not
consider it expedient to give them up. Three of the men were natives
of America, two had protection, and the other had merely lost his
protection. The "Chesapeake" sailed on the 22nd of June, and on the
same day was intercepted by the British frigate "Leopard," of 50 guns,
off Cape Henry. Captain Humphreys, of the "Leopard," stepping on board
of the "Chesapeake," demanded the muster of the crew of the American
frigate. Captain Barron, in command of the American frigate, refused
compliance. The British Commander returned and both vessels got ready
for action, the American frigate only, it is said, anticipating
hostilities. Then the Leopard fired upon the Chesapeake and, in thirty
minutes, so disabled her that she struck, when Captain Humphreys
boarded her and took, from among her crew, Ware, Martin, and Strachan,
together with one John Wilson, a deserter from a British merchant ship.
The United States now burned with indignation. Their outraged
nationality could never brook such an insult. Every British armed
vessel was ordered to leave the waters of the United States by the
President. A special meeting of Congress was held. And the American
Minister at the Court of St. James was ordered to demand satisfaction.
He did do so. Mr. Canning, the British Minister, at once offered
reparation, but he objected to any reference to the general question of
impressments from neutral vessels being mixed up with an affair so
unfortunate. Mr. Munroe was not authorized to treat these subjects
separately, and further negotiation between the two ministers was
suspended. Great Britain then sent a special minister to the United
States, empowered to treat concerning the special injury complained of.
Before he arrived most ample preparations were being made in the United
States for war. Millions of dollars were appropriated towards the
construction of 188 gun-boats, and the raising of horse, foot, and
artillery. It was not until 1811 that this huge mistake was settled,
when the British Minister communicated to the American Secretary of
State that the attack on the Chesapeake was unauthorized by His
Majesty's government; that Admiral Berkeley was recalled; that the men,
taken from the Chesapeake, should be restored; and that suitable
provision for the families of the six American seamen killed in the
fight should be made. But, settled as this gross and deplorable mistake
was to the perfect satisfaction of the President, the trading communi