The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-21
CAPTAIN DACRES

w u C-NNA dCl tliC lOllOWllg dc renee OF III .
redoubtabie DacreS. in order to shew to
what depth of baseness the character of
the British naval officers, once so ex allied.
has falen,-as we'll as affording one m ore
instance OF the fact OF our country mt en- be-
ing torcibly detained III the British seryi ce
1t their aid on board one frgate was
thought so important as to afford n justili-
cation Tor its surrender, in consequence of
that aid being withheld, we may account
tor the reluctance manifested BY the Bri
tlsh government in the s,rrendering the
TSht " imflreSsment, as they, and their
stipendiaries in this country call it, The
shameless preiligacy of this man in stating
to the court-martial what he knew to be
false respecting the conduct of our officers
IN attempting to inveigc certain of his crew
into the u. States service will also attract
the notice of the public. Were net the in
structions of the navy department in re-
gard to the enlisting of Foreigners so strict,
and the high honorable characters Of our
officers SO we'll known, there might be more
reason for doubt on the subject. But as
these prescriptions are fortified by our
own personal observation and knowledge
OF the fidelity with which these instruct
ons are observed, we want words to express
our Indignation and contempt for the de
pravity and meanness which could suggest
such statements. National .advocafe.
FrOm the London Sun.
LOSS OF THE GUERRERO.
CAPT. DACRES' ADDRESS.
TO HE PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF
THE COURT MARTIAL.
" .@fr. President ard Gentlemen of the Court,
= BY my letter to admiral Sawyer, and
the narrative OF the principal officers, |
trust you will be satisfied that every exer
ton was used in defending the ship. as long
as there was the smallest prospect of res
istancc being OF any use. In my letter
where J mention the boarders being called,
it was my intention, after having driven
back the enemy, to have boarded in return;
and ia consequence | ordered down the
first Iieutauant on the main deck TO send
every body up Irom the guns but finding
his deck Filed with mea, and every prepa-
ration to receive us, it would have been al
most impossible for us TO succeed, ordered
the men tlown.to their quarters, ard de,i-
red Mr.. Kent To direct part OF bis attention
to the main deck, the Iieutcnant being kill
Jed lac main-ma5t fell without being
struck by a single shot, the heart uf the
mast being decayed, and it was car
ried away solely by tho weight of the
foremost; and though every tbing W as done,
we could not succeed il getting the 5Hip IN
der command and ON the enemy wearing
round to rake us, without Being able 10
make any resistance, and after having used
every eXertipu, 20 the best 9f my abi,ties,
found myself Obliged to order the coors 20
be struck which nothing bat the unmaa-
agcablc state OF the snip Che hyng per-
feet wreck could ever have induced nie to-
do. conccivjne It vas my duly not TO sacri.
ace uselessy the lives Of the ncn, without
any prospect OF success, or of bcneGt to their
country
" On the larboard side about thirty slot
had taken effect about five sheets OF copper
down, and the nizen mast had knocked a
large hole under her starboard counter, and
she was so completely shattered, tLat the
enemy found it was impossible to rclit heI
sufficiently to attempt carrying her into port,
and they set fire TO her as soon as they got