"John Strachan, born in Queen Ann's County, Maryland, between Centreville and Queenstown; sailed in the brigantine _Martha Bland_, Captain Wyvill, from Norfolk to Dublin, and from thence to Liverpool. He then left the vessel and shipped on board an English Guineaman; he was impressed on board the _Melampus_, off Cape Finisterre; to better his condition he consented to enter, being determined to make his escape when opportunity offered; he served on board said frigate two years; refers to Mr. John Price and ---- Pratt, Esq., on Kent Island, who know his relatives. He is a white man, about five feet seven inches high. "William Ware and John Strachan have protections.[1] Daniel Martin says he lost his after leaving the frigate. [1] Papers proving their American citizenship. "John Little, _alias_ Francis and Ambrose Watts, escaped from the _Melampus_ at the same time, are known to the above persons to be Americans, but have not been entered by my recruiting officer." The foregoing proves beyond all manner of doubt what ground Commodore Barron had in taking the stand he did further on in the proceedings. But Admiral Berkeley was a very proud, obstinate man. His feelings had been hurt by the refusal of the Yankee commodore to give up his men, and he bided his time. On Monday, June 22, 1807, the _Chesapeake_ put to sea with her ill-assorted and undisciplined crew. In the harbor of Lynnhaven lay the British squadron under the command of Commodore Douglass, acting under the orders of Vice-Admiral Berkeley. It consisted of the _Bellona_, seventy-four, the _Triumph_, seventy-four, the _Leopard_, fifty, and the _Melampus_, thirty-eight. Why it was that the _Leopard_ was selected for the work which was to follow, is easy to surmise. Vice-Admiral Berkeley had determined, at all hazards, to search the American vessel to ascertain if she had in her complement those "British seamen" who had deserted from the fleet. Barron's refusal to allow a search made of his vessel while she was in port had been backed up by the United States Government. This had exceedingly exasperated the English commander, and he determined to wait until the _Chesapeake_ was at sea before putting his cherished project into practice. As soon as the _Chesapeake_ set sail, the _Leopard_ was despatched to bring her to. The _Melampus_ was not sent because she was too near the _Chesapeake's_ armament, and resistance might be successfully made to any attempt at high-handed interference. Nor did he take the trouble to despatch one of his seventy-fours, which might have brought the _Chesapeake_ under her guns, and compelled her to submit by the law that "might makes right"; but the _Leopard_ was sent because she was just large enough to insure success, and yet to humble the American from the mere fact that he must inevitably yield to a vessel to which he should by rights make some resistance.