found the American officers and men fully equal in bravery and seamanship to themselves.

They had for years been accustomed to vanquish the French and Spanish ships-of-war, by their superior skill in sailing and manoeuvring their ships: not that they excelled the French in bravery, for there is no braver people on the face of the earth: neither can the English excel them in gunnery, for they are great cannoneers, and can vie with them in everything pertaining to war, except practical seamanship. It had long been the custom with the English, in their engagements with the French and Spanish, both in fleets and with single ships, as they approached their adversaries, to fire a gun or two as feelers, to ascertain whether they were near enough for their shot to take effect, and then manoeuvre so as to rake their enemy, and gain the victory with but little loss to themselves. It is therefore more than probable, that Captain Dacres acted on the same old principle with the Constitution, not dreaming that she would so soon close in with him, with a determination to conquer or sink.

From the commencement to the end of the war, the same practice and determination were carried out with all our ships-of-war. The old-fashioned way of playing at long balls, for several hours with their enemy, does not suit the nature or taste of the Americans. They make up their minds on a subject, and then, to use a familiar phrase," go-ahead," regardless of consequences. And so it will ever be with republicans, each individual feels as though the honor of the flag and of the country rested upon his shoulders; that he is a citizen of the United States; is fighting for the land that gave him birth, and not for a tyrannical master, who has no feelings in common with him.

The American seamen in this trial of strength, and in most other naval battles during the war, went into action dancing at their guns, and telling their officers, "Gentlemen, you take care of the flags and the quarter-deck, and we will do the fighting."

Captain Hull, finding his ship filled with prisoners, many of whom were suffering from their wounds, made sail for Boston, where he arrived on the 30th of the month, after a cruise of just twenty-eight days.

On his return to Boston, after his glorious victory, and destruction of the Guerriere, he was welcomed with heartfelt joy by all classes of people. An artillery company was posted on the wharf, and greeted him with a federal salute, which was returned by the Constitution.

An immense number of citizens received him with loud and unanimous huzzas in every part of the city. The principal streets were beautifully decorated with American flags, and men of all ranks and distinctions appeared to vie with each other to do him honor. A splendid entertainment was given by the inhabitants of Boston to Captain Hull and the brave officers belonging to his ship. The citizens of New York raised a sum of money for the purpose of purchasing swords, which were to be presented to him and his gallant officers. The people of Philadelphia also subscribed funds to purchase two superb pieces of plate to be given to the naval hero and his first Lieutenant, the gallant Morris. In Baltimore the flags of all the vessels in the harbor were displayed in honor of Captain Hull's victory over the Guerriere, and a grand salute fired. In fine, the whole country was electrified, and the entire heart of the Nation beat high in his praise.

CHAPTER II.

LIST OF FRIGATES FIT FOR SEA-FIRST BRITISH SHIP CAPTURED AND SENT INTO NORFOLK -CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SCHOONER WHITING COMBAT BETWEEN THE LETTER-OF-MARQUE-SCHOONER FALCON AND THE BRITISH CUTTER HERO-SIXTY-FIVE PRIVATEERS AND LETTERS-OF-MARQUE AT SEA ON THE 16TH OF JULY, 1812-FOUR PRIVATEERS LEAVE THE CAPES OF THE DELAWARE ON THE 20TH OF JULY-PRIZES ARRIVING ALMOST DAILY IN THE ATLANTIC PORTS-SUCCESSFUL CRUISE OF THE PRIVATEER-SCHOONER FAME, OF SALEM-CAPTURE OF A BRITISH TRANSPORT BRIG, SENT INTO GLOUCESTER-ESCAPE OF THE PRIVATEER SLOOP POLLY FROM THE ENGLISH SLOOP-OFWAR INDIAN-CAPTURE OF THE SHIP MARGARET BY THE PRIVATEER TEAZER-EXTRACT FROM A LONDON NEWSPAPER-BRITISH BRIG LEONIDAS SENT INTO SAVANNAH BY THE MARS CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH SHIP S. CLARK BY THE GLOBE, SENT INTO NORFOLK— PRIVATEER JOHN RETURNS TO SALEM, AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CRUISE- COMMODORE BARNEY ARRIVES AT NEWPORT IN THE ROSSIE, ON THE 30TH OF AUGUST, AFTER A SUCCESSFUL CRUISE A SEVERE FIGHT BETWEEN THE PRIVATEER SHADOW AND BRITISH SHIP MARYBRITISH SHIP QUEBEC CAPTURED BY THE SARATOGA-CHASE OF THE PRIVATEER JACK'S FAVORITE BY HIS MAJESTY'S SCHOONER SUBTLE, AND THE LOSS OF THE LATTER.

WHEN I commenced writing the history of the privateers and letters-of-marque, it was not my intention to enter deeply into the exploits and achievements of our gallant little navy, either on the broad ocean or on our extensive lakes, but merely to intersperse my book with a few of the most brilliant combats between single ships. But, as I advance, I find the two subjects so intimately connected, that it is with great difficulty I am able to proceed without giving a sketch, or short outline of the war.

In following up the chain of events from its commencement, it will be necessary to insert here a list of the American frigates, that were well-manned and efficient, when the war was declared, on the 18th of June, 1812.

Beadle the above seves figate there were some twelve or fifeen dospect-war and smaller vessels, lying in the tank bokper. Some of these ships were reparing shen mevriy aint it for present ser

Insequently is foved that the before-named en inte ven if end with the whole British 177 anomang i amber at that period, to one thouant and any al egin imized of which were effiang diye and a large portion of them

102 flimmerniang Barity of numbers,

were spread over al

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Lee times immediately to sea to

drder them to take,

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min siperia to the disparity Text to its in drivit regardless of

Se de mult of sub a learnication. I refer the reader to Tapers Nail Esu to the official government jocumen s za that sit

Afer these remiss respect the United States' navy I will go into mori the ing exploits of the primateers and letters-of-mary

Before I commence with the prizes made by the pri

vateers, I will just stop to notice that the first English merchantman captured, was a British ship from Jamaica, bound to London (she was probably taken off Cape Hatteras), and sent into Norfolk by a revenue cutter. This occurred about the 1st of July, say twelve days after the declaration of war.

On the 10th of July, the British government schooner Whiting, Lieut. Maxey, with despatches from his government to the government of the United States, was taken while lying in Hampton Roads (he not having heard of the war), without resistance, by the privateer Dash, of Baltimore, Captain Carroway. The Dash, at this time, was ready for sea, and bound on a cruise for British merchantmen.

On the 18th of July, the letter-of-marque schooner Falcon, belonging to Baltimore, on her passage from Boston to Bordeaux, with four guns and sixteen men, when on the coast of France, was engaged with the British cutter Hero, with five guns and fifty men for two hours and a-half, and finally beat her off, with considerable loss on both sides, after repulsing the enemy three times in his attempts to board. On the next day, the Falcon was attacked by a British privateer of six guns and forty men, and although considerably injured by her engagement with the cutter the day previous, the privateer commenced a heavy fire on the Falcon, which she bravely returned for an hour and a-half, when the captain and several of the crew of the Falcon being wounded, she was carried by boarding, while her colors were still flying. They were carried into Guernsey, where the wounded were taken on shore.

I find the following in a New York paper, dated July 14th: "We believe that in sixty days from the day on which war against England was declared, there will be