any officer should involve consequences so particularly severe as the present instance must naturally produce if repeated; and although it is very much my wish, during the continuance of the differences existing between the two countries, to adopt every measure that might render the effect of war less rigorous, yet, in another point of view, the conviction of the duty I owe my country would, in the event of such grievances as I have already stated being continued, not admit of any hesitation in retaliatory decisions but as I am strongly persuaded of the high liberality of your sentiments, and that the act complained of has originated entirely with the officer who committed it, and that it will be as censurable in your consideration as it deserves, I rely upon your taking such steps as will prevent a recurrence of conduct so extremely reprehensible in every shape.

I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient and most faithful humble servant,

(Signed)

JOHN BORLASE WARREN, Admiral of the blue, and commander in chief, &c.

His excellency James Monroe, esq. Secretary of State.

Mr. Monroe to Sir John Borlase Warren.

Sir, Department of State, October 28th, 1812. I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 30th September, complaining that commodore Rodgers, commanding a squadron of the United States' navy at the port of Boston, had taken twelve British seamen, lately belonging to his Britannic majesty's ship the Guerriere, from a cartel in the harbour of Boston, and that he detained them on board the President, a frigate of the United States, as hostages.

I am instructed to inform you, that inquiry shall be made into the circumstances attending, and the causes which produced the act of which you complain, and that such measures will be taken on a knowledge of them, as may comport with the rights of both nations, and may be proper in the case to which they relate.

I beg you, sir, to be assured that it is the sincere desire of the president to see (and to promote, so far as depends on the United States) that the war which exists between our countries be conducted with the utmost regard to humanity.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.
(Signed)

JAMES MONROE. Sir John Borlase Warren, Admiral of the Blue, and Commander in Chief, &c. &c.

Sir,

B.

Washington, December 17, 1812.

I have the honour to annex a list of twelve of the crew of the late United States' sloop of war Wasp, detained by captain John Berresford, of the British ship Poictiers, under the pretence of their being British subjects.

I have the honour to be, respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, GEO. S. WISE, purser,

The hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy.

List referred to in the preceding note marked B.

John M'Cloud, boatswain, has been in the service since 1804 Married in Norfolk in 1804 or 5, and has a wife and four children there.

John Stephens, boatswain's mate, has been in the service 5 or 6 years.

Geo. M. D. Read, quarter master, has a protection, and has sailed out of New York and Philadelphia for several years.

William Mitchell, seaman, James Gothright, do. John Wright, do. Thomas Phillips, do. Peter Barron, do. John Connor, ordinary seaman, John Rose, do. George Brooks, do. Dennis Daugherty, marine.

The greater number, if not all, had protections at the time of entering and being taken. Two others were detained-John Wade and Thomas Hutchins; but were given up, the former on captain Jones' assuring captain Berresford he knew him to be a native citizen; the latter on a like assurance from D. Rodgers.

Wm. Mitchell was in the service during 1805 and 6, in the Mediterranean.

Washington city, December 17, 1812.

GEORGE S. WISE, purser.

C.

Extract of a letter from major general Pinckney to the Secretary of War, dated

Head-Quarters, Charleston, 4th November, 1812. Information having been given upon oath to lieutenant Grandison, who at present commands in the naval department here, that six American seamen, who had been taken prisoners on board of our privateers, had been sent to Jamaica to be tried as British subjects for treason, he called upon the marshal to retain double that number of British seamen as hostages. The marshal, in consequence of instructions from the department of

state, asked my advice on the subject, and I have given my opinion that they ought to be detained until the pleasure of the president shall be known. The testimony of captain Moon is herewith. I hope, sir, you will have the goodness to have this business put in the proper train to have the president's pleasure on this subject communicated to the marshal.

Copy of a letter from captain Moon, of the privateer Sarah Ann. Nassau, New-Providence, 14th October, 1812.

Six of my crew, claimed as British subjects, were this day taken out of jail and put on board his majesty's brig the Sappho, and sailed for Jamaica, where 'tis said they are to be tried for their lives; consequently I questioned each respectively as to the place of their nativity, and title to protection by the American government, when they stated as follows, to wit:

David Dick, seaman, that he was born in the north of Ireland, but has resided in the United States ever since the year 1793; has served ten years in the United States' navy, viz. on board the frigates Chesapeake, President, Constitution, John Adams, and schooner Enterprize, and gun boat No. 2. David Dick, shoemaker, in Alexandria, is his uncle. Dick is about five feet six and a half inches high, dark hair, has a scar on his left elbow and one on each wrist; he entered on board the Sarah Ann in Baltimore.

