Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-17
% the Commonwealth, near the BeII-Tayern
"a dollars per annum,


on to capt. Decatur, who had, some tins be-
,orS' received ms ommission.-From that ship
ne was removed TO the Congress, and returned
nome m her when peace was concluded with
iriPoii- on ms return to the United States,
ne was employed III experimenting gun boats,
until the affair ofthe Chesapeake, when he was
ordered to supersede commodore Barron i'm the
command OF that ship, since which period he
nas mac the ommand of the southern squa-
afon. When the United States was again put
In commission, he was removed from the Che.
sapeake to that frigate.
Inc foregoing particulars were furnished us
oy a friend, as materials from which to form
U oioBraphy; but we were so well pleased with
TIC simplicity, conciscness and modcsty of tho
narration, tiat VIC resolved TO Law it before our
'esusrs WIN merely a few trivial alterations.
ne present war with Great Britain has Civ
cn commodore Decatur another opnortun;tv nj
a0ulng 20 tie laurels he had already won. On
e,e XSth OStoher, 1919, in lat. %, N. long. go
~: ne Tell IN with his Britannia Maiesty's
SNIP Macedonian, mounting 40 carriage guns.
rms was one OF the finest trigates in the Bril-
S.sn navy and commanded by captain John s..
Garden, one OF the ablest officers. She was in
prime order, two years old, and but four months
ouS OF JOCK. The enemy being to windward,9
mad the advantage of chooring his own dis.
lance; and, surprising the United States to be
Tue Essex, (Which only mounts carronades.1
kept at hrst at long shot, and did not al any
n'o"e"e come within the complete effect Of
inc musAetry and grape. After the irigates
hau come To close action the bsttle was termi.
mated IN a very short period by the enemy's
surrender. The whole engagement lasted for
an hour and 4 halt, being prolonged by the dis
lance at which the early part Off was fought.
and by n heavy swell of the sea. The superior
sunnery OF the Americans was apparent in this,
as IN all our other actions. The Macedonian
/ lost lCf NIXON a. fnr. ..l -.
and main yard, and was much cut IN in the
nun. iier loss was thirty six Killed, and sixty
|eight wounded. The damage of the United
states was comparatively trivial, four killed
and z wounded and she suffered SO. little in
ncr nun and rigging, that shc might have con-
uhued her cr9ize, had not confnedore Decatur
thought 1t important to convoy his prize into
port. Has reception ofcaptan Garden IN board
OF the United States was truly characteristic.
on presenting his sword, Decatur observed
liat he could not think OF taking the sword of
an otncer who had defended his ship 50 gallant
~ hut he should be happy to take him by the
hand.
We are sorry to observe that captsin Garden
mas not been ingenious in his account of this
affair. He mentions that, " after an hours
acton the enemy backed and came to the
WIND, and | sOds then enabled to bring her 10
cIoSe detIon." Now, on the contrary, we have
1t from the Sery 6eSt authority, that the United
states was close haul d so The wind, and her
commander was extremely anxious to come 10
close Quarters. There are other parts of cant.
gardens official letter that are exceptionabie.
put we shall pass them over without
itls natural tor a proud and galls.,t mind 10
writhe under humiliation, and to ende to
paiiIate the disgrace of defeat but a truly
InaSnaniinous spirit would scorn to do it &c
me exPence OF a brave and generous foe Capt.
Garden aiuSt know that lie had it m his power
10 ClOA0 with fha 80 49, -
pleased, and that there vas no move ment on
inc part OF Commodore Decatur TO preyent It
we again repeat, that it IS with regret we 10
tice any instance of disingenuousness in an OIL
hcer whose general character we admire. end
whose department at all times to our country
men has been such as 10 entitls him 90 tl,eir
highest good will.
ii IS not one OF the least circumstance IF
commodore Decatur's good fortune, or rather
Pood management, that he conveyed his prize.
III her shattered condition, across = vast extent
OF ocean. swsrming with foes, and conducted
her triumPbantly into port thus placing inn
mediately before the eyes of his countrvmca Il
noDie trophy ofhis own skill, and of national
prewcss.
Such has been the brilliant career of this ma
raj hero. In private life his fortune has been
equally propitious. IGNORED by his country
beloved by his friends, and blessed by the al
%iections OF an amiable and elegant woman. He
Is now IN the very prime of life, pleasing in his
person, ofan intelligent and interesting coun-
tenance, and an eye in whose mild and briIli-
ant iustre, spirit, enterprise and urhauity are
happily blended. His deportmen, is manly and
unassuming, and his manners peculiarly gentle
and engaging; uniting the polish Of the gen
tieman with the frank simplicity of the ssilor.
1t is with the most perfect delight that we have
noticed our naval officers, on returning from
the gallant achievements which are the univer-
sal topics OF national pride and exultation, sink
ing at once into transformations and quiet citi~
zens: No vaingiorious boastings, no puerile
gasconades, are ever heard from tlIsir iips OF
their enemy they always speak with courtesy
and respect; of their own exploits, with unaf@
tected modesty and frankness. With tho u.
Piring ardor Of truly brave spirits, they paw
but little regard to the past their whole souls
seem stretched towards the future. Into such
hands we confde, without apprehension or re-
serve, our national interests and honor to this
handful ofgallant worthless is allotted the proud
destiny of founding the naval fame Of the ma
ton, and OF thus having their names nsepara-
bly, connected with the glory Of their c~sfntry.
THE CASE or MR.. RICHARDS AGAIN.
In defiance ofthc most palpable facts facts,
too, of which they could not pretend {, be ir-