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POST-CAPTAINS OF 1802.

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orders I had the honor to receive from you at Bermuda, the Belvidera was on the 23d instant in lat. 39° 26' N., long. 71° 10' W., in expectation of the French privateer Marengo coming out of New London. At break of day, the officer of the watch informed me the upper sails of five vessels were seen in the S.W. I stood towards them to reconnoitre; and when about six miles from us they hauled to the wind by signal in chase of the Belvidera^[1]. I tacked from them, and made sail in consequence of their not answering the private signal^[2]. At 11^h 30' A.M. we hoisted our colours, and the strange squadron shewed the American flag. The breeze falling light with me, but still favouring them, brought their van ship, which I believe to have been the President^[3], within point blank distance on our weather quarter. At 4^h 20' P.M. she opened her fire from her foremost guns. I had given the most positive orders to my Lieutenants to prick the cartridges, but not to prime the guns^[4]. Although ignorant of the war, we were of course prepared; and about five minutes afterwards opened ours, with two 32-pounder earronades, and two long 18-pounders from the stern^[5]. In light winds the President sailed better than the Belvidera; and as her second, a very heavy frigate^[6], sailed as well, I acknow-

↑ The enemy when first seen were steering to the eastward, with the wind blowing a moderate breeze from W.N.W.
↑ This was at about 8^h 15' A.M. The Belvidera kept away between four and five points.
↑ Captain Byron’s conjectures were right. His nearest opponent was the President, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Rodgers, and mounting thirty-two long 24 pounders, and 22 carronades, (42-pounders,) exclusive of top guns; with a complement of 475 men. The Belvidera mounted twenty-six long 18-pounders, and 16 carronades, 14 of which were 32-pounders, the other 2 only nines. She had on board only 230 officers, men, and boys.
↑ This was done to prevent the possibility of any such charge being laid against the Belvidera, as had been made so much of in the case of the Little Belt. See Captain Arthur Batt Bingham.
↑ The wind had by this time shifted to W.S.W.; the Belvidera and her pursuers continuing their course to the N.E. was consequently running nearly before it.
↑ The President’s second was the Congress, of twenty-eight long 18-pounders, twenty 32-pr. carronades, and two long nines. Her complement was 440 men.

[1] The enemy when first seen were steering to the eastward, with the wind blowing a moderate breeze from W.N.W.

[2] This was at about 8^h 15' A.M. The Belvidera kept away between four and five points.

[3] Captain Byron’s conjectures were right. His nearest opponent was the President, bearing the broad pendant of Commodore Rodgers, and mounting thirty-two long 24 pounders, and 22 carronades, (42-pounders,) exclusive of top guns; with a complement of 475 men. The Belvidera mounted twenty-six long 18-pounders, and 16 carronades, 14 of which were 32-pounders, the other 2 only nines. She had on board only 230 officers, men, and boys.

[4] This was done to prevent the possibility of any such charge being laid against the Belvidera, as had been made so much of in the case of the Little Belt. See Captain Arthur Batt Bingham.

[5] The wind had by this time shifted to W.S.W.; the Belvidera and her pursuers continuing their course to the N.E. was consequently running nearly before it.

[6] The President’s second was the Congress, of twenty-eight long 18-pounders, twenty 32-pr. carronades, and two long nines. Her complement was 440 men.

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