on board the Constitution, under my command, from the time we left Boston up to the 18th instant, which I hope will meet your approbation. I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your obedient servant,

The Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy, Washington City.

ISAAC HULL.

AMERICAN AND BRITISH ACCOUNTS OF THE CAPTURE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE GUERRIERE.

United States' Frigate Constitution, off Boston Light, Sir, August 30, 1812. I have the honour to inform you that on the 19th instant, at 2, P. M., being in latitude 41° 41', and longitude 55° 48′, with the Constitution under my command, a sail was discovered from the mast-head, bearing E. by S. or E. S. E., but at such a distance we could not tell what she was. All sail was instantly made in chase, and soon found we came up with her. At 3, P. M., could plainly see that she was a ship on the starboard tack under easy sail, close on a windat half past 3, P. M., made her out to be a frigate-continued the chase until we were within about three miles, when I ordered the light sails taken in, the courses hauled up, and the ship cleared for action. At this time the chase had backed her main-top-sail, waiting for us to come down. As soon as the Constitution was ready for action, I bore down with an intention to bring him to close action immediately; but on our coming within gun shot, she gave us a broadside, and filled away and wore, giving us a broadside on the other tack, but without effect, her shot falling short. She continued wearing and manœuvring for about three quarters of an hour, to get a raking position-but finding she could not, she bore up and run under her top-sails and jib, with the wind on the quarter. I immediately made sail to bring the ship up with her, and at five minutes before 6, P. M., being along side within half pistol shot, we commenced a heavy fire from all our guns, double-shotted with round and grape, and so well directed were they, and so warmly kept up, that in 16 minutes her mizen-mast went by the board, and his main-yard in the slings, and the hull, rigging, and sails, very much torn to pieces. The fire was kept up with equal warmth for 15 minutes longer, when his main-mast and fore-mast

went, taking with them every spar, excepting the bowsprit ; on seeing this we ceased firing; so that in thirty minutes after we got fairly along side the enemy, she surrendered, and had not a spar standing, and her hull below and above water so shattered, that a few more broadsides must have carried her down.

After informing that so fine a ship as the Guerriere, commanded by an able and experienced officer, had been totally dismasted and otherwise cut to pieces, so as to make her not worth towing into port, in the short space of 30 minutes, you can have no doubt of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and ship's company I have the honour to command. It only remains, therefore, for me to assure you, that they all fought with great bravery; and it gives me great pleasure to say, that from the smallest boy in the ship, to the oldest seaman, not a look of fear was seen. They all went into action giving three cheers, and requesting to be laid close alongside the enemy.

Enclosed I have the honour to send you a list of the killed and wounded on board the Constitution, and a report of the damages she sustained—also a list of killed and wounded on board the enemy, with his quarter bill, &c. I have the honour to be, with very great respect, sir, vour obedient servant, ISAAC HULL.

The Honourable Paul Hamilton, &c. &c.

Return of killed and wounded on board the United States' Frigate Constitution, Isaac Hull, Esq. Captain, in the action with H. M. S. Guerriere, J. R. Dacres, Esq. Captain, on the 19th day of August, 1812.

Killed-William S. Bush, first lieutenant of marines; Jacob Sago, seaman; Robert Brice, do.; John Brown, do.; James Read, do.; Caleb.Smith, do. ; James Ashford, do.

Wounded-Charles Morris, first lieutenant, dangerously; John C. Alwin, master, slightly; Richard Dunn, seaman, dangerously; George Reynolds, ordinary seaman, danger ously; Daniel Lewis, do., dangerously; Owen Taylor, do. do; Francis Mullen, marine, slightly.

Recapitulation-Killed, one lieutenant of marines, and six seamen. Total killed, seven.

Wounded-Two officers, four seamen and one marine. Total wounded, seven.

List of the killed and wounded on board the Guerriere. Wounded-James R. Dacres, captain; Bartholomew Kent, lieutenant; Robert Scoot, master; Samuel Grant, master's

mate; James Enslie, midshipman; John Little, seaman; James Miller, ordinary seaman; Henry Verderie, do.; Hugh M'Kinley, do.; James Morris, seaman; T. Harrington, armourer; William Mee, armourer's mate; Peter Stempstead, ordinary seaman; Peter Peterson, do.; Ralph Williams, do.; Henry Holt, do.; William Somers, do.; William Willington, do.; Patrick Murphy, quarter gunner; J. Cromwell, quartermaster; Mat. Reardon, ordinary seaman; John Campbell, do.; John Southgate, do. ; Henry Dent, do. ; Stephen Kelly, boy; John O'Hare, ordinary seaman; Philip Dwyer, do.; J. Smith, third seaman; K. M'Donald, do.; Alexander Ferguson, ordinary seaman; George Meathers, seaman; James Crooker, do.; David Lewis, ordinary seaman; John Hibbs, do.; Joseph Lushwood, do.; Robert Taylor, do.; George Read, seaman; William Jones, ordinary seaman ; D. M'Mechen, carpenter's crew; William Cooper, seaman; Lawrence Norman, do.; G. Emmerson, sail-maker; J. Jameson, seaman; William Hall, do.; John Bruntlot, do.; J. Sholer, boatswain's mate; R. Baily, first do.; J. Copeland, seaman; Samuel Miller, do.; Roger Spry, marine; John Fake, do.; Melchis Archer, do.; John Goss, do.; Edward Daking, do.; William Cooper, do. ; Samuel Long, do.; Thomas Chambers, do.; Joseph Fountain, do.; William Ryan, do.; Thomas Couther, do.; John Robinson, do.; William Jones, ditto.

