Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

The following is an extract of a letter from Capt. James Sever to the Secretary of the Navy. It was written at sea, soon after the misfortune which happened to the frigate Congress, in the expectation of an opportunity of sending it on immediately; but none offered before her arrival at Norfolk.

"On board frigate Congress, at sea, Jan. 14, 1800.

"Under the impression of the most poignant regret, I have the misfortune to report to you Sir, the disastrous situation of the United States frigate Congress under my command. I sailed from Newport on the 6th inst. accompanied by the Essex frigate, Capt. Preble, having under convoy, a ship and a brig, belonging to Philadelphia; and a small ship from New Haven, but finding them to sail very heavily, and two of three being in ballast only, on the day succeeding that on which I left Newport, I determined on leaving them: and with the Essex to make the best of my way, to carry into effect, the instructions, with which you had been pleased to honor me. The first three or four days subsequent to leaving port, we had the winds at northwardly, the weather cool, attended with snow and hail. On Saturday the wind veered to the southward and came on to blow very rough, attended, with warm rain, and a heavy sea: this weather produced an astonishing effect upon my rigging, (which had previously been in very good order) it stretching so much as to induce apprehensions, for the safety of the masts. The weather being such as to preclude the practicability of setting it up: I caused tackles to be got up to secure the masts, and the rigging to be stiffened; but unfortunately every step taken to support the masts proved futile. On Sunday morning the 12th it blowing hard, and a heavy sea running, at half past six the mainmast sprung about eight feet above the upper deck: I immediately caused the main yard to be lowered down: (the top gallant yard having previously been sent down, and the top gallant masts housed) on consultation with the officers it was decided as affording the only probable means, of saving the mainmast, to endeavour to cut away the main top-mast. This was immediately attempted; Mr. Boworth my fourth lieutenant, with 4 or 5 most active men, going into the top to perform that service; while in its execution the mast unfortunately gave way, and in its fall involved the loss of that active, deserving officer; the other men who were aloft, and engaged in the same service, were all happily saved. The fall of the mainmast carried away the mizen topmast, with the head of the mizen mast. Being under an apprehension that from the roughness of the sea, the hull of the ship might be essentially injured by the action of the wreck, was induced to clear it from the ship with all possible expedition, by which means a very small part only of rigging and sails attached to those masts were saved. I now turned all my attention to, and made use of every practicable exertion to preserve the foremast; the wind still continuing to blow hard with a very heavy sea, and the ship from the loss of her after masts, laying in the trough and labouring very much--at half past 12 she rolled away her fore topmast; soon after which it was discovered that the bowsprit was very badly sprained just without the gammonings. I immediately caused the jib boom to be rigged in, and endeavoured to secure the bowsprit by strong lashings around the heel of the jib boom; at the same time getting up tackles to the foremast head to cure the mast (which was already sprung) and to relieve, in some measure the stress upon the bowsprit, caused by the fore and fore preventer stays. It is with great regret I am to add that all my endeavours proved of no farther consequence, than probably to retard, for a very little time what eventually took place, as at half past 3 P. M. the bowsprit gave way, and at the instant the foremast went over the side, leaving us totally dismasted, and with the loss of the principal part of the sails and rigging, which in our then situation it was not practicable to preserve. Thus, sir, we were left in the short space of a few hours, in a most deplorable situation, entirely at the mercy of the winds and waves; and thus my expectations of, being enabled to render important services to my fellow-citizens, by affording a protection to their commerce, were at once marred. I hope, sir, you will do me the justice to believe that this misfortune (which I most sensibly feel) is not attributable to any negligence on my part; every thing practicable having been attempted to ward off the evil which the nature of the circumstances would admit."