Mr. Gill: 

AS the loss of the ALFRED is a subject of much speculation, and has given rise to severe censures on the conduct of Capt. Thompson;¹ the regard which is due to the reputation of a Gentleman, whose character until now, merited the esteem of the public, and entitled him to the distinction conferred on him, induces me to offer you the following paragraph of a letter received from him; which by being published in your paper, may exhibit to your readers a view of that matter as stated by him to the Navy Board in this department,² and may enable such as don't choose to suspend their judgment 'till a proper enquiry is made, to form perhaps a more compleat one than they could do from the variety of circulating reports. I am, &c. 

"ON the 9th March, lat. 16, 31, N. long. 55, 40, W. at six o'clock in the morning, saw two sail from the mast-head, in the W.N.W. at half past seven hove too for the Alfred, discovered that the sails were two ships standing to the Northward close upon a wind;³ I spoke Capt. Hinman,⁴ he asked me "what I thought of the two ships," I told him "we could not determine at that distance, but we would go down and see what they were, and then determining accordingly, desired him to go down to the aftermost ship, except I should discover her to be the larger than the other, in that case I would make for her;" he reply'd “he would go down and observe my motions”; at ten we were within five or six miles, and could plainly discover them to be ships of force: I then haul'd the wind upon the same tack with them, keeping the wind of them, the Alfred did the same; she was then upon our weather quarter, and the two ships upon our lee; by this I thought we should have more time to discover their force, and see what difference there was between their sailing and our's:— Two things requisite to know previous to commencing any engagement.— On seeing us haul the wind the headmost ship tack'd,⁵ then the other tack'd;⁶ by this we found they were trying to work up and get our wakes; the Raleigh I found sailed nearly as well as they, but the Alfred dropt a-stern and to leeward withal.— As the weathermost ship passed under the Alfred's lee, standing to the Southward on the third tack, Capt. Hinman hoisted his colours and fired several shot, which were returned under English colours; they were then two miles apart, and the other ship four miles to leeward of her consort; the Alfred was about three miles a-stern of us. I had before determin'd to tack to the Southward, and on seeing the firing I order'd the master to put the ship in stays immediately, and stand towards the Alfred, that we might be close together, when the weather ship stood to the Northward again, which would have been a favorable opportunity to attack her if she chose to come up, as the other ship to leeward could not have fetch'd up to his assistance in less than two hours. The instant our helm was put a-lee (without waiting any signal from me) I saw the Alfred right before the wind, and set studdingsails, and every other light sail she could set, it was then half past twelve, wind E.N.E. light breeze, I had not then determin'd in my own mind what was best to be done, as I knew not their real force, but I imagin'd either was an overmatch for the Alfred, which I suppose Capt. Hinman discover'd, being near them, and knowing the Alfred's best sailing was on one mast, thought that was his only chance to escape; he might like wise think the ships would pursue us, being the largest ship, and that we could trust to our sailing; and by that means both ships might be saved. All my concern was for the Alfred, I was not at all concerned for ourselves, I was sure we had an equal chance to attack one, or to escape from them both by sailing; On the contrary the Alfred was neither able to engage one, nor to escape by sailing. I am sorry he tried to effect his escape at that time as I plainly saw the leewardmost ship⁷ bearing then S.W. would cut him off before he could pass her, or I could give any assistance. As I saw the Alfred bear away I did not go about just then, but ordered the courses to be haul'd up, thinking that would tempt the weathermost ship⁸ to stand on for us, but found in a few minutes they were determin'd to act more cautiously, as they both made towards the Alfred: I then ordered the master to veer and make sail toward the Alfred, and run between her and the other ship to take off her fire, and give the Alfred an opportunity to escape, whom I thought gain’d upon them, but in a few minutes the two got up and began a furious fire, which was return'd by the Alfred as fast as they could; just as we had got studdingsails hoisted we had the mortification to see the Alfred haul down her colours; it was then one o'clock, the firing lasted about ten minutes; we were then within three miles of the ships. This sudden and unexpected motion in the Alfred, left nothing for us to do, but to try to effect our own escape from them, (certainly a superior force) we veer'd and haul'd our wind to the Northward; being smooth & light winds, they soon finished with the Alfred, then both together pursued us; they gained upon us as the wind was light, & I imagine they were clean ships; As soon as night came on I edged away and set all our light sails, and kept all sails drawing. I thought by thus altering the course we should loose them, but at eight o'clock by the help of our glass we saw them both a-stern; the moon shone very bright and clear all the night. Thus they pursued us all night, sometimes they seemed to gain, and sometimes to go a-stern, at day-light they were about four or five miles a-stern, crowding all they could set; at seven they seemed to gain upon us. I gave orders to lighten the ship, we threw over all the lumber on [or] the booms and things we could spare, started water, &c: the whole weight about 35 tons, from tight to midships; after this we gained upon them: at ten they gave over chase and haul'd their wind to the Southward, after chasing us nineteen hours. One of the ships sailed faster than the other considerably, and would have come up with us; but so very cautious were they of separating, that whenever she got a little a-head, she would heave too and wait for the other: This they did repeatedly.”