Description:

"The Balance and Columbian Repository" Criticizing Jefferson's Handling of Chesapeake Affair 

An issue of "The Balance and Columbian Repository", No. 45, Volume VI, pp. 353-360. 8pp, measuring 9.25" x 11.5", Hudson, New York, dated November 10, 1807. Printed by Harry Croswell. With a brutal editorial on President Jefferson's Address, as well as further discussions on the Chesapeake Affair, Thomas Paine, and Napoleon Bonaparte. The faint writing of someone's name, possibly "Charles Brinkley" can be seen along the edge on the front page. The newspaper has flattened folds, with light toning, foxing, and soiling throughout. Minor chipping at the spine. Very good overall.

In part:

"We cannot tell precisely when the custom of retaining in every royal family, a merry personage, called the Jester (or some such title) was abandoned…But of one thing we are certain: The American people keep in their employ, at a pretty round salary, a character whose principal business is jesting…The president's last exhibition, we think most remarkable for serious jesting…It may be true that our ministers in England concluded a treaty contrary to their instructions. If so, it proves that even the able negotiators selected by Jefferson, could make out no better with the British government than Mr. Jay, who was sent out under the administration of Washington. Mr. Jay was abused for not making a better treaty. Jefferson and his friends, to be consistent, ought now to abuse Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney for the same thing…The senate had an undoubted right to expect an apology from the president for sending back the treaty, without submitting it to their consideration - none (or at best a very shabby one) is offered. The manner in which the president relates the story of the Chesapeake, may be sufficiently plain for those who are already perfectly acquainted with the affair. This is no jest…"

The Chesapeake–Leopard affair was a naval engagement off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, on June 22, 1807, between the British HMS Leopard and the American USS Chesapeake. The crew of Leopard pursued, attacked, and boarded the Chesapeake, claiming to be looking for deserters from the Royal Navy. The vessel was ultimately surrendered to the British, and fired only one shot. Four crew members of the Chesapeake were arrested and tried for desertion, one of whom (a British citizen) was subsequently hanged. The Chesapeake was allowed to return home, where Captain James Barron was court-martialed and relieved of command.

In the aftermath, the American public was outraged and demanded retribution against the British. President Thomas Jefferson initially attempted to diplomatically threaten Great Britain, while James Monroe, then a foreign minister, demanded the British disavow the attack, restore the arrested seamen, withdraw British warships from U.S. territorial waters, and abolish all future impressments from vessels under the United States flag. The event raised tensions between the two countries and may have indirectly led to the War of 1812. When Jefferson failed in his diplomacy, he turned to economic pressure in the form of the ill-fated Embargo Act of 1807.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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