destructive, and her crew, if possible, more animated, which lasted until 20 minutes past 6, when it pleased the Almighty disposer of events to bless the efforts of my gallant companions and my personal very humble ones, with victory. My friend, captain Tucker, an officer worthy of their lord. ships' best attentions, was severely wounded at the commencement of the action, but remained on deck until it terminated, using every exertion against the baffling winds and ocasional calms which followed the heavy firing, to close near the enemy. He informs me that his officers and crew, of whose loyalty, zeal, and discipline I entertain the highest opinion, conducted themselves to his satisfaction.

I have to lament the death of four of my brave companions and one of his: with real sorrow I add that my first lieutenant, Ingram, is among the number. He fell early-is a great loss to his majesty's service. The manly tears which I observed this morning, while performing the last mournful duty at his funeral, on shore, more fully evinced the respect and affection of his afflicted companions than any eulogium my pen is equal to. Our lists of wounded are small, and there is only one for whom I am under anxiety. The conduct of my officers and crew, without an individual exception that has come to my knowledge, before, during, and after battle, was such as became good and loyal subjects, zealous for the honour of their much-loved though distant king and country

The defence of the Essex, taking into consideration our superiority of force, the very discouraging circumstance of her having lost her main-top-mast, and being twice on fire, did honour to her brave defenders, and most fully evinced the courage of captain Porter and those under his command. Her colours were not struck until the loss in killed and wounded was so awfully great, her shattered condition so seriously bad, as to render further resistance unavailing.

I was much hurt at hearing that her men had been encouraged, when the result of the action was evidently decided, some to take to their boats, and others to swim on shore; many were drowned in the attempt-sixteen were saved by the exertions of my people, and others, I believe between thirty and forty, effected their landing; I informed captain Porter that I considered the latter in point of honour as my prisoners. He said the encouragement was given when the ship was in danger from fire, and I have not pressed the point. The Essex is completely stored and provisioned for at least six months, and although much injured in her upper works, masts, and rigging, is not in such a state as to give the slightest cause of alarm, respecting her being able to perform a voyage to Europe with perféct safety. Our main and mizen-masts and main-yard are rather seriously wounded: these, with a few shot holes between wind and water, which we can get at without lightening, and a loss of canvas and cordage, which we can partly replace from our well-stored prize, are the extent of the injuries his majesty's ship has sustained.

I feel it a pleasant duty to recommend to their lordships' notice my now senior lieutenant, Pearson, and Messrs. Allen,

, Gardner, Porter, and Daw, midshipmen. I should do very great injustice to Mr. George O'Brien, the mate of the Emily, merchantman, who joined a boat's crew of mine in the harbour, and pushed for the ship the moment he saw her likely to come into action, were I to omit recommending him to their lordships. His conduct, with that of Mr. N. Murphy, master of the English brig Good Friends, were such as to entitle them both to my lasting regard, and prove that they were ever ready to hazard their lives in their country's honourable cause. They came on board when the attempt was attended with great risk, and both their boats were swamped. I have before informed their lordships that Mr. O'Brien was once a lieutenant in his majesty's service-(may now add that youthful indiscretions appear to have given place to great correctness of conduct)—and, as he has proved his laudable zeal for its honour, I think, if restored, he will be found one of its greatest ornaments. I inclose returns of the killed and wounded; and if conceived to have trespassed on their lordships' time by this very long letter, hope it will be kindly ascribed to the right cause an earnest wish that merit may meet its due reward. I have the honour to be, &c.

JAMES HILLYAR. P. S. There has not been found a ship's book or paper

of any description (charts exepted) on board the Essex, or any document relative to the number serving in het previous to the action. Captain Porter informs me that he had upwards of 260 victualled. Our prisoners, including 42 wounded, amount to 161; 23 were found dead on her decks; three wounded were taken away by captain Downes, of the Essex Junior, a few minutes before the colours were struck,

and I believe 20 or 30 reached the shore; the remainder were killed or drowned.

A

List of killed and wounded, in his Majesty's Ships under."

mentioned, in action with the United States frigate Essex, on the 28th March, 1814. Phoebe-4 killed-7 wounded, Cherub-1 killed-3 wounded. Total-5 killed-10 wounded.

CAPTURE OF THE EPERVIER.

Copies of letters from Captain Warrington to the Secretary of

the Navy.

United States Sloop Peacock, at sea, lat. 27° 47', Sir,

long. 80° 9', 29th April, 1814. I have the honour to inform you that we have this morning captured, after an action of forty-two minutes, his majesty's brig Epervier, rating and mounting eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades, with 128 men, of whom eight were killed and 15 wounded (according to the best information we could obtain). Among the latter is her first lieutenant, who has lost an arm and received a severe splinter-wound on the hip. Not a man in the Peacock was killed; and, only two wounded, neither dangerously so. The fate of the Epervier would have been determined in much less time, but for the circumstance of our fore-yard being totally disabled by two round shot in the starboard quarter from her first broadside, which entirely deprived ús of the use of our fore and fore-top-sails, and compelled us to keep the ship large throughout the remainder of the action.

