which the action is minutely described. The sinking of the Bonne Homme Richard, almost immediately after the victory, is a singular and somewhat affecting circumstance. We contemplate a hero, falling in the arms of victory, with the highest emotions; we cannot regard a vessel with the same exalted sentiments; but it is impossible to represent to ourselves an armed ship, going down with her triumphant flag waving over her, without some kindred feelings. The following anecdote, which Mr Goldsborough gives in a note, is very characteristic. When Captain Jones was in Paris, some short time after the action, he was informed that Captain Pearson [of the Serapis] had been knighted. "Well," said he, "he deserved it; and if I fall in with him again, I will make a Lord of him.""

It is with some unwillingness that we submit to the restrictions of our article, which oblige us to discontinue this very imperfect notice of the marine achievements of our Revolution. We shall not, however, lose our interest in the subject, by turning to a later era, when our navy had attained, under the new government, through the urgency of transatlantic difficulties, a comparatively respectable standing. In 1794 it was enacted by Congress, that a naval force should be provided,' for the protection of our commerce; and in pursuance thereof, four frigates of forty four guns, and two of thirtytwo, were put upon the stocks. We, who live in these days of settled independence, can scarcely credit the fact, that our commerce in the Mediterranean was at that time under the hired or gratuitous protection of Portugal, or some other foreign power; and that an Algerine Dey did not condescend to assign any other reason for hostility against us, than that he wanted employment for his corsairs and soldiers, whose cupidity must be gratified.' In 1796, a peace having been concluded with Algiers, the abovementioned act was so far modified, as to restrict the construction to two only of the fortyfour's, and one of the thirtytwo's. But it was not until 1798, that two of them, the Constitution and the Constellation, were completed and equipped for sea. At this time our relations with France had become distracted, and we were on the eve of a war with her. Indeed, all treaties with that country were soon after declared to be abrogated, and these vessels, as well as several others, which

were directed to be purchased or built in consequence of this event, were sent to sea with instructions to protect and defend our commerce.

The first act of hostility between the two nations appears to have been committed by the Insurgente; which was in a short period after so signally beaten by one of our frigates. The schooner Retaliation, Lieutenant Commandant Bainbridge, being deluded into the power of this vessel, was captured and carried into Guadaloupe. Several other United States armed vessels were in company with the Retaliation, and pursued by the French squadron, but were probably saved from capture, as stated by Mr Goldsborough, by the address of Lieutenant Bainbridge, who, being asked by the French Commodore what was the force of the vessels chased, exaggerated it with so much adroitness, as to induce him to recall his ships.

The Constellation went to sea under the command of Captain Truxton. In February, 1799, he encountered the Insurgente, and, after a close action of about an hour and a half, compelled her to strike. The rate of the Constellation was thirtytwo guns, that of the Insurgente forty. The former had three men wounded, one of whom shortly after died, and none killed; the latter had fortyone wounded, and twentynine killed. This victory, which was so brilliant and decisive, with such a wonderful disparity of loss, gave great eclat to the victor and to the navy. We recognise among the subordinate actors in this triumph, the names of Rodgers, Sterrett, and Porter, which have since become well known' to the nation.

Commodore Truxton again put to sea in the Constellation, being destined to renew his triumphs, and the humiliation of the foe. In February, 1800, he fell in with the Vengeance, a French ship of fiftyfour guns, with which he began an engagement, that lasted, with great obstinacy and spirit on both sides, from eight o'clock in the evening till one in the morning, when the Vengeance was completely silenced, and sheered off. The Constellation, having lost her mainmast, was too much injured to pursue her, before she had made her escape. The Captain of the Vengeance is said to have twice surrendered during the contest, but his signals were not understood amidst the darkness of night, and the confusion of the battle. The Vengeance had 160 men killed and wounded; the Constellation 39.

In September of the same year, the Insurgente, so honorably added to our little navy, and the Pickering, of fourteen guns, the former commanded by Captain Fletcher, the latter by Captain Hillar, were lost in the equinoxial gale of that season. Our readers are probably reminded, by these melancholy events of earlier times, of the more recent similar fate of the Wasp and the Epervier. There were circumstances attending the loss of Captain Blakely, who commanded the Wasp, which rendered it peculiarly affecting and impressive. Captain Blakely had long sailed his daring little bark over the broad Atlantic, like a knight errant of the deep, in quest of perilous adventures; and had already captured the Reindeer, and obliged the Avon to strike her flag, both vessels of the same class with the Wasp; when he disappeared from the face of the waters, and our record is suddenly brought to a close. The mind long clings to a hope, that such noble spirits may yet survive, may yet return to their native land; and it surrenders its delusions only to the indisputable evidence of time.

