The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-18 00:00:00

//7

PRICE 5(1.

ton) in a given number of days after you sail ; as unless
you agrte to au interview, I may be busied on other ser-
vice, and, perhaps, be at a distance from Boston when
you go to sea. Choose your terms, but let us meet."
This letter was confided to Mr. Slocum, a dis-
charged prisoner, who immediately departed in a boat
for Marblehead. At the same time, the Shannon,
with colours flying, stood in close to the light-house,
and there hove to. The Chesapeake was now seen at
anchor in President Roads, with royal yards across,
and apparently ready for sea. She soon after loosed
and sheeted home her topsails. Between noon and one
p.m., while the Shannon's crew were at dinner, Captain
Broke went himself to the masthead, and there ob-
served the Chesapeake fire a gun, hoist her topsails,
and set top-gallant sails. She was presently under
weigh, and made more sail as she came down, having
a light breeze in her favour. The following is Captain
Broke's letter, detailing an account of the action that
ensued :

" Shannon, Halifax, June 6, 1813.
Sir,—l have the honour to inform you, that being
close in with Boston lighthouse, in H.M.S., under my
command, on the Ist inst., I had the pleasure of see-
ing that the United States' frigate Chesapeake (whom
we had long been watching), was coming out of the
harbour to engage the Shannon ; I took a positio❑ be-
ween Cape Ann and Cape Cod, and then hove to for
him to join us. The enemy came down in a very hand-
some manner, having three American ensigns fly-
ing ; whe❑ closing with us, he sent down his royal-
yards. I kept the Shannon's up, expecting the breeze
would die away. At half-past .5 p.m. the enemy hauled
up within hail of us on the starboard side, and the battle
began : after exchanging two or three broadsides, the
enemy's ship fell GA board of us, her mizen-channels
locking in with our for.sgging. 1 went forward to
ascertain our position, and observed that the enemy
were flinching from their guns. I gave the order to
prepare for boarding. Our gallant hands appointed to
that service immediately rushed is, under their
respective officers, driving everything before them
with irresistible fury. The enemy made a desperate but
disorderly resistance. The firing continued at all the gang-
ways, and between the tops, but in two minutes time, the
enemy were driven, sword in hand, from every post. The
American flag was hauled down, and the proud old British

Union floated triumphant over it. In another minute they

ceased firing from below and called for quarter. The
whole of this was achieved in 15 minutes from the com-
mencement of the action. I have to lament the loss
of many of my gallant shipmates, but they fell exulting
in their conquest. My brare first lieutenant, Mr. Watt,
was slain in the moment of victory, in the act of hoist-
ing the British colours ; his death is a severe loss to the
service. Mr. Aldham, the purser, who had spiritedly
volunteered the charge of a party of small-arm men,
was killed at his post, on the gangway. My faithful old
clerk, Mr. Dunn, was shot by his side. Mr Aldham
has left a widow to lament his loss. I request the
Commander-in-Chief will recommend her to the protec-
tion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. My
veteran boatswain, Mr. Stephens, has lost an arm ; he
fought under Lord Rodney, April 12, 1782. I trust
his age and service will be duly rewarded. lam happy
to say that Mr. Samvvell, a midshipman of much me-
rit, is the only other officer wounded (besides myself),
and he not dangerously. Of my gallant seamen and
marines, 23 were slain, and 56 wounded. No expres-
sions I can make use of can do justice to the merits of
my valiant officers and crew ; I recommend them all
warmly to the protection of the Commander-in-Chief.
Having received a severe sabre wound at the first onset,
hilst charging a party of the enemy who had rallied on
their forecastle, I was only capable of giving command till
our conquest was complete ; and then directing second
Lieut. Wallis to take charge of the Shannon, and
secure the prisoners, I left the third lieutenant, Mr.
Falkiner (who headed the main-deck boarders), in
charge of the prize. I bee to recommend these offi-
cers most strongly to the Commander-in-Chief's pa-
tronage. To Mr. Etough, the acting Master, I am
much indebted for the steadiness with which he carried
the ship into action. Lieutenants Johns and Law, of
the Marines, bravely boarded at their respective divi-
sions. It is utterly impossible to particularise every
brilliant deed performed by my officers and men ; but I
must mention when the ships' yard-arms were locked
together, that Mr. Cosnahan, who commanded in our
main-top, finding himself screened from the enemy by the
foot of the topsail, laid out at the main-yardarm, to fire
upon them, and shot three men in that situation. Mr.
Smith, who commanded in our fore-top, stormed the
enemy's fore-top from the fore-yard-arm, and destroyed
all the Americans remaining in it. I particularly beg
leave to recommend Mr. Etough, the acting Master ;
and Messrs. Smith, Leake, -Clavering, Raymond, and
Littlejohn, Midshipmen. The loss of the enemy was
about 70 killed and 100 wounded. The enemy
came into action with 440 men ; the Shannon
had 330. The Chesapeake is a fine frigate, and mounts
49 guns ; eighteens on her man deck, two-and-thirties
on her quarter deck and forecastle. Both ships came
out of action in the most beautiful order, their rigging
appearing as perfect as if they had only been exchang-
ing a salute.
" I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.
(Signed) " P. B. V. BROKE.
" To Capt. Hon. T. Bladen Capel."
The Lords of the Admiralty, to mark their sense of
this action, directed a medal to be presented to Cap-
tain Broke. On the 2.d of November following, Cap-
tain Broke was raised to the dignity of a Baronet of
Great Britain ; and in February 1814, he received the
Royal permission to bear a crest of honourable augmen-
tation to his family arms, together with the motto—
" Scevumque tridentem servamus." The underwriters
at Halifax, in testimony of their esteem, presented
Captain Broke with a piece of plate, value 100 guineas.
The Court of Common Council of London, voted him
their thanks, with the freedom of the City, and a sword
of 100 guineas value. The thanks of ;the .qorporation
of Ipswich (the freedptn ,of which lie:s.olos-birth en-
titled to), were also presented to him,';iiinet4:subscrip-
tion opened by the gentry and ether inhabitants of the
county of Suffolk, fTsr the puiliose of purchasing a
piece of plate, which dined at an amount,of.74-0/. A
convivial society at lOsvich, called :the' "SF* and
Easy Club," likewise subscribed 100'. issiiiOaS for the
purchase of a silver cup, 'bearing a ch'aste',anct unosten-
tatious inscription.
On the Shannon's return, to EnglatiilV44 found
unfit for service, Sir Philip Broke was offeria-the com-
mand of one of the new ships built to matels:thO large
American vessels, misnamed frigates 4 but -;his':wound
was not then sufficiently healed to allow of, his- immedi-
ately serving again. He was nominated a K.C.8., Ja-
nuary 2,1813 ; and promoted to the rank of Rear-Ad-
miral, 22d January, 1839. In his public capacity he
was a zealous enterprising officer, of a conciliatory dis-
position and kind feelings. In his private life, charit-
able and benevolent ; and no one has ever died more
generally regretted than the gallant Admiral ; and his
name will be recorded to posterity as one of our greatest
naval ornaments.

