Folios 211-212: William Hargood, HMS Belleisle, Spithead. Encloses correspondence...

Folios 211-212: William Hargood, HMS Belleisle, Spithead. Encloses correspondence between the British and French consuls at Norfolk Virginia, himself and Captain Stephen Poyntz of HMS Melampus concerning the French prisoners from the vessel L'Impétueux, as well as a copy of his orders to Captain Poyntz.

Folios 213-214: enclosed with folios 211-212. Copy of a letter from Captain William Hargood, HMS Belleisle, anchored off the Sand Hill 10 leagues South of Cape Henry, to the British Consul, Norfolk, Chesapeake, 14 September 1806. Reports that at dawn that morning he sighted a line of battle ship under a jury rig and when he began to chase her, she ran aground near the Sand Hills. He sent boats in to take possession of her and she proved to be L'Impétueux, 80 guns. Some of the crew had gone ashore but he sent the rest into Chesapeake Bay in HMS Melampus. Asks the Consul to see that these prisoners are given certificates as prisoners of war on parole until they can be exchanged, if this is consistent with the neutrality of the United States. He thinks several of the French crew drowned while trying to get ashore. The vessel was a complete wreck. Besides the Melampus, HMS Bellona was also with him. Postscript. He now finds that none of the crew drowned.

Folios 215-216: enclosed with folios 211-212. Copy of a letter from Captain William Hargood, HMS Belleisle, anchored off the Sand Hills 10 leagues South of Cape Henry, to the British Consul, Norfolk, 14 September 1806. Believes the French vessel L'Impétueux will be considered a prize of war, since he chased her from the sea onto the coast near the Capes [of Virginia], and asks the Consul to confirm this when he replies by way of HMS Melampus. Captain Hargood's intention is to burn the French vessel. Points out that he did not hoist British colours until L'Impétueux was already aground.

Folios 217-218: enclosed with folios 211-212. Copy of a letter from John Hamilton, British Consul's Office, Norfolk, Virginia, to Monsieur M Oster, French Vice Consul, 16 September 1806. Reports that Captain William Hargood, commanding a detachment of British ships off the Chesapeake, chased a French man of war until she ran ashore near Cape Henry. She was L'Impétueux, 80 guns. Captain Hargood sent the officers and many of the crew into Hampton Roads aboard HMS Melampus and wishes that they be set free once the officers have given an undertaking not to serve against His Britannic Majesty until they have been exchanged, provided that M. Oster can give an undertaking from the French government to accept this. If M. Oster agrees, the prisoners will be sent to him from Hampton Roads, on the understanding that he bears the expense of their transport and that any British officers or seamen taken prisoner by French vessels which have come into American ports should equally be set free.

Folios 219-221: enclosed with folios 211-212. Translation of a letter from Monsieur M Oster, French Vice Consul, Norfolk, to British Consul John Hamilton, 16 September 1806. Reports that the French man of war L'Impétueux had run aground on American soil and expected the British ships to render him assistance, instead of which they fired on him and took possession of the ship. The commander of that division has told the French commanding officer that he does not consider the crew as prisoners of war, since that would violate the Law of Nations and the territory of the United States. He needs to gather more information before he can reply to Mr Hamilton's letter, but in the meanwhile asks the British Consul to permit the French captain to go ashore, since he does not consider himself a prisoner and is asking for pilot books for the transportation of his crew to Norfolk. [The translation is followed by a copy of the original French text.]

Folios 221-222: enclosed with folios 211-212. Copy of a letter from British Consul John Hamilton, Norfolk, Virginia, to Captain Stephen Poyntz, 16 September 1806. Mr Smith only arrived last night and so the letter from Captain Poyntz and Captain Hargood did not reach him until this morning. Encloses a copy of the letter which he immediately sent to the French Vice Consul Monsieur M Oster, informing him that the French officers and crew of L'Impétueux currently held aboard HMS Melampus would be released once they have given their parole. Also encloses a copy and a translation of the Consul's reply stating that the commanding officer of L'Impétueux asserts that the senior British officer told him that he did not consider him and his crew as prisoners. Since this contradicts the letter from Captain William Hargood, he is sure this is incorrect. He will wait for further information from the British officers before replying. If the French authorities decline to take responsibility for the prisoners, suggest they could be sent to Halifax. Regrets that some of the prisoners were allowed to land before he had agreed terms with the French Vice Consul.

[Enclosures continued in Item 78].