Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-03


manded by Com Decatur.
The vessel in company with her was, the
Macedonian brig, which made her escape, by
very SUPERIOR sailing.
Aad now, Sir, a very pleasing part of my du,
ty is the bearing testimony TO the able and
mastery manner in which the Endymion was.
conducted, and the gallan,ry with which she
was fought and when the effect produced by,
her well directed fire upon the President is
witnessed. it cAnnot be doubted but that Cant
Hope would have'succeeded in either captls-i
ing or sIkihg her, had none of the squadron
been in sigh.
For your further Information have the no
nor to enclose Capt. Hopes letter with re-
turn otklilsd and wounded, on board the Endy-
rninn: 1 have not yet been able to ascer sin the
aosssof the President, but believe, it to be
much greater than the Ehdymion's and she
had six feet water in the hole when taken pos.
session of both ships were very much cut in
rnasts aud rigging and had the present most Sc
we're gale, commenced twelve hours sooner the.
prize would undoubtedly have sunk as soon As
the weather will permit communication,
shall procure further particulars, and then send
the Endymion and Pomona, with the prize and
prisoners to Bermuda.
I have the honor TO be, &c
EJoHN.HAYES. Captain.
Rear Admiral the Hon.
Sir Henry Hothan, s<c.
P.S-The ships having parted company
in the gale, no further particulars have been
obtained.
Number of persons Of all descriptions on
board the President previous to Ike action, a.
bout 400.
.H. "a.
n naerehast ship iddea with prooisisns.
His Majesty's ship Endymion, at Sea,
Sonnnry Is. 1915
SIR,
enclose return of the killed and
wounded, and have great pleasure in bear
ing testimony of the very great assistance
received from the Senior Lieutenant Nor
gan, during the whole days proceedings /,
together with the cool aud Determined bra
very of my officers and ships Company, on
this fortunate occasion. Where every indi-
Vidual has so conspicGously done his duty,
it would be injustice for me to particuiarise.
but trust the loss and damage sustained
by the enemy's fiigate,. will shew the stea-
dy and we'll directed fire kept up by his
majesty's ship under my command.
Although cur loss has been severe, am
happy to state that it is trifiing when com
pared to that of the enemy.
/ have the honor to be, &c.
(Sigaed) H. HOPE.
TO John Hayes, Esq. CAPTAIN Of his ma
jesty's ship A4ajessic, and Senior Officer
off Neso YORK..
Number and e,dii5re other gins.
Main deck.-30 long % Founders.
QuartersDeck.--N forty-two FOUNDER
carronades, 1 long twenty -four FOUNDER, 1
twenty-feur pound howitzer-
Eorecastle-e forty two ponder carron-
ade, long twenty four FOUNDER.
Foretcp.--2 brass six Founders.
Mairtop--2 brass siX Founders.
Mizentop.--2 smaller guns.-T otal SO.
BARsADoEs, March 27.
capture or has Majcsty ships Cyane, Capt. Fak.
cen, and L-Uanf, Hen Cdpt, Douglas, by The
4n,erieGn .figate Censsitrtion. Capt Stezva,t.
The Constitution left Boston.Day on tho 18th
of December last, on crnize. On the 2Oti
Feb. about 100 miles eastward of Madeira, She
fell in with and captured, after very warm ac-
tion the British sloops Of war Cyane &Lcvant,
from Gibraltar bound TO the Western Islands.
The enemy was discovered by the largest of our
ships, (Which was The Cyans,) about one O'clock
in the afternoon, when she soon tackled and
stood towsrds her. At Q O'clock, coming up
within sufficient distance for the purpose
she made signals to the Constitution, to ascer-
tain whether she was friend or foez-but from
their not being answered by the enemy, she
knew her to be an American frigate, and i'm
mediately bore up and made all sail to the
westward, for the purpose of commune ating
with her eonsort the Levant': making signals
20 her at the same time, and enforcing their OBJ
servsnc@ with guns. The Constitution made
all sail in chase, gaining fast; and on arriving
within gun shot, commenced at about 9 o'clock
fire from her bow-chasers. At q minutes
past 8, the Constitutions main royal was csrri-
ed away by press of sail, which enabled the
Cyane to distance her FIRE. The Levant then
10 ieeward, having answered signals made BY
the Cyane, hauled her wind and crowded canvas
60 pass within hail Of her consort, which she
accomplished at few minutes before six Our
two ships at this time had concluded il most
advisable to delay the action If possible, till the
evening, in order 10 gam the advantage of the
enemy in their manevres. AZ s, the Cyahe
and Levant hauled to on the starboard tack. and
hauled up their min courses--when the Cons
etitution hauled up on tile same tack TO preserve
the weather gage. hauled UP ler courses also,
and hoisted the American union.. At 10 MIN
utes past s, the Cyane got upon the Constitute.
on's starbosrd quarter, and The Leyant upon her
starboard bow, when the broadsides Of alEthree
ships Immediately opened, with tremendous
and well directed Ere. The action continued
in this position nearly half an hour, when from
the loss Of her main-top -gallsnt-mast aud gaH
which had heep shot away, and from other ses
rious damage IN her rigging, the Cyane broke
round oh, perfectly unmsnagesbIe. Just pre-
yious TO this, the Leyant on the CONSTITUTIONS
bow ranged ahead with the intention Of rakine
the enemy which the latter fruaratsdby boarss
ing her fore tack and thereby fore.reachiDts on
her This compelled the Levant to put her
helmn up, aud receive the rskiBg fire Of the
Constitution which she did, and with ali pos,