John Gaul, seaman, says he was born in Marblehead, state of Massachusetts, where his parents, brothers, and sisters now reside; is married in New York, and his wife (Mary Gaul) lives in Roosevelt street, No. 37; has a regular discharge from the

of the United States by captain Hugh G. Campbell, dated at St. Marys, Georgia, 14th August, 1812; says he has served on board the United States' brig Vixen, gun boats No. 10 and 158, from the last of which he was discharged. Gaul is twentyseven years of age, about five feet seven inches high, brown hair, light complexion; he entered on board the Sarah Ann in Balti

more.

Michael Pluck, od. seaman, says he was born in Baltimore; his parents are dead, but he is known by William Doulan, Thomas Turner, and M'Donald of Baltimore; has a sister in some part of Pennsylvania, whose name is Ann Welsh; was never at sea before; never had a protection. Pluck is twenty-six years old, five feet six and a half inches high, and has a scar on his left cheek bone; entered on board the Sarah Ann at Balti

more.

Thomas Rogers, seaman, says he was born in Waterford, Ireland, but has resided many years in the United States, and has

been duly naturalized, a copy of which naturalization is filed in the custom house at Baltimore; he is known by Joseph Carey and Tom Rogers, cork cutter, both of Baltimore; has a wife and three children in Baltimore; has lost his protection, but requests Joseph Carey to do all he can to effect his discharge from the British. Rogers entered on board the Sarah Ann in Balti

more.

This man I

George Roberts, a coloured man and seaman. had not an opportunity of questioning; but I know him to be a native born citizen of the United States, of which fact he had every sufficient document, together with free papers. Roberts entered on board the Sarah Ann in Baltimore, where he is married.

Sonty Taylor, boy, says he was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, but has neither friends, relations, nor acquaintance there; says, Jane Snowden, of Savannah, Georgia, is his mother; never had a protection. Taylor is fifteen years old, has brown hair and light complexion; he entered on board the Sarah Ann in Savannah. RICHARD MOON, Late Commander of the Privateer Sarah Ann.

D.

Copy of a lettter from Admiral Warren to Mr. Mitchell, agent for the exchange of American prisoners of war, dated Sir, Halifax, 21st October, 1812. I have the honour to receive your letter and its enclosures relating to Thomas Dunn,* and beg leave to inform you, that it appears the said man is married in England, has been eight years in his majesty's service, and received a pension from government under these circumstances, and the man never having made any application for his discharge from prison, he continues on board the Statira.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

(Signed)

JOHN BORLASE WARREN.

E.

Extract of a letter from William H. Savage, late agent for American seamen and commerce at Jamaica, to the secretary of state, dated

Washington, Dec. 1, 1812.

I take the liberty to enclose you copies of a correspondence which took place between vice-admiral Stirling (commanding

*Note. The application was made at the request of his father John Dunn: of Boston, who transmitted a deposition of his birth.

on the Jamaica station) and myself, since the declaration of war. I should have furnished it you at an earlier period, but an accident prevented, which I was not aware of, until my arrival at this city.

No. 1.

Copy of a letter to vice-admiral Stirling, commanding on the Jamaica station, on the subject of American seamen, after the declaration of war.

Sir,

Kingston, Jamaica, 6th August, 1812. Enclosed is a copy of a letter received by me yesterday from on board his majesty's ship Sappho, purporting to have been written by four American seamen on board that ship, with a view to solicit my aid towards effecting their discharge, in consequence of the declaration of war by the government of the United States against Great Britain.

In making this application, I am fully aware that my duties ceased as agent for the commerce and seamen of the United States on the knowledge of such declaration being made known here but, sir, I am led to believe, that, at this period, it will not be deemed inadmissible on your part to receive, nor improper on mine to make the request, that you will be pleased to grant an order for the discharge of these seamen, feeling conscious (should they even not be protected with the usual documents afforded to citizens of the United States) that an English seaman would not declare himself otherwise than such under existing circumstances.

I seize the present opportunity also to forward to you twenty. one documents as proof of the citizenship of that number of seamen, said to have been impressed by ships of war on this station, the greatest number of which have been heretofore unsuccess. fully claimed by me, on behalf of the United States, and which may still comprise, at this time, some part of the crews of his majesty's ships on this station.

I beg further to state to you, that I have received numerous applications from on board various of his majesty's ships on this station for the relief of seamen, who I doubt not are entitled to the protection of the American government, many of them having with them the proofs of their citizenship, as I am led to believe from the assertions contained in their communications. Applications have also been made for the relief of many without success: the latter amount in number to forty-six, as per list of names enclosed, several of whom I understand have been shifted (since their impressment) on board of other vessels than those they were at first taken on board of. All of which I beg