To James Madison from Thomas Newton, 23 August 1806 (Abstract)
From Thomas Newton, 23 August 1806 (Abstract)
§ From Thomas Newton. 23 August 1806, Collectors Office, Norfolk. “The above is a Copy of a report made by Capt Vickery, of the conduct of Capt Stopford of the Chichester Brittish Ship of War lying at anchor in Hampton road.1 He has an American citizen which we have proved & will not deliver him up, & said if Jesus Christ was to come on board he would not do it. I am told he ta⟨kes⟩ the liberty of stopping vessels, coming in, but have had no other report than Capt Vickery⟨’s⟩ as yet. It is suspected that he intends, pressing men from the outward bound vessels, but time only will discover that.”
RC (DNA: RG 59, ML). 2 pp.
1. Written above the RC is an “Extract from the Log book of the Ship Julia Jacob Vickery master, from London … to Norfolk” (1 p.), which stated that on 18 Aug. a boat from a British warship had fired a musket ball at the Julia but returned to the warship upon “seeing we would not heave too.” The Julia’s mate, James Stewart, and the pilot, Robert Seldon, swore to the truth of the report before deputy collector William Thomson on 22 Aug. 1806.