The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-12-28


MI James, author Of the British Naval llisto
ry, which, as far as it treats ct the naval battles
between American and British vessels, was a
buntanty retuted, some time ago, ~ one or
more Of our public Journals, has Just published
second edition Of his mendacious works. lh,
edition is reviewed in some OF the numbers OF
the London Morning Chronicle for the last week
in October, in u spirit Of remarkable candour
and inpaitialty. We cannot resist the tempta-
ton to copy the following commentary from the
Chronicle Nut. Ga-eHe,
"Nothng can be more dcluayc, not TO say
dsingenuous, than Air. Jamcs's stlle Ct explain
ing away the American victories over us at sea.
On this subject we have already mentioned that
our author entirely loses his wonted spirit Of cGn-
dour. Most OF his arguments make against the
cause he wishes 10 support, and prove folly On
our part, and accnteness on the part of the Amer
leans, which Justly entitled defeat upon us, and
entitled them to the vlctoljts they achieved. lie
tells us that our men of war were badly manned;
and when . captain had c0ntiiyed 10 man his
ship as ship Of war fought 10 be manned, the
admiral on the station would pronounce the ship
too well manned,' and order portion OF the
best to be drafted on ooart the flag Ship,
at her moorlRgs. To learn to be IDLE and worth.
less, sending in lieu Of them sct Of Iall-birtls,
and raw hands to make those among whom they
this be true, what docs il prove moro. than that
our atmlas betray or don't understand their
duty, and of course the enemy are to be praised
for taking advantage 81 our folls We are neat
told that our crews are very inferior to those oi
the American ships in gunnery, and nevertheless,
the admiralty would allow scarcely any shot fol
practicing our men; whilst the American adn
ralty made an allowance adequate to the purpose
We find, moreover, that the Java. captured by
4 l,.I
exercised her crew at the guns at all; and when
she did exercise them, it was with blank cart
ridges, without any shot We are then told BY
Mr. James, and lie tells rs with very strange
simplicity, that the luerricrc's shot, probably
from badness of powder, fell short Of her oppo
nent, whilst the American fire was most efficient
against the GueTicre. The Gletrere S breech
ings of her guns were, moreover, rotten, anC
broke the guns adritt on being fred Now
what docs ali this prove, but egregious incom
petence on our part TO the management Of such
affairs, and dcytcrity and talent in the Amcli
cansa-Mr. James tells us tst ono source Of tn,
American naval victories was theiri.ling disinant
ling shot,-a buck shot; but If these are SO ex
cellent in fight, why had we not the sagacity L
use them In tracing the causes Of the defeat 4
our frigates, we find the loss OF tie Guerrier
attributed to the ssurcident Of her masts going
This is a very good story to tell once. But whe
the Java is CalIturEa our court Hartlal ind til.
her loss is to be attributed to the accident Of ht
being totally dslnasted. The Macedonian
also captured by the loss of her nasis, and b.
cause the Americans had dslnounted eesry ca
ronade on her quarterback and ureca,tc, b
sides shattering her hull, and disabling gre
portion other crew, before the Macedonian ha
materially injured her opponent This is like
man saying to Mr. Crib, 'iou are superior
me in fight; l should have beaten you Ii.
You not punmclled me half to death; and Ii
not been too weak 20 return your blows" 1t
this knocking away Of rnasts, dlsnountng gur
and shatteriag the hull, that constitutes the el
rnents Of fauperority and success; and it is high
proper torus TO investigate the American sup
Tiorlty III order to counteract it; but to ira
these honourable causes of victory in dcprcc
ton of the superiority itself, is ridiculous. III
American war formed new era in naval actor
The excellence of their gnnney, and the effe
of their fire, were what we had been totally II
used to. In the first actinr, the Guerriere ID
78 men killed and wounded: in the second. Il
Macedonian, independent oT hGr masts and ri
ging being annhilated, had received more III
100 shot in her hull, snd lost 56 men killed,and
wounded in the third fight, the lava was equal
wreck and lost % killed, and 100 wounde
; This was style Of fighting totally elissnar
any thing we had ever seen; and such hea
Io.sps mn hoard Irir1t,.e u.s NM, orad,nted