The Virginian

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE

FROM ST. BARTS.

The Editors of the Baltimore American have received the following letter from their correspondent at St. Barts, also, the St. Christopher's Advertiser containing the correspondence (which we give below) between Captain Turner, of the U. S. Sloop Of War Erie and the authorities of St. Barts in relation to the capture of the Buenos Ayrean private armed schr. Federal,

(Copy-No.1)

United States Ship Erie, at anchor off the town of Gustavia, St. Bartholomew, 4th Dec. 1828.

Sir,

In consequence of a communication made to me by Robert Monroe Harrison, esq. accredited Agent of the United States to this government, stating that there now is a Buenos Ayrean private armed vessel, the Federal. Capt Taylor, at anchor in this port, which had taken, at sea, from on board the American brig. Nymph, of Boston. Gilden, master, a quantity of dry goods, under the pretext of such goods being the property of the enemy-Republic of Buenos Ayres-As my Government does not recognize the principle to be established by that of Buenos Ayres with regard to the enemies property found on board of neutral vessels, -I in the name of the Government of the U. States and in pursuance of instructions therefrom, request that your honors will cause the said vessel her captain, officers and crew. together with the goods by her imported, to be delivered to me, for the purpose of being hereafter disposed of as the government of the U. S. may direct.

In consideration of the very amicable terms on which our governments have continued. I flatter myself that the present request will not meet with any opposition from your honors.

In the meantime, I pray your honors to accept the assurances of the distinguished respect and consideration with which I have the honor to be

Your honors most ob't and humble servant.

Signed

DAN'L TURNER

Commander.

To the Hon. Mr. Haasum, and The Hon. &c.

No. 2 is simply an acknowledgement of the receipt of Capt. Turner's letter by the Governor of St. Barts, and that it will be laid before the Council of Government without delay,)

(Copy--No. 3.)

Government of St. Bartholomew,

Gustavia, 5th Dec. 1828.

To Capt D. Turner,

Commander of the U S. ship Erie

Gustavia Road

Sir-We have in conformity with our promise of yesterday, laid before the Council of the Government. the claim that you have made for the Buenos Ayrean private armed schooner Federal, her captain, officers & crew. as also, her prize cargo, on the grounds that said cargo had been taken out of an American vessel at sea, as enemy's property, contrary to the principles maintained by the government of the United States. In reply, we have the honor to acquaint you, that, as the present question regards, entirely a contested point, as it appears, between the United States and Buenos Ayres, this Government does not consider it to be within her province to decide thereon, particularly as the Privateer does not appear. by the act to have infringed the Laws of Nations. or the regulations of the flag under which he holds his commission, and it will consequently not be in our power, in the present instance, to accede to the demand you have made, although we entertain the sincerest desire to foster on every occasion the amity and good feeling which so happily exists between our respective Governments.

We avail ourselves of this opportunity to renew to you the assurances of the distinguished consideration with which we have the honor to be. Sir,

Your most obedient,

Humble servants,

(Signed)

J H. HAASUM

L. G. MORSING,

(Copy--No.4)

U. States. Ship Erie,

At anchor off the town of Gustavia, Island of St. Bartholomew, December 5th, 1828.

Gentlemen,

With an equal share of regret and surprise. I have received your communication, announcing the determination of his Swedish Majesty's Council for this Island, not to deliver up to me the piratical vessel called the Federal, Capt. Taylor as requested in my official communication of yesterday's date.

From the peculiar circumstances attending this transaction, (the robbery or act of piracy having been committed on the high seas by a vessel whose Commander, I am well assured, was at the time well aware of the conclusion of peace between the Governments of Brazil and Buenos Ayres, and against a vessel of a power in amity with both of those lately belligerent powers, one of which, I have every reason to believe, has never been formally recognised by his S Majesty's) I am reluctantly compelled to express my astonishment at a result so unexpected. The very intimate relation that now subsists between our respective Governments-a relation on which the best interests of this Island depend-led me to expect a different decision from its constituted authorities. That decision will, of course, be communicated by me to the Government of the United States, and to that of Sweden and Norway, by R M. Harrison, esq through our Charge des Affaires at Stockholm. I would here take leave to add, that the claim made by me does not rest on a contested principle between the Government of the United States and Buenos Ayres, but on the law of Nations, as acknowledged by every maritime power of Europe, one only excepted. and more particularly by the armed neutrality of the northern powers of Europe, of which coalition the Kingdom of Sweden formed a conspicuous member. That any protection should be thus afforded to a vessel officially charged with the commission of an act of piracy on a vessel wearing the flag of a nation which reciprocates the most liberally with Sweden, cannot, I presume, and have every reason to believe, meet the approbation of either. As my instructions render it my duty to seize and send into the United States for adjudication, all vessels that may be found piratically fitted out within the waters of any power with which the United States are at peace, I shall feel it my duty to act accordingly, unless the Government of St. Bartholomew shall see cause to reconsider its decision.

I have the honor to be, with great respect and consideration,

Gentlemen,

Your most ob't servt.

DAN'L TURNER

Commander.
early hour to-morrow, in consequence. I have thought it incumbent on me to

the honor to request, that the property so

captured, which I claim in behalf of the American owners, may be delivered into the custody of Robert Munro Harrison, Esq. to be
disposed of as he may be directed by the Government of the U. States, which will, of course,

consider a responsibility to rest somewhere.

for amount of property thus piratically taken

In the mean time.

I have the honor to be,

Hon. Sirs,

Your obedient and

Most humble servant, &c.

(Signed)

DAN. TURNER.

Commander.

To the Hon. Maj. Hassum, and the Hon. the Judiciary, &c.

(Copy-No. 1.)

Government of St. Bartholomew,

Gustavia, Dec. 5, 1828.

To Capt. Dan. Turner, Commander of the U.

States Ship Erie,

Gustavia Roads,

Sir—We have received your letter of

this day, stating your regret and surprise at

our determination not to deliver up the Buenos

Ayres armed schooner Federal, on the

grounds mentioned in your claim of yesterday.

Having added, that you consider the vessel already officially denounced to us as piratical

one, we think necessary to observe, that

from the tenor of your claim, as stated in

writing, we have not been able to con-

clude that that any such denunciation was

made.

Your letter of this day, without containing

any new reasons, has brought a new accusa-

tion against the Federal, that of "piracy," &c.

and we beg you to be assured, that whenever

you support the same by any proof, we will

most readily co-operate to bring the offenders

to rigorous punishment.

That a responsibility for the capture must

rest somewhere, we cannot doubt; else

our resolve would have been materially al-

tered.

Though we think you too sanguine in the

anticipation of what will be the opinion of

our respective Governments with regard to

our refusal to accede to such a claim as that

contained in your letter of yesterday, we feel

too much regard for the Government on

whose behalf you addressed us, not to

sign ourselves, with distinguished considera-

tion.

Sir, your most obt. servants,

Signed

J. H. HAASUM

L. G. MORSING,