Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-06-23
< From, the Boston Daily .fdverfi'er'
CONSTITUTION II JAVA.

action between the above vesscis' nso
lenptb reached this country, IN the torm
Of a letter, stated to be from Lieute',aA.
Chads to John Wilson Croker. Dut
the palpable misrepresentation, win
which the letter abounds. create oehei
thar the letter was not written by lieut.
Chads for as seaman, 1t IS 10 DC P,S
sumed that he never would have com
mitted himselfin the manner thaf iessei
doe, commit him. 1t is therefore a lar
inference that the letter was written oy
John Wilson Croker, TO hiasey, 6y or
der Of the admiralty. But be 1t from
either, it carries It's own reiutahon, ana
needs only to be read to show the ao-
surdity and talsity of its state
When, however, such evident marks OF
the want of magnsnimity on the part OF
the enemy, who had proof OF bis being
well fought by his foe, and certainly re-
ceived generous treatment after his cap
ture, are exhibited to the public; 1t then
becomes an act of common justice to ex'
pose such illibsrality in its proper CO.
Tors, and to state facts which dellcacy
alone towards yanquishsd Zoe had sup
pressed.
shall nutice in succession the obser-
va,ions in the letter alluded to.
The first assertion, that the Constr
tuition IS was made out to be large fri.
gate" i, incorrect; and is disproved by
the fact that she was supposed by the
officers ofthe Java to be the Essex which
they were informed had sailed from St.
Jage but four days previous to the arrl.
val of the Java at that place. This all
the officers Of the Java, and lieut.. Cnads
himself, admitted, whilst on board the
Constitution and they expressed their
establishment at her appearing so very
small, which appearance vas In conse-
qusnce of her being disguised with
paint.
The second assertion states that the
Constitution tackled aud made al sail a.
way upon the wind at the same time
mentions the Java being to windward.--
The absuriity and contradiction It this
sentence must be palpable to the mind
of every seaman.
The third assertion, thatthe Consti-
tuition opened her fire, at one halt mile
distance, which was not returned unlii
he Java was close upon her weather
bow, is followed By decla alton OF the
same ignorant write, "that they could
not bring her to close action" although
they were close upon her bows and to
windward And be admits that the Con-
situation was lying to, and that the Java
had greatly the superiority in sailing.
our opponent avoided close action
end fred high" If the writer Of that
letter had been there and spoken the
truth, ne would have acknowledged,
that the Constitution even exposed her.
self to raking fire to get to the 20 ition
ot close action and that the Java, ba-
heving the Con .titution to be the Essex.
with carrooades, made every possible
maDeuyre to prevent the Constitution
closing with her. This was, however
effected in spite of all the exertions on
board the Java; and so close position
was taken that it was presumed the ac-
ton would have been decided In that
situation, without further manHuvring
both vessels laying within pistol shot,
the Java to windward, so that each yes
sci could bring all her guns 10 bear up
on The other. But most astonlshiEgly 10
all on board the Constitution, the Java
put her helm up and wore round to get
clear OF the excessively heavy FIRE from
the Constitution, thersby exposing her
self TO raking fire. Ii it had been the
inclination or intention of capt. Lambert
TO have boarded, which tina, writer as
serts to be the case, he certainly could
have taken position favorable to such
an attempt. Bat lieutenant Chads told
the commodore they never had any 10
|,en,lcY of boarding, and observed, "Sir,
against such crew as yours 1t would
have been Impossible to have succeed
cd" The acknowledgment Of the wri.
ter, "of hcping a great fart o. their
cre1v killed AVID 7poundea--fheir 5c4vsfrH
and three maats gone-aererai guns gse-
less many Of their mates and naidshffa-
men killed, and thc greater Part qoound-
ed," is sufficient comment upon the
assertion that the Constitution fred high
a. the maSts y II proves, at least, that
The hull, as well as the masts and spars,
was the object of her aim. The asser.
| ton :hat the Java was not able to keep
tho weather gage is equally false with
the others she retained ii during the
whole Of the action, and OH every tack
--.A2i when the Java, al minutes past
struck her flas, the Constitution laid
| under her lee beam, add in that position
ceased her FIRE. On seeing the Java's
| flag was hauled down, she then Shot a.
head to repair her damages and while
thus employed, the flag wss again hoist
ed Oh board the Java, which excited
general disgust on board tie Constitution.
1t was evident to Us that the Java could
\ ,,o.La ~ c,,r,Lar ra.setapce and that