77 
1S11,] State of Public Jffairs in July. 
three-quarters of an hour, when he ceased 
firing, and appeared to be on fire about the 
main hatchway. He then filled. I was 
obliged to desist from firing, as the ship fall¬ 
ing off, no gun would bear, and had no after¬ 
sail to keep her to. All the rigging and 
sails Cut to pieces, not a brace or bowline 
left, he hailed, and asked what ship this 
AvasI told him-: he then asked me if I 
had struck my colours ? my answer was, no, 
and asked what ship it was ? As plainly as I 
could understand, (he having shot some 
distance at this time) he answered, the 
United States’ frigate. He fired no more 
guns, but stood from us, giving no reason for 
his mostextraordinary conduct. At day-light 
in the morning, saw a ship to windward, 
which having made out well what v/e were, 
bore up and passed within hail, fully prepared 
for action. About eight o’clock he hailed, 
and said, if I pleased he would send a hoat 
on board j I replied in the affirmative, and a 
boat accordingly came with an officer and 
message from Commodore Rodgers, of the 
President United States’ fi igate, to say that he 
lamented much the unfortunate affair (as he 
termed it) that had happened, and that had 
he known our force was so inferior, he 
should not hive fired at me I asked his 
motive for liaving fired at all j his reply 
was, that we fired the first gun at h m, which 
was positively not the case. I cautioned both 
the officers and men to be particularly care¬ 
ful, and not suffer any more than one man 
to be at the gun, nor is it probable that a 
sloop of war (within pistol shot of a large 
d4-gun frigate) should commence hostilities. 
He offered me every assistance I stood in 
need of, and submitted to me that I bad 
better put into the ports of the United 
States, which I immediately declined. By 
the manner in which he apologised, it appear¬ 
ed to me evident, that had he fallen in 
with a British frigate he would certainly 
have brought her to action ; and what further 
confirms me in this opinion is, that his guns 
were not only loaded with round and grape 
shot, but with every scrap of iron that could 
possibly be collected. 
I have to lament the loss of thirty-two 
men killed and wounded, among whom is 
the master. His Majesty’s sloop is much 
damaged in her masts, sails, rigging, and hull, 
and as there are many shots through between 
wind and water, and many shots still re¬ 
maining in her side, and upper-works all shot 
away, starboard pump also, I have judged it 
proper to proceed to Halifax, which will I 
hope meet with your approbation. 
1 capnot speak in too high terms of the 
officers and men I have the honour to com¬ 
mand, for their steady and active conduct 
throughout the whole of this business, who 
had much to do, as a gale of wind came on 
the second night after the actioii. My first 
lieutenant, Mr. John Meberly, who is m 
every respect a most excellent officer, afford. 
ed me very , great assistance in stopping the 
leaks himself in the gale, securing the masts, 
and doing every thing in his power. It would 
be the greatest injustice was I ndt also to 
speak , most highly of Lieutenant Lovell, 
second lieutenant; of Mr. M‘^ueen, master, 
who, as I have before stated, was wounded 
in the right arm iij nearly the middle of the 
action; and Mr. Wilsonr, mister’s mate. 
Indeed the conduct of every officer and man 
was so good, it is impossible for me to discri¬ 
minate. 
I enclose a list of the thirty-two men 
killed and wounded, m.ost of them mortally 
I fear. 
I hope, Sir, in this affair 1 shall appear to 
havedonc-my duty, and conducted niyself «g 
I ought to have done against so superior a 
force, and that the honour of the British 
colours was well supported. I have tiie 
honour to be, &c. 
(Signed) A. B, Bincham, Captain. 
To Herbert Sawyer, Rear-Admiralof the 
Red, Commander-in Cbief,&c dec. 
Abstract of tlse correspondence he- 
' tween the Marqais VVeliesJey and Mr- 
Pinkney, takeh froin the papers published 
by Older of tiie American govermneiu, 
and \vi icb were refused by Mr. Perceval 
upon tiie .motion uiade by Mr. WJiit- 
bread, in the House of Commons, for 
, their production. The effect of the con¬ 
duct of Lord Wellesley upon the Ame¬ 
rican minister, anff therefjy upon his go¬ 
vernment, will be seen by tfie succeeding 
extracts from I^Ir. Pinknev’s letters to 
Mr. Smith, the American Secretary of 
State, contained in the same pamphlets 
published by order of the American go¬ 
vernment. 
Mr. Pinkney wrote to the Marquis Wel¬ 
lesley :— 
2</. 1810.—-On the subject of the con¬ 
duct, and demanding the recal, of Mr. Jack- 
son. Not ansvveced till the 14ch of March, 
Mr. P. says, in a letter to the Secretary of 
State, Alth'ugh 1 was aware an answer 
wmuld not i.»e hastily given, i was not prepared 
to expect this delay.” 
Feh. I5th.~—Qn the subject of blockades.— 
Answer, 2d March. 
April 30/,'}.—On the Berlin and Milan De¬ 
crees.— No answer. 
May'qd. — Complaining of, and remonstrat¬ 
ing against, the permission of the forging 
American ships papers in London, to give an 
American character to the British ships, and 
of such papers being an open article of traffic. 
—No answer. 
June —Re “erring to his letter of the 
30th of April, on the subject of the Berlin 
and Milan Decrees, to which no answer had 
been given, and requesung a reply on that 
subject.—No atiswer. 
y^ly thy delay of nominating a 
minister 