This, with a few top-mast and top-gallant back-stays cut away, a few shot through our sails, is the only injury the Peacock has sustained. Not a round shot touched our hull; our masts and spars are as sound as ever. When the enemy struck, he had five feet water in his hold, his main-top-mast was over the side, his main-boom shot away, his fore-mast cụt nearly in two and tottering, his fore-rigging and stays shot away, his bowsprit badly wounded, and forty-five shotholes in his hull, twenty of which were within a foot of his water line. By great exertion we got her in sailing order, just as the dark came on.

In fifteen minutes after the enemy struck, the Peacock was ready for another action, in every respect but her fore-yard, which was sent down, fished, and had the fore-sail set again in forty-five minutes: such was the spirit and activity of our

a

a

a

gallant crew. The Epervier had under her convoy an English hermaphrodite brig, a kussian and a Spanish ship, which all hauled their wind, and stood to the east north-east. I had determined upon pursuing the former, but found that it would not answer to leave our prize in her then crippled state, and the more particularly so, as we found she had in specie 120,000 dollars, which we soon transferred to this sloop.

Every officer, seaman, and marine did his duty, which is the highest compliment I can pay them. I am, respectfully,

L. WARRINGTON. P. S. From lieutenant Nicholson's report, who was counting up the Epervier's crew, there were eleven killed and fifteen wounded.

L. W.

United States Ship Peacock,

Savannah, 5th May, 1814. As my letter of yesterday was too late for the mail, I address you again in the performance of a duty which is pleasing and gratifying to me in a high degree, and is but doing justice to the merits of the deserving officers under my

command, of whom I have hitherto refrained from speaking, as I considered it most correct to make it the subject of a particular communication.

To the unwearied and indefatigable attention of lieutenant Nicholson (1st), in organizing and training the crew, the success of this action is in a great measure to be attributed. I have confided greatly in him, and have never found my confidence misplaced. For judgment, coolness, and decision, in times of difficulty, few can surpass him.

This is the second action in which he has been engaged this war, and in both he has been successful. His greatest pride is to earn a commander's commission by fighting for, instead of heiring it.

From lieutenant Henry (second) and lieutenant Voorhees (acting-third, who has also been t'vice successfully engaged), Ì received every assistance that zeal, ardour, and experience could afford. The fire from their two divisions was terrible, and directed with the greatest precision and coolness. In sailing-master Percival, whose great wish and pride it is to obtain a lieutenant's commission, and whose unremitting and constant attention to duty, added to his professional knowledge, entitles him to it in my opinion, I found an able as

well as willing assistant. He handled the ship as if he had been working her into a roadstead. Mr. David Cole, actingcarpenter, I have also found such an able and valuable man in his occupation, that I must request in the most earnest manner, that he may receive a warrant, for I feel confident, that to his uncommon exertions, we in a great measure owe the getting our prize into port. From 11, A. M., until 6, P. M., he was over her side stopping shot-holes, on a grating, and when the ordinary resources failed of success, his skill soon supplied him with efficient ones. Mr. Philip Myers, master's-mate, has also conducted himself in such a manner as to warrant my recommendation of him as a master. He is a seaman, navigator, and officer; his family in New York is respectable, and he would prove an acquisition to the service. My clerk, Mr. John S. Townsend, is anxious to obtain through my means a midshipman's warrant, and has taken pains to qualify himself for it by volunteering, and constantly performing a midshipman's duty-indeed I have but little use for a clerk, and he is as great a proficient as any of the young midshipmen, the whole of whom behaved in a manner that was pleasing to me, and must be gratifying to you, as it gives an earnest of what they will make in time; three only have been to sea before, and one only in a man of war, yet they were as much at home and as much disposed to exert themselves as any officer in the ship. Lieutenant Nicholson speaks in high terms of the conduct of Messrs. Greeves and Rodgers (midshipmen), who were in the prize with him.

I have the honour to be, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. WARRINGTON. Honourable William Jones, &c. &c.

CAPTURE OF THE REINDEER.

Copy of a letter from Captain Johnson Blakely to the Secretary

of the Navy, dated United States loop of War, Wasp, L'Orient,

8th July, 1814. Sir,

On Tuesday the 28th ultimo, being then in latitude 48° 36' north, and longitude 11° 15' west, we fell in with, engaged, and, after an action of nineteen minutes, captured his Britannic majesty's sloop of war the Reindeer, William Man