f
Trial of Col. .Burr
TAKENFOIl THE FEDERAEGAZETTE
Wednesday, June 24.
OTr« TKqniiUfi'i uiouc several beautiful il-
lustrations of the danger in a free country
Af compelling witneisess to give affidavits;
which our limits, preye/it us from narrating,
He concluded neatly as follows •
It is irnpossiblf, sir, not to feel a degree of
indignation at the conduct which has been
practised towards Mr. Knox. It forms a part
of the basis of otir independency that mili-,
Tary force should not sport with civil rights.
If these tilings have been by the /wisest of
our country men execrated ; if they are e:
Remember, sir,—yen will remember it, I
know, for you h'ah e foresight and judgment,
if such proceedings as have been displayed
in this case do not receive the most pointed
censure, our children wfllrepinl of it, and
you, sir, will be regarded as the author.
Mr. AfTrtoe replied to Mr. Randolph, in a
speech of considerable length, ingenuity and
. merit.
Mr. Botts answered the arguments of Mr.
M'fiae.
Wi regret, on account of the multiplicity
of matter about to press upon us, that we
have not room for the speeches of these gen-
tlemen.
i n Mr. VSot.ts was in the middle of his
reply to Mr. M'Rae, the grand jury entered,
about 3 o'clock. After their names were
c ii.d over, Mr. John Randolph, the fore-
man, delivered the four indictments to the
cleric of the court, who read them sis follows :
Indictment against Aarofi Burr .for High
Trea..)ii- true bill : Indictment against Aa-
ron Burr for Misdemeanor-true bill : In-
dictment against Blannernasset for High
Treason—true bill: Indictment against Blan-
nerhasset for a misdemeanor true bill. Mr. John
Randolph then stated to the court, that al-
though they had returned true bills on the
four indictments which had been laid before
tliem, yet they had other business to delibe-
rate upon which might occupy them for se-
veral days.
At^or Mr. Botts had concluded his argu-
ment -Mr. Hay moved for the commitment
of Cosonel Burr for high treason."
C iloiicl Burr rose and observed he should
state to the court, their privilege of-allowing
ball as he could prove by a witness present,
that the indictment was obtained by peiju-
jy. .-. •;; ¦
A discussion of the power of the court
Witlifespect to bail in case where the pun-
ish nent was death, then took place and- con-
tinued for several hours.
Toe court were of opinion that they were
vested with the power of giving bail, accor-
ding to circumstances and usages of Law.
Whether the case'ef Colonel Burr could
admit of bail was a_ QtreStip.il 'postponed^for
consideration until next day.
Col. Burr was then committed into the
charge of the Marshal, who attended, him to
Col. Burr's lodgings where Laving dined,
he was given into the charge of two depot}
Marshals who Conducted him in a carriage
to the public Jail.—lie arrived at the Jail
about.nine o'clock at night and was put by
Mr. Rose the keeper of the J:iii into the
debtor's apartment.-Ceiitiuels Were after-
wards placed round the Jail.
Thursday, June 25.
The court was opened at a quarter past
eleven.
Mr. Botts rose and stated to the court
that the business of the day would be very
important. lie observed, that as they could
not proceed without the presence of colonel
Burr, he should move for a writ of habeas
corpus to bring up his body.
Mr. Hay observed, that an attachment had
been moved ¦-., Mr, Randolph against Gen.
Wilkinson. He said that in his opinion the
off nee which General Wilkinson had com-
mitted, to constitute a contempt, had never
feeen specified by the gentlemen on the other
side. That they had oeen repeatedly urged
to state the ofiettce of which General V\ H-
kinson had been guilty ; but in place of spe-
cifying or stating particular facts, they had
contented themselves merely by declamati-
on. He believed, however, that on a fair
and candid examination of the case, that the
motion had no foundation either in law or
justice. Mr. Hay then said before he would
enter into the examination of this extraor-
dinary measure, he would iik by whom the
motion had been made. Was this motion
made at the instance of the officers of the
United Slates ? No, sir, not a word had been
said, or a complaint made by them upon the
subject. The motion was made at the in-
ttae.ee of col. Burr alone. Colonel Burr had
not said, or could not say, that he had suffer-
ed by the introduction of this w-itr.eis.~-
From what motive, then, was this motion
made? The motion was obviously made to
make an impression on the public mind that
General Wilkinson, whose testimony was
so material in the present case, was a man
¦who had committed every species of vio-
lence.
