The National Register.
London, England, 1811-07-21 00:00:00

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JUNE 16.

A Copy of a Letter from Rear-Admiral Sawyer, Commander in
Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels on the Coast of
North America, to John Wilson Croker, Esq. dated on
b' and the. Africa, at Bermuda, the lick June, encloses the
following.

His Maysty's chip Lille Belt, May 21, lat 56.63. N.
long. 71.49. W. Cape Charles bearing W. 48 miles.

SIR-. 4 beg leave to acquaint you, that' in pursuance of yone
orders to join his Majesty's ship Guerriere, and being on my re-
turn from the north.vard, not having fallen in with her, that at
about eleven A. M. :',Pay 16th, saw a strange sail, to which I
immediately gave chace; at one P. M. discovered her to be 4,
man of war, apparently a frigate, standing to the eastward, who,
when he made us out, edged away from us, and set his royals;
made the signal 275, and finding it not answered, conc:ude.d she
was an American frigate, as he had a Commodore's blue pendant
flying at the main ; hoisted the colours, ant made all sail se,nth,
the course I intended, steering round Cape Hatteras, the stranger
edging away, but not making any more sail. At half past three
he made sail in chace, when I made the private signal, which was
not Lnswered. At half past six, finding he gained so considerably
on us as not to be able to elude him during the niut, being; within
gun shut, and clearly discerning the stars in his broad pendant,
I imagined the more prudent method was to bring to, and hoist
the colours, that no mistake might arise ;—and that he might see

THE

• - -
what we were; the ship was therefore brought to, colours hoist-
ed, guns double shotted, and every preparation made fn case of a
surprise. By his manner of steering down, he evidently wished
to, lay his slip in .a position for raking,' which I frustrated by
wearing three times. About aquarter pact eight he came within
hail. I hailed, and asked what ship it was ? He repeated my
filtration. I again hailed, and asked what ship it was ? He again
repeated my words, and frred a broadside, which I immediately
returned. The action then became general, and continued so for
three quarters of an hour, when he ceased firing, and appeared
to be on fire about the main hatchway. Ht then filled. I was
obliged to desist from firing, as the ship falling off, no gun would
bear, and had no after-sail to keep her to. All the rigging and
sails cut to pieces, not a brace or bowling left, he hailed, and
asked what ship this was ? I told him : he then asked me if I
Bad struck my colours ? My answer was, No, and asked what
ship it was ? As plainly as I could understand, (he having shot
some distance at this time) he answered, the United States
frigate. He fired no more guns, but stood from us, giving no
reason for his most extraordinary conduct. At day-light in the
morning, saw a ship to windward, which having made out well
what we were, bore up and passed within hail, fully prepared for
action. About eight o'clock he hailed, and said, it' I pleased
he would send a boat on board ; I replied in the affirmative, and
a. boat accordingly came with an officer, and a message from
Commodore Rogers, of the President United States frigate, to
say that he lamented much the unfortunate affair (as he termed it)
that had happened, and that had he known our force was so in-
ferior, he shou:.: not have fired at me. I asked his motive for
having tired at ,:.? his reply was, that we firee first gun at
Rim, which was positively not the case. I cauti dNbrlted both the
officers and men to be particularly careful, and not to sutler any
more than one man to be at the gun. Nor is it probable that a
sloop of war within pistol shut of a large 44 gun frigate should
commence hostilities. He offi.red rn every assistance I stood in
need of, and submitted to me tbit I bad better rut into one of
the ports of the United States, which I immediately declined.
By the manner in which be apologized, it appeared to me evi-
dent, that had he fallen in with a i;ritish frigate he would cer-
tainly have brought her to action ; and what fur thcr confirms me
in that opinion is, that his guns were not or ly loaded with round
end grape shot, but with every scrap of iron that could possibly
be collected. _ _ _

I have to lament the loss of 32 men Liikd and wounded, amorg
whom is the Ma.-iter. His Mak-ty's slop is mush darnaged in
her masts, satls, riz“ing, and hull, and as there are many shot
tiaroagh betwet:n wind and water, and many shots still rem:lin-
ing in her side, and upper works all shot away, starboard pump
also, I have judged it prokr to proceed to Halifax, which will, I
hope, meet with your approbation.
1 cannot speak in too high terms of the officers and men I
the honour to command, for the it ste-Idy and active conduct
throughout the whole of this business-, who had much to do, as a
Lile of wind came on the second night after tlw action. My First
eutenant, Mr. John Moberly, who is in every rerp2ct a most
excellenteofficer, afforded me very great assistance in stopping
the leaks himself in the gale,securing the masts, atui doing every
thing in his power.—lt would be the greatest injustice was I not
.also to speak most highly of Lieutenant Lovell, 6econd Uttar-
3sant ;of Mr. M' queen, iNiaster, who, as I have fore stated,
Was wounded in the right arm in nearly the middle of the ac-
tion; and Mr. Wilson, Master's Bate. Indeed the conduct of
every officer and man was so good, it is impossible for me to dis-
criminate.

