528 
APPENDIX. 
Navy Department, August 9 th, 1831. 
Sir, 
Circumstances have occurred since the last instructions to you, which 
require a change in your route to the Pacific, and whicli may impose on 
you some new duties of a character highly delicate and important. A most 
wanton outrage was committed on the lives and property of certain Ameri- 
can citizens at Quallah-Battoo, a place on the western side of the Island 
of Sumatra, on the 7th of February last ; the particulars of which are con- 
tained in the document annexed, marked A and B. 
You are therefore directed to repair at once to Sumatra, by the way of 
the Cape of Good Hope, touching on the .voyage thither only at such 
places as the convenience and necessities of your vessel may render 
proper. On your arrival at Quallah-Battoo, you will obtain from the.in- 
telligent shipmasters, supercargoes, and others, engaged in the American 
trade in that neighbourhood, such information as they possess in respect 
to the nature of the government there, the piratical character of the popu- 
lation, and the flagrant circumstances of the injury before mentioned. 
Should that information substantially correspond with what is given to 
you in the documents marked A and B, the President of the United States, 
in order that prompt redress may be obtained for these wrongs, or the 
guilty perpetrators made to feel that the flag of the. Union is not to be in- 
sulted with impunity, directs that you proceed to demand of the rajah, or 
other authorities at Quallah-Battoo, restitution of the property plundered, 
or indemnity therefor, as well as for the injury done to the vessel ; satis- 
faction for any other depredations committed there on our commerce, and 
the immediate punishment of those concerned in the murder of the Ameri- 
can citizens, Charles Knight, chief officer, and John Davis and George 
Chester, seamen, of the ship Friendship. 
If a compliance of this demand be delayed beyond a reasonable time, 
you are authorized, in the following manner, to vindicate our wrongs : — 
Firstly, having taken precautions, while making the demand, to cut off all 
opportunity of escape, from the individuals either concerned in that savage 
outrage, or protecting the offenders, or participating in the plunder, you 
will proceed to seize the actual murderers, if they are known, and send 
them hither for trial as pirates by the first convenient opportunity ; to re- 
take such part of the stolen property as can there be found and identified ; 
to destroy the boats and vessels of any kind engaged in the piracy, and 
the forts and dwellings near the scene of aggression, useti for shelter or 
defence ; and to give public information to the population there collected, 
that if full restitution is not speedily made, and forbearance exercised 
hereafter from like piracies and murders upon American citizens, other 
ships-of-war will soon be despatched thither to inflict more ample 
punishment. 
Any property restored, or indemnity given, you will deliver to the owners 
of the ship Friendship, or their agents, taking receipts therefor. Should 
the information obtained on the spot give a different character to the 
transaction from that furnished by the department, marked A and B, 
showing any real disapprobation of the plunder and murder by the popu- 
lation at large or by their rulers, or any provocation given on the part of 
our citizcms, or the existence of a regular responsible government, acting 
