under my command are therefore hereby required and directed, in case of meeting with the American frigate the Chesapeake at sea, and without the limits of the United States, to shew to the Captain of her this order, and to require to search his ship for the deserters from the before-mentioned ships, and to proceed and search for the same; and if a similar demand should be made by the American, he is to be permitted to search for any deserters from their service, according to the customs and usage of civilized nations, on terms of peace and amity with each other.
“Given under my hand at Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 1, 1807.
“To the respective Captains and Commanders
of his Majesty’s Ships and Vessels
on the North American station.”
H.M.S. Bellona, off Willoughby’s Point, Virginia,
June 23, 1807.
“Sir,– I have the honor to enclose you a copy of a letter, I received this evening, from Captain Humphreys, of H.M.S. Leopard, representing to me, that in carrying your orders of the 1st instant into execution, he was under the necessity of firing into the U.S. frigate Chesapeake; and am sorry to say, that I have been informed several men were killed and wounded on board her. The Chesapeake is returned to Hampton roads, and as she passed us this morning, I observed that her hull, masts, and sails had suffered material injury. As Captain Humphreys has so fully explained every circumstance, it becomes unnecessary for me to say more on this subject only that I beg leave to state, I am perfectly convinced Captain Humphreys could not have fulfilled your instructions, without having recourse to the measures which he adopted. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To the Hon. Vice-Admiral Berkeley, &c. Halifax.”
“Sir,– In obedience to your signal this morning, to weigh and reconnoitre S.E. by E. I have the honor to acquaint you, that having arrived off Cape Henry, to the distance of about four or five leagues, I bore up, pursuant to orders from the commander-in-chief, to search for deserters on board the United States’ frigate Chesapeake. On arriving within hail, an officer was despatched, according to my instructions, to show the order to her commander, together with the following note from myself:–
“‘The Captain of his Britannic Majesty’s ship Leopard has the honor to enclose the Captain of the United States’ frigate Chesapeake, an order from the Hon. Vice-Admiral Berkeley, Commander-in-chief of his Majesty’s ships on the North American station, respecting some deserters from ships, therein mentioned, under his command, and supposed now to be serving as a part of the crew of the Chesapeake.
“‘The Captain of the Leopard will not presume to say any thing in addition to what the commander-in-chief has stated, more than to express a hope, that every circumstance respecting them may be adjusted in such
