The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-18
From tae Gentleman's Magazine.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH AND SERVICES OF
COMMODORE CHARLES STEWART,
or tbe Nay,J of tLe Uofied SfoteS

COMMODORE CHARLES STEWART,
OF the Navy Of The United States.
The position of Commodore CHARLES
STEWART has been, for many years, one of
great distinction. His name and services
are associated with many leading events in
which the glory Of his country, and his own
fame, are blended. To find materials for a
brief memoir of this distinguished citizen,
we have had recourse to biographical sketches
of his compatriots, the official documents,
and TO history. 1t is not our purpose to enter
into minute and biographical detail OF Com
modore STEWARDS eventful life, but to give
to his fellow citizens summary Of his public
services
CHARLES STEWART was born in the city
of Philadelphia, on the twenty-eighth of Ju-
", 1878, the month after the British army
evacuated the city. His parents were natives
of Ireland. 1t was his misfortune to lose his
father before he had attained his second year.
He was the youngest of eight children. On
the death of his father, his mother was left,
in the midst of the revolution with four chill
dren to provide for, and which limited means
for their support and education. Being wo-
man of talents and great energy, she was not
lOuuu WdltiHB III tllS diuuouS tdoh. q
At the age of thirteen Charles sought and
found employment in the merchant service, in
which he gradually rose, through the several
grades, from the situation Of cabin boy, to the
command Of an Indiaman; and here, in the
full tide Of successful mercantile enterprise,
he relinquished all that he had toiled for, and
offered himself TO the services Of his country
On the ninth of March, 1898, he was CON-
missioned Lieutenant in the Navy of the
United States, and received orders to join the
frigate United States, then i'll command of
commodore John Barry He continued in
this ship until July, 1900. Part Of this time
he frigate was employed in the West Indies,
to look after and restrain the French priva-
teers, and to protect our commerce against
their depredatons, in which service she was
emincntly successful. In the latter part of
the year the frigate was engaged in transport
inc the commissioners for treating with France
to that country, and was thus deprived of the
opportunity which, under other circumstan-
ces, might have led to other and higher ho
nors.
On the sixteenth Of July, 1900, Lieutenant
Stewart was appointed to the command of the
United States schooner Experiment oftwelve
guns in which he sailed on cruise to the
West Indies, having under his command those
distinguished officers Porter, Caldwell and
Tripp. Arriving on tire station assigned him.
he fell in with, on the night of September the
first. the French armed schooner Deux Amis,
1.-TWO Friends) of eight guns and brought her
to action, which terminated in ten minutes ::
the Deux Amis having struck her colors, she
was sent to the United States for condemna-
ton. Being short of water, he proceeded to
Prince Rupcrts Bay, in the Island of Domi-
MICA, and while there, watering his vessel,
his Britannia Majestys ship -, Captain
Nash, accompanied by his Majesty's ship
Siam, Captain Matson, arrived, and anchor
cd soon after which, Lieutenant Stewart re-
ceivcd letter from citizen of the United
States, named Amos Seeley, stating that he
had been impressed on board the British ship
Siam, and claiming an interference for his
release Although Lieutenant Stewards pow
err was inadequate enforce his demand for the
surrender of Seeley, the two ships mounting
twenty guns each, his patriotic heart could
not Withstand the appeal of his countryman,
and prompted by that chivalry and patriotism
which were destined to blaze out in after life
so gloriously, he resolved on opening q cor
respondence with the British captain, for the
release of Seeley. A polite note was adj
dressed by Lieutenant Stewart, to the senior
officer, conveying the request that Amos See
lev might be transferred from his Majesty's
ship Siam to the schooner under his com
mand that he might be restored to his family
and his home The British captain demur-
red, but in answer requested personal inter-
view wherein he remarked 10 Lieutenant
Stewart, that the war in which his Majesty
was engaged was arduous that the difficulty
Of obtaining men for his numerous fleets and
ships of war was great, and that he should
encounter great hazard of being censured by
his government should he lessen his force by
yielding up his men; urging, moreover, that
the example would be injurious to the SER
vice. Lieutenant Stewart replied, III SUBJ
stance, that the British officers had too long
trampled on the rights and liberties of his
counrvmen, and it was high time they had
learned TO respect the rights and persons OF an
Independent nation that, whatever power
his Majesty claimed over his own subjects,
he had no right to exercise it over people
who had forced him to acknowledge their in
dependence; that to resume this power was
TO belle his own solemn act, and practice
deception on the world. 1t was stated IN an
swor, that Seeley was impressed in England
as an Engishman to which, Lieutenant
Stewart replied" Then prove him so, and
have done but if you cannot, ! am prepared
to prove him a citizen of the United States"
Whereupon, il was agreed to surrender him I;
and Sceley was put on board the schooner.