Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

From the Boston Daily Advertiser June 18. CHESAPEAKE & SHANNON. Our melancholy apprehensions have proved too true. In the following account from a Halifax paper of the 9th instant, received by a Spanish vessel which arrived yesterday afternoon, are contained the sad details of our calamity. Much however, as we have to deplore, our enemy has little reason to rejoice at- and deep as is our affliction, shame forms no part of our regret. All that could be done by valor, was done-the British have gained a victory, but they have paid dearly for their triumph.

HALIFAX, June 9. On Sunday arrived here his majesty's ship Shannon, from Boston bay, with the American frigate Chesapeake, late Captain Lawrence, her prize. It is with pleasure we congratulate our readers on the capture of the American frigate Chesapeake, commanded by captain Lawrence, by his majesty's ship Shannon, captain Broke, after an action of eleven minutes. The following particulars of this pleasing event we have collected from conversations with some of the officers of the Shannon, and have reason to think them materially correct: On the 25th May, his majesty's ship Tenedos, which had for nearly 3 months been cruising in Boston Bay with the Shannon, separated from her, and capt. Parker was instructed by captain Broke not to rejoin him until about the 14th of June. This was done in the hope and expectation, that the Chesapeake frigate finding the Shannon was cruising alone off Boston, would come out and give her battle, nor were our tars disappointed Early in the morning of the 1st instant. the Shannon stood in close to Boston Light House, and observed the Chesapeake lying at anchor, with royal yards across, and apparently ready for sea.-- The British colors were then hoisted on board the Shannon, and she hove to near the land; at 9 A. M the enemy's frigate was observed to loosen her sails and fire a gun; at half past 12 she weighed anchor and stood out of the harbor when the Shannon filled. and under easy sail edged off the land, followed by the Chesapeake; at 4 shortened sail; at 5 hove to, with the topsail aback, for fear the enemy would not bring her to action before dark : in 20 minutes after the Chesapeake sheered within musket shot of the Shannon, still standing to- wards her in such a way as left our tars in uncertainty which side of their ship she intended to engage : at half past 5, however, she luffed upon the Shannon's weather quarter, and on her forenmast coming in a line with the Shannon's mizen, the latter fired the after gun, and her others successively until the enemy came directly abreast. when the Chesapeake fired her whole broadside, which the Shannon immediately returned; and here, broadside to broadside the action commenced; in 5 minutes the Chesapeake fell along side the Shannon, and was boarded in her tops as well as on her decks, by our gallant countrymen, and in eleven minutes from the commencement of the action her three ensigns were hauled down, and -soon afterwards replaced with the English flag over them. Her decks cleared of the dead, the wounded taken below, a great proportion of the company prisoners removed out of her--and, ac- companied by the Shannon, she was steered for this port.

On board the Shannon, Mr. Watt, the first lieutenant; Mr. Aldham, the purser ; Mr. Dunn, captain's clerk, and 23 seamen, were killed. Captain Broke, a midshipman, and 55 seamen, wounded. On board the Chesapeake, Mr. Ballard. 4th Lieutenant ; Mr. Broom, Lieutenant of Marines; Mr. White, the Master ; several petty officers, and about 70 men, were killed. Capt. Lawrence, lieutenant, severely; Lieutenant Rudd, 2d (since dead); Mr. Ludlow, the 1st Lieutenant, do. Lt. Cox, 3d Lt. lightly; colls, severely, and Berry, slightly ; Mr. Midshipman Weaver, Abbott, and Ni- Livermore, the Chaplain, severely, and near 100 seamen wounded.

Capt. Broke, we understand, nobly led the boarders from the quarter deck, and was, we are sorry to state, severely wounded, in the moment of victory, by a sabre, on the head, while exerting himself to save two Americans from the fury of his men; he is, however, we rejoice to learn, in a fair way of recovery, and hopes will soon be able to return to that station, which he filled with so much benefit to his country, and with such imperishable honor to himself. Lieut. Watt was killed after boarding the Chesapeake-he was an excellent officer. On capt. Broke being wounded. the command of the Shannon- devolved on the second lieutenant, Mr. Wallis, son of Mr. Wallis of the Navy Yard, who conducted himself in a very brave manner. Great merit is due to capt. Broke. on this occasion, not only for the perseverance with which he has so long sought a contest with an American frigate, but for the promptitude and skill with which he has decided the question of superiority, and put an end to all the vaporing. with which the American papers have of late been filled. In point of size and number of guns, the two ships were as nearly equal as could be wished; whatever advantage there was. was in favor of the Chesapeake, both as to size and number of men.

The respect due to a brave enemy was yesterday shewn to the-remains of capt. Lawrence--The corpse was landed from the Chesapeake under a discharge of minute guns, and at two o'clock reached the King's wharf-the American ensign was spread as a pall over the coffin, on which was placed the sword of the de. censed-six captains of the navy officiated as pall bearers-six companies of the 84th regiment, commanded by Sir John Wardlow, preceded the corpse--the officers of the Chesapeake followed it as chief mourners--the officers of the navy ge nerally attended-Sir Thomas Saumarez, the staff, and officers of the garrison, and the procession was closed by a number of respectable inhabitants- The fu- neral service was performed by the Rev. Rector of St. Paul's, and three volleys discharged by the troops over the grave.

Further.-We have received from an American source, the following particulars:-- Capt. Lawrence received two wounds by the first broadside of the Shannon; afterwards a third, when he fell and was carried below.--He died the Saturday after the battle, and was buried with all the honors of war. Capt. Broke was severely wounded by a sabre cut in boarding. and received o- ther severe wounds He was reported to be delirious. Lieutenant Ludlow received 3 wounds and had his mouth cut to pieces. The Shannon received five shot under water, one through her copper, and had her rigging and masts much cut up. The Chesapeake's masts were badly wounded. The 1st Lieutenant of the Shannon was shot by his own crew while hoisting the colors--having made a mistake in hoisting the American over the English colors. Captain Thurston who has arrived at Barnstable from Halifax, says, he heard nothing there about any explosion; and though on board the Chesapeake did not see that any thing had happened to her quarter deck: Further particulars.-A letter from Barnstable mentions the arrival at that place of a vessel from Halifax, with pa pers to the 10th inst. from which we have the following particulars "The Chesapeake was taken in 11 minutes by the misfortune of having his top-sail tye and fore sheet cut away, when endeavoring to thwart the bows of the Shannon, for the purpose of boarding : from this circumstance the Chesapeake came into the wind, and gave the enemy the most favorable opportunity of boarding ing Capt L. was first wounded in the leg, and the second shot gave him a mortal wound. Not a word did a passenger hear said about the explosion. A ship, the Henry, may be hourly expected from Halifax, which will bring the American account of this distressing loss. A cartel may also be expected daily at Salem."