which hence arose, lieutenant
Mesnard was hit on the head by chance
bullet"
The death ofthis brave officer caused ms much
| regret TO the American officers rs IL conld have
caused 10 the French; and. as every one will
see there is not hing ia al this affair that reese
bes assassination. All those who know the
American Nation, know that such a crime
does moi belong either to lis habits OF its charac
Ter
The death Of Linet Mes1ard is not the only
one iha' We have TO regret. A sailor OF the Java
was also the victim of these conflicts. lie WINS
pierced through and ,hrongh with sword, aud
G pi ed n fsw hours afterwards
Capt Do~Nrs ias acted in these circumstances
With rrudenc. and moderation which
without douh, entiile him 10 the esteem of all
men. who before making upsn opinion m a,y
a1r, desire TO understand properly the details
nfit. Since his arrival at Toulon, this pru.
dence aad moderation has not been lost SIGHT
OF : he has ffered TO the Admiral not 10 permit
even hrs officers 10 60 on shore---Ld Sema-
phors.