YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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PAPERS

RELATING TO

THE ACTION
BETWEEN HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP
LILLE BEXT,
OF EIGHTEEN GUNS,

UNITED STATES FRIGATE
PRESIDENT,
OF FORTY-FOUR GUNS.

LONDON :
PRINTED BOR J. MDKRAY, 32, FLEET-STREET.
1811.

T. Davison, Lombard-street,
Whitefriars, London.

ADVERTISEMENT.
The following papers, and the observa
tions by which they are preceded, appeared
in the Times news-paper of the 7th instant.
They are so important, and indeed so sa
tisfactory and conclusive on the subject of
the Action between the Lille Belt and
President, that the publisher, having ascer
tained that the papers are genuine and au
thentic, thinks it a duty, not less to the brave
officers and seamen of the Lille Belt, than
to the country at large, to present them to
the public in a less transitory shape than
that in which they at first appeared.

FROM THE TIMES NEWS-PAPER,
December 7th, 1811.
" The dispute respecting the firing of the
first shot in the action between the Pre
sident and the Lille Belt being resumed by
Mr, Madison, and the blame of that trans
action imputed to us, we now think it pro
per to bring forward all the documents we
are able, some of which we reserved ex
pressly for this occasion, in support of our
opinion that America was the aggressor.
We are aware how loudly some people
blamed us, when we declared, though in very
cautious terms, our disbelief of the evidence
given on the American court-martial : but
we knew that we possessed document
against document ; and of the occurrences
which took place in a moment of extreme;

VI PREFACE.
agitation to the bravest, vie were very cer
tain that British seamen were, from habit,
likely to be more accurate and cool ob
servers than those of America, none of
whom, probably, were ever in an action
before. " The public have already seen the letters
of Commodore Rodgers, and Captain Bing
ham to their respective governments, each
charging the other with being the aggres"-
sor; which, nevertheless, for the sake of
accuracy, we have this day thought it out
duty to repubhsh. They have likewise seen
the minutes of the American court-martial,
proving that the LJlle Belt fired first ; but
we now bring forward that to which they
were before strangers, — the minutes of a
court of inquiry held at Halifax, proving,
in like manner, that the President fired
first. So far, therefore. Great Britain and
America are equal; they carry their de
fence to the same length, and support it by
the same testimony. But we go much far-

PREFACE. VII
ther than this ; for we likewise now first
bring forth the depositions of two seamen,—
the one an American, we believe, and the
other an Englishman, — who were on board
the President at the time ofthe action, and
who swear that the first shot was discharg
ed from their ship ; and to this new testi
mony we solicit proper regard. Nor does
England's excess of evidence over that of
America rest even here ; for we have long
ago seen Captain Bingham's instructions,
charging him to treat the citizens of the
United States with the utmost respect ;
while America has hitherto studiously con
cealed the instructions under which Com
modore Rodgers sailed.
" It is asserted in the deposition of one of
these seamen, that the first shot was fired
by accident; than which nothing is more
likely among inexperienced persons : and
how strongly does this confirm the opinion
which we gave long ago, and have now re
peated, of the agitation which must have

vm PREEACE.
prevailed on board a vessel manned by
marines who had never before been in ac
tion !
" But to recur to another topic, no less
essential to the dispute than firing the first
shot. A gun may, as we have seen, go
off and do mischief by accident : but a
threatening position cannot be assumed
but by intention. Who, then, intentionally
first put himself in a posture of offence?
Commodore Rodgers, clearly, by his own
acknowledgment, and Captain Bingham's
assertion, supported by the evidence of his
officers at Halifax. These are the words
of the two captains, speaking at the same
moment of time : — ' By his manner of
steering down, he evidently wished to lay
his ship in a position for raking, which I
frustrated by wearing three times.' — Cap
tain Bingham s letter, and the evidence of all
his officers to the same effect.
" What says Comrriodore Rodgers to this .?
' At fifteen minutes past eight I directed

