The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-26

Extract of a letter from Co,,nisdsre Bainbridge,
TO his friend in this city, dated
Ar SEA, JAN Oh.
" The Java exceedingly we'll Fought x brave
ly defended. Poor Lambert, whose death 4 sin
cerely regret, distinguished gallant officer and
worthy He has left "a widow aud two helpless
chidreni But his csuntry makes provision for such
Cd! events.
We are now homeward bound The damage
the Constitution received in the action, aud thu de
cayed state she is in, makes it necessary for me to
return to the United States for repairs this much
regret my crew participate in this sentiment ;
they ar, however, consoliug themselves with the
hope Receiving their pIizt money tor the Guerrero
on th~r return. You would be highly amused
to hear these rough though noble, sons Neptune
planning now they shall spend their priv. money
Oue says he " i'll buy himse snug little ship on the
highest hill he fine, that he may thence in his
Old age view all our Sea fshts-another, tIat he
will marry his Poll-anotner, that now he will send
his lat lie Jack to school, &c
Poor fellows, trust they will not be dissp-
pointed IN their expectations. Twice have they
willingly and CALAMITY encountered tie eremy, aud
iwIee nave ties succ -eded To return home now,
and fud Ia they have nothing bu remnant o. nav
coming To them, would he extlein .ly mrtf e.
would inevitably depress their spirits, ant dam ,
that nohe ardor which they have hitherto felt and
displayed The officer may feel differently For
the performance Of his duty lac feels rca.d in his
own bosop,, aud in his couatry's thanks--patrotsm
ard lsudsble thirst tor renown, will lead him "a
court pers defence Of his countgys rights These
feelings operate upon the sailor also bu t0 keep uu
che high tone of his ardor, he have Prize n, o.
ney ia 0ieSo
g True policy, in my humble opinion. dictates the
destruction OF the enemy's ships after capture (;
tor by manning them, evea if they are left
IN manageable situation, our SHIPS would
be so Weakened in their crews that they
would &c liable To be captured by an equal, or in
sailed ty inferior force. The act Of destruction
Is done by the command Of the captain only-ths
crew, Who have exposed their lives equally with
ai,n, have not the riSht Of opposifion. When 1 or
presented themselves to my mind with great force
Surely justice aud sound policy obviously reeomm end
liberal provision in their favor In making the Sc
observations, am not Influenced by any selfish mo.
uYe--the applause OF my cOuntrymen has TOR me
greater charms than all the gold that s!itters
" But justice to those who have area adv foupLt
under my command, & assisted re in obtaining III .
victory, requires at my hands AN sxertion in their
iehalt and should it pleaSe heaven to conduct us
safe to our native shores shall not fail 20 use nv
best endeavors, soemniy believing, as | do. that
the principle is all important to tie continued SIC
cess Of CIR macy For it 1t is, hold it the indis-
pensibx duty OF the commander to destroy the sb in
alter capture, on account of the gauntlet bs would
ave TO gun with both The prize and his own shin
Except he should be very near one Of our ewu
ports )sDd the captain to receive (Which is almost
always the case) all the honor, and the others no
com eHsHfiOn--ig it not natural to supDose that
the ardent desire Which seamen at present 50
strongly manifest 20 get into battle would diminish
Let that once take place, and your naval Eghts WI
not, prophecy, be so decisive as thew would be
by keeping the ardor up And how tr;fling an ex
pense the compensation would be in a national view
The schooner that am dispatch,ng IA Drizt
to the Hornet viii give TO the public Treasury up-
wsrdsof one hundred th0psdad doifGrs."---Nat I'M.