New-York daily tribune., 1843-07-01
re not had the pleasure of convcrsin
a criuer yet. | suppose | must ha
as it has been my business to call at
e occasionally at different places.
Commander Mackenzie.
Ic Boston papers contain 4 letter exl
of respect and gratitude fel
r to Commander Mackenzie for his
Commander Mackenzie.

The Boston papers contain 4 letter expressing
the sentiments of respect and gratitude ietb by the
writer to Commander Mackenzie for his heroic
discharge of painful duty on board the Somers
and requesting that he will permit his portrait to
be taken by an artist selected by them " to be de-
posted in public institution as tribute OF their
respect to coming generations of the honor due
to him for this eminent service to his country.
The letter is signed by more than four hundred
names g embracing" says the Advertiser, a
large portion of our principal merchants and men
of business" The following is the reply of Com
mander Mackenzie:
GESrLnME~:-I return you my sincere thanks for the
letter which YOU have done the honor TO address to me-
n reference the board the Somes; comnuni
eating such dtterng terms your approDatio" o' Tue
-lt bound pursuc circumstances ol no or
dinaiy difficulty, the ony a conceived under full
aud calm Of my whole position left open To ne to SAT-
sy duty and Conscience aud Sure disaster and ds-
grace from my profession aud my country.
The just you feel the idea OF the conversion o.!
national into pratlcal vessel deeply felt at the time
when such a cOnsuInllon melaced was Selsibiy y
alive the feeling Of neXtngushabe shame that such an
would have inflicted the entire nation proud even
bUasng Of lis naval glory when II became my duty to
avert any sacrifice; unconscious how much Of
this nertngashabIe shame would have been mine had
sfnR fran the magnitude of the OCCASION Fortified By
the deliberate solemn and unanimous opinion OF the officers
with whom good fortune 20 be associated, dld
not shrink from the painful necessity which duty imposed
on me aud have least had the reward you sohlshly es
tnt,e which conferred BY the recollection OF dnty per-
formed
The inward Of having acted right under the
influence Of right motives has indeed sustained with um-
Ylvering steadnrS and would have sustained me STILL had
all Other support hecn withheld But have received the
solemn acqutta Of the tribunals before which have been
aragncd and where all the circumstances have received an
elaborate and seaching Investigation, AID still further io
have the spontaneous aadPticrless approval OF my
comtrymen,n communicated 10 me by youf invaluable
testimonial ort:t-s and confirms my inward conscious
of recrdr. Yoar -et aud other onoed Testimonials
become record. Of that dead ,ribnael Of pubic oPiu be-
which conduct his been reviewed and win tr rec
ord Of my official ;4aiitss shall be ore.er acsly trea
sured ald yemrrated.
Though feeling that you hay hoaor-i beyoud the
casion by the request With which yonr Ietre terminates,
on. show my grateful Of all your kindness By
readily acqulescing IN y0uf wishes.
| am, gentlemen,
Respectfully and gratefully yours,
fSigaeil ALF.X SLIDELL MACKENZIE.
Tarrytown, 2i;h June, lS4i.
Messrs. T. II. PEaKiN, aud Others, Boston.