BORDEAUX, Oct. 21st., 1814.

DEAR CHARLES-I am now on the eve of leaving this place for L'Orient, to take command of the elegant American schooner Leo. I have been waiting several months to obtain a passage home to the United States, and have consented to take charge of this schooner, to proceed from France to Charleston or some other southern port.

Your cotton netted 903 francs. The account sales I have sent to Messrs. Lawrence and Whitney, and desired them to pay you the amount, together with the gain on the exchange, which is about 10 per cent.

You may, perhaps, ask why I did not invest the amount in French goods, that you might have gained a larger profit. I answer that I did not feel myself authorized to hazard your property without your consent, the risk of capture being in my opinion very great.

I was very happy to hear of your safe arrival in the David Porter. Both Captain Nichols and yourself, and in fact, all the officers and men deserve a great deal of praise, and I do assure you I shall never forget your faithful and very friendly conduct during the whole voyage. Yes, Charles, although I sometimes scold a little when we are together, I need not tell you how dear you are to me, and that your faithful and brave conduct has entirely won my heart. I hope you will study navigation, and improve your mind by reading while you remain at home, and thus qualify yourself to command a ship when the war is ended. Should the enemy dare to molest the part of the country where you may be, I hope and trust you will be among the first to drive them into the sea. Our father fought them in 1775, before he was as old as you are, and I hope he has not

left a son who would not defend his country, if necessary, with his heart's blood.

We hear nothing from America but degrading defeats and losses of every kind. Washington City burnt, our armies on the frontiers beaten in one place or another, and every thing appears to be going to the devil. If things go on no better, I shall be ashamed to acknowledge myself an American.

I shall write to mother and sister by the same vessel that conveys this to you.

Remember me affectionately to our brothers James and Francis, and believe me, my dear Charles,

Your sincere friend and brother,

GEORGE COGGESHALL.

CHAPTER VII..

CRUISES OF THE SCOURGE AND RATTLESNAKE-THEY TAKE NUMEROUS PRIZES-FRIGATE PRESIDENT, COMMODORE RODGERS, CRUISING OFF THE NORTH CAPE-DRONTHEIM, IN NORWAY-THE RATTLESNAKE ARRIVES AT LA ROCHELLE-THE SAUCY JACK CAPTURES THE SHIP PELHAM, AND TAKES HER TO CHARLESTON- THE GRAND TURK CAPTURES THE INDIAN LASS, AND SENDS HER TO SALEM CRUISE OF THE PRIVATEER PERRY, OF BALTIMORE-DESPERATE BATTLE BETWEEN THE NEUFCHATEL PRIVATEER AND THE BOATS OF A BRITISH MAN-OF-WAR OFF NANTUCKET THE PRIVATEER HARPY, OF BALTIMORE, CAPTURES THE BRITISH PACKET PRINCESS ELIZABETH— THE PRIVATEER SABINE, OF BALTIMORE, CAPTURES THE BRITISH SHIP COUNTESS OF HARCOURT-CAPTURE OF THE NEW FREDERICK BY THE PRIVATEER KEMP-NARROW ESCAPE OF THE PRIVATEER FOX FROM A BRITISH SHIP-OF-WAR--THE PRIVATEER CAROLINE, OF BALTIMORE, CAPTURES THE BRITISH BRIG ELIZABETH, AND SENDS HER TO CHARLESTON-CAPTURE OF A SCHOONER BY THE KEMP OF BALTIMORE THE SCHOONER'S ARRIVAL AT CAPE FRANCOIS.

SUCCESSFUL CRUISES MADE BY THE PRIVATEERS SCOURGE AND RATTLESNAKE, OFF THE NORTH CAPE, AND COAST OF NORWAY.

The privateers Scourge and Rattlesnake appear to merit something more than a passing remark. As they were often in company in a distant sea, on the same cruising ground, and as they were very fortunate in capturing and annoying the enemy's trade and commerce, I shall devote a separate notice to them as their just due.

Though the worthy captains of both these vessels have passed away from earthly scenes, I hope their acts and deeds in their country's service will ever be appreciated, while bravery and patriotism are held in high regard by civilized nations.

The Rattlesnake belonged to Philadelphia, and was commanded by Capt. David Maffet, an excellent seaman, and a brave, honorable man.

Captain Maffet commanded a privateer from the com

mencement of the war to its termination, and was always active and vigilant. In the early part of the war, he commanded the Atlas, and I think one other (of this, however, I am not sure), until he took command of the Rattlesnake, in 1813.

She was a fine fast-sailing brig, carrying 14 guns, suitably equipped, and well supplied with able officers and men.

After leaving the United States Captain Maffet proceeded to cruise off the North coast of England, and from thence to the coast of Norway, where having made many valuable prizes, and inflicted much injury upon British commerce, he put into La Rochelle about the middle of March, 1814, to refresh his officers and crew, and refit for another cruise.

The Scourge was owned in New York, and commanded by Captain Samuel Nicoll, a native of Stratford, Connecticut. He was a worthy, intelligent, enterprising man, and a good patriot.

The Scourge was a large schooner privateer, mounting 15 carriage guns, with musketry, etc., and suitably officered and manned for a long cruise. She sailed from New York in April 1813, for the north coast of England and Norway.

Captain Nicoll was a man of sound judgment, and a good financier. After he had made one or two successful cruises, he found it more to his advantage to remain on shore in the different ports of Norway, where he sent in most of his prizes, and attend to the sale of them than to go to sea, and leave the management of his rich prizes in the hands of dishonest or incompetent persons. Consequently, he occasionally appointed one of his lieutenants to command the Scourge, to cruise under his direction. This accounts for Captain Nicoll's name not ap

pearing more frequently in the public journals at that period.

On the 19th of July, while Captain Nicoll was off the North Cape, in the Scourge, he fell in with and cruised for several days in company with Commodore Rodgers, in the United States frigate President, who was then cruising in those high northern latitudes.

After Commodore Rodgers left that region for a more southerly one, the Scourge proceeded off the coast of Norway, and alternately off the North Cape, to intercept British ships sailing to and from Archangel.

The following list comprises a portion, but by no means all the prizes captured by the Scourge and Rattlesnake. A great number were sent into the different ports in the United States and Norway, particularly into the harbor of Drontheim, and many others were disposed of in various ways.

"The winds and seas are Britain's wide domain,

And not a sail, but by permission spreads."

British Naval Register.

British bark Concord, West, 187 tons, and two guns, from London for Archangel, in ballast.

Ship Liberty, Sugden, 253 tons, and 8 guns, from Liverpool for the same place, in ballast.

Brig Jolly Bachelor, Struthon, of 119 tons, from Archangel, laden with tar, bound for Aberdeen.

Brig Ruby, of 4 guns, 138 tons, taken by the Rattlesnake.

Hartford, 260 tons, from London, and Sutherland, for Archangel, in ballast, by the Rattlesnake.

Brig Brunswick, Lewis, 249 tons, 4 guns, from Dublin for the same port, taken by the Rattlesnake. Latona, of Shields, by the Scourge.

Experiment, of Aberdeen, by the Scourge.