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 he proceeded to the Halifax station, at a period when the conduct of the Americans plainly shewed, that they were bent on war with England. On the 19th April, 1811, being then at Bermuda, he received an order from Rear-Admiral Sawyer, of which the following is a copy:–

“You are hereby required and directed to put to sea in H.M. sloop under your command, and proceed, without loss of time, off Charlestown, where you may expect to meet Captain Pechell, in the Guerriere, to whom you will deliver the accompanying packet, and follow his orders for your further proceedings. Should you not meet the Guerriere of’ Charlestown, you will stand to the northward, and use your utmost endeavours to join him off the Capes of Virginia, or off New York; and in the event of not meeting the Guerriere, you will cruise as long as your provisions and water will last, and then repair to Halifax for further orders. You are to pay due regard to protecting the trade of his Majesty’s subjects, and the capture or destruction of the ships of the enemy. You are to be particularly careful, not to give any just cause of offence to the government or subjects of the United States of America; and to give very particular orders to this effect to the officers you may have occasion to send on board ships under the American flag. You are not to anchor in any of the American ports, but in case of absolute necessity, and then put to sea again as soon as possible.

(Signed)“.”

While executing this order. Captain Bingham was most wantonly attacked by Commodore Rodgers, of the U.S. navy, in a frigate mounting 32 long 24-pounders and 22 forty-two pounder carronades, with a complement of 475 men, including at least 300 British subjects. The following is Captain Bingham’s official account of this unexpected rencontre:–

“H.M. sloop Little Belt, May 21, 1811.

“Sir,– I beg leave to acquaint you, that in pursuance of your orders to join H.M.S. Guerriere, and being on my return from the northward, not having fallen in with her, at about 11 A.M. May 16th, I saw a strange sail, to which I immediately gave chase; at 1 P.M. discovered her to be a ship of war, apparently a frigate, standing to the eastward, which, when she made us out, edged away for us, and set her royals: made the signal No. 275, and finding it not answered, concluded she was an American frigate, as she had a commodore’s blue pendant flying at the main; hoisted our colours, and made all sail south, the course I intended, steering round