Mr. Hay said, that if any contempt had
bsen made, it had been made by col. Bun'
and his counsel, in making this motion ;and,
that there would be more propriety in him,
if it was not to interrupt the business of the
court, to move against colonel Burr for con-
tempt.
The Court here observed, that they would
listen to any moiiou which he might make,
and that trie present business might be
•waved.
The counsel of col. Burr also observed
•that they would have no objections to any
' motion Mr Kay might make.
Mr Hey then remarked, that although he
might with propriety'move against colonel
l:',:rr, yet it was not his disposition to do so.
He proceeded with his argument. I,:.
said, even although the facts with which
Get). Wilkinson was charged, were admit-
ted, he asked, whethei or not, they.could
constitute a contempt of this court.- There
was one species of treatment to a witness,
which might be called a contempt of court,
vrz any means which-woi Ito pre-
vent a witness coniiug to court. If a per-
son^ for example, when-commg up tm
prtol hill to tiiis court) was inteirupti I and
prevented from attending : "i uiit \.
would be truly a Contempt of court, and I do net kna* any authority by
should merit punishment. He therefore tin- | testimony eo'ulrj'be' 'debarred"."
tended, that according to the testimony of I j£r. Jchn'Rdndelpb.
the only witness'"brought forwaid oil-the |-¦¦¦¦•-•*• -
part of the prosecution, the court could not
pronounce Gen. Wilkinson guilty of a con-
tempt. The case, about which so much was
said, and so much odium thrown-upon Cen.
Wilkinson, Was, in ri'ality, one in which
General Wilkinson had no agency or con-
cern. That Judge Hall and Lieut. Gaines
were the sole actors. That it was very im-
probable Gen. Wilkinson, if he had.intended
to interfere ill the .affair, WOuId have applied
to Mr. Hall, a person who was noways
friendly to his views. Judge El all commit-
ted Knox, not to military authority, but to
the marshal of the state, and the marshal of
the state committed him to the charge of
Lieut. Gaines, whom lie deputed to act on
this occasion as deputy marshal.
Here some discussion took place, between
the Counsel on both sides, as to the questi-
tion whether Lieutenant Gaines was dep.uti-
the Marshal, or by Judge Hall.
Lieutenant Gaines was therefore called for,
but was out of court.
Mr. M'Rae in the mean time took the op
portuniry of making an ealegium on the
ch uacer of Judge Hall, and wished to prove
to the Court, that he was a man.of integrity
and talents.
The Chief Justice thon^it it would be ex-
tremely improper.to enter into an investiga-
tion of the character of J/udge Kail. Thai it
was extremely foreign to the present questi-
on.
. ,Mr. Martin. If the gentleman pleases,
we shall allow Judge Hall to be an angel.
Mr. BottSj said that if any Judge in Vir-
ginia, was to conduct himself as Judge H ,11,
he ought to have his licence revoked. W he
ther he was a tool of Wilkinson, or not, was
an affair to be judged of by the Court.
Mr. Hay observed, be would certainly
vindicate at all times the conduct and cha-
duct of Judge flail.
Chief Justice. This is a matter which
the Court has nothing to do with.