PREFACE. IX
Captain Ludlow to take a position to wind
ward of her, and on the same tack, within
short speaking distance : this, however, the
raaster of the chase appeared from his ma
noeuvres anxious to prevent; as he wore,
and hauled by the wind on different tacks,
four times successively between this period
and the time of our arriving at the position
which I had ordered to be taken.' (Com
modore Rodgers' s letter.) Why did Com
modore Rodgers assume this position ? To
speak to us : but why did he wish to speak
to us to windward upon the same tack, or
in other words, in the most formidable
position for raking us ; and that, too, after
he saw that We had three or four times
avoided suffering him to do it ? Let him, or
any one else for him, answer that.
" Thus do we think that we have laid this
matter at rest finally : but, as we said a
day or two ago, it is in a national point of
view of no great moment. Had either
government avowed and attempted to jus-
B

X PREFACE.
tify the hostile deed of its captain, there is
just cause of retaliation and war on the
part of the other. But, on the contrary,
both nations disclaim any act of violence :
we have proved that we gave our officer
orders ofa directly opposite tendency. If,
therefore, on the supposition that "Com
modore Rodgers fired the first shot, than
which nothing can be more certain, Ame
rica disowns, and is sorry for his rashness ;
or if, supposing Captain Bingham could
have fired first, we do the same : what re
sults from this event to impede, in any de
gree, the amicable arrangement of our
other differences ?
" We cannot conclude without again re
questing attention to the depositions of the
two seamen, particularly that taken at
Hahfax. It is evidence of much more
than the mere commencement of the ac
tion. The fitting out of the President — the
arrival of Commodore Rodgers on board —
the taking in of shot and wads — all these

PREFACE. XI
points, we fear, argue ' a foregone deter
mination ;' but still, if America is content
to disavow the act, it were more politic in
us to believe her assurance/'

PAPERS, &c.

I.

THE INSTRUCTIONS
Ufider which Captain Bingham was sailing, when he
was met with and chased by the President.
By Herbert Sa-wyer, Esq. Rear- Admiral of the Red, and
Commander in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels
employed and to be employed in the river St, Lawrence,
along the coast of Nova-Scotia, the Islands of Anticoste,
Madelaine, and St. John, and Cape Breton, the Bay of
Fundy, and at or about the Island of Bermuda, or Somers
Island. You are hereby required and directed to put
to sea in his Majesty's sloop under your com
mand, and proceed without loss of time off
Charlestown, where you may expect to meet
Captain Peachell, in the Guerriere, to whom you
will deliver the packet you will herewith receive,
and follow his orders for your farther proceedings.
Should you not meet the Guerriere off Charles-
town, you will stand for the northward, and use
your utmost endeavours to join him off the
Capes of Virginia, or of New Yorkj and in the

event of not meeting the Guerriere, you will
cruize as long as your provisions and water will
last, and then repair to Halifax fpr farther orders.
You are to pay due regard to protecting the
trade of his Majesty's subjects, and the capture
or desti'uction of the ships of the enemy. You
are to be particularly careful uot to give any just
cause of offence to the government or subjects of
the United States of America ; and to give very
particular orders to this effect to the officers you
may have occasion to send on board ships under
the Americain flag. You are not to anchor in
any of the American ports, biit in case of abso
lute necessity, and then put to sea again as soon
as possible.
Given under my hand at Bermtida, this iQth
day of April, 1811.
Herbert Sawyer.
To Arthur Batt Bingham, 'Esjq. Commander of his "Ma-
jesty's sloop Lille Belt., By command of the Rear-Ad
miral. H. N. SpMERVIJ-LE.

II.

