The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-08-01
From the BGit'mOre Hhig.
CHESAPEAKE, No. Q.
attack on the Vxcn

We copy the following account from the National
lneihgencer OF yesterday. Lieut. Tripp had acquir.
Cd the reputation OF brave officer before Trpoli
butt our navy like our government, seem dedicated
to British insult Lieut.. Tipp has been ordered to
repair t. Washing ON, to undergo an enquiry, for rot
returning the hre of the Moselc. The wrier of the
account, however coinmeF6s him. So v bis vessel vas
promptly prepared for action, which he woGld have
commenced had The apology not been deemed sufliei
ent.
On the Oath inst. June IN occurrence
took place, which was equally unpleasant and
unexpected. The character of the affair
however, corresponds with the treatmens
which we hav SO often received from the
hIiush naval commanders on former occasions
The Moselle, 90 gun brig, csrryinp SO
Founders, Was lying AT anchor under the STIR
rup Key near the Bahama Bank, the Vixen
approached her under full sail, with her PEN
dant and ensign hoisted The capt OF the
Mosellc hoisted French colours, and exhibited
many private signals. Capt Trip, on perceiv-
ing boat which he supposed wished TO speak
his vessel, hauled up and received the officer,
who requested him to go down to the British
vessel. With this request Capt. Tripp de-
clined compliance, furnishing The officer az
the same time with the name of the vessel
and her destination. Capt. Boyce, who COM
mands the MoseIie, fired shot at us as We
passed, which Capt Tripp considered as an
intimation that he wished to speak .ith Us.
Several musket balls were fred from the boat
into the vessel, and at the very moment the
British officer was politely received on board
the Vixen, and before be had taken memo
randum of the reply which was given by Capt
Tripp to the message,--capt, Boyce fired
round shot, which came over the quarter
deck, and penetrated the main boom of the
Vixen.
Capt, Tripp immc Aiately discharged the
British officer, and prepared for actioO. The
English brig slipped her cable, and got under
way, menacing an attack upon our vessel SO
soon as she approached within proper dis
tance, capt. Tripp despatched a boat with his
first lieutenant, to demand OF the british off,
Ger an explanation OF his conduct who sent
MS lieutenant on board the Vixen, with vari-
Gus apologies, which were not understood IN
satisfactory manner and capt lElPp address
sed note to capt Boyce, requiring written
statement of the reasons which had induced
him to fire tyvo shots at his vessel. Capt. B.
returned tor answer, that he recognized, with
pleasure, the existing ami,y between the two
countries, and was extremely sorry tor hay
ihg fired at us--that the reasons which indu-
Ced him to fire, were, that he could not Gis-
tinSuish our colours, and saw no preparations
for taking in sail---that he had been informed
that two French priyatCers were Hitting cot IN
the United States, and supposed we might
probably be one of them. He also pledged
his honour, that his shot was not aimed at our
vessel. The explanation was deeemed bv
Capt, Tripp, sufficient to prevent any turthcr
conflict and w. Instantly made sail. and pro-
ceeded on our course. The injury which We
sustained was trilling MIR. Rodney's sou
was struck by a splinter from the hoom,v hich
occasioned hrs mouth to bleed a short time.
no other person was touched.