The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-07-02

We are informed by gentleman from
HAVANA, who left it the 9Th inst, that ac
counts had been received there from Spain
of proposition being made in the Cortes
{through the instrumentali,y of the British)
and adopted. for abolishing the Slave Trade.
The motion was strongly opposed by the
deputies from Cuba, and had given great
will to these more contiguous 10 US.
Bait E. Post.
NEW YORK, June 20.
Yesterday afternoon arrived off Sandy
Hook, the British sloop OF war Sahhhire,
from Bermuda. and this morning AN officer
belonging TO her Came up to town with
dispatches relative to the a flair between the
u 5. frigate PRESIDENT. and the British
sloop of war LITTLE-BELT we under
stand they consist of an official letter from
Admiral Sawyer. inciosing Capt. Bingham's
letter, containing very minute and cir
cumstanSal detail OF what took place from
the moment he deserted the President to the
close of the battle, which terminated so
disastrously to his ship.-The Nsspatches
we've sent on to Mr. Morier, the British
Minister, at Washington, by this days mail
Evening Post.
From Madrass.--Capt. Thompson, who
arrived this forenoon in los days from Ma
drass informs, that an expedition was fit.
ting out there by the British under the
command of Admiral Drury, for the pur-
pose OF going against the Island of Java
The troops were to consist of IL. 00O prin
cipa!ly natives, under the command of gen.
ASersroc,oie, and were to sail about the
middle of April-Ib.
BRITISH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
CAPTAIN BinSham's Letfer.-ro the pu
hteuess of a mercantile friend. are in
debteG for the following COPY Capt. Bling
hams letter, to Admiral SAWYER, giving the
particulars of the late rencounter between
the l.. D. trigate President and his Britain
mic lnajesty's sloop of var Little Belt. We
understand it was received here Yesterday
by me schooner Virginia Packet. in days
from Norfolk. :,
On this letter we shall make h. remark,
flu, ner than to say, that the American pub
nc re to understand that it is official. and
be correct or incorrect, is copy of the
on. wnich has been sent home to his govern
menisoy admiral Sawyer, and likewise to
Nj. Morer. . be laid before the Presi
dent.-Eoening Post.
" His Mycsty's sloofi Little Belt.
MAY 2ist 1911, Lat So, So W..
Long II. 4e w. Cafe Charles,
bearing Host As miles.
SIR, g..
beg leave to acquaint you, that in
pursuance of your orders to join II. NJ ship
Guerrero and being on my return from the
northward, not having ,tallenin with her
TIM a6ou, ii A M.May 16, saw strange
sal, to which l Immediately gave chase
Al p. NJ discovered her to be man of
war, apparently a trigate. standing to the
cas- IS ard, who, when he made us out, edg
ed away for us, and set his royals. Made
the sigaa 275, and fnding it not answered
Concluded she was an American frigate
as she had commodore's Blue pendant fly
ing al tire main. Hoisted the colours and
made all sail south, the course intended
steering round Cape Hatteras the stranger
edgine away, bur NOT making any more sail.
At 8. so he made sail iii chase, when
made thr private signal which was not an
swered. AT 6. so fioding he gained con-
sits h!y on us as not to be able to elude
him during The night, being within gun shot
and clearly discerning the stars in MS broad
pendant l Imagined the most prudent me
thod was to bring too, and hoist the colours,
that no mistake might arise, and that he
might see what we were. The ship was,
therefore, brought too, her colours hoisted,
her guns double shctted, and every prepa-
rat IN made in case Of surprise. BY his
man er of steering down. he evidently wished
TO lay his ship in position for raking, which
] frustratedby wearing three times About
8. l. he came within hail-I hailed, and
asked what ship it was! He repeated my
question. L again hailed, and asked what
ship it was. He again repeated my words,
and fired a broad side, which instantly
returned The action then became gene
raj, and continued so for three quarters of
an hour, when he ceased firing, and ap-
peared to be on fire about the main hatch
way. He then filled IL was obliged to
desist from firing, as, the ship sailing off,
no gun would bear, and had no after sail
10 keep her too. All the rigging and sails
cut to pieces; not brace nor bow line
left He hailed, and asked. what ship this
WASP ] told him. He then asked me if 4
had struck my colours 2 My answer was,
No, and asked what ship it was! Asplan
ly as understand (he having shot some
distance at this timc) he answered the U
States frigate. He fired no more guns, but
stood from us, giving no reason Jor htS
most ertraordinary conduct
At Daylight in the morning, saw a ship
10 windward, when having made out well
what we were, bore up and passed within
hail fully prepared for action. About 6 o.
clock ne hailed and said if pleased he
would send boat on board: l replied in
the Affirmative, and boat accordingly came