Captain Bingham's Official Account qf Ms Pro
ceedings.
His Majesty's sloop Lille Belt, May 21, 1811; latitude 36
53. N". longitude 71 49. W. Cape Charles bearing vfest
4S miles. SIR,
I beg leave to acquaint you, that, in pursuance
of your orders to join his Majesty's ship Guer
riere, and being on my return from the north
ward, not having fallen in with her, that at about
eleven A. M. May lOth, saw a strange sail, to
which I immediately gave chase : at one P. M,
discovered her to be a man of war, apparently a
frigate, standing to the eastward, who, when
he made us out, edged away for us, and set his
royals, — made the signal %75, and finding it not
answered, concluded she was an American fri
gate, as he had a commodore's blue pendant fly
ing at the main, — ^hoisted the colours, and made
all sail south, the course I intended steering
round Cape Hatteras ; the strangeredging away,
but not making any more sail. At half-past
three he made sail in chase, when I made the
private signal, which was not answered. At
half-past six, finding he gained so considerably
on us as not to be able to elude him during the
night, being within gunshot, and clearly discern
ing the stars in his broad pendant, I imagined

the more prudent method was to bring to, and
hoist the colours, that no mistake might arise,
and that he might see what we were : the ship
was therefore brought-to, colours hoisted, guns
double shotted, and every preparation made in
case of a surprise. By his manner of steering
down, he evidently wished to lay his ship in a
position for raking, which I frustrated by wear
ing three times. About a quarter past eight he
came within hail. I hailed, and asked what ship
it was? He repeated my question. I again
hailed, and asked what ship it was ? He again
repeated my words, and fired a broadside, whicii
I immediately returned. The action theu be
came general, and continued so for about 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 falHng 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 bow-line left.
He hailed, and asked what ship this was? 1 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 tirae), he answered. The
United States frigate. He fired no more guns,
but stood from us, giving no reason for his most
extraordinary conduct. At day-light in the
morning, saw a ship to windward, which having

made out well what we 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 boat on board ; I replied in the
affirmative; and a boat accordingly came with
an officer, and a message from Commodore Rod
gers, of the President United States frigate, to
saythat 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 have fired at me. I asked his motive for fir
ing at all ; his reply was that we fired the first
gun at him, which was positively not the case.
I cautioned both the officers and men to be par
ticularly careful, 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
forty-four gun frigate, should commence hostili
ties. He offered me every assistance I stood in
need of, and submitted to me that I had better
put into one of the ports of the United States,
which I immediately declined. By the manner
in which he apologised, it appeared to me evi
dent, that had he fallen in with a British frigate
he would certainly have brought her to action ;
and what farther confirms me in that 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.
c

His Majesty's sloop is much damaged in her
mast9, sails, rigging, and hull; and as there are
many shot through between wind and water,
and many shots still remaining 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 approba
tion. I cannot speak in too high terras of the officers
and men I have the honour to command, for
their steady and active conduct throughout the
whole ofthis business, who had much to do, as a
gale of wind came on the second night after the
action. My first lieutenant, Mr. John Moberly,
who is in every respect a most excellent officer,
afforded 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 not also to speak
most highly of Lieutenant Levell, second lieu
tenant; of Mr. M'Queen, master, who, as I
have before stated, was wounded in the right
arm, in nearly the middle ofthe action; and Mr.
Wilson, master's mate. Indeed, the conduct of
every officer and man was so good it is impos
sible for me to discriminate.
I beg leave to enclose a list of the thirty-two
men killed and wounded, most of them mortally
I fear. I hope. Sir, in this affair I shall appear to have
done my duty, and conducted myself as I ought

to have done against so superior a force; and
that the honour of the British colours was well
supported. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) A. B. BINGHAM, Captain.
To Herbert Saw}'er, Esq. Rear- Admiral
ofthe Eed, Commander in Chief, &«.

