History of the Wars Occasioned by the French Revolution, from the Commencement of Hostilities in 1792, to the End of 1816

the President, as related in book ix. cbap. 9, began to shew itself above the borizon. The much dissatisfaction was expressed by the Ame- wind now began, and continued gradually to de

Czar. L rican goveroment, which was considerably in- crease, so as to prevent my being able to approach

1811. creased by the artifices of Bonaparte, whose her sufficiently before sunset, to discover her interest it was to engage Great Britain in a war actual force (which the position she preserved with the United States. As these bostilities have during the clase was calculated to conceal), or to been occasionally alluded to in the French pro- judge even to what nation she belonged, as she clamations, inserted in our preceding books, we appeared studiously to decline shewing her colours, sball here relate the events wbich led to them. At fifteen or twenty minutes past seven, p. m. tho

Captain Bingham, of his majesty's ship the Lit- chase took in her studding-sails, and soon after tle Belt, declared, that the attack had been com- bauled up her courses, and hauled by the wind on menced by the American frigate, the President; the starboard-lack; she at the same time hoisted that it was outrageous and unprovoked, and that an ensign or flag at her mizen-peak, but it was be only resisted the violence first offered to him. too dark for me to discover what nation it repre

The following was the American official account sented: now, for the first time, her broadside was of this affair, which was published as a copy of a presented to our view; but night had so far proletter from Commodore Rogers to the secretary of gressed, that, although her appearance indicated the navy, dated off Sandy Hook, May 23, 1811:- she was a frigate, I was unable to determine ber * On the 16th instant, at 25 minutes past meridian, actual force. in 17 fathoms water, Cape Henry bearing S. W. “ At 15 minutes before eight, p.m. being about distant 14 or 15 leagues, a sail was discovered from a mile and a half from her, the wind at the time our mast-head, in the east, standing towards us very light, I directed Captain Ludlow to take a under a press of sail. At balf-past one, the sym- position to windward of her, and on the same metry of her upper sails (which were at this time iack, within short speaking distance. This, howdistinguished from our deck) and her making sig- ever, the commander of the chase appeared, from nals, shewed ber to be a man-of-war. At' forty-five his maneuvres, to be anxious to prevent, as he minutes past one, p. m. boisted our ensign and wore and bauled by the wind, on different tacks, pendant; when, finding our signals not answered, four times successively, between this period and she wore and stood to the southward. Being de. the time of our arriving at the position which I sirous of speaking her, and of ascertaining what had ordered to be taken. At fifteen or twenty she

was, I now made sail in chase ; and by balf- minutes past eight, being a little forward of her past three, p. m. found we were coming up with weather-heam, and distant from seventy, to a bun

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History of the Wars Occasioned by the French Revolution, from the ..., Volume 2