try, he states “that being off the North Cape on the 19th July, just as he was in momentary expectation of falling in with an English convoy, an enemy’s line-of-battle ship and a frigate made their appearance, and that not being able, owing to the haziness of the weather, to ascertain their character with precision, he stood towards them until he could make out what they were, then hauled his wind, &c.” I beg through the medium of your paper to state a few facts relative to this circumstance, which, if ever they happen to meet the eye of this braggadocio, I hope will teach him a little more modesty in relating, as well as discernment in ascertaining the force of ships he may meet with, before he runs away and presents to the world such a disgraceful narration of absurdity and falsehood as is contained in his letter, at which his own countrymen will blush. On the 19th July, the day stated by Commodore Rodgers, it is very true he fell in with two English men-of-war, – that they chased him 90 hours is also true, and that they were brought quite as near as desirable no one who reads the Commodore’s letter can be inclined to doubt; but here the truth of his story ends: for these ships which the Commodore’s fears had magnified, like Falstaff’s men in buckram suits, into a line-of-battle ship and a frigate, happened to be his Majesty’s ship Alexandria, Captain Cathcart, one of the smallest, and certainly the very worst sailing frigates in the navy, and the Spitfire of 18 guns. Captain Ellis. These two ships chased Mr. Rodgers more than 90 hours; Captain Cathcart cut away his anchors, and did every thing possible to get up with the President, but without success, for the noble Commodore had the heels of him. If this letter had any thing for its object beyond exposing the barefaced and unmanly falsehood thus asserted by Commodore Rodgers, too much could not be said on the spirited and dashing conduct of Captain Cathcart, whose gallant efforts on that occasion rendered a service to the commercial interests of his country that can never be forgotten, or too highly appreciated. Amongst his admirers I have the honor to rank myself, as also amongst his friends; but I write this letter unknown to him: and that Commodore Rodgers may not altogether contemn the humble name of Darby Allen, he may be assured that the writer of this letter is of equal rank to himself, in a much smaller ship than the President, but would be very happy to have an opportunity of making himself known to him. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
The President’s force has been described at p. 315 of this volume. When the immense superiority she possessed is taken into consideration, this will appear one of the most determined efforts to fulfil the duty of a British officer that has ever been recorded.
Captain Cathcart married, in 1814, Catharine, second
