{"newspaper_name": "The daily union.", "edition": "01", "page": "p3", "byline": ""}
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Belcher, Of the royal navy. had gone down to
the Rewa in the schooner f. Fish, with Commando
Wilkes on board. His object was 20 meet Captain
Belcher who was there, 10 the frigaie Sulphur. |
am pretty certain he did not obtain the Information
he desired, as afterwards. on board the schooner
heard him speak IN hard Terms of Captain Belcher
do not now remember what he said but it was in
refereneeto someinfomaton he had desired bat fail
ed 70 obtain, Of the Columbia river, which Captain


aGEoRGE t. SINCLAIR,


"Lieut. U. 8. Navy.
ar. WM. REYEoLDs,


Lancaster, Pennsylvania"


Commander Wilkes, by denying Mr.. BIair's
statement respecting Captain Becher, obliged me
to sustain Mr. Blair. By denying my statement,
he has forced me 10 appeal TO others IL remains
TO be seen, whether he will make the same accuse.
tion against Lieutenants Sinclair and Knox in this
matter, that il was his pleasure TO charge me
with.


But the question is beyond dispute, and whatev-
er Commander Wilkes may now say, he cannot dis
prove his having Influenced his officers into the be-
lief that Captain Belcher had not treated him fairly
about the Columbia.


The following extract from letter from Lieut..
Case, dated "Newburg, New York, August 81"
will throw some light upon the matter.
'T recollect distinctly, that Belcher's refusal to
show Wilkes the chart the Columbia river, or
10 give blm any information respecting the bar, was
the topic Of conversation on board the Vineennes,
directly after Wilkes returned from visiting Captain
Belcher, and was considered as a want Of courtesy
on his part after the trouble had been at in sup
plying him with rudder pintles.


"a. LUDLOW CASE.
at. Wh. REYsoLDs,


Lancaster, Pennsylvania"


| have now shown that Commander Wilkes made
TO Lieut.. Knox a remark In all respects similar TO
the one which he says he did not make 10 me-
That Commander Wilkes spoke Of Captain Bel
cher, in "harsh terms," to Lieutenant Sinclair and
that the matter the topic OF conversation on
board his own ship al the time Of the occurrence
one year before the Peacock was lost, il is not
surprising that Commander Wilkes should revive
il ajisr that disaster.


1 never pretended 10 decide for myself whether
Captain Belcher was wrong in this matter or not.
| could not tell whether he was bound by his in
strHctions not TO show his surveys; but considered
Commander Wilkes as ample authority, and have
since repeated what he said to me, on the faith OF
his strong assertion alone. Having surrendered
my authority for such statements, and having pro-
duced ample evidence that Commander Wilkes was
somewhat in the habit ofholding conversations with
his junior officers least in res ard to this matter
| have nothing more to add, but to tender my
thanks TO the editor Of the "Union" for permitting
me so much space in his columns.


VIM. REYNOLDS,


Lieutenant United States Navy.
Lancaster, Pa, Aug. "a, 1886.