Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-06-04

Esfral7 Of a Letter from Conm9aare PysSle- to t5s
}ecetayy oF the navy, datsd on Joard tie Coafaa-
ton, Syrafuk bayt9ny, February, II Sea.
fe6 I2b-I received about o Malt fe tailcrs
and pilot from the i1and of Malta, which BY the
permifion of the governor, ordered to be ilip-
ped there Jheie men ihall want to d:ftributc
among our iailors in !aneen boats, as they are
accuitomed to them.
Ietb-A prize to the Nautilus has this mo-
n.ent arrived captured to the eafward of Tripol.
She is brig from, Malta under Engiih oolors,
bound to Tripoli, loaded with hemp aud fpars,
ready made lales, bale goods, and building itone.
and has nine Tfipolines on board.
Letter from Lieut.. Decatur to Comm. PreJs.
On board the kecb Iuf~tpid,
SIR, at Sea, Feb. l7tb, 1904.
have the honor TO inform you that in pur.
fuance of your orders of the 1T init. to pro-
coed with this ketoh of the harbour of Tripo-
Ii, there TO endeavour to effect the defruttion
of the United States late frigase Philadelphia,
! arrived there in company with the United
States brig Syren, lieutenant cornmandant Stew
art, on the 9TH. Dur owing to the badnefs Of
the weather, was unable to effect any thing.
until laf evening, when We had light
breeze from NJ Z. At 7 o'clock entered the
harbour with the Intrepid (tLe Syren having
gained her cation without the barbour, in
fituation to fupport US in our rctreat) at half
paf nine laid her aong fide the Philadelphia,
baorded and after fhort It carried her.
Immediately fired her in the fore rooms, gun
room, cockpit, and birth deck, and remained
on board until the flames, had ifued from the
fpar deck hatchways and ports, and before got
from along iide, the fire had communicated e.
the rigging and tops; previous to our board
ing, they had got their tompkins out and hailed
feveral times, but not a gun was fred The
noile occa6oned by boarding and contending
for poflefion, (atho' no FIRE arms were uled)
gave general alarm on fhore and on board
their cruizers, which lay about cable and
half length from US, and many large boats fill
ed with men lay round, but from whom We
received no annoyance. They commenced a
FIRE on us from their Batteries on fhore, but
with no other effect than one fhor pailing through
our top gallant fail. The figatc was moored
within half gun fhot of the Balhaw's cattle
and their principle battery, their two. cruizers
lay within two cables length on the Rarboard
quarter, and their gun boats within half ihor
on the Rarboard bow, flle had all her guns
mounted and loaded which, as they became hot,
the town, l have no doubt but fome damage
has been done by them. Before got out Of
the harbour her cables had burnt of, and ihe
drifted in under the cattle where fhe was con-
| fumed. can form no judgment as 10 ths num-
Der of men that were on board of her. There
were about twenty killed; large boat full got
off and many leapt into the lea. We have
made one prifoner, who, fear, from the num-
nor nf hol L. no hcr NIL ~
cover, although every afiitance and comfort has
been given him. boarded with Gxty men and
| officers, leaving guard on board the keteh for
her defence, and it is with the greateif pleafure
| inform you had not man killed in this af-
fair, and but one tightly wounded. Every fup-
| port that could be given, l received from my
| officers, and as each Of their conduit was high
ly nieritorious, beg leave to enclote you
lift of their names Permit me alto, fr, to
| fpeak Of the brave fellows have the honor to
command, whole coonefs and inrrepidity was
| fuch as truft will ever characterize the Amer-
cans tars 1t would be injuitiee in me, were
| to pats over the important iervices rendered by
| Mr.. Salvatore, the pilot, on Whole good con-
| duet the fuccefs of the enterprise in the great
eft degree depended. He gave me entire fatis-
| faction. have the honour to be, Sir,
With great refpeG,
Your moi obcdient, humble fervsnt.
STEPHEN DECATUR jun.
A lit OF the officers engaged in the deitruetion
of the Philadelphia.
Lieut.. James Laurence, .5sfpb Bainbriase,
| Jonathan Thorn.
Mr.. Ralph lizard, midyaipman, 7boma5 M:
D0uougb, Charles Msrris, John Dnlu', Jas"
Roav, alexander Laavs, Thomas Andtr on.
BOSTON, JUNE !.
BY an arrival at New York from Liverpool,
which failed April II, we learn that the report
Of the Kings death was unfounded.
1t was reported at Bordeaux, alb ut the mid
die of April, that Georges had poiioned himielf.