IIL
STATEMENT
By the Officers of his Majesty's Sloop Lille Belt,
at a Court of Enquiry, held before the three
undernamed Captains of' his Majesty's Royal
Naiy at Hal fax. May 29, 1811.
The Right Honourable Lord James Townshend, Captain of
his Majesty's ship Eolus, and senior officer at Halifax, Nova
Scotia. Charles John Austen, Esq. Captain of his Majesty's ship
Cleopatra; and
Alexander Gordon, Esq. Commander of his Majesty's sloop
Ratler. Lieutenant Moberly, senior lieutenant,states,
that on the l6th instant, while cruizing off the
coast of America, Cape Charles bearing west,
fifty-four miles, at eleven A, M. saw a strange
sail, — that she was a lugger was reported from
the mast-head, on the starboard beam; we then
steering S. S.W. the wind aft, or a little on the
starboard quarter ; on which, took in our stud
ding-sails, and hauled our wind for her on the
starboard tack :T-shortly after, made her out to
be a ship. At thirty past two P. M. having then
made out the chase to be a frigate, with a com,
modore's broad pendant flying, being then about
six miles, and not having answered any of our
private signals, viz. 275, private signal, and our
number, concluded her to be the American fri-

gate United States; shewed our colours, and
steered our course south. Set studding-sails at
five o'clock, observed the frigate make all sail;
and to keep more away for us : at seven, found
she was gaining on us fast. Captain Bingham
then thinking it best to speak her before darks
shortened sail, and hove-to, colours up: we then
making out her stars in her broad pendant, beat
to quarters, and got all clear for action, a second
tirae, having beat before at two P. M. ; double
shotted and double breached the guns. At fifty
past seven, observed the frigate to have shorten.
ed sails to topsails, top-gallant sails, and jib, and
standing down as if with an intention of passing
under our stern; wore twice to evade this. Cap
tain Bingham hailed, and was not answered :
wore again, to close tous, on the larboard beam.
Captain Bingham hailed the ship, " a-hoy. !"
which was repeated word for word by the fri gate :
Captain Bingham asked what ship that was,
which was also repeated as before ; and on ask
ing a second time, was answered by a broadside.
Captain Bingham was then standing on the mid
ship gun; jumped off, and gave orders to fire,
which was done in less than a minute after her
first fire, we being quite ready, guns pointed;
and continued firing for about an hour; when
the frigate ceased firing, and hailed us to know
what ship this was. Captain Bingham answer
ed, his Majesty's ship Lille Belt, several times,

10
before he understood us. He then asked if our
colours were down; No! was Captain Bingham's
answer. Captain Bingham then hailed to know
what ship that was, and was answered, the
United States frigate, the name we could not
understand. In the mean time the frigate had
filled, and was standing from us; a short time
after lost sight of her — hove to for the night,
having no sail to set. At day-light saw a sail
to windward, made her out to be the same ship
we had engaged; at six she bore up for us under
easy sail, at eight she passed within hail, asked
permission to send a boat on board, which was
granted ; boat came on board, staid ten minutes,
then returned; understood the frigate to be the
President, belonging to the United States, Com
modore Rodgers ; observed the President to fill
and stand on, on the starboard tack, under her
topsails. Lieutenant Thomas Levell states, that on
the 16th of May, 1811, at eleven A. M. saw a
strange sail from the mast-head, which was re
ported to be a lugger, having her main-top gal
lant sail bended, fore and mizen set; we were
then going nearly before the wind; turned the
hands up, took in studding sails, and made sail
in chase on the starboard tack; at thirty past
one, observed her to be a frigate; made the pri
vate signal, our number also 275, neither of
which she answered; observing her to have a blue

11
broad pendant at her mast-head, at two wore
ship, and steered our course south, hoisted our
colours; observed her to be in chase of us; sup
posed her to be an American frigate; cleared
ship for action; at five beat to quarters a second
tirae, double shotted the guns, and double
breached those that were bad; at thirty past
seven, shortened sail, and hove-to, as she was
coming up with us very fast ; hoisted our co
lours; observed the stars in her broad pendant;
wore ship three or four times, to prevent his
passing under our stern, whicii he evidently in
tended ; at eight hailed her, when on the star
board beam : received no answer : wore ship at
ten past eight ; she hauled her foresail up, and
hove-to within half pistol-shot of our weather-
beara ; Captain Bingham standing on the gun
abaft the larboard gangway, hailed the ship
" a-hoy!" which words were repeated word for
word, and she immediately fired a broadside ;
Captain Bingham jumped off the gun, and gave
orders to fire, which we did instantly, the cap
tains of the guns standing with the lanyards of
the locks in their hands, and the guns pointed
at her; continued firing about an hour, when
she ceased, and hailed us, " What ship that 1''
Captain Bingham replied. His Majesty's ship
Lille Belt several times before he understood us ;
he then asked what ship that was; they an
swered, the United States frigate; the name we

