Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-03
u. States Frigate Java,
T5ulo1. March IL, 1923

| Minorca.
u. States Fngate Java,
Toulon, March Ii, 1923.
Sir: Having seenin the Toulon news
paper what purports to be an account OF
line afTray that occurred at Mohon, between
the French and the American sailors, on
the evening Of the 18th of February, in
which Lieut.. Mesnard of the French brig
Faune, was killed, and this account being
altogether incorrect, and calculated to re-
| feet discredt on the character of theAmer-
lean officers then, at Alahon, l hare tho''
Lit duty lowed myself as we'll as The ser
vice in general, to give you a statment OF
the circumstances as they have come to
my knowledge, and / can with confidence
lappeal to the Government Of Mlnorca,
land other authorities of Mahon, as far as
they are acquainted with the oTcumstan-
ces. ) for the correctness of my statement.
/ should not make this reference, was 1t
not that in the account published IN the
French paper, It is stated, "these events
have raised against them, (the Americans
the indignation of the Mahones, and the
inhabitants Of Villa Carlos, Georgetown
who assured the authorities of the country
that in. no instance were the French the
aggressors.
On the 2jth Of january last about one
hundred men belonging to the Java were
on shore. During the evening there was
a fight between them and the French sail
ors belonging to the Corvette Pomona, and
brig Faune, in which several of my men
we're severely wounded, and two. Of them
dangerously so.-UpOn that occasion the
Governor of Mnorca issued an order da-
ted 18th Jan. 1929; addressed to the Con
suls) with a request that they would com
municate the same to the commanders Of
public vessels in port, directing that all
seamen on shore should retire on board at
sunset. In compliance with this order the
! American seamen were kept on board their
ships until the 18th of Feb when | OBJ
tanned the consent Of the Governor for
them to visit the shore during the eight
succeeding days. The French on the
contrary appeared TO take no notice OF the
order, but their seamen continued to visit
the shore, constantly, at night, and gener-
ally armed with swords. Within a week
subsequent TO the affray Of the 18th OF
January, above alluded to, at my request
| made through our Consul, Mr.. LadIco,
the Governor of Minorca proposed to the
French Consul, residing at Mahon, with
view to prevent the sailors of different
nations from meeting on shore, that the
French sailors should be allowed a GER
tain number of days (say ten) to visit the
shore, and SO on alternately. The Gov
Ternor informed me that the French Consul
declined making any arrangement, to
which circumstance we must attribute the
unfortunate affair of the 10Th Of February
last.
will now state the circumstances of
the case, combining myself 70 the evening
of the 10Th Of Feb. Lieutenant Mesnard,
with several OF his men had taken into Gus
tody a man belonging to this ship, and
was dragging him along Castle street, (the
general place of resort for sailors) with
the declared object of taking him before
the Governor, but for what purpose have
not been able to learn; the man was severe
ny beaten, and his cries of murder brought
! several Of his shipmates to his rescue,
and in the ARRAY which ensued, the French
Lieutenant received a blow on the head
which fractured his scufl and terminated
his existence.
A man belonging to the Java was pass
ing pesceably along the street, in George
town, alone, when he was met by several
French sailors, one of whom drew his
sword and run him through the body, of
which wound he died on the following NOR
ming; the poor fellow stated that the attack
was entirely unexpected, as they did not
speak to him; several other men belonging
to Java, were found alone and horribly
nangled by the French sailors. / am
happy to say, however, that only enc died
fof his wounds.
The excitement against the officers and
crew of the Java at this place is very great,
and / am sorry to say, that this hostile