This untoward event was the cause of protracted diplomatic negotiations. Every apology was offered to the United States; and England gave up all claim to the right of searching men-of-war of other nations for deserters. About three years afterwards the British frigate _Guerrier_ impressed out of an American merchant-vessel a man named Deguyo, said to be a citizen of the United States, and shortly afterwards two other native Americans in the belief that they all three were English subjects. At this time the 44-gun frigate _President_, belonging to the United States, lay moored in the Chesapeake. On receiving directions from his government, Commodore Rogers, who took the command, put to sea in search of the _Guerrier_ on the 12th of May, 1811. Soon after noon of the 16th, from the mast-head of the _President_, a ship was descried standing towards her under a press of sail, which Commodore Rogers at once concluded was the frigate _Guerrier_. The stranger was, however, the British ship-sloop _Little Belt_, mounting 18 32-pounder carronades, and 2 long nines, with a crew of 120 men and boys, commanded by Captain Bingham, who at the same time made out the _President_. Captain Bingham, finding her signals unanswered, felt assured that the stranger was an American frigate, and continued his course round Cape Hatteras. By the time the evening was closing in, the _President_ was up to her Captain Bingham hailed, asking, "What ship is that?" Commodore Rogers merely repeated the question. At that instant a gun was fired from the _President_, as was afterwards alleged, by chance. On this the _Little Belt_ fired, and a furious action commenced, which lasted upwards of half-an-hour, with a short intermission. The after-sail of the _Little Belt_ being shot away, and her rigging much damaged, she fell off, so that, being unable to bring her guns to bear on her antagonist, she ceased firing. Commodore Rogers again hailed, when he received answer that the vessel he had attacked was a British ship of war, but, owing to the freshness of the breeze, he did not hear her name. During this short engagement her masts and yards were badly wounded, and her rigging cut to pieces, while her hull was severely injured. She had lost a midshipman and 10 men killed or mortally wounded, and 21 wounded; while the _President_ had only one boy wounded, and her rigging and masts but slightly injured. The _President_ now hove to to leeward during the night, while the _Little Belt_ was employed in stopping her leaks and repairing damages. Next morning the first lieutenant of the _President_ came on board, expressing Commodore Rogers' regret at the unfortunate affair, and stating that had he known the size of the British ship he would not have fired into her. Captain Bingham inquired why he had fired at all; on which the lieutenant replied that the _Little Belt_ had fired first. Captain Bingham denied this, and the subject was long a