did not understand, and asked if our colours were
down; Captain Bingham answered No ! he then
filled on the starboard tack : we very soon lost
sight of her; continued all night refitting; at day
light observed her laying-to to windward about
eight or ten miles ; about six she bore down un
der her topsails and foresails ; at eight he hailed
" ship-a-hoy ! I'll send a boat on board if you
please, sir." " Very well, sir," was Captain
Bingham's answer ; the boat came on board, and
remained about ten minutes or a quarter of an
hour, after which he wore, and stood to the west
ward under his topsails. Latitude 36. 53. longi
tude 71. 49. Cape Charles bearing west fifty
miles. Mr. James Franklin, boatswain, states, at
half-past six o'clock observed the frigate coming
up under studding sails on both sides ; about
half-past seven shortened sail and brought-to ;
hoisted the colours ; at a quarter before eight
hailed; no answer; wore ship; about two mi
nutes before eight the ship was hailed ; the cap
tain's words were repeated twice without making
any answer; then he fired a whole broadside;
about a minute returned a broadside from us;
continuing firing for about an hour, and then he
ceased firing, and hailed, and asked what ship
this was ; and he was answered by the captain,
the Lille Belt ; and he then asked if the colours
were down; the answer was. No ! and I heard the

13
captain say, that they should not come down,
and ordered the starboard guns to be manned ;
then the captain hailed to know what ship that
was, being under the forecastle wounded ; I could
not hear the answer. I then came down below,
and there was no more firing after.
Mr. HiNSHELWOOD, purser, states, that on the
l6th instant, at eleven A. M. saw a strange sail ;
made sail in chase of her ; thirty minutes past one
observed her to be a frigate ; made the private
signal, our number, and 275, neither of which
were answered; at two made out a commo
dore's broad pendant, apparently an American j
cleared for quarters ; observed the frigate to be
in chase of us ; at five beat to quarters a second
time; thirty minutes past seven hove-to and
hoisted our colours ; at eight hailed her, no an
swer ; wore ship ; at ten minutes past eight she
hove-to close to windward of us. Captain Bing
ham standing on the gun abaft the larboard gang
way, hailed, « a-hoy ! the ship," which they re
peated : Captain Bingham asked, what ship is
that, which was also repeated, and immediately
gave us a broadside, commencing firing from
the midships of the deck ; Captain Bingham
jumped off the gun, and gave orders to fire, which
was instantly done ; continued firing about an
hour : observed the frigate to leave off firing ; she
hailed at the same time, and asked what ship
this was : Captain Bingham answered, his Bri-
P

14
tannic Majesty's ship Lille Belt, six or seven
times before they understood j he then asked if
our colours were down, to which Captain Bing
ham answered No ! and asked what ship that was :
she answered the United States ship, — the name
we could not understand. She then made sail ;
at day-light observed her to windward, at six she
bore down, and at eight passed within hail : hail
ed the ship, and said he would send a boat on
board, if Captain Bingham pleased ; a boat came
on board, and remained about a quarter of an
hour ; she then made sail to the westward.
Mr. William Turner, surgeon, states, when
steering to the southward from off New York,
on the 16th of May, 1811, at eleven A. M. a
strange sail was reported to the westward, which
was immediately given chase to : on nearing,
observed her to be a frigate, standing to the
eastward, with an American broad pendant at
her main-top-gallant-mast head. We then re
sumed our course to the southward, and shewed
the ensign and pendant : stranger observed
shortly after to alter her course, to join us ; when
the Lille Belt made more sail : strange frigate
did the same : finding the stranger joined us fa.st,
prepared for action ; shortened sail, and hove-to
sometime before sun-set: immediately after the
Lille Belt hove-to, the strange frigate shortened
sail, coming down very slowly. I shortly after
went below ; at ten minutes past eight o'clock
P. M. Captain Bingham hailed the stranger

