Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-26
SPANISH AMERICA.

SSdZctte, tO III SeptemDeriaSt, from winch
We have translated the following relation
OF severe engagement between a Por.
tuguese merchant ship, and AN Artigas
crnizer, which, II appears, had received
her ouiht IN tins country Fed. Rep.
Copy of the official account of Ber-
nardiuo Pedro de Arujo, commander OF
Brazil, acquain,ing the secretary OF MA
rine OF the different engagements he had
had with an insurgent piI:ateer.
My Lord have the honor of inform
ing your lordship, thar whilst proceeding
on my voyage from Rio de Janeiro To
Lisbon, Gil Friday, the 2d July, at 5 A.
NJ. discovered on our weather quarter
strange saul, steering apparently the
same course as ourselves, al this time
light winds from the >. ". Al quarter
past ii, the stranger having neared us,
perceived she was Il brig and of warlikc
appearance-wheu l hoisied my ensign
and pendant and fired one of NV quarter
guns, and quarter @f an hour having
elapsed without amy flag being shewn by
the strange sail, | fired second gun,
when she hoisled All English ensign and
pendast. BY this time he had approach.
ed within gun shot, and ktepin. on a
heavy press of canvas, and appearing BIZ
his manGuvreS 10 be DESTROYS of closing
with us, and knowing that, under other
flags the insurgent prvaterrs had de-
coyed into their power several Ofour mer-
claDimeD, we commenced, so soon as
our shot could have effect, brisk fire on
the stranger.
AT meridian we observed in lat. 80 IL
n. long. SO 3 w. about which time the
brig cleared up her courses, as prepara-
tory 10 an action. Percehing This, we
bore up for the purpose of giving him d
broadside, when he hauled down the
British nag, and hoisted that recently
known by The uame of Artigas, followed
by his broadside winch killed three of
my men. From This time we kept up
each side IA calling fire Tor quarter OF
an hour, when The enemy wore ship, evil
DENLY for the purpose of raknS us, but
we frustrated his views III also wearing
ship, in the act Of which, we gave him
our larboard brOadSide, aud vigorous
fire continued TO be kept up for two
hours and half: after which the priva-
teer hauled OIL for Tie purpose Of repair
ing damages, whilst we were doing The
same, having suffered much III my sails,
spars and rigging, besides receiving iD
Our hull several eighteen pound shot, and
his pivot gun which we were afterwards
informed MAS ihir,y-two FOUNDER, be-
sides which she carried sixteen eighteen
pound carronades. During the contest
II was almost miracle that lost mol Il
man CATER The first killed, aud but five
woudded. We had now made prepara-
hons Tor another reception Of the iusu.-
gent, should he think proper 10 renew The
contest, which We found was his inten-
lions al about =. NJ. when lie bore up
attempting TO cross oar stern, and as lie
came within d short distance, we lutied
and gave him brSadside which had the
effect of deterring him from a farther
attempt al that time, whilst his superior
sailing prevented our closing with him.
She then kept up without gun shot dur
ing the night, always keeping the weather
gage. AT day light he bore up for the
purpose of capturing the Portuguese ship
Hercules, then under our lee at short
disiance-l prevented him at this time
from executing his intentions by bearing
up for her also, when he made sail ahead,
keeping in their sight during the Sd and
4ih day.
On the 9Th, at 10, A. NJ. being entirely
calm, the enemy got out his sweeps and
pulled towards Us, but light breeze
springing up, which gave us sieerage
way, he got III his sweeps and resumed
is former posilion-but at II it again
fell calm, when he Il second time resOrled
TO His sweeps as he approached within
short distance, hoisted my flag and
commenced a warm fire with canister
and grape, which finding rather unplea.
SAINT, the enemy got ahead of my ship,
when | could only use my bow cIasers,
but which We did so eAectualIy that lie
again changed his position TO my STAR
board bow, and being then close aboard,
we kept up OH him an incessant fire of
muskeiry, which was warmly returned
on his part-in half an hour he swept
the brig 10 my starboard quarter, where,
within musket shot, the engagement was
continued for about an hour, with great
yigor, when the Insurgent crossed our
stern and took new station oil our lar
board quarter; here the fire conlnued
with little interruption for upwards OF Two
hours, when the enemy as a last and des-
peraie resort, made every exeriion TO
carry us by boarding, which efforts were
rendered useless by hot and well direct
Ell fire OF great guns and mBsketry, but
principally the latter, as bur few of the
former could now be brought TO bear
"P"" NV" '"us ucIsateu' nc S"tpt nom
us as fast as possible, we keeping up a
hre as long as our guns would reach him,
but owing To the continued calm, aud our
crippled state, we could not prevent his
taking possession OF the Hercules, which
they lowed off.
This last engagement lasted four hours
and ten minutes, leaving my ship a COM
pIete wreck, having two 10 pound shot
through our mainmasi, whilst our hull
was literally cut To pieces-bui | had
the satisfaction to know our Toe did not
quit the engagement in any better situa-