the vessel directly, that the Essex might see the 1812. flames, and perhaps bear down to revenge the indig- July. nity offered to the american flag; but the night becoming dark and squally, captain Broke would not risk his boats in removing the crew. Consequently the Minerva, in ballast only, was not burnt until the following morning; and by that time the Essex had made so good a use of her sails, that she was no longer to be seen by the Shannon. This was the last exploit captain Porter performed in this his first cruise; and three days afterwards, namely, on the 7th of September, the Essex, "covered with glory," anchored in Delaware bay.

-arrives

and

british

sador.

On the 28th of June, which was the day after the Colibri Belvidera had arrived at Halifax with the account at Newof the unexpected attack made upon her by an York american squadron, vice-admiral Sawyer despatched takes the 18-gun brig-sloop Colibri, captain John Thomp- away son, as a flag of truce to New-York, to obtain an ambasexplanation of the matter. On the 9th of July the Colibri anchored off Sandy-Hook, and on the 12th weighed and sailed on her return; having on board, besides a copy of the declaration of war, the british ambassador, Mr. Foster, and consul, colonel Barclay. On the day previous to the arrival of the Colibri at Sandy-Hook, the british 4-gun schooner Whiting, lieutenant Lewis Maxey, from Plymouth, with despatches for the american government, arrived in ture of Hampton roads, ignorant of the war. As lieutenant WhitMaxey was proceeding on shore in his boat, the Hampamerican privateer-schooner Dash, captain Garroway, ton bound on a cruise, got possession of him, and then ran alongside the Whiting; and, having upwards of 80 men in crew, captured her, without opposition. The despatches had previously been sunk. The Whiting was only 75 tons, and mounted four carronades, 12-pounders, with a complement of 18 men and boys. Of these, a third were absent in the boat; and those in the schooner had not the least suspicion of being in an enemy's waters. The Dash mounted one heavy

Cap

ing in

roads.

1812. long gun upon a pivot-carriage. This, and a supJuly. pression of the principal circumstances, enabled the american writers to state, with some degree of exultation," The british schooner mounts four guns, the Dash only one." The Whiting was afterwards restored, but was captured on her way to England by the french privateer brig Diligent.

sails

from

On the 17th the Colibri returned to Halifax; but, having in the mean time received positive intelligence that the United States had declared war, rearadmiral Sawyer had, since the 5th, despatched to Squa- cruise off the american coast, under the orders of capdron tain Broke, all the effective ships which were then in the harbour, consisting of the Shannon and Belvidera, for the the 64-gun ship Africa, captain John Bastard, and the 18-pounder 32-gun frigate olus, captain lord James Townsend. On the 9th, in latitude 41°, Jongitude 66°, or nearly abreast of Nantucket island, the squadron was joined by the 38-gun frigate Guerrière, captain James Richard Dacres, then on her way to Halifax to refit.

Halifax

ame

rican

coast.

rière

Guer- When it is known, that the Guerrière had nearly joins in expended, not only her water and provisions, but an inef- her boatswain's and carpenter's stores; that her state. gunner's stores were also deficient; that what re

fective

mained of her powder, from damp and long keeping, was greatly reduced in strength; that her bowsprit was badly sprung, her mainmast, from having been struck by lightning, in a tottering state, and her hull, from age and length of service, scarcely seaworthy, no one will deny that this rencontre with a squadron, the commodore of which had orders to supply her with three months' provisions and take her under his command, was rather unfortunate: in fact, such was the state of general decay in which the Guerrière at this time was, that, had the frigate gone into Portsmouth or Plymouth, she would, in all probability, have been disarmed and broken up

On the 14th, when arrived off Sandy-Hook, captain Broke received the first intelligence of the

falls in

tution.

squadron of commodore Rodgers having put to sea; 1812. and, as may be supposed, a sharp look-out began July. immediately to be kept by each of the british ships. Capt. On the 16th, at 3 P. M., when the british squadron Broke was abreast of Barnegat, about four leagues off with shore, a strange sail was seen, and immediately Constichased, in the south by east or windward quarter, standing to the north-east. This sail was the United States' 44-gun frigate Constitution, captain Isaac Hull, from Chesapeake bay since the 12th, bound to New-York. The chase continued throughout the afternoon and evening, in light winds; and at 10 P. M. the Guerrière, who since dusk had lost sight of her consorts to-leeward, found the Constitution standing towards her, making signals. These two frigates portant continued to near each other, and at 3 h. 30 m. A. M. mison the 17th were only half a mile apart; when, Guerobserving on his lee beam two other frigates, the rière. Belvidera and Eolus, and astern of them three more vessels, the Shannon, Africa, and a schooner, none of whom answered or appeared to understand his signals, captain Dacres concluded that they were the squadron of commodore Rodgers, and tacked. The consequence of this mistake was, that at daylight the Guerrière and Constitution were nearly two miles, instead of only half a mile, from each other.

