The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-10-01

ut coniequencc till rho 10th, when we fpoke an
Imperial brig, as fbe came on. of the harhor of
rriooli, which Informed us that two of the
cruzers OF that regency were out upon a cruize.
in ccniequence OF this information, and think
ing II mott probable that they were to the welt
ward, ordered Lieutenant Commandant Smith
NJ the Vixen, to Cape Bon, and cruize there as
the mo!t likely place of falling in with them
hon!d theybe returning from that quarter, and
ut the fame time fafer ituation for the fchoon-
er than Oft lrIpoli AZ that feafon of the year.
where the gales slow with great violence on
h"re, attended with heavy Tea. On the Goth
the Vixen accordingly left us. The esd of the
month we had very heavy gale from the north
ward and wetward, which drove us feveral
leagues to the eaitward of our cation. On the
3!h Of October, being about ix leagues to the
eaitward OF TripHl, at A. M. we Jaw fail
| in there and Handing to the weltward ; we gave
chhe, and at IL O'Clock came near enough for
our ihot to reach her, and the foundnes not al
lowing Of our running in flore, we continued
to chaie along the land, hawking on and off Chore
AS we found the foundngs from 7 to 9 and 10
! tathoms, IN expectation of either difabling or
driving her on ihore, in which cafe we fhould
have captured or dee foyed her. AT half Daft
L, when within league and half from Tri.
| poi, feeling no probability of preventing the
| chaie from getting into port, we ceafed firing
| and hawled off thore, then having eight fathoms
| ,'ater. We had not gone more than two cables
length before we fuddenly fhoaed, and the next
moment the hip truck forward, and havin.
eight and half nots way, fhot up as far on the
rock as to bring it to the after part of the fore
chains, where ihe topped. Her Tern being A,
| TINS time clear OF the ground, the anchors were
cut immediately from the bows Except one) the
| guns run aft, and all the fails laid ahsck. in
| hopes of prefng her off, as it blew a ftronq
breeze; bat the wind being on our ftarboard
beam. andthe fea letting with it direaly uoon
the rocks, foon hove our fern upon th.'n in | 7
feet water, where we Law with our larboar,i nor,
ILLS at the waters edge. The Officer who had
been TENT 10 found upon our firt grounding. re-
| turned with information that there was fufficen,
water aftern and off the larboard quarter, upon
! which lcontuted my officers refne6ting the mott
probable msans of getting the hip into i,-It
was the unanimous opinion that the only me
thod IN our power was to Tighten the (hip as
| much as pollib'e, by itartng the water. heavnp
over board the guns, referving as many only as
would be neceiiary to defend us againft the e
| nemy's gun boats which were taking their ftati
on on our tern and quart er. and to endeavor to
preis her OFT the thoas with the fails aback
We could not III addition TO this avail our(eIves
| OF an anchor, as we had no boat capable oe car
rylng one; and if we had had fuca flf1i,ienf
Tor the puipott, 1T WOULD have been imoracfica
ole TO have laid 1t out, As the enemy OCCUPIED
aimoit the ground it ihould have been placed in.
Inc gun boats having taken fation on our
| itarooard quarter, commenced firing, directed
| principally at our mats and rigging, which we
returned with guns from our main deck and g
OF our quarter deck carronades, which, from
me very great heel the hip had, took no effect.
The guns we got out abait were rendered entire
ly uteIefs from the fame caufe, although we cut
away the tern as much as could be done to anv
purpoie; for by endeavouring TO give them
direction TO bear upon the enemy, they could
not be run out Tar enough to avoid letting fire to
the hip, which they once did, but it was foon
extlnguilhed without difficulty or conf,(ion.
After finding it impol1ible to prefs the (,io off
the rocks by tightening her, and feeling every
ProiPect OF getting her afoat at an end, order
ed the torenat to be cut-away, in order to right
her IN fome degree, if poflible, and to render
our guns more manageable; but this produced
no effect, and feeling the flip imnoyeablv
grounded on rocks, having but l2 feet water
forward and II abaft, 1 conceived any further
attempts as evidently ufelefs.
After having tried every expedent that could
be thought OF to contribute to our relief and
exertlng ourtelves to the utmoft from the time
OF our grounding until half pat four, p. M. in
endcavoring to get the flip afloat, and at The
lame time IN reiiitiHg the enemy, but finding all
hopes or the hrit vain, and not being able to
bring our guns to bear to effect the latter cal
led council of officers to confult them nm tha
fubject of further refiftance, or the pecel;,,,
of iurrendering to the enemy. Upon deiber-
ate confederation Of our fituation, it was tbe
unanlnous opinion that it was impofIible "a oct
the flip off, and that all further reiiAane world
DC out unneceharlly expolng men, in lituati-
on where neither perseverance, nor fortitude
would be OF any benefit to our couatry or orr
ieives and 1t was Hnanimoufly agreed that the
only thing left for us TO do was to filrrender IN
the enemy which was accordingly done. after
drowning the magazine, and defroyine as many
articles as PofiibIc that might be of ufe to the
enemy.
Having fated to you, Gentlemen, narrative
of facts, which you will find verified bv the F.
violence to be heard, hall conclude after ma
king one obCeryaton.
The utage OF nations appears, that where
there is no probability of iuccefsfui defence. and
all meanO of efcape have been tried, the a1g
nay be truck without injuring the commandrr5s
honor. Thefe tacit but admitted rerulations
are founded on principles OF humanity. and =
nice aud delicate attention to national and indi.
gldual honor. If, under fIch circumstances
commanders honor be preferred, how free from
ceDiure mutt it appear when placed in Gtua,i.
on without being able in the leaf to iriure the
enemy, and no means whatever of extricatno
himlelf,