Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-05-30

Ger, shot was actually fired from the second
division of this ship; and was scarcely out of
the gun before it was answered from our as
sumed enemy by three others in quick sue
cesslon, and soou after the rest of his broad
side and musketry. When the first shot was
fired, being under an impression, that it might
possibly have proceeded from accident and
without the orders of the Commander, had
determined at the moment to FIRE only a Sim
gle shot in return, but the immediate repeti-
ton of the previous unprovoked outrage in
duced me to believe that the insult was pre-
meditated, and that from our adversary being
at the time as ignorant Of our real force as |
was IF his, he thought this, perhaps, favor
able6pportunity of acquiring promotion, al
though at the expence OF violating our neutra-
lily and insulting our flag: l accordingly with
that degree of repugnance incident to feeling
eapally determined neither 10 be the agrees
sof, or to suffer the flag of my country to be
insulted with IMMUNITY, gave general order
to fire the effect Of which, in from four to six
minutes, as near as can Judge, having pro-
duced a partial silence of his guns, gave or
ders to cease firing, discovering by the feeble
opposition that it must be a ship of very infc1i-
or force 20 what had supposed, or that some
untoward accident had happened to her.
My orders in this instance however (al-
humanity and determination not to spill
drop of blood unnecessarily l had in less
than four minutes some reason to regret, as
he renewed his fire, of which two 81 pound
shot cut off one of our fore-shrouds and iaiur-
ed our fore-mast. 1t was now that L found
myself under the painful necessity of giving
orders for repetition OF our hre against
force which my forbearance alone had ena-
bled to do us any injury of moment our fire
was accordingly renewed and continued from
three to FIVE minutes longer, when perceiving
our opponents gaff and colors down, his
maintop- sail-yard upon the cap and his fire
silenced, although it was SO dark that could
not discern any other particular injury we
had done or how far he was in situation TO
do us farther harm, nevertheless embraced
the earliest moment to stop our fire and pre-
vent the further effuson of blood. Here a
pause ofhalfa minute or more took place, at
the end OF which, our adversary not showing
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. fire, i hailed & again ask.
ed "What ship is thar" / learned, for the
first time, that it was ship OF his 3. ma estyS;
but, owing to its blowing rather fresheT than it
had done, was unable to learn her name.
After having informed her commander of
the name of this ship, gave orders to wear,
run under his lee and haul oy the wind on the
starboard tack, and heave 10 under topsails
and repair what little injury we had sustained
Ii our rigging, which was accordingly eXecu-
ted, and we continued lying TO on different
tacks with a number of lights displayed, in
order that our adversary might the better
discern our position, and command our as
sistance, in case he found ii necessary dur
ing the night. At day light on the 17th, he
was discovered several miles to lecward,
when l gave orders to bear up and run down
10 him'ander easy sail after hailing him /
sehNa boat on board with Lieut.. Creighton,
tolearn the names OF the snip and her COM
mapder, with directions to ascertain the
ia mage she had sustained, aud to inform her
commander, how much regretted the ne
cessity on my part, which had led to such
an unhappy result at the same time TO offer
all the assistance that the snip under my
command afforded, III repairing the damages
his had sustained. At nine a. NJ. Lieut..
Creighton returned with information, that it
was his Britannia Majesty's snip Little Belt,
commanded by capt. Bingham; who, In no
lie manner declined the acceptance of any
assista zee saying, at the same time that he
had Oh board all the necessary requisites to
repair the damages, sufficiently TO enable him
to return to Halifax.
This however was not the most unpleasant
part of Capt. Bingham's communication to
Ii. GIelbntGn, as ne informed MIN, THAT, III
addition TO the injury his ship had sustained,
between twenty and thirty of his crew had
been killed and wounded.
The regret that this information caused
me, was such, you may be sure, as man
Ioieht be expected 20 feel, whose greatest
pride is 70 prove, without ostentation, by eve
~ public as well as private act, that he pos
sesses a humane and generous heart; and
win these sentiments, believe me, sir, that
snch = communication would cause me the
most acute pain during the remainder of my
lie had J not the consolation 20 know that
there was no alternative left me between such
a sacrifice, and one which would have been
still greater, namely, to have remained
passive spectator of insult to the flag of my
country, whilst it was conhded to my pro-
tet.ion--an4 l would have you to be convin-
ced, sir, that however much individually
may previously have had reason to feel incen-
sd at the repeated outragcs committed on
oar Gag by British ships Of war, neither my
passions nor prejudices had any agency in
tils affair.
70 my country, am well convinced of the
Doec' MON ~" the necessity Of making YOU
IRIS communica ion; ] must, therefore, from
motives Of deii; ICY, connected with person
al considerations, solicit that you viii be
pleased to request the President ~ authorize
q formal enquiry TO &c instituted into all the
circumstances as wei as into every part ofmy
conduct connected with the same.