Daily National Intelligencer

From the Delaware Watchman.

ANOTHER SPLENDID NAVAL
VICTORY!
BY THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION,
COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE.

We have been obligingly favored by major Robert Carr, who has just returned from New-Castle, with the following interesting account of another splendid naval victory.

The account was brought to New-Castle by an officer of the Constitution, who had just landed from a schooner, prize to the Hornet, who was in sight at the close of the action, and from whose journal major Carr extracted it. The officer, whose name is not recollected, has gone on to Washington City with dispatches.

December 29, 1812. At meridian lat. 13, 6, lon. 36 W. 10 leagues from St. Salvadore, descried a Sail which was soon discovered to be an English frigate. We took in main sail and royals; tacked ship and stood for her. At 50 minutes past 1 P. M. the enemy bore down with intention of raking us, which we avoided by wearing. At 2 P. M. enemy within half a mile and to windward; having hauled down his colors, except Union Jack at mizen mast head, the Constitution fired a gun ahead of the enemy to make him shew his colors, on which he gave us his whole broadside. A general action with round and grape shot then commenced, the enemy keeping at a much greater distance than we wished, but we could not bring him to close action without exposing ourselves to severe raking. Both vessels maneuvered some time to rake and avoid being raked.

At 2 P. M. commenced action within good grape cannister distance. At 30 minutes past 2 our wheel was shot entirely away. At 40 minutes past 2 determined to close with the enemy notwithstanding his raking fire, set fore and main sail and fell up close to him. At 50 minutes past 2 the enemy's jib boom got foul of our mizen rigging. At 3 the head of the enemy's bowsprit and jib boom shot away by us. At 5 min past 3 shot away enemy's bowsprit by the board. At 15 m. past 3 shot away enemy's main-top-mast just above the cap. At 40 minutes past 3 shot away their gaff and spanker boom. At 55 minutes past 3 shot away their mizen mast nearly by the board. At 5 minutes past 4 having completely silenced the enemy and his colors in the main being down, we supposed he had struck, and shot ahead to repair our rigging, which was much cut, leaving the enemy a complete wreck. Soon after we discovered the enemy's flag was still flying. At 20 minutes past 4 the enemy's main-mast went by the board. At 50 minutes past 4 we wore ship and stood for the enemy.

At 25 minutes past 5 got close to her in a very effectual position for raking. athwart his bows, and at the very instant of our preparing to give our broadside the enemy prudently struck his colors.

Lieut. Parker was sent on board to take possession of the prize, which proved to be his Majesty's ship Java, rating 38 but mounting 49 guns, commanded by Captain Lambert, a distinguished officer, (who was mortally wounded) with a crew of upwards of 400 men besides 100 supernumerary men going out to the East Indies for different ships there. There were on board many passengers, among whom are Lt. Gen. Hislop, Gov. of Bombay, Major Walker and Captain Wood of his staff, captain Marshall, master and commander in the royal navy and several officers appointed to ships in the East Indies.

On board the Java were 60 killed and 170 wounded. The Constitution had 9 killed and 25 wounded.

She had on board dispatches for St. Helena, Cape of Good Hope, and the different establishments in the East Indies and China, and copper for a 74 and 2 frigates, building at Bombay.

The Java was an elegant ship, and fitted in the most complete manner for the purpose of carrying out the Governor to Bombay. The crew, with the officers' baggage, being taken out, the ship was set fire to, Jan. 1st, and blew up, as she was so crippled as to render it impossible to bring her into port.

Commodore Bainbridge was slightly wounded.

Wilmington, Watchman-Office, Feb. 17.