The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-03-02
THE GOVERNOR ToMpKINs.

Coty eta feyter from cahtain Shaler. ofthe
friUafeer Gop'r: Iomhkins. to us aren't
in Nezu- York, dated az sea, Jonuary 1af.
1871.
1.-TWO days after dspatchirg the Nereide.
tonk a whaleman from London, bound for
the South Seas but she being OF no value. I
took out such stores &c, as could stow &
being much numbered with prisoners & bag
gage, put them OF board, and ordered her
for Falmouth.
The chasing this ship. had taken me
some distance off my ground and, ewing to
Gains, could not regain it until the 25th
nlt. when at sunrise, three sail were disco
vered ahead, and we made sail in chase
The wind being light we came slowly up
with them On nearer approach, they APP
|peared TO be two ships and brig. One of
the ships had all the appearance of large
transport and, from their manoeuyres. thew
appeared to have concerted measures for a
mutual defence * the large ship appeared
prepared to take the bulk of an action. Boats
were seen passing TO and from her she had
bording MEETINGS almost up to her tops shg
also had her topmast studdingsaii boon.s
out, with he SAILS at their ends, ready for a
running fight. Her ports appeared to be
painted, and she had something on deck re
sembting merchantBan's boat and, after
all, what the deuce do you think she was ?
Why, have little patience, and I will tell
you.
" At p. NJ. sudden squalI struck ne
from the northward, and the shin NOT vet
having received it, before could get in orr
light sails, and almost before I could turn
round, was uhder the gun,-not cfqtran
hort, but OF a LARGE FRIGATE! and
not more than one third of mile from her.
| Immediately hauled down English coiors.
xryl,i rt ~ 4. =
American ensigns. trimmed our sails by the
Wind, and conn enced a brisk fire from on,
little battery: but this was returned with
woeful interest. Her first broadside killed
Q men and wounded others, two of whom
severely, one since dead. Ii also blew mn
one OF my salt boxes, with two nine pound
Cartridges This communicated FIRE tn q
number of ristols, & three tube boxes which
were laying on the companion way. all of
which exploded, & some of the tubes pene
trated through small crevice under the
companion leaf, and found their way to the
Cabin hoor but that being wet, and the fir
screen being up, no further acciden, took
place.
:. This; together with the TREMENDOUS fire
from the frigate, | assure you, made warm
work on the Tonpkins's quarter deck: bnt
thanks 10 her heels, and the exer;ions of nv
brave officers and crew, still have the com
mand other
"When she opened her fire upon me. /,
was about half past three. was then a
little abaft her beam. To have attemnted
to tack, in hard squall, would at least have
exposed ne to raking fire & to have ~
tempted it & iss,would have been attended
with the inevitable loss of the schooner. I
therefore, thought it most prudent TO take
her fire on the tack on which I was and
this was exposed to from the position wbich
| have mentioned until passed her bow =
she all the while standing on with me. and
almost as fast as ourselves and such tune
az was played round my ears, assure Won.
| never wish to hear again on the same
key.
60 At 4 her shot began TO fall short Of n
At half past four, the wind dying away. and
the enemy still holding it, his again began
TO reach us-got out sweeps, and turned all
hands to. also threw over all the lnmher
from the deck, and about 1000 W.T.. Of sho,
from the after hold. From about s. A. M.
all his shot fell short ofus.~ At about 2s mi
nutes after the enemy hove about; and I
was glad to get so we'll clear Of one of the
most quarrelsome companions that I ever
met with.
e." After the first broadside from the fri
gate, shot struck tho hull Of the Tomo
kins ; but the water was literally in foam,
all round her.