nour to be, with very great respect, sir, your obedient hum

ble servant,

ISAAC HULL.

Sir,

CAPTAIN HULL'S SECOND CRUIZE.

United States' Frigate Constitution, off Boston Light, August 28, 1812. I have the honour to inform you, that after leaving Boston Light on the 2d instant, the date of my last letter to you, I stood to the eastward along the coast, in hopes to fall in with one of the enemy' frigates, which was reported to be cruising in that direction, the day before I left Boston. I passed near the coast, as far down as the Bay of Fundy, but saw nothing. I then run off Halifax and Cape Sables, and remained near there for three or four days without seeing any thing, which made me determine to change my situation to the eastward towards Newfoundland. I accordingly bore up, and run to the eastward under all sail, passing near the Isle of Sables, and hauling in to take a station off the Gulph of St. Lawrence, near Cape Race, to intercept the ships of the enemy bound either to or from Quebec or Halifax, or to be in a situation to re-capture such of our vessels as they might be sending in.

On the 10th instant, being off Cape Race, I fell in with a light merchant brig, bound to Halifax from Newfoundland; and as she was not worth sending in, I took the crew on board and set her on fire. On the 11th I fell in with the British brig Adeona, from Nova-Scotia, bound to England, loaded with timber. I took the crew out of her and set her on fire, and made sail to take a station nearer Cape Race, where we continued cruising until the morning of the 15th, at day-light; when five sail were in sight ahead of us, apparently a small convoy. I gave chase under a press of sail, and soon found that we gained on them very fast, and discovered that one of them was a ship of war; at sun-rise they tacked and stood on the same tack with us. By this time we could plainly discover that the ship of war had a brig in tow. At 6, coming up very fast with the ship, and could see that she had cast off the brig that she had in tow, and had set her on fire, and had ordered a second brig to stand

before the wind to separate them. The ship of war making sail to windward, I gave chase to a ship which appeared to be under her convoy ; but when we came up with her, she proved to be a British ship, prize to the Dolphin privateer, of Salem. She had been spoken by the ship of war,. but we came up with them before they had time to put men on board and take charge of her. Whilst our boats were boarding this vessel, the ship of war had got nearly hull down from us; and understanding from one of the prisoners that she was a very fast sailer, I found it would not be possible to come up with her before night, or perhaps not then; I therefore gave chase to the brig that run before the wind, determined to destroy all his convoy; we soon found we came fast up with the brig, and that they were making every exertion to get off by throwing overboard all the lumber, water casks, &c.

At 2, P. M., we brought to the chase, and found her to be the American brig Adeline, from Liverpool, loaded with dry goods, &c. took the prize-master and crew out, and put midshipman Madison and crew on board, with orders to get in the nearest port she could make. From the prize-master of this vessel I learnt that the brig burnt by the sloop of war belonged to New-York, and was loaded with hemp, duck, &c. last from Jutland, having gone in there in distress.

Having chased so far to the eastward as to make it impossible to come up with the sloop of war, I determined to change my cruising ground, as I found by some of the prisoners that came from this vessel, that the squadron that chased us off New-York were on the western end of the

Grand Bank, not far distant from me. I accordingly stood to the southward, intending to pass near Bermuda, and cruise off our southern coast. Saw nothing till the night of the 18th; at half past 9, P. M., discovered a sail very near us, it being dark; made sail and gave chase, and could see that she was a brig. At 11 brought her to, and sent a boat on board, found her to be the American privateer Decatur, belonging to Salem, with a crew of 108 men, and 14 guns, 12 of which she had thrown overboard whilst we were in chase of her. The captain came on board, and informed me that he saw the day before a ship of war standing to the southward, and that she could not be far from us; at 12, P. M., made sail to the southward, intending, if possible, to fall in with her. The privateer stood in for Cape Race, intending to cruise there, and take ships by boarding, as he had lost all his guns but two.

The above is a memorandum of what took place

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 conti nued wearing and manoeuvring 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, 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

that

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.

WoundedCharles Morris, first lieutenant, dangerously; John C. Alwin, master, slightly; Richard Dunn, seaman, dangerously; George Reynolds, ordinary seaman, dangerously; 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 G G

VOL. II.

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.