The Sun.
London, England, 1814-01-19 00:00:00

COMMODORE RODGERS.

This distinguished naval officer was born in the
State of Maryland, and has followed the seas limn
childhood,' and is esteemed a consummate
naval officer. To n strong understanding,
.and
vigorous constitution', this gentleman has aide-
indefatigable industry and he is said to unite tht
theory and the practice-of his noble profession is
a pre-eminent degree. Brave, decisive,' ioggni-
ons, full of resource, this 'accomplished officer is
looked up to by -the younger officers as to a great
master.—Without exercising any art to obtain
popularity, 'he 'never fails to gain it for men of
business admire him as a man of business, while
those who meet him in the ceremonious circles of
polished life are no less pleased with his modest,
discreet,' and unassuming demeanor. We have
'never seen among ris a naval 611icer of any nation
that more happily-united the sailor and the gen-
tleman than Commodore Rodgers.
When a Member of Congress, he had an high
idea of the superior and matchless skill of the Bri-
tish, and but a very moderate opinion of the skill,
enterprize, and bravery of his own countrymen,
and was therefore discouraged and dismayed at
the i(ka of 'our building a navy, asked, in n tone
of despair----11- we had- a fleet, where is,the man
among us who is fit for an Admiral of it !—the
answer from all parts of the House was—" Coin-
modore.Rodgers
One or two events contributed to make this
gentleman the subject of 'party remark ; and the
animadversions of party are -never distinguished
for justness or liberalit)% Those among us, who
were disposed to almost any concessions for the.
sake of preservini., peace, were nut a little dis-
turbed at the afar of the. Little Belt, as they
feared that haughty England would resent it in ai
style that would lead to war ; and this led to dis-
putes in the public prints, where truth and can-
doar are not always regarded as they ought to be,
amidst criminations, and recriminations. The
spirit of party rose, high on the simple question
of " Which ship fired first ?" and although the
Government of England conceded that point,.
there are not wanting people among us, who, to
this day, accuse otir Commodore of giving•the first
shot ; while others maintained that it was impro-
per to chase any ship of war, while at peace with
all the world. One thing ought, however, to be
mentioned;—the officers of the- President 'were

ignorant of the size of the Little Belt. It was
might ; and they had never been her broadside,
and they supposed her to he a frigate; and al-
though she gave the first fire, Ctgmodore Rod-
gers and all his officers, were filled with regret
w4en they found next morning that they INA
poured such a destructive_ broadside into a ves-
sel little able to bear it, - They have never ceas-
ed to exiciress their regret at the consequences
of it.

The same party spirit criticised the Commodore
for not taking the frigate Belvidere-; but Captain
11)tron, who commanded her, has held a different
language, and pronounced his conduct to have
been able and correct. The British frigate found
.the President gaining 'upon her ; she ,thereupon
cast away her anchors, threw over her boats, and
stove her water-casks ;—and, by this sacrifice, so
lightened the ship as to outsail the President.—
..This was a prudent and justifiable conduct in the
Captain of- thes?British' frigate, but would have
been reprehensible in CoMmodore Rodgers,;,
•cause his ship was• fitted out for a long cruise;
and such a procednre would have compelled
and his tittle squadron, to return again into port.
In this chase, very serious damage was- done to
the, Belvidere, by the singular precision of the
President's fire. One of the President's bow
chasers burst, which killed- several .men, and
broke the leg of the Commbdore; so that, in
every point of view, there could be no shadow of
blame cast upon Commodore Rodgers for the es-
cape of the Belvidere. Both commanders did
their duty, and, gave equal evidence Of souud
judgment and goof! condut. ,
Since that period, Commodore Rodgers has
never met an English frigate that was not in com-
pany of a 74 ; notwithstanding he lies cruized iu
the European seas, and coasted the shores of Bri-
. tain and Ireland. The President is known, and
British frigates fly from her; and it is, we pre-
strife-2, the duty of the Commander of that ship to
turn aside from a seventy-fonr of anV nation.
No frigate, not even the President, the United
States, or the renowned Constitution., can stand,
many minutes, the point blank fire of a ship of f 4
guvs. Nautical science, and the laws of artillerists
have subjected this business to decisions.
Good luck and reputation almost at ways go to-
gether , and acquired reputation moss,conuno.nly
sinks for the want of it but s:nne reputations
are so well grounded in the public opinion, as to
remain unshaken amidst the want of what we
short-sighted mortals .call good fprtune. Inci-
dents in the life. of Admiral Nelson and Connno.
(lore Rodgers will illustrate this.—Lord Nelson ,
traversed first the Mediterranean iri search of the
combined fleet of France alit(' Spain.; and then
sailed across the Atlantic, down all the Wok In-
dia islands to Trinidad, then back again tR
Gib
i•aitar ; next he sailed along the Bay of Bi'tcay,
and then pursued his course to the northwest of
Ireland, without obtaining even a gliftipSe.of this
large fleet of France and Spain. People unac-
quainted with the boundless ocean, can hardly
conceive how it is pov.itle that such large fleets,
spread over such a space of ocean, can miss each
other. But in judging thus, we measure the
great world by our own narrow rules of preju-
dice. Nelson returned to London; deeply cha-
grined at not being able' to find the fleets of
France and Spain. It is said to haze effected vi-
sibly his Lordship's spirits, until he found the
partiality of the people towards, hini was undi-
minished. •