Killed H. Ready, second lieutenant; J. Smith, second gunner's mate; G. Griffiths, quarter gunner; J. Tuck, ordinary seaman; William Baker, do.; Alexander Cowie, seaman; Richard Chusman, landsman; William White, seaman; Henry Brown, ordinary seaman; Robert Rodgers, seaman; John Peterson, do.; William Brown, second do. ; J. A. Fox, sergeant of marines; J. Wodcock, marine; T. Pratt, do.

Missing-James Johnson, Moses Virgin, Benjamin Hinworth, James Greenwood, William Cole, James Johnson, third, corporal Webb, marine; John Griswell, J. M'Gill, James Batterwitch, William Raysdon, William Hammock, Robert Mittwoft, A. Joaquin, John Jacobs, lieutenant James Pullman, Mr. Garton, John Newman, Robert Winn, James Guy, Robert Scott, lieutenant Roberts, John Flavitt, John Hosey.

Sir,

Boston, September 18, 1813. I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 9th instant, and have read it publicly to the ship's company.

I now have the honour of forwarding to you the name of the man who lost his leg in the action; and shall take the first moment's leisure I have to carry that part of your orders into execution, directing me to make a present to the brave fellow who lashed the flag to the top-mast head.

The name of the man that got his leg shot off is Richard Dunn, he was born near West Chester, Pennsylvania, he was rated seaman on the books. I have collected for him one thousand dollars, which I intend putting into funds that will give him the interest quarterly. I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your obedient servant,

(Signed)

The Hon. Paul Hamilton, Secretary

of the Navy, Washington.

ISAAC HULL.

From the London Gazette.

Admiralty Office, October 10.

Copy of a letter from Vice-Admiral Sawyer, to John Wilson Croker, Esq., dated on board His Majesty's Ship Africa, at Halifax, the 15th Sept. 1812.

Sir, It is with extreme concern I have to request you will be pleased to lay before the lords commissioners of the admiralty, the enclosed copy of a letter from captain Dacres, of his majesty's late ship Guerriere, giving an account of his having sustained a close action of near two hours, on the 19th ultimo, with the American frigate Constitution, of very superior force, both in guns and men (of the latter almost double), when the Guerriere being totally dismasted, she rolled so deep as to render all further efforts of the guns unavailing, and it become a duty to spare the lives of the remaining part of her valuable crew, by hauling down her colours. The masts fell over the side from which she was about to be engaged, in a very favourable position for raking by the enemy. A few hours after she was in possession of the enemy, it was found impossible to keep her above water; she was therefore set fire to and abandoned, which I hope will satisfy their lordships she was defended to the last. I have the honour to be, &c.

Sir,

(Signed)

H. SAWYER, Vice-Admiral.

Boston, Sept. 7, 1812. I am sorry to inform you of the capture of his majesty's late ship Guerriere, by the American frigate Constitution, after a severe action on the 19th August, in latitude 40° 20′,

N., and longitude 55° W. At 2, P. M., being by the wind on the starboard tack, we saw a sail on our weather beam, bearing down on us. At 3 made her out to be a man of war, beat to quarters and prepared for action. At 4, she closing fast, wore to prevent her raking us. At 10 minutes past 4,

hoisted our colours and fired several shot at her; at 20 minutes past 4, she hoisted her colours and returned our fire, wore several times to avoid being raked, exchanging broadsides. At five she closed on our starboard-beam, both keeping up a heavy fire and steering free, his intention being evidently to cross our bow. At 20 minutes past 5, our mizen-mast went over the starboard quarter, and brought the ship up in the wind; the enemy then placed himself on our larboard bow, raking us, a few only of our bow guns bearing, and his grape and riflemen sweeping our deck. At 40 minutes past 5, the ship not answering her helm, he attempted to lay us on board; at this time Mr. Grant, who commanded the forecastle, was carried below badly wounded. I immediately ordered the marines and boarders from the maindeck; the master was at this time shot through the knee, and I received a severe wound in the back. Lieutenant King was leading the boarders, when the ship coming to, we brought some of our bow guns to bear on her, and had got clear of our opponent, when at 20 minutes past 6, our fore and main-mast went over the side, leaving the ship a perfect unmanageable wreck. The frigate shooting ahead I was in hopes to clear the wreck, and get the ship under command to renew the action, but just as we had cleared the wreck, our spritsail-yard went, and the enemy having rove new braces, &c. wore round within pistol shot, to rake us, the ship lying in the trough of the sea, and rolling her main deck guns under water, and all attempts to raise her before the wind being fruitless, when calling my few remaining officers together, they were all of opinion that any further resistance would only be a needless waste of lives, I ordered, though reluctantly, the colours to be struck.

The loss of the ship is to be ascribed to the early fall of her mizen mast, which enabled our opponent to choose his position. I am sorry to say, we suffered considerably in killed and wounded, and mostly while she lay on our bow, from her grape and musquetry; in all, 15 killed, and 63 wounded, many of them severely; none of the wounded officers quitted the deck until the firing ceased.

The frigate proved to be the United States' ship Constitu