Mr. Hay proceeded. He said it appealed
that general Wilkinson, who had been the
subject of so many Complaint?, and much loud
invective, had. adviied Lieutenant Gaines to
apply to Counsel for advice. He thought
this a circumstance highly in favor of Gene-
ral Wilkinson who, at that time, could ne-
ver have supposed that his conduct would
afterwards become a subject of legal investi-
gation ; and particularly by Mr. Buvr who
in place of an accused person, was to become
a public prosecutor. Mr. Hay said, whether
gen. Wilkinson's conduct at New-Orleans
was in all things justifiable, he presumed,
was a question not to be di-ciil. d by this
court. ¦ He observed, he wouid take up the
subject entirely upon the testimony of the
witness introduced by the prosesution. If
Knox had not obeyed the process, he would
have been liable t'o an attachment ; and yet
by the argument of the gentlemen, General
Wilkinson was liable to an attachment, for
making him come, This was ifi reality ma-
king the law blow cold and hot at the same
time. It was somewhat singular when the
;rentlemen,o« the other side had been", ad-
dressing the court on a motion of a descrip-
tion entirely hovel; they never entered in-
to a specification of what a contempt of
court was, or what act constituted, a con
tempt of court. Nothing of the kind was
shewn by them. Mr. Hay then stated
what appeared to him to be a contempt of
court ; and'read several authorities tp-sbew
what was the legal description of a contempt
of court.
Col. Burr now entered into Court, attend-
ed by two deputy Marshals.
Mr. Hay proceeded, and read several autho-
rities, to shew what a contempt of c;,urt
was.—He likewise cited Bldckstpnjp's opirii
on on this subject. Mr. Hay narrated to
instance of a case which occurred in Frede-
Someyoung taeh were brought
court on a charge of Mulder.
The Grand Jury found a true Bill. They
were ordered into the custody of the Jailor.
- When they went out, they went where
they pleased. The Jailor was oidered be-
fore the coutt for contempt of court. The
defence of the Jailor was. that he regarded
himself as respi asible, and as the young
men had attended at the hour required, that
he had performed his duty.—The Jailor was
acquitted
Mr. Hay concluded by making several
severe remarks on the speech of Mr. Ran,
dolph.
The grand jury entered at one o'clock.
After the names were called over—
Mr. John Randolph, the foreman address-
ed the court—" May it please :he court, the
grand jury have been informed by a witness
that the»e is in possession id Aaron Burr,
who is now present in court, a letter from
General Wilkinson, dated the 13th May,
vritteu in cypher, which letier the grand
Jury think will afford to them information
on matters now under consideration -Trie
grand jury whri to'know whether the court
sees any impropriety, or if it be legal that
Aaron Burr should deliver up this letter if it
contain matter criminating himself."
Chief Justice. " Certainly no man can
be called Upon to produce evidenee which
may criminate himself; but if colonel Burr
thinks proper voluntarily to produce any
letter which the grand jury may require, the
court sees no impropriety in his doing so.
Colonel Burr. i( With respect to any in-
formation, letters, or papers which may have
been given to me in confidence, I do not re-
gard myself authorised to communicate them,
whether any legal process may enforce me
is not now the question ; but so long as I
retain those principles of honor, to which
I have been always accustomed, I ca , ne-
ver regard myself responsible for any consi-
deration to disclose malters that have been
so confided,—I certainly can never tolerate
such an idea orhaibor such a sentiment.
Mi.. John Randolph. Shall the grand
jury withdraw and wait the opinion of the
court. \
Chief Justice. " No man can be com-
pelled to deliver testimony which may crimi.
hate himself ; but it does not appear to the
court, that a person although indicted, can
refuse to give testimony against others,
which may not criminate bimself. Altho'
ricks burg,
before the
which. Hs •
¦ ' J
^^^^^^^^^^^^ " The grand jury '
will therefore reliie., and submit their re- !
quest to the deliberation of the court.
Mr. Hay then proceeded in his objections
for an attachment to issue against general
Wilkinson. I
Mr M'Rae rqse and stated to the court
that after the grand jury went out, he had a
conversation With general Wilkinson, and
that he was authorised by general Wilkin-
son to request that all the correspondence
between colonel Burr and himself should
be made public, and that colonel Burr, thro'
him was absolved from every promise ofse-
crecy he might have, given to general Wil-
kinson.
