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Interesting Public Documents.
Copies of letters from C iptain Charles
Morris , to the Sec'ry of'the Nary. ‘
Haltipdro. (D. ) *u{r iz, i£i4- J
Umtcd States’ shi,> Adami.
Sir —After leaving Savannah we pro
ceeded to tfw northward of the Matamlla
Reef, where we rein lined waiting for the
Jamaica convoy till the 22d May, when
we learne l from a neutral veffd tiicv had
parted us the proceeding night. We then
made fail to the northward, and on the 24th
got fight of th-cmvov, from which we
were chafed by two linns of war ; saw
them agiir the next morning, but the
weather being plealant and the wind fair,
thev kept in vtry clofj order, and their
convoying force being too Wrong for us to
in jure th- m, except in cale of reparation,
we bore up to tin; tallward, intending to
crude a few day., upon the banks. <)n the
9th June, met with iflmds of ice and ve
ry thick weather, in lit. 41,40 —the fig
continuing lor fever il and the thermome
ter indicating the vicinity of ice frequently,
we ft )id to the fonthward and eaftwaril
iptil >ve were clear of it. June-24th, in
lat. its, captured and dertroyed the Brit
illi brig Hunter, logons, 20 men, with a
cargo filh, from Newfoundland to Corero
na. June* 28th, in lat. 48, captured and
dertroyed the Britilh brig Mary, from
Franc to Newfoundland, with fait, (hi
the $d ) uly made tile B'asquit Ilhinds, on
tlv wei.t co Hos Ireland ; 0:1 the 4th chas
ed two vessels into the moutli of me Shan
non, but the wind being strong from tiie
Weltward and a heavy fe.i, we were oblig
ed 10 lutil out tiie oar ; (load to the nortli-
Vnd an I cruized o(T Hroadliaven till the
nth, out the weather was so thick that we
saw not a tingle vi.(Til; we thin returned
to the fonthward and ealtward. In lat.
49, long. 10, while in civile of a large
merchant (hip, difcoVered a frigate under
our lee now from which We were obliged to
task, (lie contained in elide of us through
tiie dav, and by her fupenor failing had
clofi.-d nearly within gnu Ihot by lun-fet;
at 8 I*. M. cut away our anchors and hove
two boat guns overboard, it falling calm
during the night, got our boats ahead to
to v, bv and 1 -light Had left the frigate five
miles artern ; the chafe w is however con
tinued till 1 o o’clock the next night, when
bv altering tourle we loti lignt of her.—
Retumig again to the lout n ward on the
m lining of t.ie 19th, in lat. 47, 20, tideo
vered a frigate urntcr our he now, tacked
and made fid from him; two hours after
dilcovered another llnp of war on our wea
ther oea 11 in ciule of us, by noon wi had
lort light of th* iirll in the haze, theotlier
continue I t te chale at about four miles
dirt nee, nil the evening of the 20th, when
in lat. 56, we lort light of linn by chang
ing our course. Although every pollible
precaution had lieen taken to guard againll
the fi tirvy, we lud nothing fufficiently
powerful to coimterart the elf art of con
tinued wet, foggy and cold weather, which
had prevailed for fifty days, To many of
the nien wen; now alflirted with it, and
their number so rapidly iiicreufing as to
render our immediate return to port iirelis
penfahle ; every diligence was according
ly tiled in getting to the welt ward, keeping
hi the track ol the Newfoundland trade.
July 28 captured and dertroyed the En
gli.'h fell. Favorite, with fait forNewJiund-
Jancl. Augurt 7ill, captured the. lintilh
(hi 0 Par'w, from Quebec to London, with
a cargo of lumber and a few fkms, took
out a part of the fkms and dertroyed her.
