The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-05

me in the command OF our naval forces In thSie
ieas, at the zane time, approbating my conduct,
and conveying to me the thanks of thc Preh-
dent for my ftrvices; beg you, 6r, to accept
my warmea thanks FOR the very obliging Ian
guage in which YOU have made thefe commune
cations, and to allure the Prefdent, that to me-
rit the arSsufe &C ny country, my OIL? AIM,
and to receiveit, the higheft qualification it can
beitow.
Captain Chauacey informed me that the fri
CRATES might be expected every moment, as
they were to fail from Hampton Roads 4 days
after him; in confequence of this information,
and as l could not bring the John Adams into
action, ihe having left all her eun-carriages for
her gun-dcc'5, except s, on board the Congrefs
aud Conftellation day or two previous 70 her
failing, determined to wait Il few days for the
arrival OF Commodore Barron before another
attack, when, if he ihould arrive, the fate of
Tripoli mutt be decided in few hours, and
the Bathaw completely humbled. Had the
John Adams brought ont her gun-carriages, /
fhoud not hive waited moment, and can
have no doubt but the next attack would make
the arrival of more ihips unueceiiary for the
termination of the Tripoliue war. Tgave capt.
Chauncey orders 70 remain on the fation, that
we might be benefited by the atifance of his
boats and men, as nearly half the crews of the
Contribution, briggs, and fchooners, are taken
out TO man the bombs, guns and Gllips boats
when prepared for an attack.
| Auyult the 9th we were engaged Implying
the bombs and gun-boats with ammunition and
itores, and getting every thing in readineis for
an attack the moment Commodore Barron
| fhould arrive and make the lienal. cannot
but regret that our naval eftabiihmen. is 70 IL
mited, as TO deprive me of the means and glo-
ny of completely fubduing the naughty tyTant
of Tripoli, while in the chief command, it will
however afford me iatiSfattion TO give nv fuc-
cefior all the aiiftance in my power. At p.
M. went on board the Argus for the purpofe
ofreconnoitering the harbour of Trpoli, we
food in towards the town, and were near being
funk by the enemy's lire-One oftheir hsavelt
4 ihot which ftruck about three feet ihort of the
water line, raked the copper of her bottom
under water, and cut the plank half through.
In the evening the wind blew frong from the
n. n. z. the fGuadron weighed and kept un-
RAIL all night. The day following we an
chored, TripoI bearing S. S. w. miles diff
tant. AT 10 a. M. the French coufui hoiited
white flag at his flag taf under the national
colours, which was 6gnal that the Balhaw
: was ready to treat. | Gent A boatinto theharbor
and took this opportunityto forward Captain
cambridge and his officers, letters from their
I friends the boat was not allowed TO land, but
returned in the afternoon and brought me let
! ter adviiing that the Balhaw was ready to re-
pritoners, and terminate the war without any
S confederation for peace or tribute this is
: $4,000 dollars lefs than was demanded previ-
GUS tothe acGono fthe 8dinf. ThefetermSI did
not helitate TO reject, as was Informed by Capt
Chauncey that it was the expectation of our 90
vernment on the arrival of four frig4tes, to OBJ
tain the releate of the officers and crew of the
Philadelphia without ranfom and dictate the
terms OF peace. Ienclofe You copies of our
/ ic,Nf raj, Il
) our attacks have not been made without effect
| 10th. No news of the frigates, and but fhort
allowance OF water in the fquadron. / fent
the EnterPrfe to Malta, with orders TO the
agent there, to hire tranfports and fend off i'm
. nediately iupply of frefh water, provifion
and other flores, which have become necenary,
: as fome of the fGuadron have now been five
S months in fight of this difmal coat, without
l once whiting friendly port thofe vefIes as
well as the gun-boats receive their fupply OF
water and provifons from the Contribution.
!; 18th. As the feafon is fat approaching when
we may expect bad weather, and no news of the
frIgates, | have determined TO make an attack
as loon as the wind proves favorable. At 8 P.
M. Il lent captains Decatur and Chauncey in two
; fmall boats to reconnoitre the harbor, and OBJ
t ferve the difnoifion of the ene:ay's hotiiia al
| night: they returned at midnight, and report
{ ed that they were anchored in line abreaf,
IIoih the bIOS 10 the BdihaW cattle, with their
heads to the eaitward, for the defence of the in
ner harbor. AT day light the wind ilifted fud-
denly from N. E. to N. n. w. and brought a
heavy fea on ihore, which obliged us, for greater
iafety, to weigh and ltand to fca.
Goth. We had gained an oifing of 8 or ten
leagues, fill blowing hard. We met with the
Ketch Intrepid, from Syracuie with cargo of
freih water flock, and vegetables for the fqua-
! dron.
z2d. Fell in with flip from Malta, with water
and live flock for the fquadron. Thefe cargoes
arrived very OPPORTUNITY, as we have for fome
time patt been on fhort allowance of water.
| The wind having moderated, we food in, and
anchored with the fquadfon miles n. E. by
! N. from Tripoli all the boats were engaged
in diicharging the tranfports The Rnterprile
arrived from Malta, but brought no intelligence
ofthe long expected frigates.
81. With Il light breeze from the N. T. we
itood IN with the fquadron prepared for action,
intending to attack the town and Tripping in
the night. At g in the evening anchored about
! two and an half miles from the batteries. At
midnight IT fell calm. fent the bomb vefIels
under The protection Of the gun boats, to BON
bard The town the boats ofthe fuuadron were
employed in towing them in. At "a. M the bonn
bartnent commenced, and continued until dav
light, but with what effect is uncertain. At fix
all the boats Joined us, and were taken in tow
! Ivy tie fquadron, which was under weigh, and
Handing off. At 7 anchored miles north of