Luckily for Nelson no serious untoward acci,
cleat happened to his fleet during this chase after
his enethies over half the world. Had any one:of

those thormand' accidents held. hirr, Or'la'
deuce could not foresee, nor prescience gwa
against, so common on the unstable ocean,
Nelson's laurels might have been blasted by t:e
tongue of malice : and he might have passed IL!,
shattered remains of a painful life „with a Coo°
tution worn out in the service of his country, nre
gleeted and forgotten by those who owed hifri
highest tribute; for ingratitude is a "sin of In%
narchies, as well as of republies ; and the. 41:I
who can despise it, possesses a quality superior I-0(
eveu .heroism itself. The English leave pKtt
death some of their Admiralsfor apparently
neglects; but here Lord Nelson's character o'"
so firply fixed in the minds of the governineW:
and of the.prople, that his want of good forta
did not in the least shake it.
And as'it happened with Nelson, so it'lla-ppeflee
with Rodgers. He has twice traversed over l',01:0
.than half the globe without ever meeting a 1366
. frigate. He has sought them ift their Own sc'isl
and along their own shores ; but he has ne-ver
had the good fortune to bring one to .action.
with all this he sutlers no diminution'ofreptitatiot;
It is to the credit of the American characterlsil
cherish and uphold the high reputation of a 10°.ei
meritorious officer, notwithstanding opportimiti,j
have, not been given him to display' .his. skill
-prowess against an equal force of the enemy,
with Cominodore -Rodgers in America, as it "3,,
with Nelson: in England, his reputatioit js
150
deeply grounded in the opinions of the pele,
that the Want of good fortune has never iloa`,l
it. Whet: the, public first heard the
achievement of the hero of Fake Erie, their or,
plause Ivas Mixed with astunishinent 5. because t'j,
young Commander was unknown to fame, except
tir
ing in the small circle where- Licit,ten-ant Vehr"4
was intimately known, and justly estimated ; elr
had itheen Rodgers, the applause might have
as great, but the surprise less ; because he oec01:1:
pies sneh a great space in the public estinist.
that everyone would have expected nothing le'.o
Commodore Rodgers is, we conjecture, beoccii,
40 and 45 years of age ; a man •of feW ikt°lll,
and not conspicuous for the hive of parade),
dress ; but his ship, for interior order m
, iitues.;
elegance, o
and taste, may vie with adv. that BrPl
on the ocean. It is said that his diseipiine.46
perfect ; and this, perhaps, nia.y account tot;
Opinion, that lie is dist-a4l and very reser. r, t
those under him ; but his reserve in' compauY`ll;,-
ties the air 'attic reserve ofa t•ttidionS man ;
out the least trait' Of haughtiness : for ht010''t01•
and great attention to the care of the-youtb
Ivr,
der his command, is a pleasing trait in this bl'o,l
man's character. America ! rest satisfied, 1,0.
grateful that you have a son, who will bear
flag with honour and glory through every e 1.,.
ter of the world : " but as timeancl chance
peneth to all men," so it belongs „not to wort‘-1
coin mand opportunity upoi) .t;..5%, laud;
less upon the unstable ocean -)(' -
*We attempt nut to give any particalar facts 01 ocourre.ll3l
relating to Cimunntlore Rodgers, as :fie reriod °,
071
bicauSe he is so. well known, that they would 1;16a')
vapid, and perlia:.,7 ott of place. He was FirstLieute!',..
under Commodore Truxton, and was then clistin,ruished
brave, discriminating, energetic 17:int!, t;ttly
him. 'lt is this which directed him amidst 11 • Ir'riis its
IL
()coati. It is this which ha.; unfurled liritannia s /
drive thi., envioni rival of het Tiroud navy froi ueete'llf°
But no: the GeniUs of Columbia surr“.rindA 1111 i.
n, at!li
-him triumphantly ()tithe wave; and-bas main cwl.l4o;e-
-in safety to her shores,

A Society for a somewhat novel, but ver: obi'
Lary, species. of justice, is, about to he follue.:'
bf
Donington, for which purpose a mertio,4 I'ol
-publichand-bill appointed to be held on tb°
of Pehruary. It is forprosecutiug ealanoria;re
persons giving false evidence, spreading 1,011-eieri
ports, or guilty of << any other evil, impr"L'of
or detrimental design, written, spoken, or %Lao,
wise executed, for the Turpose of defaming', so' •
noying, or injuring any member of die •
eietr!

