American Court of Inquiry relative to the action, id. p. 423; President Maddison’s message to Congress, Nov. 5, 1811, vol. xxvii. p. 28, et seq.; British Court of Inquiry, id. pp. 57–61; and affidavits of two deserters from the U.S. ship President, id. pp. 61–63.
“Captain Bingham’s modest, but full and clear statement,” corroborated as it is, in every part, by the solemn declarations of all his officers, and by the oaths of the two deserters, who were British subjects, renders any comment from us unnecessary; “we have only to admire the extraordinary bravery and firmness with which he, his officers, and ship’s company, supported the honor of the British flag when opposed to such an immense superiority of force:” – these were the terms in which Rear-Admiral Sawyer expressed himself, in a letter to the Admiralty, dated at Bermuda, June 11, 1811[1].
The Little Belt was paid off soon after this extraordinary and unaccountable transaction; the Admiralty having previously refused to try her commander by a court-martial, although he had applied for a public investigation of his conduct, in consequence of Commodore Rodgers and Mr. Madison having both publicly asserted, that the first act of aggression was committed by him: the verbal thanks of the Board were subsequently conveyed to Captain Bingham by the Right Hon. Charles Yorke, who then presided over our naval administration; and a commission promoting him to post rank, was signed by their lordships on the 7th Feb. following.
In 1812, Captain Bingham, by desire of H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence, assisted at the installation of the Order of the Bath, as an esquire to the proxy of Sir Richard G. Keats. His subsequent appointments were, Nov. 18, 1813, to the Myrtle of 20 guns; Sept. 25, 1819, to the Dover, flag-ship of Rear-Admiral (now Sir Robert Waller) Otway, at Leith; and Nov. 9, 1826, to the Thetis, 46, in which frigate he is at present employed, under the same officer, on the South American station.
Agents.– Messrs. Stilwell.
- ↑ See Nav. Chron. vol. xxvi. p. 82.
