The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-05-03

BAREADoEs, March 81.
CAPTURE Of H. Mdjesfy's Sims Crane, Cant.
Falcon, and LeUa1t, lion. Cahi. Douglas,
6y Inc ~I"ie;7can. I,Isate Constitution, Cah..
.Sft-7a4,5E,
The Constitution left Boston Bay on the 17th
OF Dec. last, on a cruize. On the Goth Feb.
about 100 miles eastward of Madeira, she
fell In with and captured after a very warm
action, the British soops of war Cvane and
I-eVant, from Gibraltar bound to the Western
islands. The enemy was discovered by the
largest of our ships, (Which was the Camel
about Que o'clock III the afternoon, when she
soon tackled and stood towards her. Az o.
clock, coming up within a sufficient distance
Tor the purpose, she made signals TO ,he
constitution, TO ascertain whether she was
TREND or toe--but from their not being an
sWered by the enemy, she knew her to be
an American trigate, and Immediately bore
up and made all sail to the westward, for
the PURPOSE OF communicating with her con-
sort the levant making signals to her at
the same time, and enforcing their Observance
with guns. The Constitution made all sail in
chase, gaining fast and on arriving within
gun shot, commenced, at about 8 O'clock, a
IRE from her owchasSrs. At 4 minutes
past 5, the CONSTITUTIONS main-royal was
carried away by press of sail, Slicu ena-
cted the Cyane to distance her fire. The .c-
want, then to leeward, having answered Sly
nails made by the Cyanc, hauled her wind &
Crowded canvass to pass within hail Of her
conscrt, which she accomplished at = few
minutes before six Our two ships al This
time had concluded it most advisable 60 de-
lay the action, II possible, till the evening, IN
order to gain the advantage of the enemy in
their manG,uvrcS. At 6, the Cyane and Lee
want hauled to on the starboard tack. and
han'ed uP tneir main ccdrses-when the Con-
sututon hauled up on the same tack 70 pre-
serve the weather-gags hauled up her Cour-
SIS also, and hoiste1 the American uni0n.-
ut 10 mnrtcs past s, tthe CYane got upon the
CONSTITUTIONS Acknowledgements, and the
bevant upon her starboavd bow, when the
broads'des of all three SHIPS Immediately o.
peDed, with tremendous and well directed
ire Ire action continued in this position
nearly half an hour. when from tbe loss OF her
s-top-gallant- and gaH WHICH had
been snot away, and from other serious dam
age IN hef rigging, the Cyanc broke round
OFT, perfectly UnIu anaEeab Jus. pre- yinus GO
this, the LeNant on Ire Coretitu.iou's bow.
ranged ahead with the intention Of rakiDV the
enemy, which the latter frustrated by bolrd-
ing her tore-tack, and thereby fore reachmp
on her. This compelled the Lcvant to put
her helm up, and receive the raking fire If
the Constitution which she did, and with
all possible expedition made sail before the
wind, having suffered very severely in her
runring-rigging. During these occurrences,
the Cyan upon the Constitutions quar.er,
had endeavcIed to cross her stern, but from
her disabled condition, she could MOI effect
hcr purpose.
When the Levaut made sail, the euemy's
'rgate wore, which brought the Cane on her
stirbolrd how, and then ranged along-side Of
her ! he CYanc being much disabled, and
having feet water IN her hold, was not IN
condition 70 renew the Contest, and therefore
struck her oolors and fired gun to leeward
Inc Constitution put her FL lieut.. tHIofman)
aud prizs crew ON board. AMI at Lalf past
stvcu. made sal in pursuit Of the other soop
Of war, who had repaired dan4ges, oJtlined
t'e weather-gf e, and was standing down
upon the Constitution. Arriving within
proper dlst1ntc, she fred a bruadside into
thc Constitution, and haul q her wind for She
not1hward. The CONSERVATION s4iiing much
faster tlan the evant, ofc,h ued Der ~ o
o'clock, when aii urther ~ distance pg USE
less She struck hcr colofs. and the Conse,t,r-
ton pul 'cr 1st lieut. (Bu,iafd) 90 board, as
prize master.
The evening was fair moonlight The
Constitution had four killed and twelve woun-