Stewart, Charles, 1778-1869 to Isaac Mayo

Written by Captain Stewart to Lieutenant Mayo. References Mayo's letter of 7 February 1825 from Hampton Roads, Virginia. Stewart regrets the "Painful circumstances" in which he has been placed. Is sorry that his circumstances have compelled him "to interfere with your views[,] advantage or wishes, as nothing would be more gratifying to me, to contribute any maner towards facilitating and accomplishing them." Says the steady and formidable forces against him compel him to use all his power to combat them. Stresses how the situation is serious and involves high ranking naval officers and the Navy's character. Says Mayo's evidence is "highly material on some important points," since a long time has elapsed since the incident. Notes much of the evidence is in the Pacific, which makes retaining him as a witness unavoidable. On a separate sheet, which also has the address and docket, Mayo signed a note. It says "The question asked me, on the count by Comr Stewart was if I did not remember his having said to me, on board the Franklin in the Pacific (when officer on deck) that the British ship Pearl was not under our convoy." Says Stewart did not talk to him about the Pearl, but says Lt. Henry Ogden was the officer on deck and that the Pearl was not under the convoy. Says Ogden's answer acquitted Stewart of convoying a foreign vessel into a blockade port.