L. Trezevant and W. Timmons, Esqs.
N. B.—It would be proper to premise that you were passengers, and your distance from the Moro Castle at the time of capture.
G. C. M.
Havana, November 18, 1798.
Sir: Agreeably to your request, we now commit to writing the best account we are able to give you of the conduct of Captain Loring, Commodore of the British squadron which was lately off the Moro, towards the United States ship Baltimore. We must observe, however, that all we can say of it is from the information of Captain Phillips, as we were not on board the Baltimore when she was visited by Captain L.'s officers.
In the morning of the 16th instant, we discovered this squadron when we were in sight of the Moro, and afterwards found it was composed of Captain Loring's ship, the Carnatic, of 74 guns; Captain ——'s ship, the Thunderer, of the same force; Captain Dobson's ship, the Queen, of 98 guns; Captain Donnelly's frigate, the Maidstone, of 32 guns; and Captain Hardy's frigate the Greyhound, of the same force. We were passengers in the brig Norfolk, Captain Butler, which, together with the ship Eliza, Captain Baas, and the brig Friendship, Captain Fuller, were cut off from their entrance into port, and were all made prizes within gunshot of the Moro. We obtained leave to go on board the Baltimore with our baggage, and did so. When Captain Phillips discovered they were English ships, (which was before we were taken,) he stood towards them, and spoke the Commodore. After we got on board the Baltimore, the Captain informed us that he had been on board the Carnatic, and the Commodore told him he should take out of the Baltimore all such men as had not American protections; that he had remonstrated with him against showing such an indignity to our flag; that to do so would leave his ship in a very defenceless state, and would deprive him of nearly all his men, as not even those who were really Americans, or at least very few of them, could show protections, because it was always thought that our flag on board of a Government ship, was a sufficient protection. All this, however, was urged in vain. Captain P. returned to his ship, and the Commodore sent an officer on board the Baltimore, who carried away fifty-five of her men to the Carnatic. Captain Phillips remained in expectation that nearly all the rest would be taken from him; but whether the Commodore, upon reflection, thought better of it, or whatever else might have been his motive, he sent back fifty, and kept five, among whom was the ship's boatswain. Captain Loring proposed to give up a number of American seamen, who, he said, were in his fleet, if Captain P. would give him English subjects for them. Captain P. refused this offer, and the American seamen were not delivered to him. Before any of the men were returned, he sent a message to Captain P. to let him know if he, or one of his officers, would go on board of him, and point out who were Americans and who were not, he would return all the Americans; but this was declined also. After we got on board the Baltimore, he sent a letter to Captain P. which he showed to us, in which the Commodore "demanded" that he would give up all the British subjects on board the Baltimore. To this, Captain P. replied that he could not know any of his men as British subjects, nor could he, as commander of a ship, in the service of the United States, voluntarily give up any of his men; but if he thought fit to send an officer on board, with orders to take any number of his men, he should not oppose it. In this answer, Captain P. mentioned he should lay before the Executive of the United States a full account of the occurrences of the day. Shortly after sending this reply, the squadron set sail, and left the Baltimore. Commodore L. was very polite to us, and was so to Captain P. when he went on board; but Captain P. complained of indecent behavior from the inferior officers.
LEWIS TREZEVANT,
WM. TIMMONS.
G. C. Morton, Esq., Vice Consul of the U. S. at Havana.
The Message and documents were read, and ordered to lie on the table.