Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-01-25
MONDAY. JANyAeY IS, 1918.

| TWO NSSSeiS. tl1t the hammers OF the WASP
were pushed asainst the Frolic's sides, and
two OF her guns went through the bow ports
OF the Frolic, and swept the whole length Of
i her deck. AZ tbs moment Jack Lang sea.
man OF the Wasp, gallant fellaw, who had
been once impressed by British ElaG of war,
jumped on gun with cutlasS, and, was
sprlnging on board che Frolic cartaia Jones,
wishing TO fire again before boarding, called
him down; but his irnpetu5sity could not be
restrained, and he was already on the bowspr;t
| of the Frolic; when, seeing the ar,lor and en-
thusissm of tho Nasp's crew, lieut.. Riddle
mounted on the hammock cloth to board at
! this signal the crew followed. But lieutenant
| Bicdle's feet got eptangled in the rigging OF
| the eremy's bowspr't, and mdshpman Baker,
| az ms drdor 10 get on bsGrd, laying hcld of
his coat, hefeil back on the Wasp's deck. He
| sPrang tip, and ns tbe next swell of the sea
brought tl'e Frolic nearer, he got on her bow
spirit, where Lang and another seaman were
already. He passed them on the forecasilc, and
was surPrized at seeing not single man alive
on the Froiic's deck, except the seaman at the
wheel and three officers. Tire deck was slip
perry with blood, and strcwed with the bodies
of the dead AS be went forward he captain
OF The Frolic, with two other officers, who
were standing on the quarter deck, threw down
TIER swords, and made an inclination OF their
bodies, denoting that they bad surrendered
At this moment tic colors were still hyng, as
probably none the seamen ofthe Frolic would
dare to 20 into the rigging for fear of the mus
kerry OF the Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle there
tore jumped into the rigging himself, and haul
ed down the British ensign, and possession was
taken OF the Frolic, in forty three minutes after
the hrs hre She was in shocking condition;
the birth-deck particularly was crowded with
dead and wounded, and dying; there being but
small proportion of the Froic's crew who
had escaped Captain Jones instantly sent on
Board has surgeons mate, and all the blankets
OF the Frolic were brought from her slop-room
for the comfort of the wounded To increase
thus confusion, both the Fro.ic's masts soon
fell. covering the deal and every thing on
deck, ami she lay complete wreck.
1t now appeared that the Frohc mo1ntcI
sixteen thirty two pound carronaCles, four
twelve Founders on The main deck, and two
twelve pound carrpnades. She was, therefore,
superior to the Wasp, By exactly four twelve
pounders. The number of men on board, rs
stated by the officers of the ProIic, was ore
hundred and ten--the number of seatnen on
board the Wasp was one hundred and two;
but lt could not be ascertained whether in this
one hundred and ten, were included marines s,
officers; for the Wasp had, besides her one
hundred and two men, officers and marines,
making the whole crew about one hundred and
thirty i've. What is however decisive. rs 10
Their comparative force is, that the officers of
the Irolic acknowledged that thcv had as ma
ny men IS they knew what to do with. and in
fact the Wasp could have spared fifteen men
there was tIere:ore IN fac most favorable
view, at leas' an equality of men, and an inc.
quality offour guns. The disparity ofioss was
much greater. The exact number ofkilled and
wounded on board the Frolic could not be pre-
cIsely determined but from the observations
OF our officers. and the declarations Of those OF
the froiic, the number could rot be less than
about thirty killed, including two officers, and
OF the wounded between forty and fftv; the
captain and second lieutenant being of the
number. The Wasp had FIVE men killed and
five slightly wounded.
All hands we're now employed in clearing the
deck, burying the dead, and taking care Of he
wounded, when captain Jones sent orders TO
lieut., Blddle to proceed to Charleston or any
southern port of the United States and as there
was suspicious sail to windwarCl, the Wash
would continue her cruise. The ships then
parted. The suspicious sail was now coming
down very fast. At first il was supposed that
she was one of the convoy, who had 6ed durinc-
the engagement, and who now came for the
purpose OF attacking the prize. The guns of
the Froiic were, therefore, loaded, and the
ship cleared for action; but the enemy. rs she
advanced, proved 20 be seventy.four-thc
Poictiers, capt. Beresford Sin fired shot o.
yer the Frolic passed her overlook the Wash.
the dlsahied state OF whose rigging prevented
her from scaping; and then returned to the
Frolic, who could of course make no resistance.
The Wasp and Frolic were carried into Bermu-
Ga.
1t is not the least praise due to captain Jones,
that his account ofthis gallant action is per-
fectly modest and unostentatious. On his own
share OF the capture, 1t is unnecessary 10 add
any thing "Fbe courage and exertions OF the
| officers and crew, he observes, &c fully answer
my expectation AMI wishes. Lieut. Biddle's
active conduct contributed much to our success
b. the exact attention paid To cye1yldcpartment
during the engagement, and the animatine ex.
ample he afforded the crew by his intrcpidity
Lieuts. Rodgers and Booth aud Mr.. Rapp,
showed by the inccssart fire from their divisi.
ons, that they were not 20 be surpassed in reso
luton or skill. Mr.. knight, and every other
officer acted with courage and promptitude
highly honorable Lieutenant Claxton, who
was confined by sickness, left his bed little
| previous 20 the engagement; and. though toe
weak TO be 1T his division, remained upon deck
and showed by his composed manner of noting
! its incidents, That we had lost, by his Hines
the services Of n brave officer
Josn Leng is native Of Ecv brunswick i,
| New Jersey. We mention, with GREAT Measure
| the name Of this brave American seaman, rs .
proof, that conspicuous vaor is confined to no ranl
ia the naval service.
INTERNAL NAVIGATION.
The following letter from the Collector of The