Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-01-09

On Monday tae President of the Uni,
States communicated to Congress n
following message;
10 che Senate a',k House Of Rearesensaify
effhr United Staiss.
The enclosed letter, written from Ma
ia, by Richard O'Brien, bur late Con-,
at Algiers, giving some details of tran,
actions before Tripoli, is communicate
Tor the Information Of Congress.
TIL: JEFFERSON.
! December 3lst. 1904.
Copy of a letter from RICHARD O.BR1xs
late Consul of the United States, a, AL!
gers. giving some details OF transacii
ons before rripoli--to JOHN GAv1No
Consul at Gibraltar.
Dear Sir,
Ist. The American frigatcs, cor
saIrs, sun-boats, and bombards attacked
lrpo.i castle. Corsairs and gun-boats oo
the evening of the Sd Aug. and after
severe contest captured three Tripo.inc
gunboats, whose crews were ninety-six
men !; ofthis number forty six were killed,
and hily made prisoners. Among the
later number eighteen were severely
wounded. We los, lieut.. James Dccatur,
and thirteen men killed and wounded.
I'd. On The 18th of August the Ameri-
can force attacked Tripoli to the west part
OF The city: afser great deal of gun-boat
firing, and also the two bombards, they
siienced seven gul Daltery aud threw
several shells into the town. In these two
attacks Tripoi must certainly have lost
live hundred men. We lost small guu-
boat and twelve mea amongst this num-
Der l:eut. Caldwell and Mr.. Dorsey. The
beat blew up by the FIRE ofwads of another
boat.
sd. On the morning OF the 10th Aug.
at half past one A. NJ. the American gun.
beats, &c. and Two bonbards entered the
haroor OF Tripoli, and within 600 feet Of
the bashaw's castle commenced their at.
tack. They fired one hundred and TWEEN
~ rounds each, sunk three Of the enemy's
gun-boats, and merchant polacre. At
day light the Constitution led in within
pistol shot Of the chief of the batteries,
iired nine broadsides, rccsiveSI. .welye shot
IN tie hull, lost four men Killed, and two
wounded in one OF her boats by shot. In
lripoli, they have mounted in the CITY
presenting The east north and west, lis
guns, had $4,000 Arbs, and the inhabi
tants TO defend the city, had nineteen sail
OF Gun-boals, two sch ,cners, and IT, gal.
lois and brig. The Americans had The
Constitution, Argus, Syren, Vixen, Maui
titus, Eulerprize, six gun boats, ard two
bornbards. The whole of the American
crews amounted 10 800 men, and the Ne
apol,tnns 40. The latter behaved we'll.
La The latter action Capt. Chauncy, officers
and crew OF the John Adams, volunteered
their services TO the Constitution and gun.
boats. We have been expecting 10 be
jninedby commodore Barron and frisa,es;
but he will be too late 10 end the affairs
thi, year, as the summer season is all bur
over for the gun-hoals, and Tripoliin WIN
tercas only be bIocl,aded by corsairs, a,
times off and on. This extract will shew
that our present force is only adequate to
irritaie Tripoli, but viii not be adequate 10
reduce il to American terms, aud obtain
cur fellow citizens.
l2sh September, 1903.
On the evening Of the sth arrived here
commodore Barron, and Capt. Campbell.
The former sailed on the evening OF the
9TH, sad tie latter for Tripod. on tie morn
ing OF the 9Th. No doubt but they arriv-.
ed OF Tripoli on the 10th, and of course
Joined, will give Tripcli general attack.
We have learned since by the return of
a vessel here, which carried water to the
f,eet, that on the night Of the first, the a.
insrlcsns sent in vessel prepared with
hisy barrels of powder, and number Of
bomb-shells; that the vessel had got close
into the haroor of Tripoli amongst the e
nsmy's gun boats, and said vessel was set
fre TO By some accident or other the ship
blew up, before the officer and crew could
get clear, and in consequence, the officer,
midshipman. and twelve men were blown
to atoms. I~slieve it capt. Smith, of the
Vixen. The Constitution gun boats and
soy,blrds led in, and had a long and severe
action. | have not bean able to obtain
from the Maltese crew any better account
on this subJe6i, as they have not brought
any one better. They we're conveyed by
one Of our briggs of war, which did not en-.
ter this port, but went for Syracuse. 1
have not been we'll. I left the feet the
night OF the cad ult. and when the John
10 L.. \ 4. ~