The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-17

Q. BY commodore Rodgers.
DID you twice. during the rencun.re, receive OF
ders TO cease firing ?
"A. Yes, sir. -~~
q. by commodore Rodgers
AT the several times the said orders cease firms
were passed to you, particularly the last, did com
further injury being done to the Little Belt /!
A. Yes, both times--I received the last timc the
orders from three different officers firing.
Henry Denison Seas Produced {, the Coayt - S1vos,
witness.
Y. Were You ON board the L.. States fiigate the
fre''ien on the night % the 10Th day of May last
and WAS there then engagement between her and
his bil'annic majcstys ship the Little Belt
A. was then On board the said f,iga;e the Presi-
"cnt, when an action took place between her and Il
Vessel, which afterwards proved to be the Little
Belt
q. DO yon hold any, and what station on board the
SAID trigste the President and where were you
qusrtered at the time Of the action aforesaid
a. am acting chapain--and, at the time of the
said action, quartcred on the quarterback.
O. On tl.c night OF the sand action did you hear
commodore Rodgers, and at what hour, hail the Lit
tie Bell and how often and was there any, and
what answer given by her
q. About quarter past eight o'clock on the night
eF the said action when within about seventy or eigh-
ty Yards OF the Little Belt, heard commodore Roll
gers hr,' her and ASK, ''wha ship is that ?to which
eEqdiry the Little IT. in about two seconds, rep-
ed hv putting the same question Of Sc what slap is
that !" Aftera short interval, the commodore re-
which reply WAS given.
@. Did you at the time of Commodore Rodgers's
second enquiry Of &C what ship is that atauy other
and what time, hear the report of s,in
A. Directly after Commodore Rodgers second hail
heard the report of gum
z. When you heard the report of the said gun,
were YOU in position to observe the Little Belt
A. was not
Q. Was the said gun fired from the Little Rclt?
A. From my position, Just at that moment, could
not see any flash, but from not then feeling Jar
OF the President, belief that the said gun vas
fired from the Little Belt.
q. At that time had any gun been fred from the
President, or any provocation been given by Commo
dorc Rodgers to the captain of the Little Belt
a. No gun had then been fired from the President,
neither in nv opinion had any provocaton been Civ
en- by COM Rodgers 90 the capt. of the Little Belt,
as no other conversation had passed between them
than what have mentioned took pace the several
times of h;,ing.
q. Have you seen commodore 2odgers's official let
ter to the secretary CT the Navy, dated oil Sandy
Hook on tie Esd day OF May last, relative To she ac-
ton with the Little Belt.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Are there any circumstances therein stated
Ahich YOU know to be incorrect!
\. Not any.
.MchGeE Roberts, produced to the coart and
witness.
q. Were you board the United States frieate
the President on the night Of the 10th day of May
last and was there then engagement between
he! and his Britannia Maesy's ship the Little Belt
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you hold any and what station on board the
SAID trigate the President, and where were YOU quar-
tered at the time of the said action
y am boatwai,, of the President, a d was at the
time OF the said action quaItered on III, orecastlc
q When within mailing distance d, either and
which ship hail. and from which OF the i'll ships did
IL, first hal. proceed
A: When the President and the Little Belt wers
within mailing distance of each other. commoIor,
RUdperS first hailed fb, latter shin
". Did YOU hear and at what time, the report OF :.
gun, and were then observing the Little Belt and
di.it proceed from her
"A. To the best OF my recolccton at the time COM
modore Rodgers halted the Little Belt was stand
ms on the arboar side of the torecastle Delaying the
weather iib-sheet-anh then saw the fash and in
stan'.y turaing my head toWar the Little Bet /
heard the report OF GU, and aw that il proceeded
tron her.
O. When yOu the flasl, and heard the report of
the SAID gun, had there been any gun fired from the
President
a. No, sir.
q At that time h,i commodore Rodgers given
Bcltl '"'' --'''''
A.. None that heard or saw.
Z. lave you seen commodore Rodgers's official let
ter to the secretary Of the navy, da ed off Sandy
Hook, the 2,d iav of May last relative to the ac
ton with the Little Belt
y. No, sir.
The Court adjourned to meet at the same place to-.
morrow morning, at IL O'Clock.
In addition TO the evidence we have alrea
dy given, there was taken before the Court
OF Enquiry the testimony of many other per-
sons on board, which comedies on the impor-
tant points, and which it is deemed unnuccs-
sa'y to give at length, being nearly rcpeti-
ton OF the evidence of those who were first
examined. The following is the Address O;
Commodore Rodgers to the Court:
MAJ. lat.
Mr.. Pre8ident,
and Gentlemen IF The Court
avail myself of the present moment 70
express my thanks for the patient investiga
ton OF the merits of the transaction which
caused its convention and feel perfectly
convinced that the evidence adduced is am
ply sufficient to ensure that my conduct in
this'aflar will meet the appreciation of every
unprecedented mind, as well for its general te-
nor as for the icnity shewn to an assumed G.
ncmy, whom had it in my power to destroy
by single broadside more, and that too
without any risk Of injuring the ship under
my command.
Many ofthc interrogatories putby myselfto
the witnesses may have appeared to the court
superiiuous, / fear butwhen it considers
the odous features OF the statement which
has been exhibited in the newspapers, said
to be capt. Bingham's official statement to
" + A.