Rhode Island Republican

The following letter is a truly handsome testimonial, which reflects a reciprocal credit on the Secretary of the Navy and the gallant officer to whom it is addressed.—It will clearly prove to the world, that when the required duty which every public man owes his country is fulfilled, all lesser considerations fade into nothingness.

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Navy Department,

SIR,

May 22, 1804.

Your dispatches bearing date the 10th of December 1803, conveying to us the unpleasant information of the accidental loss of the Philadelphia, were not received till late in the month of March last. The President immediately determined to put in commission and to send to the Mediterranean a force which would be able beyond the possibility of a doubt, to coerce the enemy to a peace upon terms compatible with our honor and our interest. A due regard to our situation with Tripoli and precautionary considerations in relation to the other Barbary Powers, demanded that our forces in that quarter, should be so far augmented as to leave no doubt of our compelling the existing enemy to submit to our own terms, and of effectually checking any hostile dispositions that might be entertained towards us by any of the other Barbary Powers.

The following frigates have accordingly been put in commission, and will soon proceed to the Mediterranean:

President, Commodore Barron—Congress, Capt. Rogers—Essex, Capt. James Barron—Constitution, Capt. Campbell.

Your good sense will perceive that we have thus been unavoidably constrained to supersede you in a command in which you have acquitted yourself in a manner honorable to yourself and useful to your country,

and in all respects perfectly satisfactory to us. The only Captains in the navy, now in the United States, juniors to yourself, are captains James Barron and Campbell, and as frigates cannot be commanded but by captains, we of necessity have been obliged to send out two gentlemen, senior to yourself in commission.

Be assured, Sir, that no want of confidence in you has been mingled with the considerations which have imposed upon us the necessity of this measure. You have fulfilled our highest expectations, and the President has given it in an especial charge to me, to declare that he has the highest confidence in your activity, judgment and valour.—Through me, he desires to convey to you his thanks for the very important services which you have rendered to your country, and I beg you to be assured, Sir, that it affords me great personal satisfaction to be the medium of conveying to you his sentiments in relation to your conduct.

With high respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, your obdt. servant,

(Signed)

ROBERT SMITH.

Com. ED. PREBLE, Mediterranean.