Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-10
LETTERS.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
.AOUcmHer 2lst, 1872


SIR,
In order to enable the CO rmittee to form
n Sd iSfactJrg opinion a. to the compensate
on to be- provided for The officers and crew
of the 7rigate Constitution, for the capture
and subsequent destruction If the British fri
gate Ghtrriere have the honor 10 state
TO You, that the Constitution rated Al. and
mounted SIS guns {; that the Guerriere rated
SIS, and mounted 81 guns. The Guerrero
although entirely dsmasted, and in other
respects much crippled, could have been
brought into pors, without mourning any o
Their risk than Of capture but Captain Hull
conceived that il nc had manned the GucT-
riere, for the purpose of SCI ding her into port
ne wnuld have 90 far reduced the crew Of
the Constitution, that he might have subjec
ted both vessels 10 capture. He presumed
that, under all circumstances, 1t would be
better for him to destroy the Guerrero, and
| preserve the force Of the Constitution unIm
| paired and his having done so unquestion-
| ably proceeded from the most patriotic con-
siderations.
| The Guerrero was a friga'e of the first
| class in the British navy and no doubt, when
the engagement between the Constitution &
| her commenced, she was completely ftted
| in all respects for the most serious service.
| The cost of such a ship, independently Of
! her stores, could not have been less than
| 90 600 dollars, ard her stores were worth
in all probability, $4,000 dollars at least
| besides, she had on board a number Of prize
! goods, the value Of which cannot be aScer-
tanned but was probably equal to $4,000 dol
lars m re. So thai the whole value of The
: Guerrero, her stores and prize goods, al
the time the action commenced, may fairly
be ertima,ed at 10000 dollars.
Had Captain Hall have incurred the risks
before mentioned, and succeeded in getting
the GuerIicre into port, the officers and crew
Of The Constitution, considering the Guerri
ere "a her equal, would have been entitled
to the whole of the Guerrero, her store
and peize goods. Sooner, however, thar
ron the risk oflosing the Constitution, he de
termined to destroy the whole. The ques
ton then arises, what, under these circum
stances ought the officers and crew To BE- az
lowed? For my nwn part, have no he Il a
ton in giving il as my opinion, that the sur
OF one hundred HOHsdId dollars would nC
be too liberal a provision. or too great AN Ell
couragement for the great galianlry, skill
/ and sacrifice ofiuterest, displayed on the &C
! caSien and am persuaded that If such
provision were made, the difficulty of MAI
ming our iIigatcs, at present experienced
r would vanish.
1t may furtberbe remarked, that captai
| Hull, while OF She cru.ze ON which he CT
E turcd and destroyed the Guerrero, burnt tW
enemy's vessels, viz. the brig Lady Ware
y and Ire brig Adeora, and obliged the eneH
. to burn the brig Dolphin, with a cargce
hcmp and Russia goods, and to abandon &
! English barque la len with timber tOrnOpa
: Of which have the officers or crew OF u
E Constitution received any Compensation.
10 have the honor 70 be,
Wdh great respect, Sir,
,e Your obedicnt servant,
n PAUL HAMILTON.
IN HsHsra6ie n, BasseT.