Freeman's Chronicle

From the Democratic Press.

The capture of the Montesquieu, in the Delaware bay, on her passage from Canton to Philadelphia is by far the richest prize the enemy has made, with all his omnipotent navy; since the commencement of the war. That ship and cargo were worth at least $800,000. While we sincerely regret this occurrence we cannot help remarking that the only severe loss, by capture, which has thus befallen any merchant of this city, is the lot of a gentleman [Stephen Girard] whose affluence could bear half a dozen such reductions, without destruction, and whose patriotism is proof against the severest trials.

The demolition of the Peacock by the Hornet appears to be the master-piece of American gunnery. When the Leopard, a 50 gun ship attacked the Chesapeake, of 56 guns, she poured her broadsides for nearly 20 minutes, without cessation and close aboard, into an unresisting, cluttered and inferior ship. Yet only 3 men were killed, and a proportionate number wounded.

The Wasp in 43 minutes cut down the Frolic from 119 men to 20 capable of duty. And the Hornet in only 15 minutes killed 9, wounded 35, and totally shivered her superior antagonist to atoms! So much for the magic of the balls which thunder "free trade and no impressment," about the astounded ears of the "lords of the ocean."

The lords of the admiralty are busily engaged in cutting down 74's to 44's, and 36's to 16's—all which is very well. But more, much more must be done before their redoubtable razees can cope with the American frigates. In the first place, the said razees must be manned with American seamen. In the second place, they must be commanded by American officers. And in the third place, they must be armed with American Cannon, which have a knack of going off three times, while the bull-dogs are barking but once. Give the aforesaid razees the three aforementioned essentials, and still a main point remains, to wit, a good cause, without which the razees will never be able to make even a good fight.

It is remarkable that the Java is the only one of the British ships which has maintained any thing like a tough battle with the champions of "free trade and no impressment." As to odds it is absurd to preach about them. The odds in the instances of the Frolic and Peacock, shew that odds make no difference. Some day or other when an American vessel engages a British one of at least twice her force, there will no doubt be a hard fought action. But till that happens, it will be all plain sailing. The truth is, that John Bull has either been humbugging the world with his Naval Chronicle, or he is now superannuated & past service.

Commodore Beresford would seem to have suddenly altered his mind with respect to burning down Lewistown, to make a fire to roast the Delaware eels by. It would be too offensive to suppose a British officer would threaten, without meaning to be as good as his word. But certain it is that the commodore has fallen in a dilemma, which his "friends" at the Coffee house have not explained. Delaware beef if highly seasoned, and if served up with forced meat balls, might not prove as palatable to this nautical hero as "the roast beef of old England."

The lords of the admiralty, having but one scheme of political salvation left, have passed a vote to capture every American frigate, without exception. And as these "Non Descripts" will be great novelties, it is contemplated to float them up the Thames as high as Westminster hall, from whence they are to be transported up Parliament street, through Pall Mall and Piccadilly to the New River, in which being once more floated in safety, they are to be kept as curiosities for the public inspection, gratis.

As the captains commanding British ships, and officers of some reputation, have been unfortunate in their encounters with the Americans, would it not be a good thing to ensure success, that his royal highness the Duke of Clarence, lord high admiral of Great Britain, should make a cruize in one of the Razees, and take a prize home to his papa?