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Thomas Mathews to the Governor June 25, 1807


Forwarding copy of Resolutions of a meeting of the citizens of Norfolk and Portsmouth relative to the attack of the British ship Leopard on the U. S. Frigate Chesapeake.  At a meeting of the citizens of the Borough of Norfolk and Town of Portsmouth, held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, the 24th of June, 1807—
General Thomas Mathews unanimously called to the chair; Samuel Moseley appointed Secretary to the meeting.
The meeting, after due consideration, came to the following Resolutions :
Whereas the Government of our Country has constantly manifested an ardent inclination for the preservation of peace, and to secure that friendly disposition which might reasonably be expected from the justice of foreign nations (if such a sentiment as that of justice was to be found among them) ; and whereas we as individuals seriously deprecate the horrors of war and view it as one of the greatest evils which can befall our country, but when we behold our Fellow-Citizens impressed and forced by a tyrannical and arbitrary power to fight against their own country, and basely and insidiously murdered on our coasts, it becomes necessary at this awful crisis to be prepared to meet the consequences which such conduct and such inclinations give reasonable cause to expect — to discipline ourselves and be in readiness to take up arms in defence of those sacred rights which our forefathers purchased with their blood, and until our Government shall have been informed of the late glaring violation of our rights and our sovereignty in the unwarrantable and unprovoked attack upon the United States Frigate Chesapeake, Commodore Barron, within a few miles of our coast, by the British squadron composed of the Bellona, Commodore Douglas, the Triumph, Captain Hardy, the Leopard, Capt. Humphries, and the Melampus, Captain Hawker, acting under orders of Commodore Douglas, and the inhuman murder of a number of our Fellow-Citizens in the attempt of the Leopard to carry those orders into effect; therefore,
Resolved, unanimously, That all communication with the British ships of war now within our waters and on our coasts, and with their Agent or Agents among us, be discontinued, and that we will use our best exertions to prevent all such intercourse, and that all persons guilty thereof shall be deemed infamous.
Resolved, unanimously, That we will view with abhorrence any attempt at such communication, and deem any person or persons enemies to our country who shall directly or indirectlv hold such intercourse, or render any aid or assistance to the British ships of war by supplying them with provisions or necessaries of any kind whatever until the decision of our Government be known.
Resolved, unanimously, In order the better to effect the above purpose, that a committee be appointed to correspond with the inhabitants of the neighboring counties, and those of the waters of Elizabeth River and the sea coast, notifying the flagrant outrage that has been committed and the measures passed by us, and recommending similar measures to their consideration.
Resolved, unanimously, That our Fellow-Citizens, the Pilots of the Chesapeake Bay and Hampton, whose patriotism we hold in the highest estimation, are requested by this meeting to discontinue entirely their professional services to all British ships of war.
Resolved, unanimously, That we view this unprovoked, piratical, savage, and assassin-like attack upon the Chesapeake, with that horror and detestation which should always attend a violation of the faith of nations and the laws of war, and we pledge our lives and our properties to cooperate with the Government in any measures which they may adopt, whether of vengeance or retaliation.
Resolved, unanimously, That the Mayor of this Borough be requested to call upon the Lieut.-Col. Commandant of the Militia, to hold in readiness an armed force for the purposes of defence and for carrying these resolutions into effect.
Resolved, unanimously, That these resolutions be extended to all British ships of war which may hereafter anchor within our ports till complete restitution is made to our Government for this detestible outrage on the Chesapeake.
Resolved, unanimously, That a subscription be opened and left in the possession of the Chairman, to raise a fund to be applied to the relief of the wounded and the families of the killed on board the Chesapeake, under the direction of the Superintendent of the Hospital, the Mayor, of the Borough of Norfolk, and Richard Blow, Esq., of Portsmouth.
Resolved, unanimously, That the Committee be requested, to correspond with the Inhabitants of the principal seaports, and endeavor, as far as in their power, to obtain their consent to these resolutions so far as effectually to withhold all supplies to any British armed vessel on the coast of the U. S. until ample justice is obtained by our Executive.
Resolved, unanimously, That the Superintendent of the Hospital, in the event of the death of any of the unfortunate mariners of the Chesapeake now under his care, report the same to the Committee, who shall from the funds subscribed, defray the expense of the funeral, and the said Committee are hereby instructed to invite their fellow-citizens to attend and to make the necessary arrangements.
Resolved, unanimously, That the Collector be requested to furnish one of the Revenue Cutters to watch over and prevent any communication with any of his B. M. ships, and that the commandant of the Fort be requested to co-operate with this measure.
Resolved, unanimously, That copies of the proceedings of this meeting be transmitted by the chairman to the President of the U. S. and the Governor of Virginia, and that they be published in the newspapers of this Borough.
Resolved, unanimously, That citizens of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and their vicinities be requested to wear a crape for ten days as a testimonial of their respect for the memory of those persons on hoard the Chesapeake who have fallen victims to British tyranny and premeditated assassination.
Resolved, unanimously, That this meeting approves and deems the conduct of our fellow citizens of Hampton, in destroying the water casks belonging to the British frigate Melampus, highly laudable and praise worthy.
Resolved, unanimously, That Thomas Mathews (chairman), Thomas Newton, Jun'r, Luke Wheeler, Theo. Armistead, Richard E. Lee, Moses Myers, Wm. Pennock, Wm. Newsum, Thomas Blanchard, Daniel Bedinger, Seth Foster, J. W. Murdaugh, Richard Blow, and Francis S. Taylor, be a committee to carry the foregoing resolutions into effect.
Resolved, unanimously. That this meeting tender thanks to Gen. Thos. Mathews for his able discharge of the duties of the chair.
Signed: Thomas Mathews.
Teste: Sam. Moseley, Sc'ty.

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Source of Information

CALENDAR of VIRGINIA STATE PAPERS and OTHER MANUSCRIPTS, FROM JANUARY 1, 1799, TO DECEMBER 31, 1807, PRESERVED IN THE CAPITOL AT RICHMOND. ARRANGED AND EDITED, UNDER THE AUTHORITY AND DIRECTION OF Hon. H. W. FLOUENOY, SECRETARY Of THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, AND STATE LIBRARIAN. VOLUME IX. RICHMOND: J. H. O.BANNON, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING. 1890