Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-20
THURSDAY. JUNE 90.

BY LAST NIGHTS MAIL.
.sa Ia B0ST0.N. JRne a..
FgoM HALIFAx.----Capt. Webstsr, from
Enstpert. yesterday. farored aus 'cith a HI
lfGGr pnper, containing the British account
et' the late afuir tst,ceea The President and
Little Belt. Mr.. .Iso1cry, passenger,
mentions. thct the impression Of the people
at Wiaisor Nora ..5cotin) offer they had
heard the statement of gentleman 'cho
,oas present in Halfar at the e:ramtnat'on
of Capt. Bingham. 1cas. that Commodore
Rodgers had acted improperly IN chasing
the Little Belt, but that Captain Bingham
.cus .orong il. firing on the President, ant
IN ha9arding az action zcith force so
p.aeh superior.
BRITISH ACCOUNT
Of the affair betsceea the President ara
the Little Bet.
@ HALIFAX, May 81.
Arrived yesterday, his najesty's sloop
of war Little Belt, capt. Bingham, from
a era;sc. The Little Belt has been criris-
inc off the American coast; From CONVEX
sation with several officers, we have de-
rived the following interesting infOrma-
ton:
cat II o'clock in the forenoon of the
.6th inst. when about 100 miles to tho
eastward Of the Chesapeake, a sail was
observed, and chace Immediately given.
At enc, it was discovered to be !rigate,
steerin. E. with cCmmodore'S blue pend
ant at the main. and the conclusion drawn
that it was an American snip. The Lit
tie Belt then altered her course to tie S.
anu in about2 hoursaiter; the hrigate, under
press Of sail, was seen standing Tor her
1t was soon noticed that she gained upon
the Little Belt. and at half past SIX the
latter hove to-when, guarding against
snrDrize tile usual preparations were made
fer action, at which time the stars in the
frisa,e's pendant were perfectly visible
AT about eight, she came within hail, and
was twlse asked from the sloop Of war
what ship it was. The answer to the first
enquiry was repetition Of the question;
h the second, broadside of round and
grape shot; which was Immediately re-
turled and an action commenced which
continued full three quarters Of an hour,
when the frigate ceased firing, filled her
sails, sheered off, and hailed the Little
Belt, (Which just at that time had also
ceased firing asked what ship-was told
hername & then enquired ifshe hadstruck
her eolors, and was answered in the mega
tive. The name Of the .frigate was then
asked, and an answer returned that was
the United States. ship PRESIDENT. She
afterwards stood off under easy sail, & both
ships lay to the remainder Of the night. re-
pairing their damages.---In the morning
the frigate bore down upon the Little Belt,
and, coming within hail. asked permission
to send boat to her, which was granted,
and an officer came on board with mes
saye from Commodore Rodgers, sayins,
he lamented the transaction. did not think
she WAS so much Inferior in force to the
Presidedt-,cas sorry the Little Belt had
fired first ;-would willingly render her
every assistance in his power-and advi-
sed that she should SO into an American
port to repair. The officer then took his
departure, returned to the President,
which nnsde sail, and was soon out Of sight
leaving the Little Belt almost complete
wreek--saas and rigging cut to pieces-n
killed 81 wouaded-and without explana-
ton Of their extraordinary conduct"
NEW.YORE. June IL.