The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-06-25
@0ille8ttc.
BRITISH ACCOUNT

BRITISH ACCOUNT
OF shs affair 6et1ueen the President and
Little Belt.
WOHA-SCOTIA.
HALIFAX. Nav ~. 1911.
Arrived. yestel day. His Majes,y's sloop
OF war Little Belt, Capt. bingham. from a
cruise. The Little Beit tas been cruising
oil the American coast From CONVERSE
tion with several officers, we have derived
the following interesting information -
81" AZ IL o'clock in the forenoon of the
10th inst, when about 100 miles to the east
ward OF the, Che aheake, a SAIL was observ
ed, and chace immediately givcn.-At one
It was discovered ito be trigate. steering
L. witt aeon nodore', blue pendant at the
main, and the conclusion drawn that it was
an American ship. LstHe Ben alter
ed her Course TO the southwark, and in about
two hours afterwards the. frigate. under
press OF sail, was seen standing for het -
lt was seon noticed that she gained upon
the Little Btlt, and at half past six the latter
he atn-whenr guarding against a surprize,
the usual preparations were made, for ac-
tiop al which time the Stars in the frigate's
pendant were. perfectly, visible AT about
eight, she came within hail. aud w as. twice
asked from. the soop of war what shin it
was--The answer to the first enquiry. wss
repetition. ofrthe Question-to the second
broads'de osround and grape shot which
was Immediately returned, and an action
Commenced which continued full three
Quarters OF an hour--,when the frigate ceas-
cd hr,ag, filled her sails, sheered off. 81 hailed
tne Little Bel, (Which just at that time had
aiso ceased hring,) asked what ship-was
told her name, and then inquired if She haJ
struck her colors, and was answered in the
negative.--Ihe name of the frigate was
then asked. and an answer returned tba, !,
was the U. 5. ship President. She after
wards stood off under easy saiI--.and bo,h
shiPs lay to the remainder of The night, re
pairing their .danages.--In the morn;no m =
irigats bore down upon the .ttle Beu.e. .,.I
coming within hail, asked permission ~
send boat to her; which was granted .ns
an OFFICER came on board with a mess,ye
from Commodore Rodgers, saying he 10
mented the transaction, did not tf,ink IN
was so much inferior in force To the -:
denf---zoas sorry The Little Bell had s,.a
first would willingly render her eyerv a.
sistance IN hispower--and advised ina; oh :
should COMO an American port 70 renal
Inc officer then took his departure 70
turned to the President, which made call
and was soon out of sight. leaving the Inn.
ser almost Complete wreck-sa;le "a
riggingcut to piects-l1 killed, 81 wo",d d.d
land without explanation of their extranr-
binary Conduct" "0i
| We here beg leave to reter mr. r.od..
the following extract of a letter from a. =,
teiilgent gen; eman at Veu York da,ed ~ !.
~ INST lreceIved by the Duke of Nor.
rose PackeI rom w York 9 The To-,
lowing was posted up in the Office of m. NJ
r Gazette. this morning 9Th friss,e
tressdensis ordered in pursui, of the Bri.
tish frigate, to demand 0tthe mouth Of ber
guns, the release of the man who was taken
time SINCE" '"o''
The following Paragraph. extraored fr,,,
a .Neao York paper of the Sd inst. alIudes -
he imPressment of a man beIonrinp Tn 49,
| ShtoeTe -" Arrived the new brig Snl6r.
VeaI, dtys rom Portland in ba, :,
I'm ne <1ook' had Young man, never he :
tore ON the ocean, pressed by a Br;,;s,. f.;
gate-shame ul Conduct. 1t is hoped mo.
sures viii be Immediately AIKEN 10 r.cover
tins young aan, by obtsining letter from
Col. 8arclay, and dispa ching pilot boat in
! pursuit OF he frigate.'' -
from the above particulars it appears that
man belonging 10 an American vessel. was
impressed by a British frigate. off Msr,-
York and that Com. RopeERs was sen, :,
demand him - nat, after Cruising seysrs,
days, the President tell in with the T;,,ls.
Der (WHICH, however, was not the shin h +,
made the 'mpressment), and after uanosn
ver'ng with the apparent inte ntion of rak,nv
hel but without succeeding, Commenced ,h .
unequal hghl. w
viewing ailthe circumstances ofthe rrans.
action we cannot see any thing to Justify the
CONDUCT OF Com. RODGERS, but consider il as
Iawiess, unprincipled, 8, cowardly in the ex
IRENE Had the LitHe- Beh impressed anu
Americans, not having projections. under n .
supp7sit'oD tina they were EngI shmen, !,
was at least the duty of Com. RopcERs to
nave made formal demand of ttem before
ne resorted TO force * what did he attack )
small sloop OF war--a vessel not half
s.ze or force Of his ship-yet she returned
In Inc nre. ano. from The gallantry displayed
ny her little crew. we are of opinion would
never have been surrendered.
CAPT: TEORNDIKE, AGAIN.
we wish not to harrow up the feelincs oe
an unfortunate man. we desire NO, IN Or,
Vate the condition of one pyho a. ,,.;,t.: % =