The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-05-29
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.
.NAVdL E.NGdG EDTEAT.

NEw.YoRE, May o.
On Thursday morning, the Ghited States
trigate President, Com. RoGKRs' saw strange
sail at great distance, resembling u ship OF
war, and mmed edistcly stood tor"her. About
9 O'Clock, p. Al. came mp with the ship, and
hailed her. On enquiry who she was, the
Commodore received no answer. lie az in
enquired who and what ship she was, and re-
coived two cannon balls by way OF answer,
one of which wounded one seaman. Conn
modore Rogers, upon this rcturneI single
shoe, whic. was answered b. full broadside.
The Commodore, not to be behind band wiki
his antagonist, returned a broadside froa~ ,se
Pre- siCient, which soon terminated The contest.
Com Rogers remained by the vessel until
morning, when he sent his boat on board, and
was informed that she was his Dritanick ma
esty's sIoop of war Little Belt, Capt Bing-
ham, of 90 thirty two Founders, on cruize
that during the engagement, he lost 80
men killed, and several wounded /; an. that
his ship was very much shattered. The capt.
of the Little-Eel, further stated, that he had
supposed theiPresideut TO have been French
frigate, and regretted very much that he had
fired into her. Commodore Rogers offered
the captain of the Little Belt every as sistance
in his power, which WAS not accepted as the
captain stated he could go to Halifax and re-
pair.
The President has received no injury, and
had but one boy wounded slightly.
The President anchored off Sandy Hook,
Yesterday, about IL o'clock, and Corr. Ro-
gers dispatched TWO officers TO this city, from
whom we received the substance inthe above
account-One of them proceeds to Wash
ington this morning with the official account
of the affair.
n. b. The President sailed from Annapo-
lis on the 9Th inst. with others. 1--WE under
stand) to cruize between the capes Of Virgin
la AID Sandy Hook.
The Ne7v York Gazette states the loss Of
the Little Belt at so killed and zvounded-
that she was very much injured, having had
nearly all her nasts and spars shot away, be-
sides several shots IN her hull.
The Little Belt is Danish built vessel,
and was taken at Copenhagen. In Steei's
List she is raied as a 90 gun sloop but car
ries 81 thirty two pound carronades.
The President received some trining dam
age IN her rigging.
The Boston Gazette says" We have seen
several accounts Of this action, both printed
and written but they differ in no essential
circun.s stances, except the following. In the
EUering Post account, which the editor says,
was furnished by the capt. Of the President
and one other officer of the ship, it is stated,
THAT when Commodore Rogers hailed the
sloop Of war to know who she was, and where
from the commander of the sloop answered
by asking, Who and what the frigate was.
Commodore Rogers conceiying himself en-
titled TO the 6rst answer, hailed second
time, and instantly after received shot which
struck his mainnast."
Contradictory .dceounts efthe Orders Of GoV-
ernment.
a Baltimore paper says, /" VIC are correct.
ly informed that letter is in town from one
Of the members Of the Executive, stating that
Rogers has positive orders TO search for a
British frigale, demand the impressed men
she has on board, and if refused, to take them
by force. The above may be relied upon"
Fed. Rsaub.