have attempted to tack in a hard squall, would at least have exposed me to a raking fire, and to have attempted it, and failed to do so, would have been attended with the inevitable loss of the schooner. I therefore thought it most prudent to take her fire on the tack on which I was, and this I was exposed to from the position I have mentioned, until I had passed her bow ; she all the while standing on with me, and almost as fast as ourselves, and such a tune as was played round my ears, I assure you, I never wish to hear again on the same key. At four his shot began to fall short of us. At half-past four the wind dying away, and the enemy still holding it, his ship began to reach us. We got out sweeps, and turned all hands to. I also threw all the lumber from the deck, and about 2,000 lbs. weight of shot from the after hold. From about five P. M., all his shot fell short of us. At twenty-five minutes past five the enemy hove about, and I was glad to get so clear of one of the most quarrelsome companions that I ever met with. After the first broadside from the frigate, not a shot struck the hull of the Tompkins, but the water was literally in a foam all around her.

The moment before the squall struck us, I told Mr. Farnum that she was too heavy for us, and he went forward with his glass to take another look, when the squall struck the schooner as if by magic, and we were up with her, before we could get in our light sails. My officers conducted themselves in a way that would have done honor to a more permanent service. Mr. Farnum, first Lieutenant, conducted himself with his usual vigor. Mr. Atchison, sailing-master, performed his part in the style of a brave and accomplished seaman. Messrs Miller and Dodd, second and third Lieutenants, were not immediately under my eye, but the precision and prompt

itude with which all my orders were executed, is sufficient proof that they were to be relied upon. Mr. Thomas, boatswain, and Mr. Casewell, master's-mate, were particularly active, and deserve encouragement. The name of one of my poor fellows who was killed ought to be registered on the book of fame, and remembered with reverence as long as bravery is considered a virtue. He was a black man, by the name of John Johnson; a 24 lb. shot struck him in the hip, and took away all the. lower part of his body. In this state the poor, brave fellow lay on the deck, and several times exclaimed to his shipmates, "fire away boys, neber haul de color down." The other was also a black man, by the name of John Davis, and was struck in much the same way he fell near me, and several times requested to be thrown overboard, saying he was only in the way of the others. While America has such sailors, she has little to fear from the tyrants of the ocean. From the circumstance of her shot being 24's, which I assure you was the case, as we have felt and weighed them, I am of opinion that it was the Laurel, a new frigate, which I had information of. A gentleman whom I took, told me she was in the fleet; that she was built and manned for the purpose to cope with our frigates; that if she got sight of me, she would certainly take me, as she was the fastest sailer he

ever saw.

I send you a list of the killed and wounded; in every thing else we are in good order and high spirits. Killed-John Johnson, John Davis; wounded-six.

PRIZES CAPTURED BY PRIVATEERS.

The British brig Harriet, captured by the privateer General Armstrong, and sent into Porto Rico, she being

short of water; was seized by the Spanish government and given up to the British.

On the 20th of May, 1813, the privateer Alexander, of Salem, of 18 guns, was chased on shore in Well's Bay, by two British men-of-war. She was so closely pursued that only twenty of her crew had time to make their escape. It fortunately happened, however, that a large portion of her crew were on board of seven prizes, which she had made previous to her cap

ture.

On the 1st of June the Yankee privateer, of 19 guns, with a crew of 200 men, sailed in company with the privateer Blockade, of 15 guns, from Newport, R. I., on a fresh cruise.

The privateer Grand Turk, of 16 guns, arrived at Portland, after having captured three large, armed, and very valuable ships, on the coast of Brazil, all of which she ordered to proceed to France. On her passage home she also captured a schooner, which she sent to the United States.

EXTRACT FROM THE LONDON COURIER.

I herewith insert the following extract from the London Courier, dated June the 17th, 1813, in order to show the erroneous opinions entertained in England at that period, with respect to the power and strength of the United States to defend their own territory:

"POLICY OF TAKING NEW ORLEANS.-There are arguments in our colonial journals, tending to prove that there exists a necessity for our government's taking possession of the province of New Orleans. We extract the following observations on that subject: If Great Britain will only take New Orleans, she will divide the States. By shutting that outlet to the fruits of Western indus

try, she will make herself known and respected by those States, in spite of the power of the rest of the Union. If in the war of 1755, France had been as superior at sea, as Britain then was, we should never have heard of the United States of America. The back country would have been as well settled before this with Frenchmen, as it now is with the descendants of Britons. We ought at present to take the benefit of former lessons, and make those people our friends, when so much is in our power. Take New Orleans, which is at the threshold of our West India Islands, and which could furnish them with provisions, at half the price they have been accustomed to pay. By such conduct, firm allies would be created on the Continent. Our West India planters would be gratified, and the integrity of the Spanish dominions in America, guaranteed from traitorous insults."

In reply to the policy of taking New Orleans, an American statesman says: "This is very good, but the Editor of the Courier seems not to know that two millions of people as hardy, brave and patriotic as the world can produce, are immediately interested in maintaining an outlet to New Orleans, who, like the flood of their own Mississippi, would precipitate themselves on the foe with irresistible force. Should the English attempt to carry out their plan, it would prove to them more disastrous than the Walcheren expedition."

In

What prophetic words were here announced! about eighteen months after the above article was written, the English attempted to reduce their beautiful theory to practice. The result is too well known to need one word of comment.

PRIZFS CAPTURED BY PRIVATEERS.

Schooner Flying Fish, taken by the Saucy Jack, and released after dispossessing her of goods to the value of $1,000.

Sloop Catherine, laden with salt, taken by the Saucy Jack, and sent into Cape Henry, Hayti.

Schooner Kate, with salt fish, sent into Cape Henry by the same.

Ship Louisa, 10 guns, laden with coffee, taken by the Saucy Jack, and burned to prevent her falling into the hands of a British man-of-war, in chase.

Brig Three Brothers. 10 guns, laden with 2,646 bags and 40 tierces of coffee, sent into St. Mary's by the Saucy Jack. The bounty on the prisoners when brought in amounted to a very handsome sum.

Among the curious incidents that belong to privateerinz. we notice the fitting out of a three-masted vessel, at Salem, called the Timothy Pickering, apparently for the chief purpose of seizing licensed vessels, and those evaling the non-importation law.

Brig Earl of Moira, from Liverpool for St. Andrews, in ballast, sent into Machias by the Industry, of Marblehead.

Schooner

laden with a few hhds. of rum, sent

into Eastport by the privateer boat Terrible.

Two of the enemy's vessels, trading between the United States and the ports of Nova Scotia, sent into Machias by the privateer boats Holkar and Swiftsure, worth $5,000.

Schooner Louisa, of 202 tons, one gun, and 26 men, from St. Vincents for St. Johns, a first rate vessel, Baltimore built, sent into Newport by the letter-of-marque schooner Expedition, of Baltimore, having on board 100