_On the 16th Auguit, captured and deflroy
ed the Engl ill) fclir. Maria, with a cargo
Os lumber, from St. Andrews, N.B.bound
to Newfoundland* At 4A. M. on the
17th Aognlt, the weather being very tliiik
and foyg\, the llnp ran on Ihore upon tiie
Ilk of Haiti, but after landing the fuk,
pnfoners, and a few llores, we fucceedcd
in getting her otTand bringing her to this
place. 1“ K* extent of the injury she has
received cannot yet be alcertajned, but it
is feared Ibe will require conlklerablere
puirs, as lln makes about nine feet water
an hour. Our lick have not vet joined
us, but are comfortably fituateu at (Jamb
d o under charge of the Purl’ei and Sur
geon's Mate* Very relpertfully, your
obedient servant,
C. MORRIS.
Hon. Sec'ty of tbe Navy, Washington.
U. S. ship Adams HampJvn,
Augutl aid 814.
S.R-On the 16tli at noon, our latitude
by L). R. and two double altitudes was
42. 40, and the longitude determined by
morning and evening o'oiervations of a
chronometer, which had four times proved
corn et within ten miles during our pre
ceding and prelent cruize, was 66. 54, the
wind was frelh from S. YV. and the lea
fmootln In the afternoon , two veflcls
were difeovered in chale, bt atfuch a dis
tance that we could not alcertain tlieir
torce. The weatlier became very foggy at
night, and the wind remaining .frelh from
the fame quarter, I determined to pull) for
fome part of Maflachufetcs Bax, near
Pbrtfmouth, and fleered the proper course
for that purpose. Deeming it extremely
probable we fliould meet fome of the ene
my ’s vessels during tht night, nuy prison
ers were canfined in tiie hold, and our
Clew remained at quarters. W# lailed
from ten to eleven knots an hour till 2 A.
M. when, as 1 experted to lie, wd were
in 7 2 fathoms water. Our eftinjated dis
tance trom Cape-Ano fixtv miles.
At 4 A. M. while in the art of prepare
ing for founding again, the look-outs for
ward announced breakers abend, and in a
moment after the Ibip (truck upon a rock,
going ten aqd an half knots. Believing
it inipolible Ihe could bear such a v (hock,
the pnfoners were firil released from their
coufiuenient below ? that they might have
. Js*> i * ..4.1 || ; ‘ S ‘ * •**’
a chance to save their lives in eomraen j
with ourl’elves upon the rocky fiiore, wiiicii J
was now vilihle about 30 yards diflatit— j
On founding the pumps, no untilual quan- i
city of water was at firil dilcovered, and ;
1 all fails w: re laid'. :ck in hope ot torcing ,
I the (hip off. It was, however, difeovered
1 iua fewminutes Iht was leaking so tart that
it was deemed proper to remain on the
rock until day-light. VVe accordingly
furled the light fails, and clewed up cour
. fes and toplails. Pay soon enabled us to ;
dillinguilli objefts through the fog at 2 or |
300 yards diltance, and to afeertain tiie
iiop lelsnefs of laving the Ihip. Her cut
water xvas entirely dertroy ed below tne 9 ‘
footmark; the depth of water under her
fore foot between 5 and 6 feet forward, of
the (larboard main chains i 2 feet, artern 7
fathoms, into which the lliip from the lun
ation of lier bows was depvefll J below her
Bern ports. The wind frelh, and a num
ber of rocks juil to leeward—a court dura
ble furl’. From the small portion of land
that xvas vilihle, it was generally believed
to lie the Nubble of Cape Neddo k, nor.
far from from Portfmoutli. Hoiiled out
our boat,, lent toe small ones to lick a
place where a landing might lie mort late
ly efleAed. In the mean time engaged
getting our lick into the larger boats, with
their bedding, clothes and provilions, rea
dy lor landing. The boats soon returned,
having fortunately difeovered a. final.!
cliafm in the rock capable of admitting a
boat, and a ravine connertecTwitn it, in
which the Tick might be flickered in fome
degree from the weather. Having feeur
eil the I’afety of the lick, it was deterinm
ed from motives of humanity to fend the
pnfoners next, with every tiling belong
ing to them, and with fails, tarpaulins
and medicines far the further comfort of
the sick. A surgeon's mate was also lent,
and the charge or the whole committed to
the Purser, Mr. lfndgers.—Knoxving it to
be near low water when the (hip rtruck, I
determined to make every effort with the
remaining portion of our crew, to get her
off when tbe tide should rife, though with
little hope that Die could be kept long a
bove water, as xve had afeertained the leak
to he 9 iVet an hour. Our cnlv kertge
Irid (K'trn erir'y laid out on our weatlier
qu irtcr to keep her as nearly in the lame
polition as pollible ; and our only heavy
anchor was now let go from the wail! to
prevent her Twinging into verx deep water
should die go off, and to keep her from tbe
rocks and reef’s to leeward, Hi mid (he float.
