The Essex may be known by a flag bearing the mottó FREE TRADE AND SAILORS' RIGHTS;

And when that is struck to the Southampton Capt, Porter will deserve the treatment promised by sir James. Philadelphia, Sept. 18, 1812.

CHAPTER VI.

JONES' VICTORY AND CAPTURE. Capt. Jones to the Secretary of the Navy. NEW-YORK, Nov. 24, 1812. SIR-I here avail myself of the first opportunity of informing you of the occurrences of our cruise, which ter minated in the capture of the Wasp on the 18th of Oct. by the Poictiers of 74 guns, while a wreck from damages received in an engagement with the British sloop of war Frolic, of 22 guns; sixteen of them thirty-two pouud carronades, and four twelve pounders on the main deck and two twelve pounders, carronades, on the top-gallant-forecastle, making her superior in force to us by 4 twelve pounders. The Frolic had struck to us, and was taken possession of about two hours before our surrendering to the Poictiers. We had left the Delaware on the 13th. The 16th had a heavy gale, in which we lost our jib-boom and two men. Half past eleven, on the night of the 17th, in the latitude of 37 deg. N. and lon, 65 deg. W. we saw several sail, two of them appearing very large; we stood from them for some time, then shortened sail and steered the remainder of the night the course we had perceived them on.. At day-light on Sunday the 18th we saw them aheadgare chase and soon discovered them to be a convoy of six sail, under the protection of a sloop of war; four of them large ships, mounting from 16 to 18 guns. At thirty two minutes past 11, A. M. we engaged the sloop of war, having first received her fire at the distance of fifty or sixty yards, which space we gradually lessened until we laid her on board, after a well supported fire of 43 minutes; and al though so near while loading the last broadside that our rammers were shoved against the side of the enemy, our men exhibited the same aiacrity which they had done dur.

ing the whole of the action. They immediately surrendered upon our gaining their forecastle, so that no loss was sustained on either side after boarding.

Our main-top-mast was shot away between 4 and 5 minutes from the commencement of the firing, and falling together with the main-top-sail yard across the larboardfore and fore-top-sail braces, rendered our head-yards unmanageable the remainder of the action. At eight minutes the gaft and main-top-gallant mast came down, and at 20 minutes from the beginning of the action every brace and most of the rigging was shot away. A few minutes after separating from the Frolic both her mast fell upon deck, the mainmast going close by the deck, and the fore mast twelve or fifteen feet above it.

The courage and exertions of the officers and crew fully answered my expectations and wishes. I have the honor to be, &c.

JACOB JONES.

AMERICAN LOSS.

Killed 5-wounded 5.

BRITISH LOSS.

Killed 27-wounded 45.

DECATUR'S VICTORY. Com. Decatur to the Secretary of the Navy. U. S. S. United States, at sea, Oct. 30, 1812. SIR-I have the honor to inform you, that on the 25th inst. being in lat. 29 deg. N. long. 20, 30 W. we fell in with, and, after an action of one hour and a half, captured his Britannic majesty's frigate Macedonian, commanded by Capt. John Carden, and mounting 49 carriage guns. (the odd gun shifting.) She is a frigate of the largest class, two years old, four months out of dock, and reputed. one of the best sailers in the British service. The enemy being to windward, had the advantage of engaging us at his own distance, which was so great, that for the first half hour we did not use our carronades, and at no moment was he within the complete effect of our musketry or grape; to this circumstance and a heavy swell, which was on at the time, I ascribe the unusual length of the action.

The enthusiasm of every officer, seamen, and marine onboard this ship, on discovering the enemy their steady

.

conduct in battle, and precision of their fire, could not be surpassed. Where all met my fullest expectations, it, would be unjust in me to discriminate. Permit me, how-ever, to recommend to your particular notice, my first Lieut. William H, Allen. He has served with me upwards of five years, and to his unremitted exertions in disciplining: the crew, is to be imputed the obvious superiority of our:. gunnery exhibited in the result of the contest.

The Macedonian lost her mizen-mast, fore and main-top. masts and main yard, and was much cut up in her hull. The damage sustained by this ship was not such as to render her return into port necessary, and had I not deemed it important that we should see our prize in, should have continued our cruise.

With the highest consideration, &c.

STEPHEN DECATUR.

AMERICAN LOSS.

Killed 7-wounded 5.

BRITISH LOSS.

Killed 36-wounded 68-prisoners. 270.

BAINBRIDGE'S VICTORY.

