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Foreign News
October 3, 1811
Virginia Argus
Richmond, Virginia
What is this article about?
Captain Robinson reports British frigate impressing two sailors from his ship William Keith on September 14 while en route from Oporto to Philadelphia, amid tensions involving Commodore Rodgers and the Guerriere.
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PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 27.
BRITISH IMPRESSMENT
The following statement drawn up and forwarded to us by captain Robinson himself, and verified by Mr. Pritchard, a passenger, presents us with new and authentic evidence of the injuries and insolence of the British Navy. Commodore Rodgers is now out, and if the captain of the Guerriere be so impatient and so full of fight as his lieutenant affirms, he may be gratified. The honor of the nation is safe in the keeping of the gallant Rodgers and his brave crew. - "The cause it is good, and the men they are true."
Dem. Press.
On the 14th of September, on my passage from Oporto towards Philadelphia, descried a large sail to the eastward of me, standing by the wind, the wind at that time was to the southward and westward and variable. At 2 P. M. discovered that it was an armed ship. She came up with me very fast, with an American Ensign hoisted, and a blue flag at the main top-mast head, and fired a gun to the windward, which induced me to believe that she was one of the United States' ships. At 6 she fired two guns, one after the other at me, after which I bore down for her; at 8 came within hail of her, when she asked from whence I came: after satisfying her inquiries, she ordered me to heave to, which I accordingly did, after which she sent her lieutenant on board, who treated me very uncivilly, threw my papers in every direction, and ordered my cables bent, no order to bring the ship to an anchor then in 35 fathoms water; a heavy sea on, and every appearance of a squally night.
At 9 I was ordered on board the frigate, with my papers; after I got on board, the commander asked the reason that I did not bear down before, and I told him the cause. He then replied that the ship should not be brought to an anchor, but that he intended to take four of my best men from me. I informed him that I had only 7 men before the mast, and one of them was unable to attend to his duty, and it would be impossible for me to proceed without them, and if he insisted on taking them, he must take the charge of the ship: after I stated this to him, I was ordered on board, and they took two of my men, their clothes, &c. A short time after their boat returned with an officer, to know the amount of wages due those men, and to get it, which I refused to pay, he then ordered me not to make sail, until they should fire a gun, however, about 11 P. M. she made sail without firing, after which I did the same and stood after her, in hopes to keep sight of her until the morning, to make a second demand of my men, but at midnight I lost sight of her, I then concluded that she had hove about, and I did the same, but did not see her again.
The American that was taken, his name was Daniel Jackson, of Portsmouth, N. H. the other one was a Lascar, working his passage to Philadelphia. The lieutenant informed me that they had been cruising off the harbor of New York for three weeks, for Commodore Rodgers, in order to get satisfaction of him for firing into the Little Belt.
J. ROBINSON
I certify, that I came passenger in the ship William Keith, and testify that the above is very correct and true.
WM. PRITCHARD.
BRITISH IMPRESSMENT
The following statement drawn up and forwarded to us by captain Robinson himself, and verified by Mr. Pritchard, a passenger, presents us with new and authentic evidence of the injuries and insolence of the British Navy. Commodore Rodgers is now out, and if the captain of the Guerriere be so impatient and so full of fight as his lieutenant affirms, he may be gratified. The honor of the nation is safe in the keeping of the gallant Rodgers and his brave crew. - "The cause it is good, and the men they are true."
Dem. Press.
On the 14th of September, on my passage from Oporto towards Philadelphia, descried a large sail to the eastward of me, standing by the wind, the wind at that time was to the southward and westward and variable. At 2 P. M. discovered that it was an armed ship. She came up with me very fast, with an American Ensign hoisted, and a blue flag at the main top-mast head, and fired a gun to the windward, which induced me to believe that she was one of the United States' ships. At 6 she fired two guns, one after the other at me, after which I bore down for her; at 8 came within hail of her, when she asked from whence I came: after satisfying her inquiries, she ordered me to heave to, which I accordingly did, after which she sent her lieutenant on board, who treated me very uncivilly, threw my papers in every direction, and ordered my cables bent, no order to bring the ship to an anchor then in 35 fathoms water; a heavy sea on, and every appearance of a squally night.
At 9 I was ordered on board the frigate, with my papers; after I got on board, the commander asked the reason that I did not bear down before, and I told him the cause. He then replied that the ship should not be brought to an anchor, but that he intended to take four of my best men from me. I informed him that I had only 7 men before the mast, and one of them was unable to attend to his duty, and it would be impossible for me to proceed without them, and if he insisted on taking them, he must take the charge of the ship: after I stated this to him, I was ordered on board, and they took two of my men, their clothes, &c. A short time after their boat returned with an officer, to know the amount of wages due those men, and to get it, which I refused to pay, he then ordered me not to make sail, until they should fire a gun, however, about 11 P. M. she made sail without firing, after which I did the same and stood after her, in hopes to keep sight of her until the morning, to make a second demand of my men, but at midnight I lost sight of her, I then concluded that she had hove about, and I did the same, but did not see her again.
The American that was taken, his name was Daniel Jackson, of Portsmouth, N. H. the other one was a Lascar, working his passage to Philadelphia. The lieutenant informed me that they had been cruising off the harbor of New York for three weeks, for Commodore Rodgers, in order to get satisfaction of him for firing into the Little Belt.
J. ROBINSON
I certify, that I came passenger in the ship William Keith, and testify that the above is very correct and true.
WM. PRITCHARD.
What sub-type of article is it?
Naval Affairs
What keywords are associated?
British Impressment
Naval Encounter
American Ship William Keith
Comodore Rodgers
Guerriere
Little Belt
What entities or persons were involved?
J. Robinson
Wm. Pritchard
Daniel Jackson
Commodore Rodgers
Where did it happen?
Passage From Oporto Towards Philadelphia
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Passage From Oporto Towards Philadelphia
Event Date
14th Of September
Key Persons
J. Robinson
Wm. Pritchard
Daniel Jackson
Commodore Rodgers
Outcome
two men impressed: daniel jackson of portsmouth, n. h., and a lascar working passage to philadelphia.
Event Details
On September 14, Captain J. Robinson's ship William Keith, en route from Oporto to Philadelphia, was approached by a British frigate flying an American ensign. The frigate fired guns, boarded the ship, inspected papers uncivilly, and impressed two sailors despite protests that the crew was minimal. The British had been cruising off New York harbor seeking Commodore Rodgers over the Little Belt incident.