The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-05-04

naval engageme mt. The cowardce of the Brazili-
ans has been proyerbial among these people,
and they have given evidences of the truth of
the proverb, that works conviction into every soul
here Less than two weeks ago, when the Bra
lillian feet first appeared off here, the National
Squadron then consisting of only Q briggs Of ID
guns each and twelve gun boats. l was one
morning surprised on going upon the azotea to
see the Balcarce, one of the briggs, and on board
of which was brown, out and cruising alone with
in two miles of the Brazilian feet, and almost
outside of their station. | soon observed two
! brazilian briggs and gun boat coming down
the river with Buenos Ayrean schooner, prize,
and immediately concluded that he was in pur-
sut of them, aNd that it was his determination to
encounter the two briggs and gun boat with his
1 little brig alone, and rctake the prize. Thus it
was. In ten minutes he came along side the
prize, took possession Of her, and then made after
the briggs and gun boat, who Immediately stood
off under all press of sail. The briggs preserved
their distance, but he soon came up with the gun
boar. lie only fred two guns ut her-down
wen the hag of the proud Pedro A boat was
lowered down and the gun boat taken possession
of--thc Patriot flag was hoisted above that of II.
Imperial Majesty. by this time two corvettcs
/ (shps) and two other briggs had got under way,
anil the two tugitives We're within g,mshot of
from the rest of his little squadron and not more
than ono from the brazilian feet. He therefore
stood in. But his brig sailing much faster than
.he prize gun boat, he was obliged to go out a
gain and protect his prize, as the object OF the
Brazlans seemed to be to cut it off, they having
a corvette, a brig and schooncrs in chase. The
Balcarce stood out until between the prize and
its purscrs, where, although the Braz'lians still
kept on, she loitered until the prize had crossed
! h,nty on1 caf,l n fha inner rDl(s. The
Balcarce had now to look for her own safety a
gainst the superior force which was close upon
her. She was obliged to go about three miles to
get round the end of the bank which the prize
had crossed She stood on under easy sail the
Brazians under press OF canvass, and were eev-
:. idcntly gaining on her. She was now in the in
ner roads.--Still the Bra1ilians followed The
Ihcavy corvette (Which was the I.iberaD and the
brig were within gunshot, and we were expect
ing every moment that they would open fire
upon hcr-thrce schooncis were closely follow
ing. This force was superior to that OF the whole
National squadron. The Ra,carcc ran through
among the merchant vesirls.-Ihc Braalans
followed. She made towards the station where
Z the Belgrano and gunboats remained at anchor,
as if for sccour IN this moment Of unexpected
: extremity The Brazilians followed. Now was
a time Of anxiety. Poor l}rown is gone,
cried every one. "Thcir intention can be no
thing else, than that Of destroying, completely,
the whole squadron, and every vessel in port,
which is not neutral propcrty'-"0, what will be
the fate of Brown, the brave, intrepid, and his
noble ."--"The barbarians will murder
them 'fhev Will not suffer one to escapc."-
These were the expressions which occasionally
dropped from such as were not absolutely speech
Tess with anxiety 1t was matter the greatest
surprise that, all this time, Brown never made a
signal for the Belgrano and gun boats to join him
or to weigh anchor. Still the Balcarcc
stood on and still the B azihans followed. They
were now so near that we laid by our glasses,
and could distinctly see the men upon the decks
with our naked eye. At this critca! moment,
: while the immense superiority still pushed the
, chase, apparently determined on vengeance, the
> Balcarce tackled about and stood right for the
enemy, at the same time crowding her canvass
until she was almost laid upon her side-she
c ploughed through the water and dashed gallant
lv into the very face of the pursuing force. And
then-what think voui-'rhe huge bulk of a
y corvette which carried on board The Command
S crit. Chief ofthe Imperial Armada, Immediately
G put erhem up, backed her topsas and took
the back track with muc., speed as, and per-
hapsa lirle more than. she had come over it
The brig lost no time in following her, without
y waiting u signal to that ehect--and the three
schooners could not resist the strong impulse to
ION them in their ssrcturn trip.
$ "Now itisrllnning away v are, think, MIR.
d Vice Admiral Don Rodrigo Jose Ferreira I.obo,
y said TO myself, (for had been reading the G.
: vening before, the story of Ranel URooh after
II had repeatedly rubbed my eyes and strained
:. them to assure myself, of what thought, could
: not bea possibility. 1t was So Figure to your
Imagination, ifyou can, a small brig chasing, in
: her turn, ship of more than twice her force, a
J brig Of moro than an equal, and three sehooners
d ofperlaps each an equal force which had just
= been pursuing her, with an apparent determine
: ton to dcstsoy her. is scarcely conceivable
Yet I have seen such sight. 1t is 4 fact,
which incontcstibly proves that the lirazlians arc
the very greatest OF all possible cowards-capa-
bic of conduct more dastardly than has, perhaps,
B. ever been recorded ofanv people. The Bnlcarcc
!, continued the chase with an intention to cut of
:, either the ship or brig before they should be a
N blet join the squadron But they, seeing the
: u,iung force chased back, dNgot under way to
! the number of 15--thinkng, no doubt, that no.
thing could inspire Brown to act thus with dal-
: ing intrepidity which confounded and bewildcr-
ed thcm than the certain fact, that he either had
# his Satanic Mjeay himselfon board or that he
was coming upon them with his betty ftH Of tor
pciocs to blow the whole of them at once into O.
ther regions.