een than the same number sailing
independently, and so scattered over wide expanses of sea.

Shortly before his return Rodgers arrested and sent in an American
vessel, from Baltimore to Lisbon, with flour, sailing under a
protection from the British admiral at Halifax. This was a frequent
incident with United States cruisers, national or private, at this
time; Decatur, for example, the day after leaving Rodgers, reported
meeting an American ship having on board a number of licenses from the
British Government to American citizens, granting them protection in
transporting grain to Spain and Portugal. The license was issued by a
British consular officer, and ran thus:[518]

"To the commanders of His Majesty's ships of war, or of private
armed ships belonging to subjects of His Majesty.

"Whereas, from the consideration of the great importance of
continuing a regular supply of flour and other dried provisions,
to the allied armies in Spain and Portugal, it has been deemed
expedient by His Majesty's Government that, notwithstanding the
hostilities now existing between Great Britain and the United
States, every degree of encouragement and protection should be
given to American vessels laden with flour and other dry
provisions, and _bona fide_ bound to Spain or Portugal, and
whereas, in furtherance of the views of His Majesty's
Government, Herbert Sawyer, Esq., Vice Admiral and
commander-in-chief on the Halifax station, has addressed to me a
letter under the date of the 5th of August, 1812 (a copy whereof
is hereunto annexed) wherein I am instructed to furnish a copy
of his letter certified under my consular seal to every American
vessel so laden and bound, destined to serve as a perfect
safeguard and protection of such vessel in the prosecution of
her voyage: Now, therefore, in obedience to these instructions,
I have granted to the American ship ----, ----, Master," etc.

To this was appended the following letter of instructions from Admiral
Sawyer:

"Whereas Mr. Andrew Allen, His Majesty's Consul at Boston, has
recommended to me Mr. Robert Elwell, a merchant of that place,
and well inclined toward the British Interest, who is desirous
of sending provisions to Spain and Portugal for the use of the
allied armies in the Peninsula, and whereas I think it fit and
necessary that encouragement and protection should be affo