Star. — 1807-09-10 (London, England)

AMERICA  WASHINGTON CITY, JULY 29. Much error having appeared in the accounts circulated, of what patted between the Government and Mr. Etfkine, in the cafe of the feamen, to obtain whom the Leopard made the late attack on the Chefapeak, we are induced to Elate, that, as we under Rand, on application by Mr. Ertkine for their Curren. der, he was informed that it conld not be done, and was referred to the written anfwet's given by the Secretary of State, on a previous application in another cafe, for the principles on which the furrender of Britith deferters was refilled.  It was remarked to Mr. Erfkine at the fame time, both by the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of State, that although the Government could not deliver up deferters, it was fo far from countenancing' defertinn, that general orders had been Urged to our Naval Commanders, not to permit any Britiat defer. ters to be recruited for the Ametican fervice. They alto informed Mr. Erilciae, a few days atter, that they had fufficient reafon for believing the feamen ir, queftion were native citizens of the United States ; this being the refult of an inquiry f made by Capt. Barron, in purfuance of orders from the Secretary of the Navy.  On this point Mr. Et fkine exprefTed no opinion. This was not afked, becaufe his opinion could form no part of the ground on which the Government proceeded ; and it was not offered, becaufe it appears to have been his praftice, and to have been held as his duty alto, to do no more than to tranfmit, without remarks, whatever documents or information relative to fads, he might judge proper to be forwarded to the Britifh Admirals on different Rations. In this cafe he accordingly merely Rated, for the information of the Britith Naval Commander, that the refult of an inquiry made by Captain Barron, had fatisfied our Government that the (earner,, for whole furrender he had applied, were citizens and natives of the United States. This anfwer was written Jan. 7, 1807. It was produced by an application for the furrender to their allegiance of certaia Bridal feamen, who having united with American feamen, left on hoard a veal ordered to Halifax as a prize, , brought her into the United States, and were charged with mutiny, piracy, and an attempt to murder their °Seers. The anfwer listed, that not only no prerogative for the purpofe in queftion is vetted in the Executive of the United States ; but that neither the law nor the pradtice of Nations impale on them an obligation to provide for the furrender of fugitives from the jurifdidtion of ether Powers. The obligation can only refult I from fpecial and mutual itipulations, which do not exiit between the United States and Great Britain ; and which, indeed, as limit. ed in the expired Articles of the Treaty of 1794, do not comprei bend any other offences than thofe of actual murder and forgery.  The information reported by Capt. Barron was as follows : WILLI Aht Watte—prefred from on board the brig Neptune, Capt. Crafts, by the Britilh frigate Melsmpus, in the Bay of Bi( cay, and has ferved on board the faid frigate is months. W.Ware is a native American, born on Pipe Creek, Frederick County, State of Maryland, at Bruce's Mills, and raved his time at Lid m ills.