Thomas Mathews to the Governor July 4, 1807

I take the liberty of enclosing you a copy of a Letter transmitted by Commodore Douglas, of the British Squadron, to the Mayor of the Borough of Norfolk. In consequence of this Letter, the Mayor has made application to me to prepare for the protection of our fellow-citizens by holding all the armed men of my Brigade in readiness for immediate service. I have accordingly issued orders that effect, and shall act as circumstances shall make necessary, until I shall receive the orders of Government.
I have forwarded a copy of Douglas' Letter to the Secretary of War.
I am, &c.
P. S. — The answer of the Mayor is also forwarded.

July 4, 1807
Norfolk
Richard E. Lee (Mayor) to the Governor.
Enclosed I send you a copy of a correspondence which has lately taken place between Commodore Douglas and myself on the subject of the differences which have lately occurred.
Mr. Archer is the Bearer of this express, and from the terms of the correspondence you will see the necessity of an early attention to the subject. The militia of this section of the Country are almost defenceless, and from the temper manifested by Commodore Douglas, I have no reason to doubt that he will endeavour to carry his threats into execution.
Your Excellency will he convinced from these circumstances, of the necessity of furnishing arms as soon as possible.
I am, &c

Correspondence not found among the papers, but the following extracts from the Executive Journal of July 4th, 1807, pp. 121 and 22, supply the loss. — Ed. :

His Majesty's Ship Bellona,
Hamilton Roads, July 3d, 1807.
Sir:
I beg leave to represent to you that having observed in the news paper a resolution made by a committee on the 29th ult., prohibiting any communication between his Britanic Majesty's Consul at Norfolk and his ships lying at anchor in Lynhaven Bay; and this being a measure extremely hostile, not only in depriving the British Consul from discharging the duties of his office, but at the same time preventing me from obtaining that information so absolutely necessary for his Majesty's service, I am therefore determined, if this infringement is not immediately annulled, to prohibit every vesssel bound in or out of Norfolk to proceed to their destination until I know the pleasure of my Government or the commander-in-chief on this station. Your must be perfectly aware that the British flag never has, or never will be insulted with impunity. You must also be aware that it has been, and is still, in my power to obstruct the whole trade of the Chesapeake since the late circumstance, which I desisted from, trusting that general unanimity would be restored. Respecting the circumstances of the deserters lately apprehended from the United States frigate Chesapeake, in my opinion, must be decided by the two Governments alone.
It therefore rests with the inhabitants of Norfolk either to engage in a war, or remain in terms of peace. Agreeable to my intentions, I have proceeded to Hampton Roads with the Squadron under my command to await your answer, which I trust you will favour me without delay.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obed't Serv't,
Signed: J. E. Douglas.
I enclose you two letters to the British Consul at Norfolk, which you will be pleased to forward him.
J. E. D.

To which the Mayor of Norfolk returned the following answer:

Norfolk, July 4th, 1807.
Sir:
I have received your menacing letter of yesterday this moment. The day on which this answer is written, ought of itself to suffice to prove to the subjects of your sovereign that the American people are not to be intimidated by menace or induced to adopt any measures except by a sense of their perfect propriety. Seduced by the false shew of sincerity, they may be sometimes surprised, and slaughtered while unprepared to resist a supposed friend ; that delusive security however is now passed forever — the late occurrence has taught us to confide our safety no longer to any tiling but to our own force. We do not seek hostility nor shall we avoid it. We are prepared for the worst which you may attempt, and will do whatever shall be judged proper to repel force, whensoever your efforts shall render any acts of ours necessary — thus much for the threats of your letter, which can be considered in no other light than as addressed to the supposed fears of our citizens.
In answer to that part of it which is particularly addressed to me as the first judicial officer of this Borough, I have but to say, that you must be aware that the judiciary of no country possesses any other powers than those conferred upon them by the laws.
The same channels through which you have derived the intelligence stated by yourself, must also have announced to you that the act of which you complain is an act of individuals and not of the Government. If this act be very wrong and illegal, the judiciary of this country whenever the case is properly brought before it, will take care to do its duty; at present they have no judicial information of any outrage on their laws and therefore cannot act. If you Sir, please to consider this act of individuals as a measure "expressly hostile," and shall commence hostility without waiting the decision of our two Governments, (although you yourself acknowledge that it properly belongs to them alone to decide,) the inhabitants of Norfolk will conform to your example and protect themselves against any lawless aggression which may he made upon their persons or property — they therefore leave it with you either to "engage in war or to remain in terms of peace" until the pleasure of our respective Governments shall be known.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obed't Serv't,
Richard Evers Lee,
Mayor of the Borough of Norfolk.

Fort Norfolk Documents

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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