The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-10-03

view Us OUG va tiC lioSA
of my life, having quilted the Enterprise at
the momen, did. Had remained IN her
fortnight longer, my name might have
been classed with those who stand SO high.
lcannot but consider it mor,Ifyng clrcum-
stance tina; LEFT her, but few days before
she fell in With the only enemy on this sta.
ton with which she could have credl,aby
coniended. | confess felt heartily glad
when received my order TO take command
of the Wasp, conceiving that there was no
hope Of doing any thing 10 The Enterprise.
| But when heard of the contest Ut tho lat.
ter ship, and witnessed the great delay IN
the equipment of the former, had no cause
to congratulate myself. The Peacock has
ere this spread her plumage 10 the winds,
and the Frolic will soon take her reyels on
the ocean, but the Wasp will, fear, remain
for some time a dull harmless drone ~
the waters Of her own country. Why this
is, am not permitted to INQUIRE
These extracts will sttike the reader az
being strongly indicative Of al amiable and
heroic character. There is something
! NO41 AthA az iiic auAttAGS ~ WV AboA Wv 'e-
+ dy who had manifested an interest in his
successes. There is something noble IN his
1 reference 10 the memory Of his father, as
motive stimulating hIm IA the a Ia OF hon
or; ard there is something heroic, we
think, 10 the unaffected manner 10 which he
expresses his regret al having lels the En-
ieIprIse. Ii is not necessary 80 remand the
/ reader that il was in the action between that
vessel and the Boxer that Burroughs con-
/ quered, and lost his life. Ye, BIakeley re-
/ aretted he had not been in his place, enher
because be considered the sacrifice of his
life as cheap price for the purchase of glo-
/ ~, or had forgot in bis love OF fame, that
such price had been paid. But he was
determined before long TO acquire at least
equal reputation, and 10 perish equally with
/ the regrets of his country.
After various services, which il is unne.
cessary 10 pariicularze, as they afforded no
opportunity to acquire distinction, Blakeley
was made master ccmmandan,, IN 1913,
and soon after appointed TO the Wasp. 10
( this vessel he fell IN with, 10 latitude AS
SO n, His Britannia Malssly's ship Rem
deer, mounting sixteen twenty four pound
carronades, two long nine Founders, and a
shifting twelve pound carroDade and hav.
ing a complement! Of one hundred and eight.
( teen men. An action commenced; and, IL
nineteen minutes, ended iD The capture OF
/ the Reindeer. The loss OF the Americans
was twenty one killed and wounded that
Of the enemy sixty seven. The Reindeer
was cut to pieces, 10 such manner as to
render it impossible to save her and she
was accordingly set on fire. Alter this the
Wasp put into L'0rient: from which port
she sailed on the eth Of August, and four
days afierward falling in with ten sail Of
mercbantme under convoy Of ship Of
the line, she succeeded IN cutting of one Of
the vessels.
; The evening Of the lst Of September,
lSl4. she fell IN with four sail two on each
bow.-bul at considerable distances from
each other. The first was The British brig
Of war Avon, which struck after a severe
ac'ios but Capt. Bskeley could not take
possession, as another enemy was now ap
preaching. This enemy, ii seems, howev
er, was called off 10 The assistance of the
Avon, which was DOW sinking. The enc
, ny reported that they had sunk the WasI
by The FIRST broadside; but she was aGer
wards spoken By vessel off the Western
Isles. After this we hear Of her no more
and though her fate is certain, the circum
stances attending it are beyond the reaci
, Of discovery. The most general impres
sion il, thu, she was lost by one Of thott
casualties incident 10 the grea; deep, vLicl
have destroyed so many gallant vessels, II
a manner no QUE knows hoB-for there ar
SO many uncertainties connected with lh
= untatbomabe deep, that even imag
= IS bewllderet in tracing the fate Of thos
= who are only known 10 have persisted, be
cause they are never more heard Of or seen
Another impression is, that the Wasp, very
! shortly alter being spoken Of The Western
. Isles, had severe engagement with
British irgate, which put :uio Lisbon in
shattered condition; and reported havin
= had az action, 10 the night, with a yes
> sci, which was not seen next morning
= although the whole nigh, had been calm.
! But, whatever may have been the fate {
: Rlakeley, this much is certain, that h
= will, TO use his own expression, " be cIasse
among those names that stand so high."-
= fhe lusire Of his exploits, not less than ii
- interest excited by those Who remenibe
: nov, 10 his very boyhood, he was lcfi, q
= he says, "ithouta single being around hir
with whom lie could claim kindred blooC
= now, by his merit, he obtained friends, an
y conferred honor 90 that coultry which wa
! not Only BIS parent, bUt which has becom
>, the parent Of his only chhj,-and how, Lar
Of all, be persisted Ggd only knows how &
y where, has all given to bls character, hi
= history, his achievements, and his fate,
= romantic interest, marking the name
Z Blakeley for lasting and adeciionale I,
n membfalce.
u In bis person, Capt Blakeley was rattle
below the middle stature; his eyes blacl
expressive, intelligent, and animated; b
:, manners mild, manly, and unassuming al
y his person handsome. Notwithstanding Il