Colonel Burr. " May it please the court,
some reply no doubt is expected Irom rne.to
the information which the gentleman has
given with respect to general Wilkinson.—
The production of that letter is not now in
my power.—The letter is not. in my posses-
sion, and general Wilkinson knows this .-o
be the case."
Mr. M-Rae than requested'that the court
would inform the grand jury of the circum-
stance that geneial Wilkinson had coaiinii-
nicaied, and ot his willingness that all cor-
respond nee between himself and colonel
Burr should be made public.
Mr. Martin hoped the court would also
at the same time inform the grand jury ut
the circumstance that colonel Burr had stat-
ed.
The Court expressed their unwillingness
to be t le vehicle of any inlormation to the
grind jury, but that which uninediaiely re-
I lated to the question proposed to them by
kite grand jury.
Mr. M'iite observed he wished this in-
formation to be given to the grand jury,
merely to wipe away any aspersion which
might be attached to the character of gene-
ral \ Wilkinson firara what had fallen from co-
lonel Burt.
Vol. hurt- rose and said it was known to
gen. Wilkinson the letter was not in his pas
session, that lie purposely gave it away in
the presence of a third person to relieve
him iiom the compulsion of giving-it to the
grand jury.
Mr. Wickham rose to reply to Mr. Hay's
argument. He prefaced his remark by corn-
plimenting-Mr. Hay upon the happy fertility
this injunction possessed of always suppos-
ing himself whether right or wrong to be
in the right. He adverted first to the judge's
warrant, which he endeavored to shew was
an illegal act. He then stated that every
individual who was an accessory to an ille-
gal act, was a trespasser ab initio. He next
shewed in what manner general Wilkinson
was an accessory, and an aider hi the ac-
compl.shment of this act. Col. Burr had a
right to make this motion, because he was
the person against whom the witness was
brought forward, lie asked if it was no
consequence to a party that a witness should
be thus dragged Before'the court? Could
fear, could alarm, not have a powerful ef-
fect upon the minds of men ? Hut this was
not all. Was not hope as well as fear bro't
into action to operate upon him ? The 11 11
who will use means of this sort, and for a
particular purpo>e, will not be very scrupu-
lous about the end, when he is not very scru-
pulous about the means. If this practice
were tolerated, the public treasury might
be emptied in bringing witnesses from one
end of the continent to the other. The con-
sequence of admitting a practice of this
sort to the disadvantage of the acci sgd,
ought not to be sanctioned bv the court.
col. B. wasunder no obligation to account for
his motives to the court ; but there was a
motive.that had a very powerful effect. It
was not known how long this prosecution
would be continued or what future attempts
of the same nature might be made. He
therefore wished that the court would in-
flict a punishment as an example to others in
future. It was impossible t..at general Wil-
kinson could be so ignorant as not to knowr
that his conduct was highly illegal: There
was not a person, not even a boy out of his
horn horde but knew that the conduct of ge-
neral Wilkinson was improper. He hoped
therefore he should hear nu more of general
Wilkinson pleading ignorance as an apology.
The grand jury entered—After the names
were called over, Mr. John Randolph ad-
dressed < he court "may it please the court,
the grand jury have made several present-
ments." Mr. Randolph then handed them
to the clerk wdio read as follows :
Presentment against Jonathan Dayton, of
New-Jersey, for treason.
Presentment against John Smith, of the
state of Oiiio, for treason.
Piesentmeat against Comfort Tyler, for
tieasni.
Island— crew faved. Th- ItvigXalm AdaflBJS,*
of Portsmouth-, Giokin, -ailed last of .- pr.,1
for Lisbon. Ship Cotttwi Pi -.niter, Chase
sail-d f> Savanhuh same time. May i9, in
the streighfs of (Dover, was boarded from au
English gun-brig, treated politely. Spoke
June 2, lat. 4e Ifi, long; 3'/, ship Perseve-
rance, Fen;,-.!;, r.4 day from New-York for
Amsterdam. June 18, lat.42, 36, long, tii,
brig "igilant, liiggins, tor Liverpool.
