Rogers, pursued in turn.

Both captains hailed nearly together; and both, instead of replying, hailed again; and from words, as it were, came to blows, without explanation.Capt.Bingham lost upwards of thirty men, and his ship suffered severely.

A Court of Inquiry was ordered on the conduct of Capt.

Rogers, which decided that it had been satisfactorily proved to the court, that Capt.

Rogers hailed the Little Belt first, that his hail was not satisfactorily answered, that the Little Belt fired the first gun, and that it was without previous provocation or justifiable cause." [Footnote: Lives of the Presidents.] Several attempts were made after this, to preserve the peace of the two countries, but in vain.