Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-10

fison suffered until 1t was known what were |
the precise nature of his orders. Our navy
IS composed of rs good bone and gristle,"
and contains as patriotic and brave (and it
has been improved by tho Constitution, rs pru.
dent) oihcevs, as any country can produce
and we fear not to trust them in the path OF
DUTY.
A gentleman passengerin schr. Amaranth,
from HAVANA. for Boston, reports the fol-
lowing-Saiied from HAVANA Cd July, in
CO. with brig Vulcan, Wadsworth, for Bos
ton: left, (among others) to sail in a few
days, ship Enterprise, Clark, supercargo,
tor Philadelphia. July Is. s. Shoal of Nan
tncket, bearing n. E. IL or Is leagues dist
the Amaranth was brought to. and board
ed from the British frigate Shannon, 1.-THE
Asa, Guerrierc, Belvidera, and iEolus in
col captured. and Immediately, with her
cargo OF piolasses, burnt, and crew taken
on boarf. the Shannon--July 10, the Shan
non, ,Sapenled. the u. 5. brig Nautilus, Lit.
Cra9e-Same evening, observed large
saul ~ sight-thc commodore ordered the
GYSffiere to.chase, followed soon after
by1h the squadron. On the 18TH, early in
| TIE morning, were within 6 or z miles of
TIE chase. which proved to be the u. ). fri
4 gate Constitution. Capt. Hull, supposed to
6e bound from Annapolis, 70 JOIN commodore
Rodgers-at noon falling calm. out al
boats to tow up the squadron to the chase
1.-THE. American frigate doing the same
| att p. Nj. Guerrero fired 5 broadsides at
her, but being out of gun shot no execution
was done--.At 4 p. NJ. the Bekidera being
the nearcstto the Constitution, received a
single shot, which was Instantly answered
from the British ship in same way, and a
few minutes skirmishAg took place, but
1t IS presumed no damage was done on set-
Their SIDE; eConstitnfion' gums beiri,, he:t-
vier, her shots we're very near striking the
/ Belvidera and some went over her, the lat
| tter,s tel far short-in the evening, a fine
breeze spripgiDg UP, I'm all boats s. madessaSl
after continuing the chase about 70 hours,
during which{ every possible exertion was
made to comeep with the Constitution, with
out effect, (shc sailing more than knot an
hour faster. than the squiadron) orders were
given to give upthe fruitiess pursuit
Inc Dispatch, arrived at New London on
| Sunday evening, Goth inst. Mr., imme-.
diately forwarded the sealed list of the pri-
soners, paroled from the British squadron,
which was handed him by Com. Brooke, TO
the Secretsry of the Navy. From all the
information derived from the officers of the
British squadron, respecting the action with
! the Belvidera, off Nantucket, they persist in
aeeiaring they were attacked by the Presi-
! dent and Congress; the shot of the latter,
| however, falling short; and that there were
e tr'sates IN sight, two wearing broad pen
dants-however it may have been, it is suffi-
Client to say the Belvidera's stern was knock
ed IN, men killed, 10 wounded, and capt.
| byron also, by the recoil of a cannon-the
Belvidera fired 298 shot, which was as her
ofhcers report, very destructive to the ship
engaged with her. Mr.. -, while on board
the Shannon was very politely treated both
| by commodore Brooke and his officers.