_ .
POPULATION AND 'MILITARY
FORCE OF THE DIFFERENT POWERS IN

The following interesting statistical return, made by
Chevalier Cesar Moreau, from official documents, was
read at the Royal Statistical Society of Paris, ~at their
meeting of the 2d January, showing the pope►.ation and
military force of the different Powers in 1841 :

Gr..n..mAsY.—The GermannTonfederatiion was esta-
blished at the peace of 1814, with the consent of
France, England, and the Holy Alliance. It is com-
posed of the Empire of Austria, the Kingdoms of
Prussia, Bavaria, Bohemia, Hungary, Hanover, and
Wurtemberg ; of the Grand Duchies of Saxony, Ba-
den, Electorate of Hesse, and other Principalities ;
the Republics of Lubeck, Frardtfort, Bremen, and
Hamburgh. This may be conshiered the Grand Mili-
tary Confederation of the Nortb, of Europe, which ex-
tends its power over the Lorabardo-Venetian States,
and the whole of Italy under the yoke of Austria. It
is the alliance of these Stat.es which is the great check
to the ambitious views am', despotism of Russia.
The empire of AUF THIA may be considered the
most important. It ;.s composed of thirteen States,
viz., the Areb•duchy of Austria, Styria, Illyria, Tyrol,
Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, Gallicii, HungarY,
Croatia, Sclavoniat
letansylvania, Dalmatia, and Lom-
bardo-Venetian. It. comprises 900 towns, 2,137 burghs,
and
and 77,596 viliagr;s. Its population is 23 millions ,
a half of inhabit ants ; army, 280,500 men ; and a.welt-
constructed nr.vy. Its climate is temperate, and pro-
duces grain, 'fruit, and cattle in abundance:
BAVARIA. Populaion, 4,500,000 inhabitants ; army,
35,800 men,
DENMAUK. Population, 2,000,000 inhabitants;
army, 40,000 men; a large commercial navy.
BEL(JIUM..-- Population, 3,600,000 inhabitants ;
army, 47,000 men ;, no navy ; country fertile in grain.
HOLLAND. -- Population, 2,600,000 inhabitants ;
army, 26,000 men ; a large commercial navy ; soil,
fertile.
NORWAY. -- Population, 1,080,000 inhabitants ;
army, 12,000 men ; several excellent ships of war.
SWEDEN. Population, 3,866,000 inhabitants ;
army, 45,500 men ; several excellent ships of war.
SAXONY.—Population , 1,500,000 inhabitants ; army,
15,000 men ; country fertile.

SWITZERLAND.—Pop ulation, 1,990,000 inhabitants ;
army, 35,000 men ; col entry fertile.
URT E pulation, 1,580,000 inhabitants ;
army, 14,000 men.

The kingdom of PRUSSIA is the second military power
included in the Gormanie Confederation, and keeps the
equilibrium between
.Austria and Russia. Population,