The National Register.
London, England, 1815-02-19 00:00:00

SATURDAY'S LONDON GAZETTE.

This Gazette contains the important communication of
the capture of the United States ship President, on the 15th
.;ult. transmitted by Rear-Admiral Hothatn to J. W. Croker,
Eig. The Majestic, Tenedos, Endyntion, and Ponione.
Luder the direction of Captain Hayes, Were in the pursuit.

Majestic, at Sea. Jan. 17, 1815, Lat. 39 win. 43 deg. N.
Long. 71 min. ()3 deg. W.

SIR-1 have the honour to acquaint you, that notwith-
standing my utmost endeavours to keep the squadron com-
rnitted to my charge close in with Sandy [look, agreeably to
your directions, for the purpose of preventing the escape of
the United States ship, President, and other ve,.sels ready for
sea at Staten Island, we were repeatedly blown off by frequent
gales ; but the very great attention paid to my orders and in-
strim.tions by,tbe respective Captains, in situations difficult
to keep company, prevented separation; and, whenever the
wind did ..force us from the coast, I invariably, on the gale
moderating, placed the squadron '
on that mint nf bearing
.ticinn the Hook, I judged it likely, from existing chem.
slauccs,. w ,uld be the enemy's track : and it is with great
pleasure I have now to inform you of the 4uccess.of the
squadron, in the capture of the United States •gitilY.Ttysident,
Commodore Decatur, on Sunday night, after ininxions
Chace of-eighteen hours.

. On.Fiiday •thral'cliedos joined me, with your order to.
take CaptaittYaliternin that ship. under my command ; we
to
were then in com enywith the Eydythio(i'atil.POrnotie, off
''" *1; • that •
the. nook, alialfP ihrcl the eneiny's ships) ut night
the squadron was, wait.off again iu a severe snow storm.
()Ii Saturday, tlxitwittl and weather became favourable fog
li
ti:c enemy, act bad no doubt but be would attempt his
cAane that night: it was impos'kible, from the direction of
the waid, to get in with the Hook, and, as Wove stated (in
. . :1•:! • • - - I—.

sct;

,

W

. 10.

-.- -
preference to closing the land to the southward), we stood
away to the northward and eastward, till the squadron reach-
ed the supposed tract of the enemy ; and what is a little sin-
'-'.ttlar, at the very instant of at riving at that point. an hour
before daylight. Sandy Hook bearing W. N. W. fifteen
leagues, we were made happy by the sight of a ship anti brig
standing to the southward and eastward. and not more than
two miles on the Majcstic's weather bow; the night signal
for a general chace was made, and promptly obeyed by all
the ships

In the course of the day, the chace became extremely in-
teresting by the endeavours of the enemy to escape, and the
exertions of the Captains to get their respective ships along-
side of him, the former by cutting away his.anebors, and
throwing overboard every moveable article, with a great
quantity of provisions, and the latter by trimming their
ships in every way possible to effect their purpose. As the
day advanced, the wind declined, eiviog the Eudyoion an
evident advantage in sailing; and Cantain HOpe's exertions
enabled him to get alongside of the enemy, and clinmence
close action at half an hour past five o'clock in the evening,
which was continued with great gallantry and spirit on both
sides, for two hours and a half, when the Endymion's sails
being cut from the yards, the enemy got a head; Captain
Elope taking this opportunity to bend rtPw sails to enable
hint to get his ship alongside again, the action ceased, till
the Pomnne gettieg up at half-past eleven at night, and
firing a few shuts, the enemy hailed to say she had already
surrendered.

The ship on being taken possession of, proved to be the
President as above stated, commanded by Commodore De-
catur.

The vessel in company with her was the Macedonian brig,
.(a merchant ship laden with provisions), which made her es-
cape, by very superior sailing.
And now, Sir, a very pleasing part of my duty is the bear-
ing testimony to the able and masterly manner in which the
' Enrlymion was conducted, and the gallantry with which she
was fought; arid when the effect produced by her well-di-
rected fire upon the President is witnessed, it cannot be
doubted but that Captain Hope would have succeeded in
either capturing or sinking her, had none of the squadron
been in sight.
For your further information I have the honour to enclose•
Captain Hopes letter, 'with a return of killed and wounded,
on board the Endymion; I have not yet been able to ascer-
tain the loss of the President, but I believe it to be much
greater than the Endymion's; and she had six feet water in
the bold wh .n taken possession of: both ships were very
much cut in masts and rigging, and had the present mot
severe gale commenced twelve hours sooner, the prize would
undoubtedly have sunk: as soon as the weather will permit a
communication, I shall procure further particulars, and
then send the Endymion and Pomone, with the prize mid
prisoners, to Bermuda. I have the honour to be, &c.

JOHN HAYES, Captain.
War-Admiral the Hon. Sir Henry Hothant, &c.

P. S. The ships having parted company in the gate, NO
further particu!ars have been obtained.

Number of persons of all descriptions on board the Presi-
dent previous to the action, about four hundred and ninety,

H. M. S. lr,;idymion, at Sea, Jan. 15.
Sin,—l enclose a return of the killed and wounded, and
I Lave great pleasure in bearing testimony of the very great
assistance I .received from the Senior Lieutenant Morgan.
during the whole day's proceedings; together with the cool
and determined bravery of my officers and ship's company,