Virginia Argus

New York, Nov. 15.

John Aikins, of the city of New York, mariner, being duly examined and sworn, before Pierre C. Van Wyck, recorder of the city of New York, saith that he was born in the town of Stillwater, in the county of Saratoga, and state of New York; that he was a seaman on board of the Phœbe, on her homeward bound voyage from Bordeaux to New York, and was impressed, with two other seamen, (Samuel Fries and Stephen Blanchard) by an officer from the Little Belt; that he was on board of the Little Belt at the time of the engagement with the President; that when the President came within hail, he distinctly heard the commander of the President hail first, "what ship is that?" to which he heard capt. Bingham reply, "what ship is that?" that the commander of the President hailed a second time, and asked," what ship is that?" to which capt. Bingham gave no answer, but jumped on the poop and placed himself by the after gun, and called to his men to stand by, and then immediately gave orders to fire upon which a gun was fired from the Little Belt, and immediately after another gun was fired from the Little Belt; after which, in a few seconds, a gun was fired from the President. The engagement then became general; afterwards, when the President finally ceased firing, the men on board the Little Belt had deserted their quarters.

This deponent further saith, that in the action between the two ships, among the number who were wounded, was an American, named Robert Howell, who had been impressed from the brig Martin, from Martinique; that he was wounded by a cannon shot which struck him in the groin, and cut off his thigh close to his body, in such a manner that his bowels came out; that he appeared to suffer great pain for several hours, until he died, about three o'clock in the morning; that this deponent saw Howell while he was dying, and heard the second Lieut. of the Little Belt ask him "how he did?" to which Howell replied "see what you have brought me to, to force me to fight against my brothers; my own countrymen have taken my life through your means:" that the officer replied, "he could not help it, he must obey orders;" that Howell just before he died, requested this deponent to call his comrade Hurshell Wheeler, (an American who had, also, been impressed at the same time from the brig Martin); that Wheeler came, and then Howell held out his hand to him and requested him to take a ring from his finger, and, also, a lock of hair which was platted, and which he wore round his neck, & to give them to the person from whom he received them, for his sake: that Howell was greatly affected and shed tears, while he was giving directions to his comrade; that Wheeler escaped from the Little Belt at Halifax, and since, as this deponent has been informed in New York, but that this deponent has not yet seen him; that this deponent this morning, saw Mrs. Stevenson, to whom the ring and hair were sent, but who has not yet received them; that she told this deponent that she had given them to Howell; that her husband and herself are now in mourning for him; that the body of Howell was sewed up in a hammock the next day after the engagement, and thrown into the sea.

This deponent further saith that there were about twelve Americans, including himself, on board the Little Belt at the time of the engagement, all of whom had been impressed from different vessels. That when they found the vessel on they were about to engage was an American vessel, they all objected to going to quarters saying, "it is hard for us to go and fight against our country; make mutineers of us if you please."

To which the capt. replied, "you are now on board with us, and you must now do duty in his majesty's service, for we know not whether you are Americans or not;" otherwise, he swore," he would try them by court martial, and put them to instant death, as mutineers on board his majesty's ship Little Belt."

That after the engagement, this deponent and two other Americans were flogged at the guns, two dozen each, for speaking in favor of their country. That the conversation for which they were so punished, was with a lieutenant. That not only the Americans who were on board, but many others of the crew, wished the Little Belt had been brought into New-York, "saving that if she had, there were not many who would ever go back in her."

That the boatswain on board the Little Belt is an American, and that this deponent has seen his protection; and that he expressed his wish that she had been brought into N. York.

And further this deponent saith not.

Signed
his
JOHN AIKINS.
mark.

Sworn Nov. 15th, 1811, before me.

Signed
P. C. VAN WYCK,
Recorder of the city of New York.

The above named John Aikins further stated that he had been discharged from the Little Belt on her arrival in England, upon an application made by general Lyman, the American consul in London, in his behalf, and on due proof of the said Aikins' being a native born American citizen, and bred in the service of American vessels. He also stated, that upon the Little Belt's return from Halifax to England, there appeared to be two parties in the ship; one maintaining that the first fire came from the President, and the other, from the Little Belt; that upon their arrival, application was made to the officers and men for proof of the fact that the President gave the first fire; and that only two officers and about seven or eight of the men offered to make oath of it--all the rest unequivocally refusing. The insertion of which facts was accidentally omitted in the body of the deposition.

P. C. VAN WYCK.