Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

DOCUMENTS
Accompanying the
President's Message.
Continued.
MR. ERVING'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, DATED
Copenhagen, June 23d, 1811.

CONTINUED.

In this year the only two vessels which reached these seas from the United States previous to my arrival, were taken, (in the beginning of April,) and condemned in Norway; two others just about the time of my arrival were carried in and are now under trial there: but since the 11th instant upwards of forty vessels from the United States, have passed through the Sound and gone up the Baltic, and more or less are passing every day without interruption; the papers of some few have been slightly examined in the subordinate court of Elsinore: there have been tried in the lower prize court of this place, and acquitted without delay, two or three; one of them with damages against the captors; being the first case in which damages have been given at Copenhagen:--Finally, of the 14 cases (not convoy cases) which were pending before the high court on my arrival, four have been acquitted, and though the privateersmen and all concerned with them (and the ramifications of their business are immense) have made every effort to bring on condemnations, yet the tribunal, otherwise perhaps well disposed to proceed, has been steadily held back by the government; and I see the best reason to hope that at least eight of the remaining ten cases will be acquitted.

As to the convoy cases my confidence is not so strong, yet even of them I do not despair. The ground on which they stand, I am aware, is not perfectly solid, yet I did not feel myself authorised to abandon them, and therefore have taken up an argument which may be difficult, but which I shall go as far as possible in maintaining.

I have had several interviews with Mr. de Rosenkrantz, subsequent to that last mentioned, and have acquired additional reasons to hope for the king's perseverance in the change of system which has so happily taken place, but he discourages any expectation of indemnification for the injuries sustained by our commerce under that which now appears to be relinquished. Yesterday he told me very explicitly, that against the definitive decisions of the high court, I must not hope for any redress. he trusted that for the future we should not have any cause to complain, but for the past, there was no remedy. I thought it not opportune to enter much into the matter at that time, and therefore contented myself with some general protestations against his doctrine.

I cannot close this letter without acknowledging the very great services of Mr. Isaachsen, our consul at Christiansand. You will observe, sir, in the lists which I shall send to you, that of thirty-six vessels carried into the ports of Norway, in the year 1810, only four were condemned in the interior courts of that district: this has been wholly owing to the unwearied exertions of Mr. Isaachsen; he found our people in the most distressed situation, entirely friendless--in the hands of, surrounded by, and ready to be sacrificed to the rapacity of the privateersmen and their connections: he volunteered in their service--he boldly opposed himself to the host of their oppressors--he made each man's cause his own--provided for every man's wants--in short his intrepidity and independence and disinterestedness of character--his constant zeal and industry, saved them from ruin, and with gratitude very honorable to themselves, they never cease to praise him.

With the most perfect respect and consideration, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,

GEORGE W. ERVING.

[Documents to be continued.]