The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-07-27
.bth, o.
DO.HESIYC.

THE GALLANT CAPT. PORTER.
The conduct of the British towards this he
roic officer and his brave crew, was base, cow
ardW, and barbarous in the extreme For
British tfgatc of SO longgu Carving 49)
and $40 men, to refuse to meet an American
OF 81 caTronadeS, and only $50 men for this
trigate, already so greatly superior, to wait
Tor the assistance of a heavy sloop of war of %
guns, and, when thus reinforced to run into
neutral port, On open violation of the laws of
natlons) and attack single frigate which had
already been disabled in a gale. was most
cowardly and treacherous. When to these cir
cuipstances we add their refusal TO save fran.
tie 7cctery G6ySs hc Urf2ryunafe .4,,erico,
SGl40T@ 7oho had fallen o1Jer gvith the mast. and
Meir continued FIRE uyloa the Esqe1, after her
cofoTc had been o9vercI, i altoge thar makes as
iotIi stain as ever defcrmcd the character of
amy nation, having the most remote preten-
SONS to civilization or humanity.
When We contrast the conduct Of the rod
Ike LAWRENCE with the monkiSh c,ueifv of
the ccid-bloodcd Efiliyar, upon what proud
emInence ,ioes the American character stand
rs soon as i-aWrence perceived that the Pea
cock was sinking, he dispatched his boat 70
inc assistance or IN unfortunate enemy His
efforts were successful and by his humane
exefuons, many OF the enerly'S crew were
| rescued from impending death But. in efectine.
this truly glorious work, three 6yuz,e .4,,ie,i1
can LaTSS2Si M,r bUeS ! they 6eing ON board
me f'e4c0ct, eRdeGUorine to saUe more of
| fheH entH7'eS, at tie moment she qyent 10 me
bottom Here let an impartial world iudcc
| between the Americans and British In one
| case, an American slocp of war beats an Eng
iish one OF superior force, and loses three of
heT own Crew IN attempting to save the lives
OF vanquishcd enemy in the other, Br-
| tlsh lrlgdte shrinks from contest with an A.
merlcan OF inferior power, s. like a contempt
bic DULY, watts tor strong assistant, then fall
| together upon their single-hanled opponent,
| TJuSe 10 &1Uc me hUeS If t7Yo hoor sailors,
and continue 20 butcher the remainder of.hc
cTe7v after they had surrendered
| outraged humanity calls aloud for venge-
ahce he hagraut enormity of this act has
consisncd the name OF HigyGr to eternal infa
my. 1t viii brace with new energy The Her
culean nerves of our gallant ta1s and " rouse
the lion III them" Woe be to this man, should
| ne ever be compelled to range himself at the
| side ~ an American force any way equal
he man who does not feel the " giow of no.
| nest indignation" at Conduct so brutal, is I'M
| worthy II flfedom, unworthy OF his country,
ana eY%iy way unworthy to be defended bv
the noOie-hearted tars I'll Ameiica. We are
! happy to perceive that this ba,barcus and
| co!d-booded procedure is abhorred fy cvcry
icdefaiist III whose CHS circulatcs one droi,
81 american blood. thc man who can view
1t with Indifference, is a fit companion for the
dctcsted H'lyay * his employers, and Il were.
a great pity that he should continue for any
length ottime separated from them.
Inc gallant Capt. PORTER was not only IA
tcu 70 rcccive this barbarons usage from nm
ya', but he was greeted with second part
( OF the same treatment from the Captain
| ut the Saturn razee. He escaped, however,
| at the risk ofhs lite and, thanks be to Fca-
ven, is now safe in the bosom ola people who
Snow how to estimate The value Of his intro
pidity
That she Essex Should be zone frcr, ArDo-
RIGA nearly two yeafs-1hat She should strike
/ such terror into the Dritish-lender the South
eIn OCEAN tributary to her--and stand 50 eal-
| iantlY against such " fearful odds THAT on
his return, Captain PoRTER should again be
compelled to fly from British Injustice, and
RISK his life in a small skif-that On reaching
his native shores, his extraordinary story
should at first be doubted, and he become sus-
Pectcd rs d British oficrr or sbv-tha. all
doubts should at length be removed, and that
ms ieIlo"-CtiZeus, ~ admiration of his intre-
Pdity and hercan, should unhainess his hor-
scs, and draw him through the streets with
repeated and an'matiug huzzas, although he
nodes,y en0cavored % prevent it-forns al
| together, il not rariety OF romantic incident,
ut lcast Il very singular combination of inter
! eSting crcumstauces-and perfectly CORES
! ponds with that ci'ivafous spirit so peculiar
- me american Navy. B0oton PcUfot.