Sir: In reply to your letter, dated yesterday, I have to acquaint you that whenever any address is made relative to men on board His Majesty's ships, it must be by the commanders of such vessels direct.
I cannot permit any application by other persons in time of war, but in the above mode.
It will always afford me pleasure to attend to your wishes in any respect relative to the situation or exchange of prisoners, or to afford any aid or relief in my power. I have the honor to be, &c.,
JOHN B. WARREN.
From Commodore Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy.
U. S. Frigate President,
Boston, Jan. 14, 1813.
Sir: Herewith you will receive two muster books, of His Britannic Majesty's vessels Moselle and Sappho, found on board the British packet Swallow.
As the British have always denied that they detained on board their ships of war American citizens, knowing them to be such, I send you the enclosed, as a public document of their own, to prove how illy such an assertion accords with their practice.
It will appear by these two muster books that so late as August last, about an eighth part of the Moselle and Sappho's crews were Americans; consequently, if there is only a quarter part of that proportion on board their other vessels, that they have an infinitely greater number of Americans in their service than any American has yet had an idea of.
Any further comment of mine on this subject, I consider unnecessary; as the enclosed documents speak but too plainly for themselves. I have the honor to be, &c.,