When was it published?

March 18, 1780 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News March 18, 1780

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What entities or persons were involved?

Captain Of Chatham, Mr. Walpole, Queen Of Portugal, Secretary Of State

Q: What keywords are associated?

Lisbon Incident, British Ship Chatham, Deserter Retrieval, Portuguese Protest, Diplomatic Concessions, British Portuguese Tensions

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

View full issue View on Library of Congress PDF Page 1 PDF Page 2

What is this article about?

In Lisbon, a British ship captain's attempt to retrieve a deserter sailor leads to a diplomatic clash with Portuguese authorities, resulting in the ship's temporary detention and eventual release after concessions.

Merged-components note: This is a continuation of the Lisbon news story split across pages 1 and 2, as the text flows directly from the incident with the sailor to the court's response.

Clippings

1 of 2

OCR Quality

95% Excellent

Full Text

LISBON, Sept. 14. A sailor, belonging to Boston, having left the British ship Chatham, now in this port, the Captain sent an officer on shore with a party to bring him back. After they had taken him, a Portuguese officer with assistance, set him at liberty. The Queen being informed of this violence done to her rights of territory by the British commander.

The court issued orders to prevent the ship leaving the port, and the Secretary of State notified this resolution to Mr. Walpole, the British Minister there; and the surprise of the court that the Captain had not given satisfaction for the insult, or apologized for his conduct. At the same time taking occasion to complain of the many repeated insults the Portuguese had received from the British in different parts. The Captain having made concessions, the prohibition of his vessel's sailing was taken off.

What sub-type of article is it?

Diplomatic Naval Affairs

What keywords are associated?

Lisbon Incident British Ship Chatham Deserter Retrieval Portuguese Protest Diplomatic Concessions British Portuguese Tensions

What entities or persons were involved?

Captain Of Chatham Mr. Walpole Queen Of Portugal Secretary Of State

Where did it happen?

Lisbon

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Lisbon

Event Date

Sept. 14

Key Persons

Captain Of Chatham Mr. Walpole Queen Of Portugal Secretary Of State

Outcome

ship temporarily detained; captain made concessions; prohibition on sailing lifted.

Event Details

A Boston sailor deserted the British ship Chatham in Lisbon. The captain sent men ashore to retrieve him, but Portuguese authorities freed the sailor, viewing it as a violation of territorial rights. The Portuguese court detained the ship and notified British Minister Mr. Walpole, expressing surprise at lack of apology and complaining of repeated British insults. After the captain's concessions, the ship was allowed to leave.