The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-10
From the Boston Gazette.
THE CHALLENGES.


We are authorised to give the following
as an authentic and particular account of
the late Communication between the Anne
rican and British squadrons on the N Lon
don station. commodore Decatur is over
Swallowed with laurel, and has erected a
proud monument of fame fer his country
and although the enemy in this instance has
refused to permit the Commodore to wrest
from him 6Iood-Stdined trophy; there is no
man whose heart American blood warns, who
does not exut at this Uictory ofhride. The
refusal of this Challenge is a novel fact in
the history of the world When before
have Englishmen refused to fight fripate to
trigate man TO man and gun to gun ne
yer.
ga little more than fortnight ago, Mr..
Moran, citizen ri the United States, was
landed from the British ship Families, and
not knowing Commodore Decatur, stated,
in his presence, IN Browns Tavern. New
London, that Immediately previous to his
being landed, captain Hohe, Of the Endymion
triSate, being with him. and Sir Thomas
Hardy, in the cabin Of the Families. enouir-
ed ofhim, whether " he did not think the fri
gate u. States, would not think il her better
policy TO annoy the British commerce, than to
seek an action with that ship i"-Sir 7Honas
Hardy then remarked that he should he de-
lighted to see match between the s dfirQ
were
that he would furnish men. and give room !:
but that he would not allow a CHALLENGE to
come from his side. Commodore DECATUR
examined Moran as to the statement, and
oelnS SATISFIED ot its correctness, resolved
to OFFER to Sir Thomas and capt Hohe. an
opportunity 10 crafty their wishes. To this
he was Induced from having heard number
OF other conversations Of capt. Hone, which
led him 10 believe that the Endymion was
fgeT1n rf.aWsa 81 =
der, to any Of our frigates out principally
because capt. Broke, (now Sir Phniul had
taken pains, in his note to capt. LazOrence,
70 express his surprise that Commodore
RodS'eFB in the President, aud capt. Smith
an the Congress, had avoided him in the
Shannon, and capt. Parker, in the Tenedos,
notw outstanding the repeated Invitations
gwen them by the coasters, &c. The Com
modore took 1t for granted, that if Sir Philip
would avail himself ofhis chalk hierogphios
on shingles & his remote uuendnes to the
common shippers # wood boa s, and lumber
shalioPs. to impeach Rodgers and Smiths
Willingness TO meet and fight them on canal
term that Captains Hone and Stackhole.
with Sir Thomas Hlrdy tod, perha DIS, if the
American squadron should have a chance
TO get to sea, unobserved by them, (Which
the Ionmodore is under orders to watch
for and embrace would be expressing their
a1Van
tage OF The Eastcriy zVeatkcr,"* and TINS
have avoided combat, which thew had re-
peatediy offered, "on equal terms - The
Commodore, therefor sent note. by Cant.
Sf?dLe, 70 SCR Ihon18 RardV, in which he
tated that if Sir IH07nGs admitted No
T1r's statement to be correct, he should sur
Mount the object, Of 7vh0 $h0uld giye fhs
ehHte9ge, and begged him 20 cons der tn at
as as an INVITATION tor meeting between the
u. .. trigates United States and AEccedo.
nun, and the British frigates Endy1,ion and
S'atira /; and that Captain Bid1le was am.
taol1ed to make the necessary arrange
ments TOR an mmed ate meeting. When
Captain Bjddle delivered the Note. Sir
Iho'rGS said he should leave il To tbe.
Captains ot,the triga:es and If tiev were
DESTROYS ctit, he should certainly not inter
tere, er attempt 70 prevent il prot, ssed
that be thought the Commodore's offer. a
U6ry HofTdt one that it was taking great
responsibility on himself that if their fri
gates should be unfortunate, it would GER
talniy break him but if they were snccfss
TIL, he thought the government would make
brh'f OF him ut Iesst. IL said they
W uid take the night to consider IT, Capt.
n date returned and7 the next morning
Captain Coote, of the Borer brig. came in
with a dispatch from Sir IHones, in yhich
he declined the meeting, notwithstanding
Napt RUE wished II very much, because
n thought the Erdymiou not a match for
the United Stairs. With regard to her be-
ing match, viii state, that two years o.
60 she was commanded by SIR Richari
Batton, aud captured Mr.. .Uhite, the
present master Of the United Stares a.
that time, they sneeringly compliment
ted Mr.. Hhfe, by telling biro, she was
me only frlgate they had iuc1rn mission, hat
could cope with our Consultation she has
been in ordinary since, until within h mon,bs,
and we understand his been pt in comm,
sion, and sent tO sea, with unlimited orders.
20 cruise IN pnrsrit Of one OF our frig.t.s. -
She IS undoubtedly Of more tonnage -beavi
% armamen', AID anger complement Of
men than any friga'e hey have snoat. Sre
our iet'c~ 7gritrr oRghf 70 6g7,e noted
dtfer fhis couflaiat u Sir Philip, that k5e
q0'na beI"@ actuaHp IA tie Ucrv ho,nt HI,
mentions, obtged Com. Eodgers 10 beat o,tf
or me harbour, and coUefqUeatIv 70 cross
ne BaV--7pbc~co. 10 being q f1tr 7oiyd ion.
Sir I'il ., he h0H 20 ~ ofnorfusuD Of
SeckWe me Crnuod>rc and 7youl9 hr6