ST. SALVADOR, _January 3d, 1813_.
SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, on the 29th ultimo,
at 2 P. M., in south latitude 13° 6', and west longitude 38°,
about ten leagues distant from the coast of Brazil, I fell in
with, and captured, His Britannic Majesty's frigate Java, of
49 guns, and upwards of four hundred men, commanded by Captain
Lambert, a very distinguished officer. The action lasted one
hour and fifty-five minutes, in which time the enemy was
completely dismasted, not having a spar of any kind standing.
The loss on board the Constitution was nine killed and
twenty-five wounded, as per enclosed list. The enemy had sixty
killed and one hundred and one wounded, certainly; (among the
latter, Captain Lambert, mortally;) but by the enclosed letter,
written on board this ship, by one of the officers of the Java,
and accidentally found, it is evident that the enemy's wounded
must have been much greater than as above stated, and who must
have died of their wounds previously to their being removed.
The letter states sixty killed and one hundred and seventy
wounded.
For further details of the action, I beg leave to refer you
to the enclosed extracts from my journal. The Java had, in
addition to her own crew, upwards of one hundred supernumerary
officers and seamen, to join the British ships of war in the
East Indies; also, Lieutenant General Hislop, appointed to
the command of Bombay, Major Walker, and Captain Wood, of
his staff, and Captain Marshall, master and commander in the
British navy, going to the East Indies to take command of a
sloop of war there.
Should I attempt to do justice, by representation, to the
great and good conduct of all my officers and crew, during
the action, I should fail in the attempt; therefore, suffice
it to say, that the whole of their conduct was such as to
merit my highest encomiums. I beg leave to recommend the
officers particularly to the notice of Government, and also the
unfortunate seamen who were wounded, and the families of those
brave men who fell in the action.
The great distance from our own coast, and the perfect wreck we
made of the enemy's frigate, forbade every idea of attempting
to take her to the United States. I had, therefore, no
alternative but burning her, which I did on the 31st ultimo,
after receiving all the prisoners and their baggage, which was
very tedious work, only having one boat left out of eight, and
not one boat left on board the Java.
On blowing up the frigate Java, I proceeded to this place,
where I have landed all the prisoners, on their parole, to
return to England, and there remain until regularly exchanged,
and not to serve in their _professional capacities_, in any
place, or in any manner whatever, against the United States of
America, until said exchange is effected. I have the honor to
be, &c.