The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1815-08-16

ioy.si. abave ibe horizon fror. 20 IL, des-
t,ed him at intervals, with the night glasses.
Atday LIGHT, discovered the enemy astern OF
4 4. distant leagues At9 A. VI. the ene-
my shortened sail, reeled bis'iopsalls, and
hauled npon il wind, TO the eastward, after
chase of ~ hours.
During this tedious and anxious chase, the
wind was variable, so as 10 oblige rs TO make
a oer(ect circle round the enemy. Between
TWO and three o'clock yesterday not a person
on board, had the most distant idea that there
was a nossi5iify ofescape. We all packed up
nur things, and waited until tho encmy's shot
,vou,d compel US 10 heaye TO and surrender,
,vhich appeared certain. Never has there
heen 80 evident an interposilion the good
,lex Of Divine Fa,hef-my heart with graft
i,ude acknowledges his supreme power and
.ooodness. On the morning OF the 9Th, II
tyas very calm, and nothing but murn:ers
were heard thron5 bout the ship, as /, was
feared we should lose our anticipated prize
many plans had been formed by Us for the
disoosal of our plunder The seamen dec
Jared ,bey womld have the birth deck carrier
ted with East India Silk, supposining het an
Trdiaman, from India, while the officers, pn-
der the impression she WAS from Engand'
dispose of the money, hsrfer, cheese &c. &c.
Nothing pcrplexed us more than the idea that
we should not be able 10 take out all the good
things before we should be obliged 10 destroy
her. We were regretting our ship did not
sail faster, as the Peacock would certainly
capture her first, and would take out many of
shc best and most valuable articles before wo
should get up--Qhis very circumstances oil
fass hA
us in the FIRST instance from inevi'a6le capture
---ior when Captain w. mado the signal for
the sail to be enemy OF superior force, We
were 4 leagues to windward) We all calcu-
lated orr fortunes were made, but alas, /" we
caught Tartar" During the latter part OF
the chase, when the shot aud shells were
whisting about our ears,it was an interesting
sight TO behold the varied counteDaoces OF our
crew. They had kept the deck during all
the proceeding night, employed continually in
lighting the ship, were excessively taligucd,
and under momentary expectation OF falling
into the hands OF a barbarous and enraged
enemy. The shot that fell on the mair deck,
Gas before rela,ed) struck 'mmedlately over
The head Of one Of our gallant fellows who
had been wounded in our glorious action with
the Penguin, where he WAS lying in his cot
very i'll with his wounds, the sho, was near
coming ,hro' the deck, and i, threw innumcr-
able splioters all around this poor fellow, and
struck down small paper, american Ensign,
which he had hoistcd over his bed-dcstruc-
,ion apparently starred us in the face, I we
did 10, soon surrender, yet no oilicer, no man,
in the ship showed any disposition TO let the
enemy have the poor little tiprnet. Many of
our men bad been Impressed and imhrisSonr9
for years in their horrible service, and bsted
them and their aaatioa with the mos, deadly
apimos,y, while tho rest OF the crew, horror
strmck by the rcla,ioo Of the sufferings of their
ship mates, who had been IN the power OF the
English, and now equally flushed with rage,
joined heartily in execrating tho present all
thors OF our misfortune. Captain Biddle
mustered the crew and told them he was
pleased with conduct during the chase, and
hoped still to perceive that propriety Of con.
duct which mad always marked their charac-
ter, and that of the American tar generally,
,hat we might soon expect to be captured, SC.
Not dry eye was TO be seen at the mention
IT tcapturc the rugged hearts of the sailors,
like ice before the san, warmed by tho divine
power OF sympathy, wept in unison with their
brave commander. About o'clock, the
wind which had crossed Us, and put to the
test all our naulcal skill TO steer clear Of the
enemy, now vcered 10 our favor Gas before
stately and we left him. This was truly
glorious victory over the horrors of banish-
mcnt and the terrors Of British floating dun.
geon.--Quick as thought, every face was
changed from the gloom Of despair to the
highest smile of delight, ond we began once
more 10 breath the sweets OF l,herty--,hc bit.
Ter slghs oI regret were now changed, and
put forth my expression OF everlasting gra,i,-
udc to him, the supreme Author of our being
---who had thus signaly delivered US from the
power of cruel and vindc,ive enemy.
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