Same day, brig Leopard, captain Jordan,
33 days from Liverpool.
Same day, (via quarantine) brig Susan-
nah, Minot, 2o days I'roin St Croix.
PHILADELPHIA, June 29.
Arrived, snip Volunteer, Martin, Porto-
Cavello, 17 days ; Ague*, Bunce, Charles-
ton, io ; brigs Only son, Davis, L,isbon,3o ;
Violet, Minot, iioston, 9; serifs, tmity,
Boutillier, Havana; Danish schr. Director,
Tatem, St. Croix ; Emily, Be-nhani, George
Town, S. C. 12 ; sloop Fear, lildiidge, Bos-
ton, 14.
Cleared, ship Anthony Mangin, Thomas,
Mocha ;Two Brothers, Hall, St. iiitts; brigs
Lacy, Puckham, Martinique; Mary-Ana,
Alien,- St. Croix ; snow- Susan, Willis, Ja-
maica ; schrs. Triumph, Fallin, Havauna ;
Ilsley, Stu.-divaht, Portland ; Eliza, benja-
min, New-York'.
Ships Dispatch, Baush, St. ICitts; Bro-
thers, Bray, Jamaica ; schrs. Sea Horse,Tu
ley, rVtatauzies; Ann, PennQck, Guadaloupe
a e below. . a
Vessls (eft at Lisbon, by capt. Davis, of the
Only Son..--
Ships, James Ski, ne, from Philadelphia,
discharging ; Oroz mbo, Brewster, of Poris-
mout'u. N. H. Crawford, Russel, repairing.
b. igs Ann and Mary. Maliory, for Batti
more, discharging ;-Joseph, Pierce, ditte.do.
Delight, Pierce, of N. York, for' Philadel-
phia, discharging ; Venus, Tunisian, of and
for Salem, discharging; Jemima and Fanny,
Sherb .me, of Charleston for Natttz ; Hope,
Williams of New York, destination un-
known ; Two Maries, Bates, for Barcelona ;
Dido, Stiness, do.; Five Sisters, Gcdders,
destination unknown ; Perse eance, Staar,
for Bordeaux ; Telemachus, Goudwing, des-
tination unknown ; Eunice, Hunter, for'N.
York ; T!ieies-Ann, Baily, destination un-
known ; Heuben h Eli-.'.-r., Tripp, ditto.
Schooners Eunice, Maxwell, of Portland,
for France ; Mount Hope, Macy, of and for
Nantucket; Virginia, Coulson, for the Me
ditenane.in ; and sloop Columbus, of and
for Boston, in iS days.
Report of a Battle.
Captain Davis, arrived yesterday from Lis-
bon, spoke on the nineteenth instant, the ship
Hazard, twenty-eight days from Amsterdam ;
the captain of which informed him, there
had been, a. dreadful engagement between
the Russians and French, e/r t/ie second of
May, in which the latter were defeated—
Bonapinte had lost an arm, and was other
wise badly wounded.
We will bearly remark, that the latest
advices of the French grand army were on
the 23d of April, from Amsterdam the 8U1
of May, and from London the 16th. The
Hazard must have sailed about the 20th of
May, and consequently bring intelligence
from the continent ot Europe twelve days
later than has been heretofore received.
[PaUson.]
; TUESDAY, JVNE 30.
Presentment against Israel Smith, of N.
York, for treason.
Presentment against Davis Floyd, for trea-
son.
Mr. Hay requested the grand jury might
not be discharged for a day or two, until he
should prepare indictments conformable to
the. e presentments.
¦ After the grand jury retired, Mr. Wick-
ham concluded his argument on the motion
for aii attachment.
Mr. Martin rose in support of the. mo-
tion ; and with a vast deal of humor pictur-
ed the tyrannical conduct of general Wil-
kinson at New-Orleans.
[7'o be continued.']
BY THIS DAY's MAILS.
BOSTON, June 34.
