Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-06-20

The n. Y. Commercial Advertiser
has commenced review Of "Coopsr's
Naval History" The following is the
first number.
/ COOPER's NAVAL HISTORY.
4 la his account of the naval victory on
Lake Enc, II Is not 50 inuch IN the posi-
i've assertions which MIR. Cooper has
baZagdej, DIS IN his omissions aud con.-
nIenls, that the partial and deceptive
representation which We have charged
upon hini CONSISTS. From the tone aud
/ spirit that pervade both his narrative OF
he facts aud his observations upon them,
It seems indeed evidently his intention
no. merely 10 screen Capt. Elliott from
the censure heretofore cast Oh his char.
actcr, but to secure to him at least an
equal share of the glory OF the day with
Commodore Perry. lie describes with
sufficient pcrsricuity aud accuracy the
position oi the British line as il lay to IN
expectation OF the attack Of the Ameri-
can squadron, which was to windward,
and states correctly that the order OF bat
tie prescribed for the latter "requlred
them 10 form within a cables length oi
each other )" und that the Niagara,
Capt. Elliou's ship, had been designated
as the Antagonist oi the Queen Charlotte,
the third vessel IN the cncny's line and
the Caledonia that Of his second, while
his leading ship had been reserved by
Com. Perry to engage hi,nseli III tho
Lawrence.
Mr.. Cooper then proceeds TO detail
the circumstances under which the A
Inercan line advanced to the attack, and
the manner III " whicb the action coDn'en-
ced, aud remarks that "tho Lawrence
appeared TO be The principal aiIn Vi The
enemy, and before the fire had lasted
any material time, the Detroit, the Hum
ter, aud the Gu cu Charlotte" the three
Leadmost and heaviest OF the encmy's
squadron, "were directing most vi their
cilult against hcr"--lhat ",he Amei.
can brig, the Lawrence eDdeavored 10
close, and did succeed IN getting wlIhin
reach OF cannistcr though not without sui.
ieriDg materially as she famed dozen ul'.
Oh The cnemy"-Ihut "alter the iilinX
had lasted some time, the Niagara hail
ed the Caledonia, and directed the latter
to make room Tor the brig, the Niagara,
/ to pass. ahead, ard that "Alr. 1uncr
put up his helm in the most dashny
\ manner, and continued 10 near the eue-
my until he was closer 10 his line perhaps
than The commanding resset, keeping w
as warm IL fire as his small armament
would allow )" aud "lhc Niagaia," he
continues, "became the vessel merit asfer1
of Me Laurence :" "1he effect Of the
cannonade," he continues, was neces-
surny to deaden the wind, aud for two
hours there was very little air during
all which time the weight oil the enemy.
fire continued TO be directed at the Law
renee )" that "evcn the Queen Char
Iot,e, hdring filled, passed the Hunter,
and got under the stern Of The Detroit,
where she kept up destructive fire on
this devoted vessel" (meunipg the Law
renee "1hc effect" he says, "of
these united attacks, besides producing
great slaughter on board the Law
renee, was nearly To dismantle her )"
and that at the end of two hours and a
halt, agreeably to Capt. Perry's report,
wind beginning to increase, the Two squad
rous moved slowly ahead, the Lawrence
necessarily dropping astcrn, and paItlal-
ly out OF the combat. AT this moment"
says MIR. Cooper, "the Niagara possed
10 The rcsiuard a short distance 10 the
rindua,d Of Tie Laurence; steering for
the head Of the cnemy's line, and tho
Caledonia Joiiomed to leeward." (Nsv.
list u. s. v. ,, p. 399.
Now, landsmcn as We are, we think
We can perceive that this account re-
quIres SOME explanation TO render il per-
iectly iutrlligible, not only to ourselves
ahd others who make no pretension to
nautical science, but even to the most
skilu and experienced naval tactitians,
masnuch as II appears inconsistent with
itself aud lrreconciIable with what fol-
Iows-besides bearing upon lis face the
marks OF mystiiy cation. In the first
place we would ask, how it happened
that the same wind which enabled the
Lawrence to get within canister shot Of
three of the heaviest of the British ships,
afforded no aid to the Niagara in her cen
deavors to close and fan dO,Un upon tho
enemy" In the next place, we do not
understand why Capt. Elliott desired To
change places with the Caledonia, which
it seems occupied her proper place in
the line next TO the Lawrence (; Or If it
proceeded from anxiety TO encounter,
and not to avoid the Queen Churlotte,
the vessel assigned to hIm to engage, We
do not exactly comprehend why he want
cd the Caledonia "to make room Tor
him." when there must have nIrcaJy
been room cnough-had he passed
ahead" to Iceward Of that vessel, IN the
same "Jashing manner" in which Lieut..
Z Turner, who commanded the Caledonia,
4" put up his helm, aud continued TO near
the enemy" Ia other words, why was
not Capt. Elliott us desirous to obtain
for the Niagara her proper station, as he
was to push mo il the Caledonia, with
cher small arlDament"i
As the Wind enabled the Queen Char
lottr To pass the Hunter aud get under
The stern of the Detroit, and from that
position to keep up u destructive fire on
,ha I uw,.n,. A hv lid ND ia. N,uus,a