Captain Gordon's Terms

On August 29th 1814, Captain Gordon gave this reply to his discussions with a delegation from Alexandria on the 28th.

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GENTLEMEN:,

In consequence of a deputation yesterday received from the city of Alexandria, requesting favorable terms for the safety of their city, the undermentioned are the only conditions in my power to order:

The town of Alexandria, with the exception of public works, shall not be destroyed, unless hostilities are commenced on the part of the Americans; nor shall the inhabitants be molested in any manner whatever, or their dwelling houses entered, if the following articles are complied with:

Article 1. All naval and ordnance stores, public and private, must be immediately delivered up.
Article 2. Possession will be immediately taken of all the shipping, and their furniture must be sent on board by the owners, without delay.
Article 3. The vessels that have been sunk must be delivered up in the state they were in on the 19th of August, the day of the squadron passing the Kettle Bottoms.
Article 4. Merchandise. of every description must be instantly delivered up, and to prevent any irregularities that might be committed in Its embarkation, the merchants have It In their option to load the vessels generally employed for that purpose, when they will be towed off by us.
Article 5. All merchandise that has been removed from Alexandria, since the 19th instant, is to be included in the above articles.
Article 6. Refreshments of every description to be supplied the ships, and paid for at the market price by bills on the British Government.
Article 7. Officers will be appointed to see that the Articles Nos. 2, 3 4, and 5,are strictly complied with; and any deviation or non-compliance, on the part of the inhabitants of Alexandria, will render this treaty nun and void.

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These terms were accepted by the Alexandria City Council in a resolution on the same day.