At 10 A. M. it became evident that the
tide would light her off; furled the top
sails and light fqunrefails; carried the
ledge out from the bow txvo cables length
oil Ihore, and continued to fend fitch ar
ticles out of the Ihip as we could conven
iently spare in case of floating. After
fome heavy Ifraiin, at half part lothefurf
lift’ and her off’, and She fwungto heranchor.
Manned all the pumps and found we could
gain upon her. The flood tide being nearly
done, it was necessary to get under yyay
instantly to reap the advantages of its
weather current, the rocks artern and to
leexvard not being half the ship’s length
dirtant. Hove up, canted her off fliore
with tbe hedge and head fails, set the
courses and all her fore and aft fails, and
fortunately parted from io to 50 yards to
windward of the rocks and reef* which
extended about 3-4 of a mile from the
land. Bv the ntnioll exertions xve kept
the lliip free, and by 4 o’clock got her un
der toplails and clears from the land. All
hands were employed at the pumps and
, fails during the night, in the hope of being
able to reach Portland the next dav. At
day light the weatlier was clear, and you
may judge our furprize at dilcovering our
-11:1 ves near the Island of Mount Defart.
The dilcovery excited the greatert anxie
ty for the fate of our companions. Ma
ny ot the Blands in the vicinity were un
inhabited—xve xvere ignorant on which
they were, and they were probably expos
ed to all the inclemencies ot the xveather,
while 1 iff ring the pain of that dreadful
disease thefeurvy. I (lion fell in with two
fulling boats, both of which I dr (pate bed
in I’e.irch ot them, and then used every
p ilfihle dilligence to get into Penoblcot
B<av, which xve tortunattlv efferted during
tne niglit; and 1 had the happiness to hear
the next morning that our sick companions
I had ail been fat’ely conveyed to Jamden
with the exception of one, who bad expired,
j My firil intention xvas to have dop’d a: Cas
j tine, but xvas induced to proceed to this place
( as one much better calculated for a vert’d in
our situation. The extent of the injury
Which llie has received cannot yet be known.
‘Our pumps are continually in motion—
I have procured a light (hip. and fliall
take every tiling out of her and then lay
her on fliore, as the only means of aicer
taining her damages at this place. I can
not conclude this communication without
recommending in the rtrongeft terms the
uncommon good condurt of the officers,
Teamen and marines of this rtiip on this
occasion. Never were my’ orders execut
ed with mote promptitude or less confu
lion. I'heir coolness during the time the
“Ihip was upon and among the rocks, could
only be furpafled by tlieir cheerful endur
ance of unremirted and the mort fatiguing
since. Nothing but the former could labor
Have refeued her trom lierperilonsfituation,
and but for the latter the.would have been
refeued in vain.
! >■ Very respcrtfiiUy, I have the honor to
be, fir, your obedient servant.
C. MORRIS. *
j Hon. William Jones, r’K
Secretary of the Navy.
Copy of a letter from Com. Cbaunceyto
tbe Secretary of tbe Navy, dated
U. S. S. Superior, off Kingston,
August totb, 1814.
Sir— Great anxiety of mind andfevere
bodily exdrtions, have at length broken
j down the Left confdtutien and fubjerted
me to a violent f ver that confined me for
i eighteen days. This misfortune was no
j more to be forefeen than prevented, hut
| xvas particular! v severe at the moment it
• happened, as it induced a delay of five or
fixdays in the failing of the fleet.