I beg leave to inctoce a list of the 32 men killed and wounded,
most of them mortally I fear.
I hope, Sir, in this, alfait I shall appear to have done my duty,
and conducted myself as I ought to have dent- against so superior
a force, and that the honour of the British colours was well sup-
ported.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed)
Return of Officers, Petty, Seartrn, and Marines killed
and wounded on board /1/, .14vjesVs sloop Lille Belt, Arthur
Bingham, sq. Commantha-. iaactioa toith the American frigate
President, the 161 h May, 1811.
Icit.i.v.n.—Mr. Samuel Wocdward, midshipnr.l3 ; Christ.
Bennett, captain of the foretop ; Jacob Greaves, carpenter's
crew ; Thomas Shippard. gunner's mate; George Wilson able
seaman; Robert Liversage, able seaman ; James Grey, ordinary
seaman ; Robert Howard, ordinary seaman ; John Purdue,
private marine.
WOUNDED.—DanieI Kilhatn, landnsan, dangerously; died
ten hours after the action. Ri,•lvard ::(:ody, ordinary seaman,
ditto ; died twouty hours after the action. John Randal, able
seaman, dangerously ; Nicolas Managcr, guntwr's crew ditto ;
Xilr. James M'Queen, actii ig master, severely; James Duna(2),
retain of the mair top, ditto ; James Lawronce, able seaman,
ditto; John Iticharck, able seawall, ditto; 'l Ive 6, abi;

A. B. BINGHA M.

'ER•

seaman, ditto ; Michael Skinners, landman, ditto ; William
Fern, boy, ditto- ; David Dowd, marine, ditto ; William Har-
rold, marine, ditto ; Mr. James Franklin, boatswain, slightly";
Mr. Benjamin Angel, carpenter, ditto; Peter M'Caskell, captain
of the inast, ditto ; 'William Andrews, ordinary seaman, ditto ;
William Weston., boy, ditto; Edward Graham, able seaman,
ditto ; George Dalany, able seaman, ditto; George Roberts,
boy,ditto ; George Shoard, marine, ditto; Daniel Long, ma-
rine, ditto.
(Signed) A. B. BINGHAM, Captain.
W. TURNER (2), Surgeon.
By Herbert Sawyer, Esq. Rear-Admiral of the Red, and Com-
mander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed,
and to be employed, in the River Saint Lawrence, along the
Coast of Nova Scotia, the Islands of _A nticoste, ladelaine,
and Saint John, and Cape Breton, the Bay of Fundy, and at
or about the Island of Bermuda, or Somers Island.

You are hereby required and directed to put to sea in his Ma-
j,fst y's sloop under your command, and proceed without loss of
time to (.harlestown, where you may expect to meet Captain
Pechell, in the Guerriere, to whom you will deliver the packet
you will herewith receive, and follow his orders for your pro-
ceedings. 7:11ould you not meet the Guerriere off Charlestown,
you will stand to the northward, and use your utmost endea-
vours to join him off the Capes of Virginia, or off New York ;
and in the event of not meeting the Guerriere, you will cruize
as long as your provisions and water will last, and then repair to
Halifax for further orders. You are to pay due regard to pro-
tecting the trade of his Majesty's subjects, and the capture or
destruction of the ships of the enemy. You are to be particularly
careful not to give any just case of offence to the Government or
suljects of the Milted States of America ; and to give very par-
ticular orders to this effect to the Officers you may have occa.ion
to sev_d on board ships under the American flag. You are not
to anchor in any of the American ports, but in case of absolute
necessity, and thenrit to sea again as soon as possible.
Given under my hand at I2ermuda, this 19th of April, 1811.
(Signed) HERBERT SAWYER.
To Arthur Batt Bingltam, Esq. Commander
of his Majesty's sloop Lille Belt.
By command of the Rear Admiral.
H. N. SOMERVILL E.

BANRUPTCY SITPERSEDED.
Thomas Southcomb, of Clreat/c2neeti-street, Linco!ri's
Intt-
firhis, merchant.
William Winch, Lite of I,on-lane, Southwark, carpenter. •
BANK RUFFS.
Darke, of Biriiiinr,ham, bookbinder.
James William Glass, of Woodford. Essex, merchant.
James Waddington, late of BiThopsgate-street, vintner.
John Wheatcroft, of Loughor, Glamorgan.
Edward Hammond Stephens, late of Barnstaple, Devoss
saddler.
John Mosdell, of Compton, Berks, baker.
Richard Bally, of Kennington, merchant.
Chailes Apthorp Wheelwright, of Culluni-street, merchant.
Walter Bridge, of Liverpool, soapboiler.•
Joseph I.ings, of Sawley, Derby, coal-dealer.
Thomas Harrison, of Liverpool, cow-keeper.
John Wright, of Derby, apothecary.
Sarn.Barnett, late of the Dial, Long-alley,Moorfields,vietualler.
lohn Tiddeman, of John•s:reet, Oxford-street,
ironmonger.