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Letter to Editor
March 29, 1799
Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
Captain Thomas Williams writes to contradict a false newspaper report claiming he forced a French privateer to strike but failed to take possession due to lack of courage. He explains naval duties, describes chasing the privateer into St. Eustatia, and denies the report originated from his officers.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
To Mr. FENNO.
SIR,
I FIND myself under the disagreeable necessity of appealing to the public, in contradiction of a malicious and unfounded falsehood, which appeared in your paper of the 27th inst. under the New-York head, which states that I had compelled a French privateer to strike, and then had not courage to take possession of her.
Every man who is acquainted with the duty of a commander of a vessel of war, will admit, that if the privateer had struck, it was not my duty to take possession of her, but to have sent an officer.
The report may have arisen from my chasing a French privateer into the island of St. Eustatia, at which I fired a number of shot; which chase I continued as near to the shore as I thought prudent and proper; all the particulars of which were communicated to the proper officer.
The report is stated as having come from one of my officers which I am convinced is as impossible as it is untrue.
THOMAS WILLIAMS.
The different printers who have inserted the aforesaid paragraph, are requested to give a place to this also.
March 29.
SIR,
I FIND myself under the disagreeable necessity of appealing to the public, in contradiction of a malicious and unfounded falsehood, which appeared in your paper of the 27th inst. under the New-York head, which states that I had compelled a French privateer to strike, and then had not courage to take possession of her.
Every man who is acquainted with the duty of a commander of a vessel of war, will admit, that if the privateer had struck, it was not my duty to take possession of her, but to have sent an officer.
The report may have arisen from my chasing a French privateer into the island of St. Eustatia, at which I fired a number of shot; which chase I continued as near to the shore as I thought prudent and proper; all the particulars of which were communicated to the proper officer.
The report is stated as having come from one of my officers which I am convinced is as impossible as it is untrue.
THOMAS WILLIAMS.
The different printers who have inserted the aforesaid paragraph, are requested to give a place to this also.
March 29.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
What themes does it cover?
Military War
What keywords are associated?
French Privateer
Naval Duty
False Report
St Eustatia
Thomas Williams
Vessel Commander
What entities or persons were involved?
Thomas Williams
Mr. Fenno
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Thomas Williams
Recipient
Mr. Fenno
Main Argument
denies the false report of compelling a french privateer to strike without taking possession, explaining that naval duty requires sending an officer, and clarifies the actual event was a chase into st. eustatia.
Notable Details
Chasing French Privateer Into St. Eustatia And Firing Shots
Reported Particulars To Proper Officer
Denies Report From One Of His Officers