Letters which accompanied the above Message:
_Extract of a letter from George C. Morton, acting Consul
of the United States at the Havana, dated there the 18th
November, 1798, to the Secretary of State._
"By the delegation of Daniel Hawley, Esq., I am at present
acting as Consul of the United States in this district,
with which he will most probably have acquainted you. It
imposes upon me the mortifying task of informing you, sir,
of the partial capture of an American fleet under the
convoy of the Baltimore sloop-of-war, ---- Phillips, Esq.,
commander, by a British squadron, off this harbor,
accompanied with circumstances rather grating to the
feelings of Americans, and by no means analogous to that
good harmony which seems to subsist between the two
Governments.
"The answer of Messrs. Trezevant and Timmons to my annexed
note of the 17th instant, requesting an exact relation of
the occurrence, will I presume be deemed as impartial a
narration as can be given of the whole transaction, they
having been passengers on board one of the captured
vessels, and removed to the Baltimore.
"Mr. Morton adds, that Commodore Loring ordered the
fifty-five men out of the Baltimore "on board of his ship,
previous to any proposal of exchanging the natives of one
nation for those of the other, and retained five of the
hands as being British subjects, without giving an equal
number of Americans, whom he acknowledged to have on
board.""
HAVANA, _November, 17, 1798_.
GENTLEMEN: As acting American Consul for this city and
district, and of course obliged to forward the most
correct statement possible to the Government of the United
States officially, I would beg the favor of you, gentlemen,
to furnish me with an exact relation, under your
signatures, of the unpleasant occurrence which took place
off the Moro Castle on the 16th instant, by which you will
much oblige,
Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
GEO. C. MORTON.