19S 



A VOYAGE TO 



ries as he supposed would feed their antipathies to us.* 

 But it is surprising, that there should have been so 

 little decency and good sense in the minister, as to 

 make a formal and unqualified demand, without previ- 

 ous inquiry or investigation. The names, or at least 

 the numbers, of the pretended Portuguese seamen, 

 ought to have been given. When properly consider- 

 ed, the manner in which the demand was made, from 

 a national vessel, was in itself a gross insult, and as 

 such, properly resented. Mr. Sumpter suggested the 

 propriety of waiting a few days, until the affair could 

 be terminated; but being on the eve of departure, and 

 it being uncertain what length of time would be neces- 

 sary for its adjustment, the commodore determined to 

 depart without paying any further attention to the af- 

 fair. On the evening previous to departure, some of 

 our officers who had been on shore on business, receiv- 

 ed an intimation that an attempt would be made to pre- 

 vent the Congress from sailing, and compel her to sur- 

 render the seamen whom the minister's imagination 

 had conjured on board. The commodore was now de- 

 termined to attempt to pass the forts at all hazards. Ac- 

 cordingly, next morning, a pilot having come on board, 

 the Congress weighed anchor, and stood out with a 

 light breeze, the men called to quarters, and the 

 matches lighted, determined to give Santa Cruz a 

 broadside or two, at least, before she could sink us. As 



* There is but little doubt, the foolish fellow has long since had 

 ample cause of repentance. He forfeited his paj, amounting to 

 several hundred dollars, and as his term of service had nearly ejc^ 

 pired, he would have been discharged on the return of the Con- 

 gress; instead of this, he is now provided for during life, unless 

 he has the good luck to desert. 



II 