In the early part of July, I experted
the fleet xvould be made ready for failing
bv the lotlior 15th; but many of the
( mechanics were taken sick, and amongrt
| them the blnckmakers and blackfniths, so
j that tiie Mohawk could not be furuifhed
witli blocks and iron work for her gun and
j spar decks before the 24th or 25111 nit.
’ when Ibe was reported readv by Captain
Jones. As considerable anxiety had been
mamfefted bv tbe public to have the fleet
on tii’e Lake, I fliould have asked Captain
Jones to take charge of it and go out. but
\ was then recovering my health, and xvas
confident I should be able in three or four
days to go on hoard myfelf. There was
an additional reason for fubmitti-g to this
* delay in the difficulty I found in making
the changes of commanders, neither of
the n being willing to be separated from
bis officers and men, and a change of crews
through tiie fl et being inadmiflible.
In the afternoon of the 3ill July. I
xvas taken on board, but it was c dm, and
| did not fail before the next morning. To
j fatisfy at once whatever expectations the
’ public had been led to entertain of tiie
fufficiency of this (quadroll to take and
maintain the ascendency on this lake, and
at tht lame time to expole the futility f
promises, the fulfilment of which had been
refled on our .appearance at the head of the
lake, I got under w -.y at 4 o’chrfc in the
morning of the ift instant, and fleered for
; the mouth of the Niagara. Owing to
I light winds, I did not arrive off there be
i fore the jtli. There we intercepted one
of the enemy's brigs running over from
| York to Niagara with troops, and ru < her
on Ihore about fix miles to the weft.vard
ot Fort (peorge. I ordered the Sylph m,
to anchor as near to the enemy as Ihe
could wi#i f. fety, and to deltrov her
Captain rlliot ran in a very gall mt man
ner to within from 300 to 500 yards of
her and xvat about anchoring, when the
enemy set Ire to her and Ihe loon after
blew up. Vhis vt rtll was a schooner the
lart year, anil called the Beresford—fince
they altered her to a brig they changed
her name, and 1 have not been “able to as
certain it. Slie mounted 14 guns, receive
24-pound carronades and two long o-noun
ders. ;
Finding the enemy had two other brigs
and a fc'iooner in the Ni ig ira river. I de
i t rmined to leave a Force to watch them,
| and fclerted the Jeff rlon, S\ Ipli and Onei
: da for that purport , and .dated the whole
; under the orders of Cant. Kidg-lv. 11-v
----ing looked into York without ditenvering
; anv vessel of the enemy, I left Niagara
with the remainder of the squadron on toe ’
evening of the 7th, and arrived here the
9th. VVe found one of the enemy’s
(hips in the oiling, and dialed her into
Kingrtonk .
My anxiety to return to this end of the
lake xvas increased by the knowledge I I
had of the weakness of Sackt tt’s Harbor, j
and the apprehenlinn that the en my
might receive Iprge reiiitorremencs at i
vKingllon, and, embarking fpnw of die
troop- on board his fleet, make a dash at
the Harbor and burn it with all my (lores ‘
diving onr absence. When I left the
Harbor therej were but about 7&0 regul .r
troops fit for duty. It is tr ea b w mih
tia had been called in, but little could be •
experted of them should an attack be made.
My appreheniion, it firms, was grimndiefs,
the enemy having ron entec/ himrtdi with
annoy ing in fome tiiflmg degree the coall- i
ers between Oswego and the Harbor in his
boats.
1 cannot forbear exorelfing the regret *
■ I feel that so much fenfatio* has been ix
cited in the public mind, becuufe t ! is
squadron did not fail so fofin as the wile
heads that condurt our newspapers have
presumed tmthink I ought. 1 need not
fitggt ft to one of your experience, tint a
; m 11 of xvar mav appear to tiie eve of a
j landsman perfectly ready for fe 1, whe. 1 Ihe
is deficient in many of the molt ciTenml
points of her armammt, norluov unworthy
\ I ‘hould hive -proved mvfelf of tiie high
trust reposed in mt, had I ventured to lea
in the face of an eneyny of equ .1 farce,
; without Ix-ing readv to metth; m in one
, hour after my anchor xvas xveig a i.
