The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-19
BRITISH FOLLY.
From The Eanaon Eveaing Star Of Sehi

SS.
To-day we continue our extracts from
The American papers. Their aspect is
certainly noe pacific, and u this we have
to add, from private sources of informant
OH, that the prevalent opinion liz America
is, that Madison will not withdraw the de-
clara.ion os war. That man is now about
to shcw himself in his true colours, but, his
career will be short. n few months war
will anmihilate the commerce of America,
dissoi0e the connection 6etsveen the federal
democraticof states, and PROBABLY Hroduce
az indiSsoia6te league 6et5ocen Great Bri-
tam ard ne northern sfates--so much for
the attempt To Introduce the Code Ndhoieon
in morals and politics into the Councils OF
free country. a.
From the Times ofOct.7.
The disaster 10 which the Concluding
sentence OF the preceding observations re-
iers. is one OF that nature. with which Eng
land. is but little familiar: it is the capture
of one ct her frigates, by the friyate of an e.
emmy the Americans. Before we made any
observations upon an occurrence so upusu-
al, we shall present what may be consi-
dered as the Government account of it -
The Gucrriere frigatc, Captain Dacres,
has been captured by the Consultation a.
merican frigate after 4 gallant action,
the most electromagnetic circumstances
she having i'll the very first onset lost her
mizen-mast which made her perfectly I'M
manageable, and soon after the whole of
her masts went overheard. The Guerri-
ere had only 1T quarters 244 men; the
Constitution AIS, carrying 8 25- Founders on
her main deck, "a S2-pounders, and 49,
Founders on her upper deck the Guerri-
ere had lis killed and 65 wounded, and
was found in such state that the Ameri-
cans were obliged to set her Oil fire.
The loss of a single trigatc by US, when
we consider how all the other navies of the
world have been dealt by, is, it is true, but
a small one; when viewed as portion of
the Is. navy, it is almost nothing yet under
all the circumstances of the two countries
to which the vessels VINO fought belonged,
we know not any calamity of twenty times
It's amount, that might have been attended
with more serious consequences to the
worsted party, had it not been counterba-
lanced by contemporaneous advantage of
much greater magnitude. AS it was, the
loss of the Guerrero spread degree of
gloom through the town, which it vas
painful to observe, but which was yet most
honorable to the patriotism of those over
whom it was diffused.
The superior weight of metal possessed
by the enemy,-the greater number of men,
tho sinister accident at the commence
ment OF the action, were all urged yet peo-
pie looked only to the triumph of the Anne
ricans, and to the increased disposition
which it would give them to Continue the
contest AS to the triumph, it is, in truth,
but small though it is yet such an one as
will, no doubt, produce vigorous investi-
cation on the part of those at whose expence
r haS hea Ith
continue the contest will, as we have before
observed, have received timely correcti-
on by the affair of Upper Canada.
From the London Gazette of October 10.
Admiralty Office, Oct TO-
Admiral Sawyer, under date of Halifax Septem-
Der Is, transmits the following letter from cant
Dacres, giving an account of the action between
the frigates Guerrero and Constitution The Adj
mira says, A few hours after she THE Guerriere)
wasis possession OF the enemy, it was found mpos.
sibe to keep her above water she was therefore
set hire to and abandoned, which hope will satisfy
their Lordshps she was defended to the last. Cart.
Dacres and the rest of the wounded are doing we'll
and an exchange having been agreed upon, am in
daily expectation of their arrival here"-
Boston, Sept. z, 1872
SIR am sorry to inform you of the capture of
his majesty's late ship Guerrero by the american
frigate Constitution, after q severe action on the
10Th Aug. in lat. al deg. 90 min. NJ and long. SIS
deg. w. At two p. NJ. being by the wind on the
starboard tack, we saw a sail on our weather bean
bearing down on us. 1T 8, made her out to be a
man Of war, beat to quarters, and prepared for ac
ton. Atfour, she closing fast, wore 10 prevent her
raking us. At ten minutes past four, hoisted our
colours, " fired several shot at her. At twenty min
nutes past g. she hosted her colours, & returned our
hre,wore several times to avoid being r;ied excbanp
ing broadsides. Atfiye, she closed on our starboard
beam, both keeping up heavy fire, and steering
free, his intention being evidently to cross our bow
At twenty MINUTES past five, our mizen-Inast went
the starbcard quarter and brought the shin un
IN the WIND the enemy then placed himself on our
larboard bow, rakng us, lew only of our bow guns
bearing, and his grape and rifemen sweeping our
deck. 1T 40 minutes past FIVE, the ship not an.
swerine helm he attempted to lay us on board AZ
tins time Mr.. Grant, who commanded the forecas-
tie, was carried below badly wounded. im,ue-
diatcy ordered the marines and boar,ers IRON the
main de-k the master was at this time ST Il thro'
the knee, and received a severe. wound in the
back. Lieut. Kent leading on the boar,lers
when the ship comingto, we brought some OF our
bow guns to bear her, & had got clear of our on
poncnt, when at 20 minutes past G, cur fore and
main-fnasts went over the side, leaving the shin
perfect unmanageable wreck. The frigate sbobtInp
a-hcad, was in hopes 10 clear the wreck ard get
the ship under command TO renew the action Dut
just we had cleared the wreck Our spritsail ward
went, and the enemy having rove new braces &c.
wore round with pistol shot to rake us, the Shit, lay
InS IN the trough 81 the sea, and rolling her main
deck guns under water, aud all attempts ~ get her
before the wind being iruitles5; WHEN Gazing inv
few remaining olaeers together, they ali of
plnion tllat any further resistance would onlv be n
needless waste Of lives, 0rdcrcdt though reluctant.
y, the eOiors TO be struck The lost of the shin il
10 be ascr,bed TO the early fall ofthe inizeninast
which enabied Our opponent 10 chuse his position
sorry TO say we suffered severely in Killed and
wounded, and mostly Wien she lay on our bow from
her grape and mtsketry, in AZ rs killed and Is
wounded, many of them severely none of the