Admiralty office, Feb. 18. Copy of a letter dated on board his Majesty's ship Superb, at anchor before New London, January 23. Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you with the capture of the United States ship President, on the 15th instant, by the following force, viz. the Majestic, Captain Hayes; Tenedos, Captain Hyde Parker; Endymion, Captain Hope; Pomone, Captain Lumley; which I had collected off the bar of New York, under the direction of Captain Hayes. She and the Macedonian armed brig, of 420 tons, loaded with provisions, sailed on the preceding evening, under the command of Commodore Decatur; but the present season of the year, and the dark nights of which he availed himself, have not enabled him to elude the vigilance of Captain Hayes, and the commanders of his majesty's ships under his orders, who have well discharged the important duty I as signed to them; and I beg leave to offer you my congratulations on the design of the American Government being defeated.

I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed)

HENRY HOTHAM,

Rear Admiral. To the Hon. Alexander Cochrane, K. B. Vice Admiral of the Red, Commander-inchief, &c. &c.

Majestic, at sea, Jan. 17, 1815, lat, 39 min. 43 deg. N. long. 71 min. 53 deg. W.

Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you, that notwithstanding my utmost endeavours to keep the squadron committed to my charge close in with Sandy Hook, agreeable to your directions, for the purpose of preventing the escape of the United States' ship President, and other vessels ready for sea at Staten Island, we were repeatedly blown off by frequent gales: but the very great attention paid to my orders and instructions by the respective captains, in situations difficult to keep company, prevented separation; and, whenever the wind did force us from the coast, I invariably, on the gale moderating, placed the squadron on that point of bearing from the Hook I judged it likely, from existing circumstances, would be the enemy's track; and it is with great pleasure I have now to inform you of the success of the squadron, in the capture of the United States' ship President, Commodore Decatur, on Sunday night, after an anxious chase of eighteen hours.

On Friday, the Tenedos joined me, with your order to take Captain Parker in that ship, under my command. We were then in company with the Endymion and Pomone, off the Hook, and in sight of the enemy's ships; but that night the squadron was blown off

again in a severe snow storm. On Saturday, the wind and weather be came favourable for the enemy, and I had no doubt but he would attempt his escape that night: it was impossible, from the direction of the wind, to get in with the Hook, and, as before stated, (in preference to closing the land to the southward,) we stood away to the northward and eastward, till the squadron reached the supposed track of the enemy, and, what is a little singular, at the very instant of arriving at that point an hour before day-light, Sandy Hook bearing W. N.W. 15 leagues, we were made happy by the sight of a ship and brig standing to the southward' and eastward, and not more than two miles on the Majestic's w ather bow. The night signal for a general chase was made, and promptly obeyed by all the ships.

In the course of the day, the chase became extremely interesting by the endeavours of the enemy to escape, and the exertions of the captains to get their respective ships alongside of him, the former by cutting away his anchors, and throwing overboard every moveable article, with a great quantity of provisions, and the latter by trimming their ships in every way possible to effect their purpose. As the day advanced, the wind declined, giving the Endymion an evident advantage in sail ng, and Captain Hope's exertions enabled him to get his ship alongside of the enemy, and commence close action at half an hour past five o'clock in the evening, which was continued with great gallantry and spirit on both sides, for two hours and a half, when the Endymion's sails being cut from the yards, the enemy got a-head; Captain Hope taking this opportunity to bend new sails to enable him to get his ship alongside again, the action ceased, till the Pomone getting up at half

past eleven at night, and firing a few shots, the enemy hailed to say she had already surrendered.

The ship, on being taken possession of, proved to be the President as above stated, commanded by Commodore Decatur.

The vessel in company with her was the Macedonian brig, a merchant ship laden with provisions, which made her escape by very superior sailing.

And now, sir, a very pleasing part of my duty is, the bearing testimony to the able and masterly manner in which the Endymion was conducted, and the gallantry with which she was fought; and when the effect produced by her well-directed fire upon the President is witnessed, it cannot be doubted but that Captain Hope would have succeeded either in capturing or sinking her, had none of the squadron been in sight.

For your further information, I have the honour to enclose Captain Hope's letter, with a return of killed and wounded on board the Endymion. I have the honour, &c.

JOHN HAYES, Captain. Rear Admiral the Hon. Sir H. Hotham.

P. S. The ships having parted company in the gale, no further particulars have been obtained.

Number of persons of all descriptions on board the President previous to the action, about 490.

Number and Calibre of her Guns. Main deck, 30 long twenty-four pounders.-Quarter deck, 14 tortytwo pounder carronades, 1 long 24pounder, I twenty-four pounder howitzer.-Forecastle, 6 forty-two pounder carronades, 1 long twenty-four pounder-Foretop, 2 brass six-pounders.-Maintop, 2 brass six-pounders.-Mizentop, 2 sntaller guns.Total, 59.

His Majesty's ship Endymion, at sea, Jan. 15.

Sir, I enclose a return of the killed and wounded, and I have great pleasure in bearing testimony of the very great assistance I received from the senior lieutenant, Morgan, during the whole day's proceedings; together with the cool and determined bravery of my officers and ship's company, on this fortunate occasion. Where every individual has so conspicuously done his duty, it would be injustice for me to particularize; but I trust the loss and damage sustained by the enemy's frigate, will shew the steady and welldirected fire kept up by his majesty's ship under command.

my

Although our loss has been severe, I am happy to state, that it is trifling when compared with that of the ene

Armide, off Isle-au-Chat,

parallel to the coast from Mobile towards Lac Borgne, and having afterwards joined three others cruising in the Lake, were then visible from his mast-head.

The Bayone Catalan (or des Pecheurs) at the head of Lac Borgne, being the contemplated point of disembarkation, the distance from the inner anchorage of the frigates and troop ships to the Bayone full sixty miles, and our principal means of transport open boats, it became impossible that any movement of the troops could take place until this formidable flotilla was either captured on destroyed.

Rear Admiral Malcolm joined me with the fleet upon the 11th instant; and upon the 12th, I placed the launches, barges, and pinnaces of the squadron, with Captain Montressor of the Manly, and Captain Roberts of the Meteor, under the command of Captain Lockyer of the Sophie, and sent them into Lac Borgne in pursuit of the enemy, while the frigates, troop ships, and smaller vessels moved into the inmost anchorage, each vessel proceeding on until she took the ground.

After an arduous row of thirty-six hours, Captain Lockyer had the good fortune to close with the flotilla, which he attacked with such judgment and determined bravery, that notwithstanding their formidable force, their advantage of a chosen position, and their studied and deliberate preparation, he succeeded in capturing the whole of these vessels, in so service, able a state, as to afford at once the most essential aid to the expedition.

For the particulars of this brilliant affair, I refer their lordships to the accompanying copy of Captain Lockyer's letter, detailing his proceedings, which I am fully aware their lordships will duly appreciate.

Captain Lockyer's conduct on this