i It ouglitin jnrtice to Soeretollr'irted. that
i the building and equipment of vifft-ls on
; the Atlantic are amattended bv any of the
great difficulties xvhithwe have toemoun-
J ter on this lake; rht-re everydepartm< nt
abounds with facilities. A commander
| makes a requisition. and articles of even
detoription „re fiirnifhed in twelve lionrs ;
but tliis fleet has h- en built and fitted in
the xvildernels, where thejre are no agents
and chandlers fliop& fnuudarirs, (kc. Sec.
to fujxply our wants, lir everv t thing is to
be created; aid ytt 1 (li ,11 not decline a <
’ comparison oi xvhat has been done here,
1 with anv thing d-rve on the in
i the building or equipment of vessels. The
Guerritrc, for inflame, has been building
and fitting upwards of twelve tnoliths in ,
the (iity of Philadelphia, and is not vet
ready. The Piefident into
i the Navy. Yard at Nexv-York for fame !
partial repair;, a fexv days after the keel
of the Superior was laid ; fiuce then txvo
frigates of a large claf, and two (loops oi;
war of the largtrt el d’s, have Ix-en built ’
and fitted here, anfl have lailed before the •
President is ready for sea, although every -
article of their armament and rigging has *
been transported from Nexv-York in
P’te of obstacles Amort infin mountable.- -
I will go farther, fir, for it is due to the on- (
remitted and tinfurpaficd.exertionsof thole -
who have served the public under my com
mand, and wifi challenge the world topro- ‘
duCe a parallel inliaqce, in which the fame .
*
number of vcffrls of fucli dimentions have
been built and fitted in the Tame time by
the fame mimlier of workmen.
- I confif; that lam mortified in not hav
ing fucce ded in fitisfying the exjierta
tions of the public, hut it would be infi
nitely more painful, could I find any want
of zeal or exertion in my endeavors to
serve them, to which I could in any degree
impute tlieir disap .ointment. .
1 have the honor to lie, fir. with the ut
molt refpert, your mart obedient and very
humble servant.
. HAAG CHAUNCEY.
Hon. YVm. Josf.s,
Secretary of tbe Navy.
Copy of a letter from 1 Taj. Gen, Brovert
to Commodore Ghuuncey •
, HeAO-QuA RTF.RS, OuF.ENSTOWX,
July 13th, 1814.
My Dear Sir —l arrived at this place
tin tiie 10th, as I adored you, that,with
the bleflingof God I would. All accounts
igre-e that the force of the enemy in King
rtmi is very light—meet rue on the Lake
Ihore, north of Fort George with your
flee t and we will lot* able, I have no doubt,
to fettle a plan of operation tliat wiii break
the p>wer of the enemy in Upjier Canada
mid that in the cotlrle of a lliort time—
At all events let me hear from you; I
hax'e looked for your fleet with the great
est anxiety lince the 10th. Ido not doubt
my ability to meet the encitiy in the field
and to m irth in any dirertion over his
country; your fleet carrying sot me the
lieteff irx supplies. We can threaten Forts
George and Niagara, and carry Burling
ton Heights and York, and proceed divert
to Kong (ton and carrv that place. For
Gad’s fake let me fee you ; Sir James will
not fight, two of his vessels are now in Ni
agara River.
If von conclude to meet tne at the head
of the Like, an 1 that immediately, have
the goodnels to bring the guns anil troops
that I have ordered from the Harbor; at
all events have the politeness to let me
know what aid I am to expert from the
fleet off Lake Ontario.
There is not a doubt verting in my
mind, but that xx f e have betxveen us the
command of lufficient means to conquer
Upper Canada within two months, if
th- re is a prompt and zealous co-operation
and a vi mrous application of these means;
now is our time Ix-fore the enemy can be
greatly reinforced.
Your’s trillv,
: (Signed.) JACOB BROWN.
Com. Ghaitncey.
Copy of a letter from Com . Cbaunccy to
; Maj. Gen . Brown , dated
U, S. S. Superior , eff Kingston,
August 10, 1814.
