l,
herewith, as being the best mode of exhibiting a just and candid
account of all our transactions in the late business, which has
ended in the almost entire dismantlement of the Constellation,
though, I trust, to the high reputation of the American flag.

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

_Occurrences on board the United States ship Constellation, of
thirty-eight guns, under my command, February 1, 1800_:

Throughout these twenty-four hours very unsettled weather; kept
on our tacks, beating up under Guadaloupe, and at half-past seven
in the morning, the road of Basseterre bearing east, five leagues
distant, saw a sail in the south-east standing to the south-west,
which, from her situation, I at first took for a large ship from
Martinique, and hoisted English colours in giving chase, by way
of inducement for her to come down and speak me, which would have
saved us a long chase to leeward off my intended cruising ground;
but finding she did not attempt to alter her course, I examined
her more minutely, as we approached her, and discovered that she
was a heavy French frigate, mounting at least fifty-four guns. I
immediately gave orders for the yards to be slung with chains,
top-sail sheets, &c., stoppered, and the ship cleared, and
everything prepared for action, and hauled down the English
colours. At noon the wind became light, and I observed the chase
that we had before been gaining fast on held way with us, but I
was determined to continue the pursuit, though the running to
leeward, I was convinced, would be attended with many serious
disadvantages, especially if the object of my wishes were not
gratified.

Passed two schooners standing to the northward, one of these
showed American colours, and was a merchant vessel, and the other
I supposed to be of the same description.

February 2d, at one P.M., the wind being somewhat fresher than
at the noon preceding, and an appearance of its continuance, our
prospect of bringing the enemy to action began to brighten, as I
perceived we were coming up with the chase fast, and every inch
of canvas being set that could be of service, except the bog
reefs which I kept in the topsails, in case of the chase, finding
an escape from our thunder impract