200] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1812. 



consisted in a few frigates of a rate 

 corresponding to tlielargest British, 

 but in size, weight of metal, and 

 number of men, almost equal to 

 ships of the line of battle. This 

 difference seems not to have been 

 known, dr not attended to, in the 

 English navy, the officers of which, 

 with their habitual readiness to 

 meet an enemv, would certainly 

 never decline an encounter where 

 the nominal force was any thing- 

 near a parity. In engaging with 

 other enemies, the superiority of 

 British skill and valour had indeed 

 often compensated the difference 

 of force, but the American navy 

 was manned by sailors many of 

 whom were, unfortunately, Bri- 

 tish, and many more had been 

 trained in British service. The 

 fatal consequence of this misappre- 

 hension was first experienced by 

 the English frigate Guerriere, com- 

 manded by Captain Dacres, which, 

 on August 19, being in lat. 40*^ 

 20 ' and long. 55 W. was brought 

 to action by the American frigate 

 Constitution, Captain Hull. The 

 respective force is thus stated : 

 Guerriere, rating 38 guns, but 

 mounting 49, her gun-deck 18 

 pounders, carronades 32 ; com- 

 plement, 300 men, but only 263 

 on board at quarters: Constitution, 

 rating 44 guns, but mounting 65, 

 gun- deck 24 pounders, carronades 

 32 pounders ; complement, 450 

 men. The engagement was sharp, 

 but of short duration, for the 

 Guerriere being totally dismasted, 

 and rolling so deep as to render her 

 guns useless, while the enemy was 

 enabled to rake her at pleasure, it 

 became absolutely necessarj', in 

 order to prevent a further loss of 

 lives for no purpose, to strike her 

 colour^. Of .the crew, 15 had 



been killed, and 63 wounded, and 

 the injury sustained by the ship 

 was so great, that after the men 

 were all taken out, the captors set 

 her on tire. Not the least impu- 

 tation fell, on the conduct of Capt. 

 Dacres or his ship's company during 

 the action, who yielded only to 

 irresistible superiority of physical 

 strength. It is pleasing to add, 

 that they recei\fed the most honour- 

 able and humane treatment from 

 the American commander. The 

 triumphant arrival of the Con- 

 stitution at Boston, whence she 

 had been fitted out, doubtless 

 rendered the war less unpopular 

 than it had originally been in that 

 town, and stimulated the spirit of 

 marine enterprize. 



The English government, on 

 the intelligence of a declaration of 

 war by the Congress of the United 

 States, and the issue of letters of 

 marque and reprisals, had done 

 no more by way of retaliation, 

 than to direct that American ships 

 and goods should be brought in 

 and detained till further orders ; 

 but the disregard of the American 

 government to the notified repeal 

 of the orders in council, and its 

 refusal to continue the armistice 

 agreed upon by the commanders 

 on each side in Canada, being now 

 made known, the Prince Regent 

 published an order, dated Oct. 13, 

 for granting general reprisals 

 against the ships, goods, and citi- 

 zens of the United States, in the 

 usual form towards a hostile power ; 

 concluding, however, with a de- 

 claration, that nothing in this 

 order was to annul the authority 

 before given to his Miijesty's naval 

 commander on the American 

 station, to sign a convention for re- 

 calling all hostile orders issued by 



the 