15
twice, very loudly, but received no answer : about
five minutes after Captain Bingham again hailed,
and was answered from the frigate, to what pur
pose I could not distinctly understand. Captain
Bingham again hailed twice, and immediately
heard the frigate fire, and the whole passed over
us. I then distinctly heard Captain Bingham
give orders to fire away : we returned the broad
side within the space of twenty seconds ; the ac
tion continued with great vigour for about forty-
five minutes, to the best of my judgment.
We, the undersigned, have duly examined the
officers herein named belonging to his Majesty's
sloop Lille Belt, respecting the attack made on
that ship by the United States frigate President,
have received the above as a true statement of all
the occurrences. In witness whereof we have
hereunto set our hands, on board his Majesty's
ship Eolus, Halifax harbour. Nova Scotia, 29th
of May, 1811. J. TOWNSHEND.
C. J. AUSTEN.
A. GORDON.

IV.
Deposition on Oath qf a Seaman who was on
Board the President during the Action,
Province of Nova Scotia, Halifax.
The examination and information of William
BuRKET, mariner, taken before John Howe and

16
Thomas Boggs, Esquires, two of his Majesty's
justices of the peace for the county of Halifax,
this twenty-second day of June, in the year of
our Lord, one thousand, eight htindred and
eleven ; who being duly sworn, deposeth and
saith, that he was born at Deptford, in England ;
that he is about twenty-three years of age ; that
he has reason to think he has a mother still liv
ing at Deptford ; that he left home about three
years ago, and went to Montego-bay, Jamaica;
that he left that place afterwards and proceeded
to New York, in a brig called the Pizarro ; that
sometime in August, 1809, being in a state of
intoxication, he was forcibly carried oA board the
United States armed schooner Revenge, in which
he continued until she was cast away in Long
Island Sound ; that he was afterwards transfer
red to the United States ship, the President; that
he was entered on board the Revenge, and after
wards on board the President, by the name of
Elijah Shepardson; that he was on board the
President the first week in May last, when that
ship was laying at Anapolis, in Maryland; that
Commodore Rodgers suddenly came on board
from Havre-de-Grace, where he had beenjwith his
family; that instantly after the arrival ofthe com
modore all was bustle in the ship ; that the sails,
some of which were unbent, were immediately
bent, and the ship got ready with all possible ex
pedition to proceed to sea ; that she got under

17
weigh next day, and proceeded down the river;
that they spoke a brig, which said they had been
boarded the day before by a British cruiser,
and that she had taken a man from her, who had
been sent back again ; that, as they were going
down the river, they got up a much larger quan
tity. of shot and wads than bad ever been cus
tomary on any other occasion while he was on
board the ship ; and that he knows this to have
been the case from having held the station of
quarter-gunner ; that after proceeding to sea
they cruised on the different parts of the coast
without any thing materially happening until the
1 6th day of May ; that at twelve o'clock on that
day, being belowat dinner,word was brought that
a frigate, supposed to be British, was in sight; that
orders were then given for clearing away the bulk
heads, and preparing for action ; that soon after
all hands were beat to quarters ; that every thing
was then immediately got ready for action; that
at this time it was about two o'clock ; that all
sails were then set, and they went eagerly in
chace of the supposed frigate ; that orders were
soon after given for pricking and firing the
guns; before dark, while they were approach
ing nearer the chace, orders were given to take
the aprons off the guns ; and at that time this
deponent looked at the ship they were in chace
of through the bridle port, and he saw her
colours flying; that he saw red in them, but