. BIRTHS. .
11,
On Sunday week, at Oakley, Suffolk, the Lady of NS' '
• I
Somerset Damn, Esq. of Finedon, of ailaughter. , rf
On the Muth inst. at Ilantrose, the Lady of MajOr-G°',,c,l°
N. Carnegie, of the H. E. L Co.'s Bengal fistablishmeat, -
daughter.
clitis'
On the I lth inst. at Raberton-Honse, Scotland; Mrs. '-
tie, younger, of Ilaberton, of a daughter. - P
I°
On the I.4th inst. at Edinburgh, Mrs. Cunningham' ,g 6
of Robert Cunningham, Es-I. late of Burnhouse, of ada 1Y(4",
'"lc'Y, at. Jersey, the Lady of Liebtenaut It. Creser, -I*
Fuzile,cs, ut a son. , * -
_...../

MAU.ItIEJ).

- -
,pn Wednesday last, 'at St. Peter's Cathedral, r
son, Principal Clerk at the Exeter Post-011ice;to51i
The same day, William Dunn, Esq. of the S%ie
to Miss Pears,n, of Haberdashers'-Housw, Roxton.
Qn Saturday last, p.t •tit. James's Church, Mr. V?
Turnhain-grc.en, to Miss Wells, of Hanimerstnit's.. „110:
Maselburgh, Scotland, Lieutenant
of the Jioval Marines, to Miss Jessie, daughter of
Hariser,Esq. Editiburgh.. fln October last,'at New York, Franrisiefferv, Esq•
burgh; to Mies daughter of Charles Wilkes, I,ol'
New. York. •

• .
•
On Saturday, the 15th inDIEDst. .I•;lizaheth, youngest cov-trl
of Sir Justinian Ishatr, l3art. of I,arnport, near NortlialA
On >lonilay night, Itohert,Williams, Eq. of Mc" "r „et'.
Hertfordshire, and Bridthead, Dursetshire, at the f°11" '
these places, aged 79 years. ou'd
h rtt St.m 1,.;1
nd
iiLsu t 19th of inLbi
Charles Roolie, Captain the 3d Regiment of duards' ;0,0
on
taut Adjltratit General with Si:; Rowland 11111's Dic•l''•
the British Army in Spain,. and.eldest c of &aut. c°
are(
Rorke.
Friday, Catherine, of Mr. Tobias:Mk:hill, °•
Thame.;-street. • f
Sb`7te
The same night, suddenlydohnMenkhonse, Esq. °
ham, Sussex, aged 5.5 years. • .'uf
On Sunday inurning,-Elitabefh La;:ena, wise - -r A
v enu, N&wEund,itrect.-
„
On Sunday se'nnigl.i, sit L.,.• Naval Hospital, t
nee, ,t
coricomptian.iir. the,pri ree /V life, Captain 'fillard,
I'tminder of the St. Juan, tang-ship of Adipiral L'''
Gib r..ltar. -
.strf
On the 17th inst. Mr. Peter Vincent, of Wardu'.lr• e,
Soho, veil en
On Mouday morning, Mrs. Murdoch, of Hans-place' af.
street. _

The same night, in Lower Ilrnsvenat-strest, Mrs'
aged Ft year=, rriict of the late James Hooper,
wan: •:;helsca, N-ho died on the 15th of last nr:uittr. ja?"
On the ;3d inst. at Llunnikitr-House, :.;cotlftnt',
Talirnsend OsWald, of Dunniheir. ottth
On Wednesday last, Mr. James Holdup, in hi- 'ct:/t
th., oldest inhabitant of Ancloy-vr :he retained ' •i
till within few hours of
m death.
et,
On Wednesday, Evan Thoas, a native of Wale', int f
of
a clergyman; aften,vards a maker of rhymes,. and 3'/4 „056
latteriv judicial- aArologer, and an itamlte of ,
Industry, Shrewsbury.

•
LONDON . Printed J. B. CAW;TAIRS, No. 7; 15Ctr•i;t()ir"•
building; ; yml pobli,;ieti by SCILIPPS• of,•
at the SUN-OFFICE ' , No. 112 t Strand where •nt.i.oseg-
locnts, ()niers, Letters (post paid), Sce. must be 3'4'

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