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Letter to bear another construction. I certainly had much to gain no less than rescuing the Squadron under my orders from impending dis- tructions saving General Proctors Division of the Army and preventing the fall of a Country of immense extent and consequence to His Majesty's Dominions in North America and these were the only considerations that influenced my conduct. That I had little to lose I never can admit as I had not only my own Character as an Officer to support but also to uphold the honor of the British Navy which on this occasion I felt was committed to my charge, and had I not risked an action the whole disgrace of the retreat of the Army would have attached to me, and I should have been justly involved in the shocking imputation of Cowardice. And what aid Sir James Yeo give me to enable re to gain so great an object? In the first place 19 of the Worst Men of his Squadron which I took with me on assuming the Command, subsequently allowing 36 Men with two Lieuts. 1 Masters Mate and 2 Gunners whom I had procured by urgent solicitation to Sir Geo Prevost, to pass him to join me at so late a period that even this trivial re-enforcement only reached me three days previous to the Action.

The letters before the Court wherein I so repeatedly urged the necessity of a body Seamen even from the Moment of my assuming the Command will I trust sufficiently refute the insinuation of Sir James Yeo that I only allowed three days for their arrival. I now beg leave to refer the Court to a letter from General Proctor No. 20 wherein he states the absolute necessity of my sailing and likewise to the Genl. Orders of the Commander of the Forces in America dated the 24 Novr. 1813 wherein His Excellency is pleased to say that Captain Barclay and his Brave Crew have by their Gallant daring and self devotion to their Country's cause preserved its honor and their own even in Defeat. Situated as I now an and however unwilling I should be under less imperious circumstances to obtrude my former services on this Court I feel it a duty incumbent on me on this occasion to state that I have been Sixteen years actually employed in His Majestys Service have been very frequently engaged with the Enemy and have been wounded eight times. I have thus endeavoured to state to the Court the whole of the leading circumstances, connected with this case and in the unavoidable absence of Living witnesses, I have been compelled to have recourse to authen- ticated Documents of Official Correspondence which I trust will be sufficient to shew that necessity alone forced me to seek so unequal a combat. And although unsuccessful I indulge the hope that the decision of this court will rescue my character from the imputation of Rashness, and will be honorable to myself, and to the brave Officers and crew under my Command.

R. H. Barclay