Im

take of

at day

At daylight it was quite calm. The Constitution, Situa while she steered, kept her head to the southward. the At this time the Belvidera was about four miles on parties her lee quarter, or bearing about north-east by north; light the Guerrière at some distance astern of the on the Belvidera; the Shannon upon the latter's weather quarter, or about west-north-west, distant two miles and the Æolus at no great distance from the Shannon. The Africa was considerably astern of these two ships, and gradually losing ground in the chase. At 5 h. 30 m. A. M., the Constitution no longer steer- Coning, the boats were sent ahead to tow the ship's stitu head to the southward. At the same time a 24- begins pounder was hoisted up from the main deck; and towing.

1812. that and the forecastle 24-pounder were got aft July. to be used, along with the quarterdeck 24-pounder, as stern-chasers. The taffrail was then cut away, to give the three guns room, and two more 24pounders were pointed through the stern ports on the main deck. At about 5 h. 45 m. the Belvidera and other british ships began towing with their boats. At 6 A. M. the Constitution got her head the to the southward, and set topgallant studding-sails novel and staysails. At 7 A. M., having a few minutes before sounded in 26 fathoms, captain Hull, at the suggestion of lieutenant Charles Morris, first of the ship, got out a kedge, and began warping ahead. At 7 h. 30 m. the Constitution hoisted her colours, and fired one shot at the Belvidera.

Em

ploys

mode

of

ing.

British

At 9 A. M. a light air sprang up from the southship south-east, and the ships all trimmed sails on the the me- larboard tack. The Belvidera gaining, the Constitu

adopt

thod.

tion started a portion of her water, and threw overboard some of her booms. At 10h. 30 m. the breeze freshened; but, in a few minutes, again subsided to nearly a calm. Observing the benefit that the Constitution had derived from warping, captain Byron did the same; 66 bending all his hawsers to one another, and working two kedge anchors at the same time, by paying the warp through one hawse-hole as -it was run in through another opposite."* The Consti- effect of this was such, that the Belvidera, by 2 P. M., tution got near enough to exchange bow and stern chasers Belvi- with the Constitution, but without effect on either dera side. At 3 P. M., a light breeze having sprung up, change the Constitution rather gained, and the firing ceased. During the afternoon and night the chase continued, to the gradual advantage of the american frigate.

and

ex

shot.

Situa

tion of

On the 18th, at daylight, the Constitution bore ships from the Belvidera south-west distant four miles, at day- and the Shannon bore from the latter north-east distant light on18th. six miles. At 4 h. A. M. the Belvidera tacked to the eastward, with a light air from the south by east ; * Marshall, vol. ii. p. 627.

and at 4 h. 20 m. the Constitution did the same. At 1812. 9 A. M. an american merchant ship was seen bearing July. down towards the squadron: upon which the Belvidera, by way of a decoy, hoisted american colours. To counteract the effect of this ruse, the Constitution hoisted english colours, and the merchant vessel hauled off and escaped capture. At 4 P. M., owing Constito the permanency of the breeze, the Constitution tution was seven miles ahead, and at daylight on the 19th had attained double that distance. The british squadron persevered until about 8 h. 30 m. A. M.; then gave up the chase, and stood to the northward and eastward; latitude at noon the same day 38° north, and longitude 71° 20' west.

escapes

escorts

Guer

lifax.

On the 29th of July, in latitude 40° 44′, longitude Capt. 62° 41', captain Broke fell in with the expected Broke homeward-bound Jamaica fleet, consisting of about Jamai60 sail, under convoy of the 38-gun frigate Thetis, cafeet captain William Henry Byam; and on the 6th of taches August, having escorted it over the banks of New- rière foundland, to about latitude 43° 20', longitude 50°, to Hahe stood back towards the american coast. On this or the following day the Guerrière parted company for Halifax, to obtain that refit which could now no longer be postponed. Indeed, the ship was in a far less effective state than when she had joined the squadron, having sent away in prizes her third lieutenant, (John Pullman,) second lieutenant of marines, three midshipmen, and 24 of her best seamen; thus leaving herself with only 250 men and 19 boys.

rière

Consti

On the 19th of August, at 2 A. M., latitude, by Guerher reckoning, 40° 20′ north, longitude 55° west, rats in standing by the wind on the starboard tack under easy with sail, with her head about west-south-west, the Guer- tution. rière discovered a sail on her weather beam. This was the Constitution; who, after her escape from the Guerrière and her consorts on the morning of the 19th of July, finding herself cut off from NewYork, had proceeded to Boston; where she arrived on the 26th. On the 2d of August captain Hull