Arrived, brig lietsy, Lafhrop, 40 days
from Amsterdam. Vessels left there, btig
Susannah, Bissell, of N. York, forChailes-
town, in 3 days ; ship George Barclay, Da-
niels, do. far St. Ubes, in 10 ; ship Virgin,
Auld, of Baltimcre, just arrived ; Rising
Sun, West, from Baltimore, arrived April
28. Arrived at the Texel, April 28, S. Shaf-
furd, from Baltimore ; D. Brigteh, from
Charleston. April 30, arrived, William
Penu, and M. Page, from Charleston. Ves-
sels at Rotterdam, 13tri May, ship Lovely
Nan, Coffin, Baltimore; ship Alexander,
Weston, Alexandria. The ship Sally, Rich-
ards, from. Baltimore, was stranded off Go-
ree, 16th April, vessel and cargo lost, except
nd bales of cotton,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ a few hlids. tuliacco and hales ^^^^^
colonel Buvr stands indicted, yet at present which have since come w» shore M SUiowen
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
" New York, June 28.
" Arrived, brig Triton, Arnold, 66 days
from Cette. Spoke, may 3, lat. 36, i4,long
13, 1.1, a schooner 27 days from Baltimore
for the Straights. June .7, lat. 39 44. long.
63, 24, brig Friendship, from l«xiiHore.—
June 22. was bearded by the British armed
brig Columbine, Bradshaw.who pressed John
Wadsen, with a Swedish protection.
Brig Mount Vernon, Martin, 10 days from
Savannah.
Brig Ceres, Tucker, iO days from Bermu-
da.
Schr. Fox, Crany, 14 days from Havanna,
dismasted.
Schr. Harmony, Aydelott, 15 days, do.
Schr. Sincerity, Kim, St. croix, 17 days."
The editor of the Federal
Gazette is not unacquainted
with the feelings of his fel-
low-citizens, nor unmindful
of the extreme anxiety of his
readers, to he informed as
speedily as possible, of the
proceedings at Norfolk. Hav-
ing received the Herald of the
27th, and been informed by
a gentleman who arrived this
morning in Deagle's packet,
that the people continued
their preparations for defence
—we hasten to lay the ac-
counts before our patrons.
NORFOLK, June 27.
Arrived, sloop Sally, Bradford, 9 days
from Charleston.
Sloop Patty and Lydia, Gunter, 8 days
from Charleston.
Entered, British ship Medway, Potts, last
from Madeira.
Cleared, brig Mehitable, Hannah, Anti-
gua ; schr. Volunteer, Turner, Jamaica,
Extract of a letter from Hamp-
ton, dated June 26.
" We have late news from
the British men of war by the
pilots that were discharged
yesterday. They declare that
if their water and provisions
.do not come to them as usual,
l/tey will lay tin u- shU>x of war
n'o::^ kk Hampton, sen* ffi'e,
$ai'gi% ashore, and take the
by force!—Tiie Hamptonians ,
are casting balls and making
cartridges, to bid them wel-
come." ¦
A meeting-of the citizens cf this Bo--
rough & Portsmouth, are eaaneslly reqnest-
at the Episcopal church this morning, al-
io o'chek, as business of the utmost impor-
tance is to be discussed.
The following fetters have parsed between
the committee and the British consul, which
are published for the information of the
public THEO. ARMlSTli .U, Sec'y
Of the committee.
British Consul's Office, Norfolk, (Vir.)
June 25, 1807.
Tb brigadier-general Mathews, cf. airman
of the committee to cany into effect tlifi re-
toitrtioits, $~c.
S.R,
" As I do not perfectly understand how
far the construction of the resolutions
adopted at the mating held yesterday, as
they respect the communication between
myself ae.d his majesty's ships in the Che-
sapeake, may be supposed to extend, I beg
leave to i: quire of you, sir, as the chair-
man of the committe appointed to
carry those resolutions into effect, wile.
t!;er any or what restrair.it is there-
by intended to be ,a'd on my cun»'.mi-
nication with the king's whips — whether the
schooners which have hitherto been used a*
advice boats, will ue permitted to pass as
hereto!'ire, uninterruptedly, and whether
there will he any objection to myself, or any '
of my family, going backwards or forwards
to the ships of war below, in such boats as
may be allowed to carry my coriespor.deiice-,
or to our going by land to the Bay-side, and]
embarking from thence and returning to thtt
shore in the ships' bojts.
