APPENDIX. 



245 



given in my letter to him of the 9th instant, 1 have been 

 instructed by the Secretary of State to declare the officers 

 and crew of the Essex discharged from parole. 



I have, therefore, the honour to announce to you, that 

 Captain David Porter and other officers and the crew of the 

 United States' late Frigate Essex, captured in March last, 

 by the British ships of war under the command of Captain 

 Hillyar, are accordingly declared discharged from their 

 paroles taken by the said Captain Hillyar, and as free to 

 serve, in any capacity, as if they had never been made 

 prisoners. 



I have the honour to be, 

 With great respect. Sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



J. Maso^\ 



The Honourable William Jones, 

 Sech-y of the JS/'avy. 



The foregoing is a copy of a letter this day received 

 from the Commissary General of prisoners, in conformity 

 with which the Commander and the other officers and the 

 crew of the United States' late Frigate Essex are hereby 

 declared " discharged from their paroles, and are as free 

 to serve, in any capacity, as if they had never been made 

 prisoners." You will therefore, govern yourself by this 

 declaration, and communicate it to every officer and man 

 concerned, in order that they may hold themselves in rea- 

 diness for such service as may be required of them by this 

 Department. 



I am, very respectfully. 



Your obedient servant, 



W. Jones. 

 Navy Department, Aug. 11, 1814. 

 ^Captain David Porter^ U. S. JVavy, 

 Chester, Penn. 



-SMITH THOMPSON, ESQ. SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. 



Department of State, Washington, March, 1821. 



Sir, 



The late Commodore Decatur having intimated a 

 wish that an Inquiry should be instituted, tbronah this De- 



