tion, which he had so fully merited. Congress vot ed him their thanks, and requested the President to present him with an emblematical medal.* RENCOUNTER OF THE PRESIDENT AND LITTLE BELT. PURSUANT to instructions from the navy department, on the 10th of May, 1911, commodore Rodgers, commanding the frigate President, sailed from Annapolis for New York. On the 16th, about noon and within six leagues from land, a sail was discovered to the eastward, standing towards the President. The commodore perceived it to be a man of war; and supposed it to be the British frigate Guerriere, which frigate, it was also supposed, had, a few days before, impressed a boy from on board an American brig, near Sandy Hook. Commodore Rodgers, considering it his duty to know the names and character of all foreign vessels hovering on the coast resolved to speak to her. He also hoped, that, if she proved to be the Guerriere, he might prevail on her commander to relinquish the young man. At half past three, the commodore perceived his ship to be gaining upon the chase, but the wind decreasing, he did not come up with her till it was too dark to discover her actual force; nor could he discover to *Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 148-163. what nation she belonged, as she declined showing her colours. At fifteen or twenty minutes past seven, the chase took in her studding sails, and soon after hauled up her courses. She then hauled by the wind on the starboard tack; and at the same time, hoisted an ensign or flag at her mizzen peak. It was however, too dark to discover what nation it repre sented. Her broadside was now for the first time presented to view. Though her appearance indicated a frigate, darkness prevented her actual force being ascertained. At twenty minutes past eight, the President being a little forward of the weather beam of the chase, and distant between seventy and a hundred yards from her, the commodore hailed, "What ship is that?" To this no answer was given; but the question was repeated from on board the chase. After a short pause, the question was repeated by the commodore and immediately a shot was fired into the President. Just as the commodore was about giving orders for a shot to be fired in return, one was actually fired from the second division of the President. This was returned from the other vessel, by three guns in quick succession, and, soon after, by the remainder of his broadside and musketry. The commodore then gave a general order to fire. The fire from the President having, in a few minutes, produced a partial silence of the guns of the other vessel, the commodore gave orders to cease firing, judging that she must be a ship of very inferiour force, or that some untoward accident had happened to her. This order commodore Rodg ! ers soon had reason to regret. The fire was renewed from the other vessel, and two of its thirty-two pound shot cut off one of the fore shrouds and injured the fore-mast of the President. He therefore immediately ordered a recommencement of the fire. It continued for a few minutes, when the commodore, perceiving his opponent's gaff and colours down, his main-top-sail yard upon he cap, and his fire silenced, again ordered the ring to cease, to prevent a further effusion of blood. After a short pause, perceiving his adversary was not disposed to renew the action, the commodore again hailed, and was informed that she was a British ship; but, from the wind blowing fresh, he was unable to learn her name. Commodore Rodgers, having informed the British commander of the name of his ship, gave orders to wear; to run under the lee of the British ship; to haul by the wind on the starboard tack; to heave to under top-sails; and repair the little damage that had been sustained in the rigging. The President continued lying to all night on different tacks, with lights displayed, that the British vessel might better discern her position, and command any assistance that she might require during the night. At day light she was discovered several miles to leeward. The commodore gave orders to bear up and run down to her under easy sail. After hailing her, he sent a boat on board, with lieutenant Creighton, to learn the name of the ship and her commander, with instructions to ascertain the damage she had sustained, and to state how much he regret ted, on his part, the necessity that led to so unhappy a result, and to offer every assistance in his power, in repairing the damages. Lieutenant Creighton, returned with information that the vessel was his Britannick majesty's ship Little Belt, captain Bingham, of eighteen guns; and that the captain declined accepting any assistance. The Little Belt had nine men killed and twenty-two wounded. No one was killed on board the President, and only a boy wounded. Captain Bingham's account differs materially from the preceding statement. He denies having fired the first gun; asserts that the action lasted three quarters of an hour; and even intimates that he had gained the advantage in the contest. Commodore Rodgers's account, from which the one here given is taken, was confirmed by all his officers and crew, on their solemn oath, before a court of inquiry. The court also confirmed all the particulars of his statement, after a long and minute investigation.* THE PRESIDENT AND BELVIDERE. A FORMAL declaration of war against Great Britain was passed by Congress on the 18th of June, 1812, which was proclaimed by the President of the United States on the following day. On the * Clark's Naval History, vol. i. p. 168. 21st, Commodore Rodgers, having received official information of the event, set sail from New York, accompanied by the frigates United States and Congress, and the brigs Hornet and Argus, in search of a British fleet of merchantmen, which had sailed from Jamaica the preceding month. The following night information was received of the convoy from an American brig, which had passed them four days before, and the squadron crowded all sail in pursuit. The next morning, however, their course was altered by the appearance of the British frigate Belvidere, to which the commodore immediately gave chase. The pursuit continued from six in the morning, till past four in the afternoon, when the Presi dent, having got within gun-shot, commenced a fire with the bow chase guns at the spars and rigging of the Belvidere, in hopes of crippling her so as to enable them to get along side. The Belvidere returned the fire of the President with her stern guns, and the firing was kept up without intermission for about tei. minutes, when one of the President's chase guns burst, by which unfortunate accident sixteen men were killed and wounded; among the wounded was commodore Rodgers, who had his leg fractured. By the bursting of the gun, and the explosion of the passing box, from which it was served with powder, both the main and forecastle decks were so much shattered as to prevent the use of a chase gun on that side for some time. Orders were therefore given. to veer the ship, and a broadside was fired in the hope of disabling the spars of the enemy; but this |