“President Petion (1) has recently got into a difficulty with the government
of Buenos Ayres, for having confiscated certain property, captured on the high
seas, and sent into Tort au Prince, as a neutral port, by Commodore Taylor of
the Buenos Ayrean squadron. The Commodore has begun to make reprisals, and has
sent Petion a letter, informing him that he shall detain all Haytian vessels he
may meet with if satisfaction be made by Petion, they shall be restored ; if
not, they will be considered good and lawful prizes. The navy of Petion
consists of the frigate General Brown, carrying 40 guns and 400 men; the
Wilberforce, of 22 guns; the FireFly, of 18 guns, and the Conqueror, of 16
guns, all lying in harbour.”
Source
H. Biglow and Orville Luther Holley. The American monthly magazine and
critical review, volume 1, July 1817, p. 222.
Note
1. This was Alexandre Sabès Pétion (Port au Prince 2 April 1770-29 March
1818), president of the southern Republic of Haïti between 17 October 1806 and
his death. See for more details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_P%C3%A9tion
