The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-11-19
Ner, tie i.stsn Dciiy .fdserf;scr.
TIE C.3PTLRE or TIE ARGUS.

correspondent hes fnrnshed US with tie follow
Ing circumsances,wbich have recently come TO light
He observes,
In looking over n file Of London paper1 for the
month of August last, (reeeved per the Neptunr,
from lverpool was very forcibty s'rncs with m.
ragraph relative TO the capture nj the late u s. BRIG
Argus by the British brig ofwsr psiicsn, which, in
my opinion, alters the complexion orthe engagement
between those vessels very nueh, rotwithstant!-
insths decided superiority the part o, the lat
ter.
The paragraph alluded to :e this: " sc the seton
closed, His Msicsty's shin Iconitias Csp,ain Sc,
rnour, Ersted ssJ fen in with thsrn., 1.-The Argus
and Pe'ican,] This paragraph was ira. pubi;sSc;i
IN the Cork Chronicle" & repniished in the Lon.
don " Pilot OF the Esd Aug. from which have ia.
KENT.
II viii no dcubt We recolect.d by the pnhic, TIA,
both the Pelcsn and Leonicss ,.iie from t,ur fr
the express purpose OF looking after ,he sris and
ttat sitter the action the Pelican returned 10 Cork.
where the facts relative To the engagement. sc,
must have been known, and we're no dcaht correct.
~ stated in the Cork Chronicle
| The Ministerial! prints teok very good care no,
to rePub,sa the account eoo,siu;nC the abeve Quoted
paragraph the introdueteu ia The Amer;..ns
wanted smother proof of British superiority OF the n
cean The Pelican has siJorde, il in the cao,,,r ri
the Arsus) to the sccount published by them wonld
have been effected by il ia fact. IL yntld NOT v.,;t
their purposes.
Eth been stated In many ee the London nnr, nh
er English prints, tist " Just us Cant NIap,es va,
laying the Pelican aongsile i,r the purpose OF bear
tSc aPNerlcnns struck an; 80 -he Dor,7
closed, sn6 after contest OF 40 minute S,spt Ma
pies gave directions for boarding On her s.arScsi
bow. and she was instantly carrird the American.
making no resistance whatever end r,nn.n. below
&c. from these statements msny 9. our .eiicw-c;.-
izens have thought and perhaps still think that the
Surviving officers and OF the Argus hen WE'D
cowardly in not making Fort 10 rerei the n,,,,sh
when they attempted TO beard her But taking ,,,to
consideration the hrs paragraph IN this communities
ton, which have correctly guored, 10 one I an
persuaded, will wonder their surrender or will
harbor In his breast for moment hereafter .ho',
so uNjust, so unchsrtshie, and directly opco.;te
to what the enemies of the u. s. think and l,ays re-
peatediy acknowledged, that the q7seric1ns are a
| brave SsOoie."
FroIa the above statement i appears that III, Fri;
fish boarded and instantly carried the Argus &
me acton closed the Leonlas fell in with the,n nf
course she could not have been great distance OF
mot more than or miies'at .athest to have fai
len in with them in 40 minutes, the who.. time Of
the action - stated By the British accoupts> VIXEN
the SETON commenced, aud no donbt nerred then
every moment during the continuance oft II i,
not to be wondered at that the officers and GREY az
the Argus surrendered under these ercu ,s,,n.a,
when SIS enn frigate olosy aboard OF them, I'D
showing y they eon'ended any longer with the Pei.
can admitting there was possibility OF capturing
her. Or at least prevent bsnS sar,uret.i il yould b
useiess, IS they would finally lie taken 6y the
dss. (the shattered coneation of the rcus ro,kpo
ihiposHoie Tor her to escspe) they very pruden,y
surrendered, saving thereby many vaicab,. lives
which, IN ali probability, wpr,d have been sscr;5c,
! had they defended themselves ary ,oresr M
acnlariy in SO desperate r,anner az repeiior boar
ders s ~
Upon the whole, the American character Ia, lost
nothing by the capture eff the Argrs: bu, on the
con.rary, shines with greater Instre than ev.r-fnr
ia vessel of the size of the Areas mee,. boldly
brig OF w-r aH much superior to her in rom, az
and force % the Pelican was, with SIS Gun frisn,
IN sight Mt the time. and oontinues TO fsht bsr vhc
the trisste is approaching nearer 70 Their, everv - ,
,neht--we ant no further proof of he cours:e and
bravery q oar co'rryr.en Than WHIST sne5 en- scton
would afford, andit needs no other comr,ents il,
additon--for the simple fact of itself is comme,,
sufficient.