I have the honor to amain,
With perfect respect, sir,
Your most obdt. humble servsnt.
JOHN 11A MILTON.
To Col. John Hamilton, Voniul for the Stale
of Virginia.
" Sir,
" In answer to your letter of this date, I
ain directed by the committee to say, that
the schooners hit Her to employed at,, advice-
boats in the service of M. li. majesty's .-Lips,
cannot be permitted to pass ar,d repass as
heretofore. The committee view the object
of the resolutions as intended \j pre v. it sup-
plies of ev ¦¦; I d being affoi tied to the.-.'j
ships until the pit,,me of our goveil.tnent
be known. The committee ca i sc no ob-
stacle to ypu or your family comniui,icatinjj
with the officeis of H. .-5. Ai's ships io eit
of the modv.-s you mention, coi . de it that .
no atleu.pt v, ii be iinre to coi.uave. e the
resolution restric'th.g supplier. The beata
you may enga^i in thi s- rvice will be pel-
mitted to pass without exa.ui.nation.
I have tl,» honor to be,
With perfect respect,
Your most obi dient servant,
TH i MATHEWS,
Chairman of the Ccmmitl^t
Norfolk, June 20, U07.
The following letter to the committee of ar-
rey/iond nee, has been received/>¦<.in George
Hope, Esquire, of ll&m/don, eluied Q0/&
instant.
" Sirs,
" I just now received yours, with the en-
closed resolutions of the citizens of Norfolk,
and immediately communicated tln-m to eel.
Wray, and posted, t'o make them as public,
as possible. The inhabitants of this place
unanimously feel indignant at the outrage
commuted on the Chesapeake, and are con-
certing measures to prevent the landing oC
any. boats i'roin the ships, which it is probable
they may attempt.
I am, with respect,
GEO: HOPE."
At a meeting of the Committee at the Ecgte-
Tavern, on Friday, June 26, 3607.
Present—Thomas Mathews, Daniel Bellin-
ger, J. W. Murd(iugh,Luke. Wheeler, XVil.
tiam Ncu'stwi. Thomas Newton, Thontcs
Blanchard, Theo. Armisttai.
I'.aol'ced unanimously, as .the opinion of
this Committee, that the liuiish Officer v,-ho>
this day brought dispatches to Col. Hamil-
ton, not having hoisted a fine; before his ap-,
preach to our harbour, was not afterwards
entitled to be considered as coming under
the proti ctiou of a flag oftm;e ; and as such,
he should not have been discharged, but
should have been held in custody until the
pleasure of the government was known.
Resolved unanimously, that it is the opini-
of this Committee, that any British OrriceE
comingto this place, shall be considered as u
prisoner, until the dtcision of the govern-
ment be known.
Hcselved'unanimiusly, that the proceedii'lp-
of this in eting be regularly published.
The Ci.muiitiee ol'Coriesponuence laid be-
fore the Committee, a letter from Mr- Hope,
of Hampton, which was ordered to be pub-
lshed.
Resolved, that Theodoric Armistead and
Thomas Newton, jun. be a Comnmt.ee to as-
certain the best means of establishing a Te-
legraphic Communication between the st*
shore and this place.
Mr. James W. Murdaugh having irtfonnpd
the Committee that a number of young geji-
tlemtn had instructed him to offer tin ir SW,
vices for the erection oi'batte-.ies for the de-
fence of the Towns of Norfolk and Ports-
mouth,
Resolved, that Mr. Murdaugh be requested
to return them the thanks of this Commit-
tee for their patriotic oll'ei, and t;t;Sis that
the time is not distant when au oppoitunky
will be offered for the display of iiu-ir '/.«d„
THUS. MA'i'ThiiWs, Cham
Theo..Ai |