The treaty with America that had been under consideration for some time, had been signed in London by Monroe and Pinkney on behalf of the United States. It had, however, been repudiated by the president, and the unfriendly feeling towards England had been still further increased by the affair of the _Leopard_ and _Chesapeake_ on June 21st, 1807. This arose from the desertion in March of certain seamen from the sloop _Halifax_ commanded by Lord Townshend, while lying in Hampton Roads, Virginia. One of its boats and five men with a petty officer had been sent on some duty. The men rose against their officer, and threatened to throw him overboard. They then rowed to shore, landed at {83} Norfolk, Virginia, and immediately enlisted on board the _Chesapeake_. On a formal demand being made for the men to be given up, the municipal authorities refused to interfere, although in similar cases of desertion at Gibraltar and elsewhere, British municipal assistance had been rendered to the United States. Three deserters from H.M.S. _Melampus_ were also alleged to have enlisted on the _Chesapeake_. On June 21st, the _Leopard_, under command of Captain Humphrey met the _Chesapeake_, under the command of Commodore Barren, and demanded the British deserters who were on board. On the latter's refusal to have his crew mustered, the _Leopard_ fired a broadside doing considerable damage. The _Chesapeake_, not being in a condition to resist, then struck, and the captain offered to give her up as a prize, which Captain Humphrey refused, saying that he had executed the order of his commander and had nothing more to do. Four deserters were brought as prisoners on board the _Leopard_, two more were killed by her fire and one jumped overboard. The responsibility for the order rested on Admiral Berkeley, then stationed at Halifax.