Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1807-12-07
DOCUMENTS-co CONTINUED.
United States Frigate CbclaPsake, }
CtsEpsaks Baf, TRne Is, 1907

CtsfPsets Bar, .JRne IS, 1879
SIR-YcGerday at & A. NJ. the wind be-
came favourable, and knowing your anXi,
ETY. that the lhip foula fa; with all pC!ii
bic dapatch. We weighed from our Ration
~ Ila9pto Roads, and flOod 10 iea. In
Lynn Haven Bay we paned two Britiih
men OF var, one of them the Bellona, the
other the Mclampus Their colours Gying
and their appearance friendly. Some time
afterwards, we obferved one Of the two
line Of battle lhip: that lay off Cape Henry
10 GIT under way & fand to fca. At this
ilne the wind became light, and Il was not
'untli rear four in the afternoon, that the
lnlP under way came within hail; Cape
Henry then bearing =. w. by ". diltance
three leagues. The communication which
appeared 70 be her commanders obie1
for tpeakirg the Cheiapeake, tie faid he
would fcnd Oh board, in which | ordered
the ChetaPeake 10 be hove to for his con-
ven.Cuce On the arrival OF the officer he
,prclented me with the enClofcd paper No.
1, from the Captain Of the Leopard, and
copy Of al order from Admiral Berkley,
which another officer afterwards took
back, 10 which Igave the enclo!ed anlwer,
no. z, and GAS waiting for his reply
about this tune ! -ohCet>sa fOme appear
ance OF a hottie nature, and laid 10 Capt.
Gordon, that II was poiIible they were ie-
rIous, and requeteG him 70 have his men
lent to their quarters with as little noile as
pottble, rot uiiug thuie ceremonies which
re hould have done with an avowed enc
my, As ! fully ilppoitd their arrangements
were more menace than any thing ferrous.
NaPtan Gordon Immediately gave the or
GERS 20 The officers and men 70 20 TO quar-
tiers and have all things in readiness. That
before a match could be lighted, or the
quarter bill Of anv diyiGon examined,
or the lumber on the gun deck, fuch as
tails, cables, &c. could be cleared, the
commander OF the Leopard hailed, ICouId
rot hear what he laid and was talking to
me as ! iupPofe when he commenced
heavy hre, hich did great execution. 1t
IS diitreiilng 10 me 70 acknowledge, that
found from the advantage they had gained
over cur unpTepaTed and unlufpicious
l9ato, ola rot warrant longer opp0iitiOn,
nor ihoHld I have expoied this hip and
crew TO 70 calling 4 fire, had il not
pcSn with hoe q getting the gun deck
ciear - as TO have 1ade more fUlmiGa-
Die defence Conltqucntly our rt6lance
was but feeble. IN about 20 minutes after
J Ordered tbs colours to be track, and tent
Lieut.. Smith on board the Leopard to in
form her commander that confidsred the
CEeidpeake her prize. To this meilage |
reserves no ailWcr. The Leopard's boat
iCon after Game On beard, and the officer
who came in her demanded the muRer
book. replied the ihip and books were
theirs, and # be expected to fee the men,
be mutt End them. They called on the
purier who delivered his book, and the
men were examined, and the three men
demanded az Warrington, and one man
more, were taken away. On their depar-
tuTe from The ihip, wrote the command
81 81 the Leopard, the cnclOltd No. 4, TO
winch | received the aufWCr No. T.. On
hndmg that the men were his only obtG,
2nt that he refUcd to coniider the hin
as ms PHzc, and The Off GERS and crew his
pnloners, called a council Of our officers,
and lequelled their opinion relative 10 the
conduct twas urduty now topurfue. The
reipit was, that the hip fhould return TO
Hampton Roads, and there wait your fur
theT orders.
Enclofed you have lit Of the unfortu-
nate killed and wounded, as aIfo fate
n'ent Of the damage fufained in the hull,
i.Ars, and rigging Of the flip.
have ilnt this letter to You BY Capt.
Gordon, ia order that you may have an
opportunity of getting lich information as
you may with.
Htb great rePeH,
( baV- tDs D0hor 10 b.,
SIR. T11tr ckSyig1t Csrz,dut