The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-15
Another American Vessel Boarded by n
British Cruiser off Cuba.

British Cruiser off Cuba.
We have received intelligence of another out
rage on the American flag As usual, an Anne
rcan vessel has been fired into forced to heave
to, and boarded by the crew of a British man-of-
war. 1t is not stated whether our countrymcn
were ill-used or not; but we dare say Capt. Otis
was very properly hauled over the Goals for
having the audacity to sail under the ''stars
and stripes" Still in view of the apparently
acknowledged right of foreigners to board our
vessels and insult our flag. we are bound to adj
nit that the Englishman displayed very
creditable moderation in respecting life and
property. The particulars are narrated in the
following letter.
HAVANA, April 7, 1853
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ,
NEW YORK HERALD
DEAR SIR-PleaSe publish the following, report
ed by Capt. James Otis, of ship Harriet, OF Bath
On the morning of March 3lst last running from
Double Headed Shot Keys, was fired at by Her Bri-
fannie Maestys steamer Devastation Gas she was af
forwards found to bc) hosted his colors and hove
the mantop sail aback. The steamer, after steering
several different courses, came up and told him Capt.
Otis) he should send his boat on board" Capt Otis
replied"I do not care whether you do or not" The
steamer did send her boat, with two officers in her.
and demanded his papers; went below and searched
the ship, and detained her over hour, with ten
Knot breeze After some further parley the boat left
she ship and Capt. Otis filed away upon his course.
for myself my mind is made up that there is not
Al EDglishman aioat that shall examine the papers
search the vessel which have charge of, short Of
rseing Goercive measures.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. JEwETT, Bark Faith, Of Portland.
This is the second outrage Of the kind we
have had to record since the lst ca January
Toward the close Of last year the American
schooner Aid was boarded by a British sloop of
war. on her passage from Matanzas to Carde-
mas, her papers overhauled. and her voyage de-
layed for considerable period of time. Notice
was taken Of the matter by the HERALD, but
we need not say that it was ignored by The adj
ministration The Cabinet had, indeed been
warned, some time before. that the renewed
exertions Of Great Britain to check the slave
trade in Cuba must lead to accidents Of this ma
ture Easily as slavers could escape detection,
if tie hosting Of a false flag protected them
from inquiry, it was incumbent on the govern
ment to devise means by which our national
ensign should be secured from outrage without
interfering with the laudable designs OF Great
Britain.
The service on which the British West India
squadron is employed requires the captains of
vessels to be invested with the utmost stretch
Of power that is consistent with the safety and
well-being of foreign merchantmen and we are
quite ready TO admit that a certain latitude
ought to lie allowed them in discharging their
difficult duties to the best Of their discretion.
We would willingly sacrifice point of dignity
to see the objects Of the squadron attained.
But, on the other hand this very indulgence
renders it doubly necessary to keep a close
watch on the British as well as ON the Spanish
cruisers. A semblance Of apathy on our part
would soon revive tho obsolete theories of the
right of search and We should again be com
PEELED to go to war to settle the point We
might find it not inconsistent with our national
honor and best interests to accept the smallest
apology for an apparent insult inadvertently
offered to our vessels by British man-ofwar;
Iut we should, at all hazards, insist on that
apology. The Captain of the Devastation for
instoIce may lave had reasonable grounds for
srspccting the Harriet Of being SLAYER. Her