Com. Bainbridge to the Secretary of the Navy. U. S. F. Constitution, St Salvador, Jan. 3, 1813. SIR-I have the honor to imform you, that on the 29th ultimo, at 2 P. M. in south latitude 13,06, and west long. 38, 10leagues distance from the coast of Brazils, I fell in with and captured his Britannic majesty's frigate Java, of 49. guns and upwards of 400 men, commanded by Capt. Lambert, a very distinguished officer. The action lasted one hour and 55 minutes, in which time the enemy was completely dismasted, not having a spar of any kind standing. The loss on board the Constitution was 9 killed and 25 wounded, as per enclosed list. The enemy had 60 killed and 101 wounded, certainly, (among the latter. Capt. Lambert, mortally) but by the enclosed letter, written on board the ship, (by one of the officers of the Java) and accidentally found, it is evident that the enemy's wounded must have been much greater than above stated, and who must have died of their wounds previously to their being removed. The letter states sixty killed and 170 wounded.

For further details of the action, I beg leave to refer you to the enclosed extracts from my journal. The Java had in addition to her own crew upwards of one hundred supernumerary officers and seamen, to join the British ships of war in the East Indies; also, Lieutenant-General HisTop, appointed to the command of Bombay, Major Walker, and Capt. Wood, of his staff, and Capt. Marshall, master and commander in the British navy, going to the East Indies to take command of a sloop of war there.

Should I attempt to do justice, by representation, to the brave and good conduct of all my officers and crew, during the action, I should fail in the attempt; therefore, suffice it to say, that the whole of their conduct was such as to merit my highest enconiums. On blowing up of the frigate Java, I proceeded to this place, where I have landed all the prisoners on their parole, to return to England, and there remain until regularly exchanged, and not serve in their professional capacities in any place or in any manner whatever against the U. States of America, until the exchange shall be effected.

I have the honor to be, &c.

W. BAINBRIDGE.

AMERICAN LOSS.

Killed 9-wounded 25.

BRITISH LOSS.

Killed 60-wounded 101-prisoners 376.

Extract from Commodore Wm. Bainbridge's Journal, képt on board the U. S. F. Constitution..

Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1812. At 9 A. M. discovered two strange sails on the weather bow. At 10 discovered the strange sails to be ships; one of them stood in for the land and the other stood off shore, in a direction towards us. At 10, 45 A. M. we tacked ship to the northward and westward and stood for the sail standing towards us, and at 11 A. M tacked to the southward and eastward, hauled up the mainsail and took in the royals. At 11, 30, made the private signal for the day, which was not answered, and then set the mainsail and royals to draw the strange sail off from the neutral coast, and separate her from the sail in company.

'Wednesday, Dec. 80. 'In lat. 13, 9, S. long. 38 W. ten leagues from the coast of Brazil, commences with clear weather and moderate breezes from E. N. E. hoisted our ensign and pendant. At 15 minutes past meridian, the ship hoisted her colors-an English ensign, having a signal flying at her main.

At 1, 26, P. M. being sufficiently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English frigate, took in the mainsail and royals, tacked ship and stood for the enemy. At 1,30, P. M. the enemy bore down with an intention of raking us, which we avoided by wearing. At 2 P. M. the enemy being within haif a mile of us, and to windward, and having hauled down his colors except the union jack at the mizenmast head, induced me to give orders to the officers of the 3d division to fire a gun ahead of the enemy, to make him show his colors, which being done, brought on a fire from us of the whole broadside, on which the enemy hoisted his colors, and immediately returned our fire. Ä general action with round and grape then commenced; the enemy keeping at a much greater distance than I wish ed; but could not bring him to a closer action, without exposing ourselves to several rakes. Considerable manœvers were made by both vessels to rake and avoid being raked. The following minutes were taken during the action:

‹ At 2, 10, P. M. commenced the action within good grape and cannister distance, the enemy to windward, but much farther than I wished.

At 2, 30, our wheel was shot entirely away.

• At 2, 40, determined to close with the enemy notwithstanding his raking. Set the fore and mainsail, and luffed up close to him.

At 2, 50, the enemy's jib-boom got foul of our mizen rigging.

At 3, the head of the enemy's bowsprit and jib-boom shot away by us.

At 3, 5, shot away his fore-mast by the board.

'At 3, 15, shot away his main-top- mast just above the

cap.

At 3, 40, shot away the gaff and spanker boom. At 3, 55, shot away his mizen-nast nearly by the board, ,5, having silenced the fire of the enemy completely, and colors in the main rigging being down, supposed