Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1812-12-21
Pu5Ac Tri5uIe 10 NatiUe Worth.

Was presented by commitIee OF geh
tlemen consisting of Nicholas Emery,
Esq The Hon. A "a Clap, and Mr. Rob
ert Boyd, in the name OF the cItizens OF
Portland, to their gallant townsman,
ALEXANDER SCANNED WADswoRTH,
second lieutenant Of the Constitution In
her victorious conflict with the Guerrero
upon whom devolved the duties OF first
officer of that ship after Lieut. MoRRts
was wounded, which was early in the
engagement. In consequence of his
extraordinary exertions On that day I'D
eonqueTfng as well as during the night
alter the battle in clearing the Guerrero
the health of Mr. Wadsworth was so
much impaired, as to have confined him
since on shore, where he has passed lis
time among his friends on visit to his
native place
The government Of the United States
having evinced their impression of his
merit by appointing Lieut.. Wadsworth
TO the second command on board the
trlgate adams under his accomplished
friend the brave and modest MoRRIs,
the citizens Of Portland seized the OPP
Portunity Of hisireturning heaIth-on
the eve of his de2arture-to make
public expression, previously contem-
plated, OF the proud sense they enter-
tanned of the honour reflected on them
selves by his conduct on the illustrious
occasion OF the conquest of the Guer-
rlere
In performing the ceremony of pre-
senting the Sword the following ap
prop late address was made IL an ami
mated manner by Mr. Emery.
LIEUT.. WADawoRTH,
With heartfelt pealure, in behalf of
the inhabitants of Portland, we take the
liberty of Preienting TO you Sword, as a
token of relpcct they feel for your charac-
ter, as mark of the high efimation in
which they h, { your ftrvices as second Of
fccr on board he u States trigate Confitu-
Il ID, in the capture of the BTitilh frgate
Guerrero, on the memorable 10Th Of
Auguf
The inhabitants of Portland are fenGble
that the proud consciousness OF having diff
charged your duty 10 your country is the
noblelt reward their brave tOwnfman would
pofeis; fill they hope that the tribute to
vaior and patnotilm, which they now be-
flow, will not be unacceptable As they
underfand you are foon to anume new
command with your brave companion in
arms, permit them through us To with you
fucceisful cruife. They are confident
that while the cannens fire is halhing
fat" on board the ADAMS, your Sword
will gIeam 10 defence # our country's
honor-.A dear departed lpirit will hover
rouno you and direct you to glory.
The concluding sentiment is under
stood 10 contain an allusiOn to the
memory OF brother-the heroic Hen
RY WADsW0RTH who sacrificed his life
IN the service Of his county on volun.
tary expedition with SoMERs and IsRA-
Ell In the Mediterranean, while the feet
OF PREBLE lay before fripol.
10 the address of the Committee
Lieut. Wadsworth made the following
reply in a spirit that needs no praise.
GENTLEMEN,
The Sword which you have prefented
in behalf Of the inhabitants Of Portland, is
! reward futiiCIent for the hgheh merit
IcannOt A4ttcr mylelf that | vet deferve
it. | accept It therefore not As a teitimo-
NAL of my prelent deftu. but as the ex
preiii o of your wiihes for the fuccels of
our Navy, and as a iacred charge to fus-
tain the honor Of our country's fig Be
afluTed that my life ihall become facri-
fee to that end, and that TO deierve the
honor which you now confer, is power
tul motive to the moi perfevering exer.
tons. Depend, that this Sword fhall never
be uied but for the glory Of Amtrica-Re-
ceive this public pledge that il ihall never
be dhgraced. Accept gentlemen my thanks
for this unmerited honor, with the allur-
ance of my high refpe9 for yourlelves and
the inhabitants of my native town.