18
could not correctly ascertain what colours they
were; that at the distance they were, he is
satisfied that with glasses they could easily be
distinguished; that he heard Lieutenant Beld-
ing, who had a glass, and who commanded in
his division, say that her colours were British ;
that when this deponent looked at her he could
see her hull, and was satisfied that she was a
small ship; that they continued after this period
to approach her until between eight and nine
o'clock, when they were within pistol-shot;
that Commodore Rodgers then gave orders to
stand by their guns, and not to fire till orders
were given; that the commodore then hailed;
and when he was hailing a second time, a gun
in the division to which this deponent belongs,
being the second divison, went off, he thinks by
accident ; and that there were four or five men
leaning on the gun at the time ; that he in
stantly turned to acquaint tbe lieutenant that
the gun had gone off by accident, the lieutenant
then standing only three guns from him ; that
before he could do this, the whole broadside of
the President was discharged ; and that im
mediately after a general order was given, " Fire
away as quick as possible ;" that before the fir
ing of the gun of his division, which he thinks
went off by accident, and the broadside which
immediately followed, this deponent is satisfied,
as he was looking out of the port, and distinctly

19
(jaw the Lille Belt, that not a gun had been
fired fi-om her; that the President, he thinks*
continued firing about half an hour without
cessation ; that an order was then given to cease
firing ; that the President then filled her main
top-sail, and stood from the Lille Belt with her
head to the southward, and continued all night
on that tack without heaving-to ; that the com
modore, before he steered from the Lille Belt,
hailed her to know if she had struck ; the only
part ofthe answer given that he could distinct
ly hear or understand was, that she was a British
ship. This deponent farther saith, that the Presi
dent was wounded in her fore-mast and main
mast, a thirty-two pound shot having entered
each of them ; that the rest of the night after
the engagement they were employed in repair
ing the damage sustained in the rigging. This
deponent farther saith, that the crew of the
President consists of about five hundred men,
upwards of three hundred of which he knows to
be British seamen, from having conversed with
them, and having heard them declare they were
so, and from many of them having designated
the places they came from ; that the engage
ment with the Lille Belt had excited great dis
gust in the British seamen on board the Presi
dent, who had manifested their reluctance to
fight against their country; that one man in
particular had so plainly expressed this feehng,

20,
as to have drawn on him the resentment of
Commodore Rodgers, who put him in irons, in
which situation he remained when this deponent
left the ship for the aforesaid offence, and for
having said that the first gun was fired from the
President. This deponent farther saith, that, after the
President came into New- York, and was lying
in the North River, that by the assistance of
his hammock-lashings he got in the night from
the fore-chains into the river, and swam to a
place of safety, and has since procured a pas
sage to Halifax.
WILLIAM BURKET, his Xmark.
Sworn at Halifax, the day and year aforesaid, before us,
THO KOrrs' f Justices of the Peace.

V.
Deposition on Oath of another Seaman who 'was on
Board the President during the Action.
Bristol, July 25, 1811.
John Russell deposes that he belonged to
the President American frigate ; that he did his
duty in the fore-top ; was quartered at the after
most gun on the forecastle. Before they fell in
with the Lille Belt, the commodore informed
the ship's company, that he was ordered to
demand two American seamen that had been
pressed by a British frigate; if they ere no

21
given up, he was to take them by force ; when
they went down to the Lille Belt the guns were
double shotted, and loaded with grape ; that the
first gun was fired from the President, but he
believes from accident, as no orders were given
from the quarter-deck to fire; the guns had
locks, and were all cocked. After the action,
he was informed by the men in the waste, that
a man was entangled with the Ian-yard of the
lock, that occasioned the gun to go off.
The
(Signed) JOHN X RUSSELL.
Mark of
The within-named John Russel was sworn to
the truth of the within affidavit, before me, one
of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the
city and county of Bristol, the 27th dnv of July,
1811. (Signed) DAVID EVANS.

THE t:nx>.