Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Berkeley And Jefferson Intelligencer
Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In the British House of Commons on July 27, 1807, MP Whitbread questioned the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the capture of the American frigate Chesapeake by a British cruiser. The government, unaware of details beyond rumor, pledged to investigate and offer atonement if warranted. Public agitation ensued, potentially influencing US-UK disputes.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
July 27.
Mr. Whitbread wished to ask the right
honorable the chancellor of the exchequer, a question touching the melancholy account this day received in town,
respecting the capture of the American
frigate Chesapeake, which excited such
general and regretful sensation in the metropolis, whether any accounts had been received by his majesty's government relative to that transaction? Whether it
was with the privity or authority of our
government at home, and if it was intended to lay before the house any communication upon the subject.
The chancellor of the exchequer answered, with respect to the question
relative to what he too considered a melancholy event, the capture of the American frigate Chesapeake by a British cruiser, he could say as one of his majesty's ministers, that he was not informed of
any of the particulars of that transaction,
farther than by common rumour. His
majesty's government however, would
leave no means unexerted to learn the
particulars of that lamentable event, and
to whom the circumstance was justly imputed; nor shall they hesitate to make
any atonement and reparation in their
power that on a fair inquiry should appear to be due on the occasion.
Liverpool, Aug. 1, 1807.
The intelligence received this week
from the coast of America, has excited
a great degree of agitation in all parts of
the nation, and especially in the commercial towns. It is certain that no accident
could be more perverse or ill-timed. At
all events it may tend to bring to a speedy decision the existing dispute on which
the two nations are now at issue.
right of search is supposed to be the great stumbling block which caused the rejection of the treaty by Mr. Jefferson, and
it is a point on which the two nations are
supposed to be equally pertinacious.
Some hopes are now entertained, that
this affair will not inevitably lead to hostility. If captain Humphreys proceeded on the positive instructions of our government, we should despair of seeing
the dispute amicably accommodated, but
it is clear from the expressions of Mr.
Perceval in the house of commons that
this was not the case.
ir
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Coast Of America
Event Date
July 27, 1807
Key Persons
Outcome
capture of the american frigate chesapeake by a british cruiser; government to inquire and make atonement and reparation if due
Event Details
Mr. Whitbread questioned the chancellor of the exchequer in the House of Commons about the capture of the American frigate Chesapeake received that day, asking if government accounts existed, if authorized by home government, and if communications would be laid before the house. The chancellor stated no particulars beyond rumor, but government would investigate the event, impute responsibility, and provide atonement if warranted. Intelligence from the American coast caused national agitation, especially in commercial towns, seen as ill-timed amid US-UK disputes over right of search rejected by Mr. Jefferson. Hopes for amicable resolution if not under government instructions, as per Mr. Perceval's expressions.