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

was accofIi'Giy done. lie weather contu,si-
ing to:wear threading afr tcf until The 9TH, au,E
our ammunition being reduced to quantity
not than fuficient for t;.ree veiIlls, 10 keep
up the blockade; no Intelligence of the ex-
pseted achievements; and the feafon 10 far
advanced as to render it imprudent To hazard
the gur-boais any longer on the Ration; gaxs.
orders for the John Adams, Syren, Nautilus,
Enterprise and Scource TO take The bombs md
gun boats in tow, and proceed 70 Syracufe with
them, the Argus aud Vixento remain with the
Contribution to keep up the blockade.
September the 10th. The United States
ihip Prefdent, commodore Barron, and Con-
tellat n, Capt. Campbell, hove in fight ard
loon joined company, when the command of
the iquadron was flrrendered to commodore
Barron, with the ufilal ceremony. continued
in company with the fquadron until the l2tll,
when three orange ihips came in fight fanding
direct for Trpoii. Chafe was given and two
of them boarded and taken polliiiion Of bv tb..
Contribution, the Prefdent in company, about
four leagues from Tripoli, bnt not more than
five miles from the land I; while the COrncIla.i
| on and Argus were in chaie of tie third. The
two boarded by the Contribution were loaded with
about iixteen thou!and bulhels of wheat. Tripo =
in fate of farvation, and there can be no Doubt
but thofc oargoes were meant Iappy and relief
to enemies.
Conider;ug the feafon too far advarced and wed
thev toe uncertain to hazard any fr;her operations
againG 'Tripoli prefent commodore earron deter
mined that the prizes ihould be ient Malta, under
convoy of the Conttutior, it being nrcenarv ne
.hould 60 into peri be recauiked and refi;t.,-I
! notified commodore Barron that it was my wifi TO
return TO tie United States in the rigate Iohn ~
dams, captain Chauncey; this readily and in the
hasdionlel manner met his acquieicence--I n,al sc
COZ dingly return in that ihip.
The fervce in this quarter cannot fu!fer from this
arrangement, captain Decatur is at 1,rcfcrt With
a retu will
him in the exercifr of the duties ATTACHED "a t;;e
comrion, which he has 70 gaiians!y earned and hi.
country Gcncrou,y beloved. GiaiI feel a :, !.sl,re
in leaving the Contribution under the command Of
that officer, whole enterpriaing and manly condu6
have often witnehed and whci, merits oiriaently
entle him to 70 handiomc command.
The other commanders merit the highca ccnlaer-
datons for thar prompt Obedience to orders OH ala
occaiions, and for the zeal, lp1it, and Judgment,
which they diplaycd in the fsyer7.l attacks on the
euemy Tripping and batteries &c III IS FOR TIE or-
neral good order and dilcipiiue AZ al times ohferveI
on board their REFLECTIVE vehes The ceiccfs &c tic
iquadron have conducted theulcves in The non RI
/ 'ant ara haudome manner: and the condutl OF the
different ihips companies las nerted my ,varaIeG
appreciation iincc have had the honor to e,niaaud
them.
1t affords me rnucr fatisn Zion to obr.ye. tn. a..
have neither Lad duel nor court martial in ,he
! fquadron fincc we left the United Statcs.
mott Encerely regret the lois Of gallant cou!-.
trymen who have acriGced their lives TO tn. honor
of the fervice and that it has not been in my power,
confident with the nteref and expectation of onr
country, to liherate captain cambridge ard the M
fortunate officers and crew of the Philadelphia Pc
alured, fir, have inceantly endeavoured to effect
this deirable object, have 20 doubt but my fuccei-
for Will be able to eifef their reeale, and eHaiAih
peace on fuch terms will refe6 the highe honour
on hmielf and his country.
| September 17th Arrived at Malta with tie two
detained Greek velels.--We experienced very bad
weather. but had the iatisfa64ion to learn that the
bombs and gun-boats had arrived fate at Syracuf he
5th infant without accident. Each of the Tripoi;ne
gun-boats which we have captures has two brafs
howi;zers abalt, and handfome copper pun in the
bow, which carries 30 pound fhot, is / I-2 feet
long, weighs 6,6oo pounds.
! iend you plan of the town and harbour of Tr-
poll, with the diipoftion of our fquadron, and the
enemys lotilla, the time of the feveral attacks,
with fundry other papers.
| have the honor to be,
With the higheit refpea,
Sir,
| Your mott obedient fervant
I EDWARD PREBI.E
United States fip Contribution,
Malta harbor, Sept. 18th, 1904.