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To the House of Representatives of the United States:

WASHINGTON, 15th January, 1827.

In compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 20th of May last, I transmit, herewith, a Report from the Secretary of State, touching the impressment of seamen from on board American vessels, on the high seas or elsewhere, by the commanders of British or other foreign vessels or ships of war, since the 18th of February, 1815, together with such correspondence on the subject as comes within the purview of the resolution.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

January 12, 1827.

The Secretary of State, to whom has been referred by the President, the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 20th May, 1826, requesting him to cause to be laid before the House " any information in his possession, touching the impressment of Seamen from on board American vessels on the high Seas, or elsewhere, by the Commanders of British or other foreign vessels or ships of War, since the eighteenth of February, eighteen hundred and fifteen, together with any correspondence on the subject with any Foreign Government, so far as the communication of the same be not inconsistent with the public service," has the honor to report:

That, on the 8th day of May last, having then just received at this Department the letter, of which a copy marked A, is herewith reportcd, a correspondence was opened with Mr. Vaughan, the British Minister, in relation to the instances of alleged inpressment which are stated in that letter: That a copy of the notes which passed on that occasion, is herewith also reported, marked B. No further explanation of the circumstances which attended the taking of the two seamen from on board the Brig Pharos, has been yet received at this Department: That it will be seen, from an inspection of the correspondence, that the Captain of that vessel, had sailed from the United States before the Atttorney for the District of Massachusetts could obtain his deposition; and information of his return has not reached this Department. But it is proper to add that Mr. Vaughan has verbally stated that his Government, having received a copy of the note abovementioned, of the 8th of May last, has given the proper orders to procure from Africa all the information necessary to enable it to decide on the conduct of Captain Clavering; and that he presumes the distance of the place whence it was to be obtained, has hitherto prevented the receipt of instructions, adapted to the state of the case. No other instances of impressment, falling within the scope of the resolution, are known at this Department, except one which is stated in a recent despatch, from Mr. Raguet, from which an extract is herewith reported, marked C.

All which is respectfully submitted.
H. CLAY.

A.

Consul Samuel Hodges, jun. to the Secretary of State.
CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES,

Cape de Verd Islands, Villa du Praya, St. Jago, March 16, 1826. SIR: I had the honor to inform you, on the 12th of August last, of the outrage committed by Captain D. C. Clevering, Commander of

His Britannic Majesty's ship Redwing, on this station, by firing into the brig Ruby, of Bucksport, and now acquaint you of his impressing two seamen from the brig Pharos, of Boston, on the 6th of December last, while that vessel was at anchor in the harbor of Freetown, Sierra Leone; one of whom, Studson Roberts, of Portland, was given up after a detention of eleven days, by order of Commodore Bullen, who arrived in the mean time, and the other detained under a plea that he was a British subject.

I have the honor to remain, with sentiments of the highest consi. deration,

Your most obedient humble servant,

SAMUEL HODGES, JUN.

B.

Copy of a letter from Mr. Clay to Mr. Vaughan.

The Right Honorable CHARLES RICHARD VAUGHAN,

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Great Britain.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 8th May, 1826.

SIR: I have just received intelligence that Captain D. C. Clavering, Commander of His Britannic Majesty's ship Redwing, on the 6th day of December last, impressed two seamen from on board the American brig Pharos, of Boston, while she was at anchor in the harbor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, on the Coast of Africa; that, after ten days' detention of one of them, he was released; and that the other is still detained in the British service. Although these facts have beer: communicated through an official channel, the surprise which they justly excite creates an unwillingness to credit them. If, as we are bound, at present, to believe, they are well founded, Captain Clavering must not only have acted without, but contrary to the orders of his Government. For it is, otherwise, impossible to believe that the outrage which they disclose should have been attended with the aggravating circumstance of being perpetrated in a season of profound peace between Great Britain and the rest of Christendom. Assuming, however, the information which we have received, to be correct, the President cannot doubt that the conduct of that officer has been unauthorized, nor that the Government of his Britannic Majesty will promptly animadvert upon it. in such signal manner, as will prevent, by the example, the recurrence of similar enormities in future. If you are without instructions on this subject, I have the honor to request that you will, with as little delay as possible, transmit this note to your Government.

I seize the occasion to tender to you assurances of any high consideration.

H. CLAY.

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