Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-09-27

gate Chesapeake to a premature engage
ment. Broke was veteran commander,
near sixty years of age, and had prepared
his ship for action in very extraordinary
manner: he haG az choice crew, picked
from different vessels OF the British navy ;
and he had borrowed from commodore
Hardy at least twenty sharp shooters, who
had been approved under the eye OF Nel."n |;
these were stationed IN the Shannon's
tops, in order to take off early the chef
Officers of the American Frigate.-
Thus prepared, captain Broke took Ia
vorabe opportunity to Avile cap ain Law
renee, then just appointed to the command
OF the Chesapeake, to hostile encounter.
The Chesap cake was one of the worst ships
the Americans had, her first lieutenant, who
alone was well acquainted with her trim OF
sailing, was sick ashore Lawrence himself
was stranger TO the crew, and they had
never been in battle. 1t must be confessed
here was something Cowardty in this inVi-
tation OF Broke for he had not only the
choice of his own ship to fight in, but he had
the selection of the ship of his adversary
that he would fight. That this was a deli
berate selection is obvious, as Broke, aitho'
the Tenedos frigate accompanied the Shan
non, kept aloof from commodore Rodgers,
who, with capt. Smith, of the Congress, put
TO sea as tree from molcstaiion as 1t there
had been no British squadron near Boston.
Capt. Lawrence, with that gaiiantry so ma
tural TO the truly brave, and which al this
day characteristic OF the chINairy of
France, had scarcely seen the decks OF his
vessel clear from iousc cordase when he
sailed forth to fight. The sharp shuoters
OF the Shannon shot him and his principal
officers down ar the first FIRE which pro.
FesH h.,ar he
irgate, when Broke put himself at the head
OF nearly all his crew and precIpsted him~
self upon the Chesapeake. The result is
well known. triumph, gained by some
thin. very like an artIiicc, has given ocCasi
ON 20 the most extravagant demonstrations of
joy in London. a member Il Parliament,
whose name is Croker, which IN the English
tongue signifies noisy, out contemplate
reptile, has pronounced on the occasion a
must prepoSterous euiogium, aud the Cor
pof atIun OF London have treated the affair
as II tie feets OF all the world had been an
ChOred III the Thames As trophies of their
.aior Who Is there that does not perceive
III TINS vaporing OF the Islanders, real
/ear TOR their ultimate naval superiority
lac americans will soon recover from this
event. They are people that do not yield
20 misfortune. We had sons experience
ot them talrty years ago; end they have
already eslnced tina they have not desener
a,ed. IL is not necessary To- cunceai that
France regards the naval progress of the
United States with considerable interest.
His Imperial Majesty has no wish to re
press their growth III that way. He desires
every power 10 enjoy its reasonable rights
on the ocean. Il is for that he now wage
war ard negnciates. He claims for France,
Tor hts kingdom of Italy, and for has allies,
nothing more than their legitimate portion
of commerCs. lie would be unworthy OF
the ine empire OYER which he regns, If he
did not pursue that object by all the plans
which his great genius may conceive, and
hrs resources and abilities enable hun to ex-
ecute.