Alexandria Daily Advertiser

Yesterday arrived a pilot boat from Hampton Roads, on board of which came Captain Gordon and Doctor Bullus, of the United States frigate Chesapeake, which ship has returned to Hampton Roads in consequence of a wanton attack made on her by a British 74 gun ship, about three leagues from land, in which the Chesapeake received so much damage that it was deemed necessary to return. The circumstances as related to us are as follow :

While lying in the Eastern Branch four men were enlisted, which the British minister demanded as deserters from the Melampus frigate then in Hampton Roads : on examination it was supposed they were Americans and consequently were not delivered up. When she arrived in Hampton Roads a similar demand was made, and a like refusal. The ship got under way with an intention to proceed to her place of destination, the Mediterranean. She passed the frigate Melampus, and two seventy-four gun ships, one of which weighed and stood after her. On her reaching the limits of the United States, Captain Humphreys, of the 74 gun ship, sent a lieutenant on board, with a letter to Commodore Barron, demanding the four seamen. The Commodore returned for answer that he should permit no foreign officer to muster his men : but, that if the captain of the British ship would muster his men and suffer an American officer to come on board and take all Americans from his crew, he would muster the Chesapeake's crew and permit a British officer to come on board and select all the British subjects therefrom. On the return of the officer the 74 fired a broadside into the frigate and continued to do so till she struck, which was done after firing one gun, her guns being in no situation to do execution, from the circumstance of her apprehending no danger from any thing on our own coast. The Chesapeake had two men killed and twenty-three wounded, four of which it is believed mortally--the Commodore is among the wounded. The four men were then taken and the ship dismissed.