Our difficulties with France were soon after accommodated. But our navy was not destined to be inactive. Some of the Barbary powers were becoming hostile and predatory. Many of our citizens were already suffering in a captivity, the most deplorable to which Christians could be. subjected. A squadron was sent out to the Mediterranean, which found Tripoli in open war. The Enterprise, of fourteen guns, Captain Sterrett, fell in with a Tripolitan ship of war of equal force. The action continued three hours and a half, the Corsair fighting with great obstinacy and even desperation, when she struck, having lost fifty killed and wounded, while the Enterprise had not a man injured. In 1803, Commodore Preble assumed the command of the Mediterranean squadron, and after humbling the Emperor of Morocco, who had begun a covert war upon our commerce, concentrated most of his force before Tripoli. The frigate Philadelphia, Captain Bainbridge, by an unforeseen and inevitable accident, had already been captured by the Tripoli

tans.

This misfortune, which threw a number of accomplished officers and a valiant crew into oppressive bondage, and which shed a gloom over the whole nation, as it seemed at

once to increase the difficulties of a peace an hundred fold, was soon relieved by one of the most daring and chivalrous exploits, that is found on our naval annals. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, then one of Commodore Preble's subalterns, proposed a plan for recapturing or destroying the Philadelphia. The American squadron was at that time lying at Syracuse. Agreeably to the plan proposed, Lieutenant Decatur, in the ketch Intrepid, four guns and seventyfive men, proceeded, under the escort of the Syren, Captain Stewart, to the harbor of Tripoli. The Philadelphia lay within half gun shot of the Bashaw's castle, and several cruisers and gunboats surrounded her with jealous vigilance. The Intrepid entered the harbor alone, about eight o'clock in the evening, and succeeded in getting near the Philadelphia, between ten and eleven o'clock, without having awakened suspicion of her hostile designs. This vessel had been captured from the Tripolitans, and, assuming on this occasion her former national appearance, was permitted to warp alongside, under the alleged pretence, that she had lost all her anchors. The moment the vessel came in contact, Decatur and his followers leaped on board, and soon overwhelmed a crew, which was paralysed with consternation. Twenty of the Tripolitans were killed. All the surrounding batteries being opened upon the Philadelphia, she was immediately set on fire, and not abandoned until thoroughly wrapped in flames; when, a favoring breeze springing up, the Intrepid extricated herself from her prey, and sailed triumphantly out of the harbor amid the light of the conflagration. Not the slightest loss occurred on the side of the Americans, to shade the splendor of the enterprise. We find the cherished names of Lawrence and Morris among this gallant band, the latter of whom, then a midshipman, is said to have been the first to follow his impatient leader into the Philadelphia.

In July of this year, 1804, Commodore Preble brought together all his forces before Tripoli, determined to try the effect of a bombardment. The enemy having sent some of his gunboats and galleys without the reef, at the mouth of the harbor, two divisions of American gunboats were formed for the purpose of attacking them, while the large vessels assailed the batteries and town. On the 3d of August, this plan was put in execution. The squadron approached within gun

shot of the town, and opened a tremendous fire of shot and shells, which was as promptly returned by the Tripolitan batteries and shipping. At the same time the two divisions. of gunboats, the first under the command of Captain Somers, the second under Captain Stephen Decatur, who had been promoted as a reward for his late achievement, advanced against those of the enemy. The squadron was about two hours under the enemy's batteries, generally within pistol shot; ranging by them in deliberate succession, alternately silencing their fires, and launching its thunders into the very palace of the Bashaw; while a more animated battle was raging in another quarter. Simultaneously with the bombardment, our gunboats had closed in desperate conflict with the enerny. Captain Decatur, bearing down upon one of superior force, soon carried her by boarding, when, taking his prize in tow, he grappled with another, and, in like manner, transferred the fight to the enemy's deck. In the fierce encounter which followed this second attack, Captain Decatur, having broken his sword, closed with the Turkish commander, and, both falling in the struggle, gave him a mortal wound with a pistol shot, just as the Turk was raising his dirk to plunge it into his breast. Lieutenant Trippe, of Captain Decatur's squadron, had boarded a third large gunboat, with only one midshipman and nine men, when his boats fell off, and left him to wage the unequal fight of eleven against thirtysix, which was the number of the enemy. Courage and resolution, however, converted this devoted little band into a formidable host, which, after a sanguinary contest, obliged the numerous foe to yield, with the loss of fourteen killed and seven wounded. Lieutenant Trippe received eleven sabre wounds, and had three of his party wounded, but none killed.

Our limits forbid us to follow up the animated details of the several bombardments and attacks, which succeeded each other at intervals throughout the month. Day after day death and devastation were poured into Tripoli with unsparing perseverance, each attack exhibiting instances of valor and devotedness, which will give lustre to history. The eyes of Europe were drawn to the spot, where a young nation, scarcely emerged into notice, was signally chastising the despotic and lawless Infidel, to whom some of her most powerful governments were then paying tribute.