Sir— Your letter of the 13th u!t. xvas
received by me on a ff-k bed, hardlv able
to hear it read and entirely unfitted to re
ply to it. I, however, requefled Gen.
(i iines to acquaint you with my situation,
the probable rime of the fleet’s failing, and
my viexvs of the extent of its co-operation
-with t ie army.
i From the tenor of your letter, it xvould
’ appear that you ha and caicif ated much upon
; tiie co-operation of the fl-et. You can
not surely have forgotten the conversa
tion we held on this fnbjert at Sa- kett’s
Harbor, previous to your departure fir Ni
agara. I then profeflVd to feel it my du
ty as well as inclination to afford .everv
, aliirtaiice in my po*er to the army, and
• to co-operate xvith it whenever it could he
done without lofiog fight of this great ob
jert for the attainment of which this fleet
had ia-en created, to wit—the capture or
dellnirtion of the eneny’s fleet; but I
then difliiirtly flared to you, that this xvas
: a primary otijeft, and xvould be firil at
-1 tempo and; and toat you nmft not exp rt
the flei t at the head of the lake, unless
that of roe enemy Iliould induce us to fol
low (li!ii there.
•I will not fuffer myfelf to believe that
this converfatioii xvas misunderltood or
• has since been (orgotteiv, How then
lliall 1 account for the intimation thrown
out to tiie public in your defpatch to the
Secretary of War, that you <-xperted the
fie-t to co-operate with you? Was it
friendly, orjull, or honorable, not only to
hiriiifh an opening for the public, but thus
• to allill them, to infer that I had pledged
nv. self to meet yob 011 a particular day,
_ at tiie head of the lake, for the purpose of
co-operation? and in case of disafttr to
your army, thus to turn their resentment
from you, who are alone responlible, upon
me, who could not by any portability have
prevented or retarded even your discom
fiture. You well knoxv, fir; that the fleet
could not have rendered you the leart ser
vice during your iate incursion upon Up
per Canada. You have not been able to
approach Lake Ontario on anv point near
, er tliuii Queen flown, uid the enemv were
then in pnffelfion of all the country be
| tween that place and the Ihore of Onta
rio ; lb that I could not even communi
cate with you without making a circuit of
70 or 80 miles, i would a(k, of what
pollible use the fleet could have been to
, yon, either in threatening orinvefling Fort
George, when the U allowncfs of the wa
| ter alone would pre-x riit an approach with
ili6le (hips within two miles of that Fort
or Niagara? To pretend that the fleet
could render the lead affilhnee in your
projerted capture of Burlington Heights on
your route to Kir grton, is still more ro
mantic : for it is well known the fleet
Could not approach within nine miles of
those Heights.
That you might find the fleet fome
sVhat of a convenience in the tranfpoi ta
tion of provilions and llores for tiie use of
the army, and an agreeable appendage
t attend its marches and countermarch
es, I am reidv to beliex’e: hut fir, the
Secretary of the Nary lias honored as
with a higher dertlux-—we •—*- mtenci ?. re
Lck and to fight the enemy’s fleet. 1 Ins
is the great purpose of ihe government
in creating this fleet; and I lliall not be
diverted in my efforts to eftrrtnate it by
any finifler attempt to re nder us subordi
nate to or an appendage of the army.
We have one common ohj-rt in the
annex ance, defeat ana deflrurticn of the
enemy ; and 1 dull always cheerfully la
in tr with anv military commander in the:
promotion of that object.
lam, fir, with great consideration and
’ refpert, your mod obedient servant.
I. CHAUNCEY.
Maj. Gen, Jacob Brown .
LTTTFR OF THE SEI’RE t'ARY OF WAR.
To the Editors of the Baltimore Patriot.
It may be due to myfJf and is certain
ly due to others, that the reasons under
which 1 retired from the direction of the
War Department, at a juncture so critical
as the present, fliould be fully and prompt
ly known to the public. These reasons
will be found in the following brief expo
fiiion of farts.
