Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

The U. S. Frigate John Adams, under my command, on her passage from the Mediterranean towards the Chesapeake, was compelled through necessity to place all hands on half allowance of bread per day. October 8th, 1805, in lat. 27, 19, long. 66, 17, W at 1 A.M. fell in with and spoke the brig Commerce, of Alexandria, John Harper, master, (owner Robt Young, & co.) Lieut. Edward N. Cox, of said frigate, boarded with orders to get supplies of bread or flour.—The note of captain Harper is as follows:

John Harper, brig Commerce of Alexandria, out 20 days, no papers, I can let you have what quantity of bread you may want at a reasonable price, the bread is in bags, one bag containing a barrel, Mr. Fish, Potomac Pilot—In consequence I ordered Mr. John Carr, Purser, on board the brig to get the needful supplies, and on his return, as we had no specie on board, much to my astonishment capt. Harper peremptorily refused to take government bills at sight, and at his own price of ten and a half dollars per barrel for his bread.

The foregoing plain statement of facts, is given to shew the world the inhumanity of a man, who thus refused to relieve a crew of 265 Americans, the greater part of whom had been nearly three years absent fighting their country's battles.

John Shaw.

Feb. 7.