Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-21
ALEXANDER.
BRITISH FOLLY

ALEXANDER.
BRITISH FOLLY.
From the London Evening Star Of Sept. %.
To-day We continue our extracts from the
Z, American papers. Their aspect is certain,
not pacific, and to this we have TO add. from,
priVde sources of information, that the preva
lent opinion in America is, that l;Ap1sox viii
not withdraw his declaration of war. Thai
man is now about TO shcw himself in his true
colours, but his career will be short. A few
months war will annihilate the commerce OF
! America, DISSOLVE THE CONNECTION De
| TWEEN THE Federal. AND EMoCRATICAI
STATES, AND PROBABLY PRODUCE AN ~.
| DIssoLUBLE LEAGUE BETWEEN c. BRITAIN
AND THE NoRrHERN sTATEs-so much for
the attempt 10 introduce the Code NAPOLEON in
morals and politics into the Councils of free
country.
| From fhe Times efOct
J The disaster, 10 which the concluding sen.
tcnce OF the preceding observations refer, is
| one OF that nature, with which England is but
little familiar: it is the capture Of one of her
irigates, by the frigate of an enemy, and that
enemy the Americans. Before we mike any
observations upon an occurrence so unusual,
! we shall present what may be considered as
the Government account Of it -.
The Gnyyieye frigate Can't. DAcRHs has
been captured by the Constitution American
trgate, after gallant action, fought on the part
OF the GuerrIere under the most disadv.u4a-
gcouS circumstances she having in the very
| hrst onset lost her mizen-mast, winch made
her perfectly unmanageable, and soon after the
whole OF her mast3 went overheard. The
6uerr'ele had only at quarters 2zf men; the
Constitution 40, carrying so "a Founders on
ler nam deck, d p Founders, and . is poun-
ders on her upper deck the Guerrero had Is
Killed and % wounded, and was found i'm such
state that the Americans were obliged to
set her on fire"
The loss ofs single frigate by us, when we
consider how all the other navies of the world
have been dealt by, n, it is true, bat small
cne when viewed as portion of tie British
navy, 1t Is almost nothing yet, under all the
circumstances OF the two countries TO which
the vessels who fought belonged, we know not
any calamity it twenty times its amount, that
might have been attended with more serious
consequences to the worsted party, had itnot
been counterbalapced by cotemporaneous adj
vantage of much greater magnitude. AS it
was, the loss Of the Guerrero spread degree
oi gloom through tie town, which it WIS pain
tul to observe, but which was vet most horors
Die to the patriotism ofthose over whom IL was
difused. The superior weight of metal pos
sessed by the enemy-the greater number of
men-the sinister accident at the commence
inent CT the action, were all urged vet peo
PIE looked onlyto the triumph ofthe Americans.
and 10 the increased disposition which it would
give them to continue the contest As 10 the
triumph, Ii is, in truth, but small though it is
yet such an one ms will, no doubt, produce a
rigorous investigation on the part Of those st
whose expence it has been procured; and tho
disposition to continue the contest will, as We
have before observed, have received timely
correction by the affair Of Upper Canada.
Froap the Times Of n JgbseG4ent d9fe
We have been accused of sentiments IN vor- \
thy Englishmen, because we described what |
we saw and felt on occasion of the capture Of !
the Guerrero. We zUifness6G tie gleonl .vkfch |
mat eveif cast over high and honorable minds
we participate in The vexation and regret; and I
It is the frst time that we have ever heard that |
NE stirling IF the English flag on tie high seas |
TO any thing Ike an equal force, should be re-.
garded by Englshmen with compacency or
satisfaction. IF it he fault to cherish amongs,
lur couRtrynen, " that chastity ofhonor which
eels stsinlike wound :" if it be sn error TO
consider the reputation of our navy as SLENDER
y and delicately alive TO reproach, that fault,
h. e-Tor, sc. &C likely often 10 commits and |
Vc cannot but consider tie sophistry, which
you'd render us inscnsible TO the dshonoy oil
mr. jag, as peculiarly noxious in the present
,sWunetuTe. 1t is not merely that M English
rigate has been taken, after what we are free
% confess, may be called brave resistance
ut that Vt has been taken by neu ene1rr, On
'nemy unaccustomsd TO such vip,rbbs, and
likely to be rendered insolent and confident by
hem. He must be a weak politician, who
ZOOS not see how important the FIRST triumph is
n giving tone and character TO the war. Ne0
= 6eiors, N tie hsfory Of tic SgoyA did an
English Higdfe strike to an american and tho
&c cannot say that Capt. DacyeS, under all cir.
IS punishable for ibis act vet we
10 say, there are commanders IN tie English
lsvy, who would = thousand times rather
lave gone down with their cuors flying than
ave set their brother sailors so fatal an EXAM
,ic.
from he London Gazette fOcf. 10.
ADMtRILTY OFFICE, Oct TO-
Admiral SAWYER, under date Of Halifax, Sent.
., transmits the following letter from captain
lacrcs, giving an account ofthe sction between
ne frgates Guerrero and Constitution. The
.dmrsl says, " A few hours after she (tbc
'ueiTlere) vas in possession of the enemy, Ri :
vas found impossible TO keep her above water I
she was therefore set fire to and abandoned. | c
'h'eh | hope will satisfy their Lordships She I