Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-02-07

ed in the blowing up of one Spanish
shlp and the capture of the rest. The
English fleet lost two men killed and
half q dozen wounded. The Spaniaris
lost nearly the whole of one shin 3
company, besides about 100 killed and
wounded on the other vessels. Then
Spain declared war.
But King, knowing nothing of this
and feeling very wroth with Mr.. Camp
ball, called upon him to furnish satis-
factory replies to the following queries
First,--W Whether he had any knowl-
edge Of war with Spain at the time of
capfure3
Second. here were the two prizes
he had taken7
Third. What letters of. marque did
he possess9
To the questions Campbell replied
that he had been informed by an Amer
lean whaler that England and Spain
were at war; that he had sent his
prizes off on their way to India after
fefreshing at Norfolk island, and that
his authority to privateer was his com
mission in the EAST India company as a
captain of marines.
Governor King said he did not con-
slider this satisfactory, and after taking
counsel with other officers of the settle
ment decided to detain the Harrington
until the home government could be
communicated with. So Campbell was
ordered to unbend his sails, strike his
topmasts and lower yards and unship
his rudder.
Campbell protested, saying that his
case had been considered without call
ing upon him to be present. This, as a
matter of fact, was correct, for while
some of his sailors gave evidence at the
inquiry he was not allowed to meet
them in open court. His protest is very
properly worded, and he undoubtedly
has the best of the argument: al was
not apprised of the intention of the
governor to hold an inquiry. Such
method is irregular and calculated to
prejudice my case. No adverse evi-
dence should be taken without giving
me an opportunity to refute it. Fur
ther, the detention of my ship is seri-
GUS loss to my owners, who will have no
redress if even later on my innocence is
proved, and my commission in the East
India company's service makes me an
swerable to them for any improper CON
duct. Anyhow, according to British
Jurisprudence, you ought to hold me
innocent until you can prove the con
trary. Yet you seize my ship"
King curtly answered that an East
India company's commission did not
authorize people to seize the vessels of
friendly powers; that there was no evil
dence of war existing between England
and Spain, and even if war did exist,
since the Harrington had no proper let
ter of marque, the prizes must become
n droit of admiralty.
Poor Campbell had to submit though
he manfully resented King action, but
| the latter was acting conscientiously
So when Campbell offered substantial
security and some leading Sydney mer-
chants backed him with money Cover
nor King consented to the Harrington's s
cargo being discharged and to her cap
tain proceeding on his voyage to Mad
ras. But, alas for Campbell. just as the
affair was on the point of being settled
in this way the San Francisco San
Paulo and Estremina We're discovered
lowering about the coast of New South
Wales, apparently waiting for Camp
bell. The two ships were at once cap
tured by the government brig and
brought into Port Jackson.
Naturally King lost his temper, and
again placed Campbell under detention.
Meanwhile dispatches had gone home,
and all parties resigned themselves for
the long. weary wait that was to follow
before an answering dispatch came from
the home government
At last, however, it came, in the
early months of 1906, when viscount
Castlereagh wrote, telling King to in
stantly release Campbell, the ship and
crew and the prize crews of the two
Spanish vessels, which could be sold as
lawful prizes. This snub for the good
hearted and Conscientious governor was
softened by the profoundly wise OBJ
servation that 1.-THE spirit and principle
(sic) on which you acted is approved
the which, considering the affair of
the Spanish treasure ships off Cape st.
Vincent is very pretty. Mall
Magazine.