Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-12-27
HAsHINGToN CITY, Dec. %.
CAPT. SMITHS CNUlZE

The following are the material circumstan-
ces which occurred during the vigilant and &C
1--WE cruise of the U S. ship Congress, Captain
SIN til, which commenced the 3JllI April,
and I animated On the 18th inst.
His course was in circutous direction to
tn, S Z. crossing the equator, passing the n
+. coast OF Brazil, and hence homeward in
which Il vast number OF neutral vessels were
brought O and examined, four valuable vessels
of the enemy captured, but none of his cruz
ers en- from the third OF May to the end of the
cTuiZe.
Er.rGct ofa letter from Cant. 10 Smith. 10
the Secretary of The many, dated on bard
u S. Frigate Congress, Portsmouth Har-
Dor, Dec. l4th, 1918
& have the hon to communicate 20 you
the arriya at this anchorage, of the u. frig
ate Congress, under my command, whose dai
lie situation during the cruise. i take the liberty
of aging before you III the abstract from the
ships log, which accompanies this ; III which
there is accounted for all vessels which were
| seen bysals, from the period of our separation
from the President, until arrival at this
place, witisfthe exception of one brig, which
twice escaped under the favor of dark nights,
and whose great distance only enabled me 10
conf cture her 10 DC an American priyatcer.
The expiration of the term of service of the
greater part OF the crew of the Congress-, | am
concerned 80 inform YOU orthey have, neverthe
! less, for some months, been serving under hose
circumstances with the same zeal and activity
have always found them eminent for-Your
sanction tor their discharge and order to re
p ace their number, shall be thankful for"
Erfract from ths Log BOOB ofthe United States
fIgate Congress, John Smith, esq commander
May 3. Lat 40, 18, long n, 10, IN chase of
the Is itish brig Curlewi saw at the same time
20 leeward a line of battle ship and frigate
Lost sight of the chase during the night
May Lat, 81, 49, Long. 81, 81, boarded the
American ship Amlable Matilda, from New
Yo k for Lisbon, IN chace of which separated
from the United States rigate President
May 90. Lat. %, g, long Al, 40, captured
the British brig jean, of 10 guns and " men,
Il Mott, master, belonging 20 Mcssrs. Cocl.
| rams o. Paisley. Noth Britain. from Buenos
Ayers, bound to Greenock, 81 days out, cargo
o. 50 hides, lO0packages of tsllow and 40 pigs
ot.copper, weight about ID tons-aftcr taking
| ouftle copper destroyed her.
| May %. Lat %, So, long. 80, 50, captured
the Hritisli brig Diana, Of 10 guns and IA men,
| George Thompson, master aud owner from }u-
| enoS Ayres, bound to London, SO lays out, car
| TO 6U5O hides, $50 bales of tallow and bales
| of horse hair threw over board all the cargo,
except sufficient to make her safe to proceed to
the West Indies, aud rendered her otherw Use
unfit for service.
May "a. Lat. 20, IS, long SO, 80, put all the
prisoners on board the Diana parole, ond
! furnished her for passage 10 Barbadoes.
Oct IS. Lat 10, 70, loag 40, a, captured he
British ship Rose, Philip Vibert, master from,
Guernsey, bound to Guadalupe, laden with
Mcdoc wine and potatoes, took out 500 gal.
Ions OF wine, which we put in our water casks
and 50 hogsheads which We slowed in the hold ,
and 10 tons of potatoes, being all we could stow
on board, and then destroyed her--burthen 1872
| tons.
Nov. 9. Lat IS, i6, Ing. 43, As, boarded the
| Spanish brig Amia5e Maria, from HAVANA
bound TO Teneritie; put on board Of her, on
| their parole, the master, mate, and suPercargo
Of the late British ship Rose.