The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-05-24

|
struck her colours. fired lee gau and yield
ed. At so m. past 6, took possession of his
Majesty's ship Cyane, Captain Gordon Fail
con, mounting "a guns. AT p. M. filled a
way after her consort, which was still in
sight to lceward. At half past s found her
standing towards us, with her starboard
tacks close hauled, with top-gallant sails set
and colours flying. At SO minutes past 8,
ranged close along side to windward of her on
opposite tacks, and exchanged broadsdes-
wore Immediately under her stern and raked
her with broadside she then crowded al
SAIL and ondeavoured to escape by running
hauled on board our tacks, set spanker and
flying Jib in chase. At half past nine, coU-
msnced'hrinS. on her from cur starboard bow
chaser ; gave >her several shot, which cut
her spars and rigging considerably. At 10
p. M. finding shey couil not escape, fired a
gun, struck her colours and yielded. We i'm
mediately took possession of his Maiesty's
ship Levant, honorable, capt. George Doug
lass. mounting twenty-one guns. At A. NJ
the damages of our rigging were repaired,
sails shifted, and the ship in iGhting condi-
ton.
Minutes otrtAe choce ofhe U. S. jiigatr Con-
Stfution, BIZ an English squadron ofS shifts.
ffom out The har6or Of PORT PTayQ, Island
If ST. Jaeo,
Commences with fresh breezes and thick
toggy weather-At FIVE minutes past twelve,
discovered large ship through the fog STAN
ding IN tor Port Praya. At eight minutes past
twelve, discovered two other large ships a
stern Of her, also standing in for the Port
From their general appearance supposed
them to be one OF the enemy's squaC -ous,
and from the little respect hitherto pai, by
them to neutral waters, I deemed it most
prudent to put to sea. The signal was made
10 the Crane and Levant to get under
weigh. At twelve after meridian with our
tlpsaiis set, we cut oErcable and lot IN
der weigh. when the Portuguese opened
IRE on US from several of their batteries
on shore) the prize ships following our
netions, and stood out of the harbor of
Port Pr"ya, close under East Point. passing
the enemy's squadron about gun shot to
wlndward OF them crossed our topgallant
yarts and set fOresail, mainsail, spanker,
flying jb and topgallant sails. The enemy
seeing us under weigh, tackled ship and made
all sail in chase of us. As far as we could
judge OF their rates, from the thickness of the
weather, supposed them two ships of the
line and one frig tie. At half past meridian
cut away the boats towing astern, first cutter
and gig. At p. NJ. found our sailing a.
bont equal with the ships on our lee quarter.
but the frigat e lufins up gaining our wake
and rather dropping astern of US, finding the
Cyane dropping astern and to lceward, and
the trlgate gaining on her fast, found it i'm
possible 10 save her if she continued on the
same course without having the Constitution
brought to action by their whole force ]
made tie signal at ten minutes past p. NJ.
20 her to tack ship, which was complied with
lhis mancuvre, | conceived, would t!etach
one OF the enemy's ships in pursuit of her,
whlle at the same time, from her position,
she would be enabled to reach the anchorage
at Port Praya, before the detached ship could
come up with her ; but if they did not tack
after her, 1t would afford her an opportunity
to double their rear, and make her escape
before the wind. They all continued in full
chase OF the I-evant and this ship the ship
on our lee quarter firing, Ly divisions, broad
sides, her shot falling short of us. Ats p.
NJ. by our h@ving dropped the Levant con-
Slderabiys her situation became (from the
position OF the enenT's frigate) similar to the
Cyane. 1t became necessary to separate al
sotr2m the Levant, or risk this ship being
brought to acton to cover her. made the
signal at minutes past for her To tack,
which was complied with. Al 10 minu,es
past the whole If the enemy's SQUADRON
tackled in pursuit Of the Levant aud gave up
ne pursuit OF this ship. This sacrifice If the
LeVant came nccrss. ry for TIE preservati-
on Of the Constitution. s iling- master Fix-
on MI 'sh'pman Narrum. boats vains mate
and II men were absent on duty in the 5th
cutter to bring the cartel brig under our
stern.
WASHING TON, May 90
hy1etters from New Orleans we learn tn
FORT BOWER was promptly surrendered
By the British to our authority, according to
the acquisitions of the treaty.
The United States sloop of war ALERT.
Csptain COOPER, which arrived at the Ma
Wy Yard in this city on the 26th ut has taken
on board the heavy guns for the ships of the
line at Boston and Portsmouth, aud will sail
hence as soon as she obtains men enough to
navigate her.
ne United States Schooner HoRNET,
arrived at the Navy Yard few DAYS ago
from Portsmouth.
NEw-YoRK, Nav
MEbTrERRANEAN SOIIADRAN