The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-10-21

shc days Of the Romans. Peakc was native
Of the West Indies, and fought with warmth
of courage derived from the temperature Of
his climate. He could not, nevertheless, re-
sist the proves ofLawrcnce, who overwhcl-
med the Peacock with blaze Of fire, a. If
she had been pierced and sent 10 the bottom
by stream of lightning. Had such an event
occurred in tho days OF Heather Mythology,
the Greek and Latin poets would not have
failed TO celebrate it under the personi6cation
of Jupiter destroying with a stroke of thunder,
The fayourite bird OF his jealous consort Juno
Such, in effect, was the sensation throughout
Great Britain AZ the unvarying current of
American naval victories, that enquiries were
set on foot by Lord Darnley in the House OF
Peers, as to the cause Of British failure the
crews of English ships Of war were increased
in number, and the officers were commanded
10 keep their men in constant exercise.
Ships Of the line were cut down, still bearing
heavy batteries, SO As 10 pass for frigates
seventy fours sailed disguised, so as to veil
their force All sorts OF stratagems were
put in practice by the British officers, 10 de-
coy and take advantage Of the Americans.
Erigates were even fitted out, and called pri.
vateers 1t was in this way that English
pride sought to restore its reputation There
was something ridiculous iL ell these contri-
yances,cspecially when we consider that they
were the inventions Of Britons, who had SO
often and so insolentIy boasted themselves the
lords offhe OCEAN AT length . captain Of
the name Of Broke, who went in the frigatc
Shannon to watch the port Of Boston, succeed
ed in bringing the United States frigate Ches-
apeake to q premature engagement. Broke
was a veteran com mander, near sixty years
Of age, and had prepared his ship for action
In very extraordinary manner; he had q
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 Nelson these were stationed In the
Shannon's tops, in order to take ofearly the
chief Officers ot the American frigate. Thus
prepared, captain Broke took favorable OPP
portunity to invite captain Lawrence, then
Just appointed to the command OF the Chesa-
peakc, to a hostile encounter. The Chesa-
peake was one Of the worst ships the Amcri-
cans had her FIRST lieutenant, who alone was
we'll acquainted with her trim OF sailing, was
sick ashore; Lawrence himself was stran-
ger to the crew, and they had never been in
battle. II must be confessed there was some
thing cowardly in this invitation 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 deliberate selection is obvious, as
Broke, although the Tenedos frigate accom-
panied the Shannon, kept aloof from commo-
aorc Rodgers, who, with Capt. Smith, Of the
Congress, put TO sea a. free from molestation
as If there had been no British squadron near
Boston. Capt. Lawrence, with that galantry
90 natural to The truly bravc,and which at this
day is characteristic of the chivalry OF France,
had scarcely seen the decks Of his vessel clear
from loose cordage when he sailed forth to
fight. The sharp shooters OF the Shannon
shot him and his principal officers down st
the first Ere, which produced confusion on
board the American frigate, when Broke put
himself at the head Of nearly all his crew and
prccipitated himself upon the Chesapeake.
The result is we'll known.--A triumph, gain
cd by something very like an artifce, has
given occasion TO the most extravagant de-
monstra,ions Of JOY in London. A member
Of Parliament, whose name is Croker which
in the English tongue signifies noisy, but
contemplate reptile, has pronounced on the
occasion most prepostcrous culogiam, and
the corporation Of London have treated the
affair as il the fleets of all the world had been
anchored in tho Thames as trophies OF their
vulor Who is there that does not perceive
in this vaporing of the Islanders, real fear
for their ultimate naval superiority !-The
Americans will soon recover from this event.
They are people that do not yield to mistor-
tune. We had some experience OF them
thirty years ago and they have already evinc-
ed that they have not degcneratcd.
FROM THE NATIONAL fNrELLIGENcER.
CAPTURE OF THE ARGUS.
The U. S. brig Argus has boon captured
and carried into British port by the British
brig Pelican, vessel of much superior force.
The brave 1t. ALLEN, her commander, one
of the most promising officers in our Navy,
unfortunately received mortal wound dur
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