No opportunity had previously offered by which I could possibly get from thence, the English admiral on that station, being determined to prevent by every means in his power American prisoners from returning to their own country.

On the 10th instant, in latitude 47 degrees North, and in longitude 18 degrees West, I took passage on board the ship Oliver Ellsworth (captain Roberts) fifteen days from Havre de Grace, bound to New York.

I arrived here last evening and have the honour to await either the orders of the navy department, or of the commandant of the marine corps.

I have the honour to be, &c. &c.

To the honourable the Secretary of the

JOHN M. GAMBLE.

Navy, Washington.

Copy of a letter from captain Lewis Warrington, commanding the U. States' sloop of war Peacock, to the secretary of the navy, dated

New York, Nov. 2, 1815.

"I have the honour to inform you, that the U. S. sloop Peacock arrived at this place on Monday evening last, after an absence of nine months.

"As by the arrival of the Tom Bowline and Hornet, you have been made acquainted with our transactions up to the 29th of April, I shall commence from our separation from the latter. In May, we reached the isles of St. Paul and Amsterdam, (our second rendezvous) where we found a letter for us, which had been left a few days before by the Macedonian brig, informing us of the President's action and probable capture. Here I had intended remaining some time, to rejoin the Hornet; but being carried to leeward, in chase of a strange sail, we were not able to regain them; and were at last compelled by a very severe gale to bear up, and on the 8th of June made the island of Java. From that time until the 29th

we were cruising in the straits of Sunda, where we made four captures; two of which were burnt, a third was given up to carry one hundred and fifty prisoners into Batavia, and the fourth released, as from her we learned that a peace had been made.

"From the different captures we obtained about fifteen thousand dollars in specie, and gold to the amount of four or five thousand dollars more. We have on board ten chests of opium. The first prize was loaded with pepper, and a few bales of coarse goods for the Malay market; some of which(as we had no room to stow them away) we distributed amongst the crew, as they were much in want of thin clothes. Of the money, five thousand dollars were divided by me. amongst the officers and men, not one of whom had previously a dollar; the remainder has been expended in the disbursements of the ship.

"From Java we proceeded to the island of Bourbon, where we procured bread and other articles, of which we were much in want, as we were on an allowance of half a pound of bread per man. From Bourbon, which we left in August, we made the best of our way to the United States, touching for a few days at St. Helena."

List of vessels taken by the U. States' sloop Peacock, referred

to in the above letter.

GUNS.

June 13th, ship Union, 8

21st,

Venus, 2

29th, Brie Deelar 2

TONS.

300 burnt.

360 gave up to the prisoners. 340 burnt.

30th, East India Co's. brig Nautilus, 14 guns; given up

on her giving satisfactory evidence of the ratifica

tion of peace.

Letters from commodore Bainbridge to the secretary of the

SIR,

navy.

U. S. ship Independence,

Harbour of Carthagena, Aug. 10, 1815.

I have the honour to inform you, that I arrived here on the 5th instant, where I found the United States' ship Erie, which had arrived two days before, and the brig Chippewa, which arrived on the morning of the fifth. Both of these vessels parted from the Independence in a fog, on the fourth ultimo. I also found here the brig Spark and schooner Torch of the first squadron, and yesterday arrived the frigate Congress.

Peace having taken place with the regency of Algiers, it only now remains for me to obey your instructions, by showing this ship and those of my squadron off Tunis and Tripoli, and leaving one frigate and two smaller vessels, near the Gut of Gibraltar, and return to Newport with the rest of the squadron, where I shall expect to arrive some time in September

next.

It is with much pleasure I inform you, that the performance of the Independence at sea, in all kinds of wind and weather, has been highly satisfactory.

I had the honour of making a communication to you on the 10th ultimo, from Carthagena, from which place I sailed with the Independence, Congress, Erie, Chippewa, and Spark, destined for Tripoli; having learnt that a misunderstanding existed between the bashaw of that place and our consul, re

2

siding there. On my way I called at Algiers to exhibit this additional force off there, presuming this would have some weight in preserving the peace which had just been conclud

ed.

On my arrival off Tripoli, I learned that commodore Decatur had been there with the first squadron, and had adjusted the differences which existed at that place. Our consul at this place informed me that the exhibition of our force before Tripoli, had produced a most favourable change in the disposition of the bashaw for preserving peace with us.

At Tripoli, learning that the bey of Tunis had discovered a disposition hostile to the United States, I immediately proceeded with the squadron to that place. On my arrival however, I learned from our consul there, that the bey and his officers were well disposed towards us.

Having, agreeably to your instructions, exhibited the force under my command to all the Barbary powers, a measure which I believe will have a tendency to prolong our treaties with them, I have only now, in further obedience to those instructions, to leave one frigate and two smaller vessels in this sea, and return with the rest to the United States.

I am, sir, &c.

WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.

SIR,

U. S. ship Independence,

Malaga Roads, September 14th, 1815.

I have the honour to inclose to you a duplicate of my letter of the 6th instant, by which you will learn that I was bound to this place, where I arrived yesterday, under the expectation of meeting here the first squadron; but to my regret, commodore Decatur has not yet come down the Mediterranean, and where the squadron with him now is, I know not. The last I heard of them was off Tripoli, which place they left on the 9th ultimo.

As the squadron has to return this autumn in pursuance of your orders, it is very desirable that it should leave this sea as soon as possible, to avoid the inclemency of winter on our coast, particularly on account of the smaller vessels. The Independence, Congress, Boxer, Chippewa, Saranac, and Spark, are now here. The Erie I expect every hour from Malta, where I had sent her. The Torch and Lynx are at Carthagena. All these vessels will be prepared immediately to return, but cannot sail until the other squadron joins us. I am, &c.

WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE.

NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY.

At a Court of Inquiry assembled in the Naval Arsenal, at New Orleans, by order of commodore Daniel T. Patterson, commanding the naval forces of the United States, on the New Orleans station, and continued by adjournment, from day to day, from Monday the 15th, until Friday the 19th of May, 1815.

PRESENT,

Master-commandant Lewis Alexis, President.

MEMBERS.

Lieutenant-commandant Charles C. B. Thompson, and
Lieutenant Charles E. Crawley,

For the purpose of investigating the conduct of the officers and men, late of the division of United States' gun-vessels, under the command of lieutenant-commandant Thomas Ap Catesbey Jones, captured by a flotilla of British barges and lanches, on the 14th of December, 1814; the court being organized agreeably to form, commenced with the examination of the testimony in relation to the conduct of the commanding officer of the division; and after hearing, attentively, all the evidence that could be produced on that subject, proceeded to a minute investigation of the whole affair: