Kentucky Gazette

From the Times of Oct. 7.

The disaster, to which the concluding sentence of the preceding observations refer is one of that nature, with which England is but little familiar: it is the Capture of one of her frigates by the frigate of an enemy, the Americans. Before we make any observations upon an occurrence so unusual we shall present what may be considered as the Government account of it:--

"The Guerriere frigate Capt Dacres Esq. has been captured by the Constitution American frigate, after a gallant action, with guns on the part of the Guerriere under the most disadvantageous circumstances; she having in the very first onset lost her mizen-mast, which made her perfectly unmanageable, and soon after the whole of her masts went overboard. The Guerriere had only at quarters 244 men; the Constitution 476. Carrying 30 24-pounders on her main deck 32-pounders and 18-pounders on her upper deck; the Guerriere had 15 killed and 63 wounded, and was found in such a state that the Americans were obliged to set her on fire."

The loss of a single frigate by us, when we consider how all the other navies of the world have been dealt by, is, it is true, but a small one; when viewed as a portion of the British navy it is almost nothing; yet, under all the circumstances of the two countries to which the vessels who fought belonged we know not any calamity of twenty times its amount, that might have been attended with more serious consequences to the worsted party. had it not been counterbalanced by a contemporaneous advantage of much greater magnitude.

As this the loss of the Guerriere spread a gloom through the town, which it was painful to observe, but which was yet most honorable to the patriotism of those over whom it was diffused. The superior weight of metal of the enemy--the greater number of men the sinister accident at the commencement of the action, were all urged; yet people looked only to the triumph of the Americans, and to the increased disposition which it would give them to continue the contest. As to the triumph, it is, in truth, but small, though it is yet such an one as will, no doubt, produce a rigorous investigation on the part of those at whose expense it has been procured; and the disposition to continue the contest will, as we have before observed, have received a timely correction by the affair of Upper Canada.

From the Times of a subsequent date.

We have been accused of sentiments unworthy Englishmen, because we described what we saw and felt on occasion of the Capture of the Guerriere. We witnessed the gloom which that event cast over high and honorable minds; we participate in the vexation and regret; and it is the first time that we have ever heard that the striking of the English flag on the high seas to any thing like an equal force, should be regarded by Englishmen with complacency or satisfaction. If it be a fault to cherish amongst our countrymen, "that chastity of honor which feels a stain like a wound;" if it be an error to consider the reputation of our navy as tenderly and delicately alive to reproach, that fault, that error we are likely often to commit; and we cannot but consider the sophistry, which would render us insensible to the dishonor of our flag, as peculiarly noxious in the present conjuncture. It is not merely that an English frigate has been taken, after what we are free to confess, may be called a brave resistance; but that it has been taken by a new enemy, an enemy unaccustomed to such a triumph, and likely to be rendered insolent and confident by them. He must be a weak politician, who does not see how important the first triumph is in giving a tone and character to the war. Never before in the history of the world. did an English frigate strike to an American; and though we cannot say that Capt. Dacres, under all circumstances, is punishable for this act; yet we do say, there are Commanders in the English navy, who would a thousand times rather have gone down with their colours flying, than have set their brother sailors so fatal an example.

CAPT. DACRES' OFFICIAL LETTER TO ADMIRAL SAWYER.

boston, Sept. 7, 1812.

SIR--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 Aug. in lat. 40 deg 20 min. N. and lon. 55 deg. W.

At two 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 was closing fast, wore to prevent her raking us. At ten minutes past four, hoisted our colours, and fired several shot at her. At twenty minutes past four, 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. his intention being evidently to cross our bow. At twenty minutes past five, 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 forty minutes past five, the ship not answering 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 main deck; the master was at this time shot thro' the knee, and I received a severe wound in the back. Lieut. Kent was leading on 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-masts 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 get 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 colors to be struck. The loss of the ship is to be ascribed to the early fall of the mizen mast, which enabled our opponent to chuse his position. I am sorry to say we suffered severely in killed and wounded and mostly when she lay on our bow. from her grape and musketry, in all 15 killed and 63 wounded, many of them severely; none of the officers quitted the deck till the firing ceased--The frigate proved to be the United States' frigate Constitution, thirty 24 pounders on her main deck, and twenty four 32 pounders on her upper deck, and 476 men; her loss in comparison with ours is trifling about 20, the first Lieutenant of the Marines and eight killed. and First Lieutenant and Master of the ship, and 11 men wounded: her lower mast badly wounded, and stern much shattered, and very much cut up about the rigging. The Guerriere was so much cut up that all attempts to get her in would have been useless. As soon as the wounded were got out of her, they set her on fire: and I feel it my duty to state that the conduct of Captain Hull and his officers to our men has been that of a brave enemy, the greatest care being taken to prevent our men losing the smallest trifle, and the greatest attention being paid to the wounded, who, through the attention and skill of Mr. Irvine, surgeon, I hope will do well. I hope, though success has not crowned our efforts, you will not think it presumptuous in me to say, that the greatest credit is due to the officers and ship's company for their exertions, particularly when exposed to the heavy raking fire of the enemy; I feel particularly obliged to the exertions of Lieut. Kent, who, though wounded early by a splinter, continued to assist me; in the second Lieutenant the service has suffered a severe loss: Mr. Scott, the master. though wounded, was particularly attentive, and used every exertion in clearing the wreck. as did the warrant officers. Lieut. Nicholl, of the royal marines, and his party, supported the honorable character of their corps. and they suffered severely. I must recommend Mr. Snow, master's mate, who commanded the fore and main deck guns, in the absence of Lieutenant Pullman, and he whole after the fall of Lieut. Ready, to your protection. he having received a severe contusion from a splinter. I must point out Mr. Garby. acting purser, to your notice, who volunteered his services on deck, and commanded the quarter-deck guns and was particularly active, as well as of Mr. Bannister, midshipman. I hope in considering the circumstances. you will think the ship entrusted to my charge properly defended; this unfortunate loss of our masts. the absence of our 3d lieutenant. 2d lieutenant of marines. three midshipmen. and 24 men, considerably weakened our crew, and we only mustered at quarters 244 men and 19 boys, on coming into action; the enemy had such an advantage from his marine and riflemen, when close, and his superior sailing enabled him the choose his distance. I enclose herewith a list of killed and wounded on board the Guerriere; and have the honor to be, &c.

J. R. DACRES.