On the evening of the 29th ultimo,
President called at my lodgings, and Hat
ed that a case of much delicacy had occur
red; that a high degree of excitement
had been raised among the militia of the
Diltrirt ; that he was himself an objert of
their fm-picions and menaces ; that an of
ficer of that corps had given him notice,
that they would no longer obey any or
der coming through me as Secretary of
War; and that in the urgency of the
cale, it might be prudent so far to yield ta
the impulse, as to permit fome other perfba
to exercise my funrtions in relation to the
defence of the Dirtrirt.
To this statement and proposition, I an
fwe red fubftantiallv as follows—that I was
aware of the excitement to which he al
luded, that 1 knew its source, and had
marked its progress ; that the prdentwas
not a moment to examine its more occult
caul’es, objedts and agents; that it orten
fibly rertvd on charges known to himfelf
to be false, that it was not for me to de
termine how far the iupposed urgency of
the case made it proper for him to yield to
an impulse so vile and profligate—fo in
jurious to truth, and i’o deftrurtive of or*
der; but that for myself, there was no
choice; that I could never surrender a
part of my legitimate authority, for the
preservation of the rest—that I mull exer
cise it wholly or not at all ; trtat I came
into office, xvith objtrts exclulively pub
lic; and that to accommodate my princi
ples or my condurt to the humors ot a vil
lage mob, llimul ited by tartion, and led
hy folly, was not the way to promote
these ; and that if his decision was taker*
in conformity to the suggestions he had
made, I entreated him to accept my re
signation. l'his he declined doing. It
was an extent, he was pleal’ed to (av, to
which he meant not to go ; that he knew
the excitement was limited, a3 well with
regard to time as to place ; that he was
now, and had always been fully fenfibfe of
the general zeal, diligence and talent,
which I had put into the discharge of my
duty, and that it xvould give him pleasure,
were I to take time to confider his proposi
tions. I renewed the affurarce of my
great personal refpert, and my readiness
to conform to his xviihes on all proper oc
casions. I remarked, that whatever zeal,
diligence and talent I possessed, had been
employed (reely but firmly, and according
to mv best views of the public good, and
that as long as they were left to be so ex
erted, they were at the service of my
country ; but that the moment they were
made to bow to military ulurpation or po
litical fart ion, there fliould be an end of
their public llrvice. We now parted, with
an underft Hiding, that I should leave Walh
ington the following morning.
It has since been (fated to me ns a fart,
(to which I give the mod relurtmt belief)
that on the morning cf the 29th, and be
fore mv arrival in the city, a committee
of the inhabitants of Georgetown, of
whom Alexander C. Hanson, Editor of
the Federal Republican, was one, had
waited on the President, by depur a
tion, and had obtained from him a prom
ise, that I Iliould no longer dirert the
Military Defences of this Dirtrirt—
On this fart, all commentary is mine
ceffiry.
It hut remains to exhibit and to an
swer, the several charges railed against
me, and xvhich form the ground-work of
that excitement, to which the President
has dremed it prudent to facrifice his au
thority, in declining to support mine. They
are as follow, viz :
Ist. That (from ill will to the Dirtrirt;
of Columbia, and a design to remove tbe
feat of government)* Igave orders for the
retreat ot the armv, in the affair of the 24th
ult. under circnmftances not making re
treat necessary or proper.
This charge has not for its support the
fhadnw of truth. The commanding Gen
eral will do me the jnlfice to fav, that I
gave him no such order, and that he was
under the that the retreat was
made earlier than I believed it to be nro
per. 1 o the President I appeal, whether
I did not point out the disorder and re
treat of a part of the firft line soon after
the action began, and ftigmatife it as base
and infamous.
2d. 1 hat, in definite of tbe remonfirau
cesot Gen. Winder, and by tbe interposi
tion of my authority, 1 had prevented him
from defending tiie Capitol.
T his charge contains in it a tot-! ne r .
verffon ofthe truth. When the head of
the retiring column readied the Capital,
ltwas halted for a moment. General
Winder here took occasion to Date to Mr.
Monroe and myself, that he Was net m a
condition to aiaintsiu anotl ci conflict, a^d