1812. account was taken. So that, as commodore BainJan. bridge officially declared, that the Java "certainly" had 60 killed; and, as he took no notice whatever of the recaptured ship William, his 361 paroled and 12 unparoled prisoners showed, in the clearest manner, that the Java, when the action commenced, had 433 men. But the commodore merely gives his prize "upwards of 400 men." What greater proof, then, can there be, of captain Bainbridge's modesty, as well as of his scrupulous regard not to overstep the bounds of truth?

Death

burial

On the 4th the young and gallant captain Lambert and breathed his last, and on the 5th was buried with of capt. military honours in Fort St.-Pedro, attended by the governor of St.-Salvador, the condé Dos Arcas, bert. and the Portuguese in general, but not (will it be

Lam

Consti

arrives

at

believed?) by either commodore Bainbridge or captain Lawrence, or by any of their respective officers. But the commodore afterwards made some amends for a piece of disrespect so marked and public, by writing the following private note to lieutenant-general Hislop. "Commodore Bainbridge has learned, with real sorrow, the death of captain Lambert. Though a political enemy, he could not but greatly respect him for the brave defence he made with his ship; and commodore Bainbridge takes this occasion to observe, in justice to lieutenant Chads, who fought the Java after captain Lambert was wounded, that he did every thing for the defence of that ship, that a brave and skilful officer could do, and that further resistance would have been a wanton effusion of human blood."

On the 6th, requiring more repairs than she could tution obtain in any foreign port, the Constitution got under way from St.-Salvador, and, breaking up her cruise Boston to the Pacific, bent her course towards home; leaving the Hornet to blockade in the port the british sloop of war Bonne-Citoyenne. We shall by and by set this matter right, confining our attention at present to the Constitution; who, without any further event of consequence, anchored, on the evening of

the 15th of February, 1813, in the harbour of Boston. 1812. The reception given to commodore Bainbridge, his Feb. officers, and crew may readily be conceived; as well as the exaggerated accounts that were published of his victory. We shall merely state, that the congress of the United States voted 50000 dollars, and their thanks, to the captain, officers and crew of the Constitution; also a gold medal to commodore Bainbridge, and silver medals to each of his officers, with suitable devices.

tion

modore

by the

At this moment our eyes light upon a passage in a Recepbook before us, giving an account of the reception given of commodore Bainbridge by the citizens of Boston, to comand we cannot resist the temptation of placing it Bainbefore the british public. "On the following bridge Thursday, (that succeeding the frigate's arrival,) citicommodore Bainbridge landed at the long wharf zens. from the frigate Constitution, amidst acclamations, and roaring of cannon from the shore. All the way from the end of the pier to the Exchange coffeehouse, was decorated with colours and streamers. In State-street they were strung across from the opposite buildings, while the windows and balconies of the houses were filled with ladies, and the tops of the houses were covered with spectators, and an immense crowd filled the streets, so as to render it difficult for the military escort to march. commodore was distinguished by his noble figure, and his walking uncovered. On his right hand was the veteran commodore Rodgers, and on his left brigadier-general Welles; then followed the brave captain Hull, colonel Blake, and a number of officers and citizens; but the crowd was so immense that it was difficult to keep the order of procession. The band of music in the balcony of the State Bank, and the music of the New-England guards, had a fine effect."* Here was a compliment to the british navy!

The

* Naval Monument, p. 279.

Chads

at

Court

them.

1812. The surviving officers and crew of the Java, having Sept. quitted the Brazils in two cartels, arrived at Portsmouth early in April; and, on the 23d of the same Lieut. month a court-martial sat on board the Gladiator in and his the harbour, to try them for the loss of their ship. officers The court agreed, that the capture of the late Java arrive was caused by her being totally dismasted in a very Ports spirited action with the United States' ship Constitution, of considerably superior force; in which the martial zeal, ability, and bravery of the late captain Lambert, upon her commander, was highly conspicuous and honourable, being constantly the assailant, until the moment of his much-lamented fall; and that, subsequently thereto, the action was continued with equal zeal, ability, and bravery, by lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads, the first lieutenant, and the other surviving officers and ship's company, and other officers and persons who were passengers on board her, until she became a perfect wreck, and the continuance of the action would have been a useless sacrifice of lives; and did adjudge the said lieutenant Henry Ducie Chads, and the other surviving officers and ship's company to be most honourably acquitted. Rear-admiral Graham Moore was the president; and who, in returning lieutenant Chads his sword, addressed him nearly as follows: "I have much satisfaction in returning you your sword; had you been an officer who had served in comparative obscurity all your life, and never before heard of, your conduct on the present occasion has been sufficient to establish your character as a brave, skilful, and attentive officer."

Laura

down

gage

Dili

On the 8th of September, at 3 P. M., the british bears schooner Laura, of 10 carronades, 18-pounders, and to en- two short nines, with 41, out of a complement of 60, men and boys, commanded by lieutenant Charles gent. Newton Hunter, while in the act of taking possession of her fourth prize, an american ship bound into the Delaware, then three leagues off in the north-west, discovered about three miles to-leeward a large

نت

armed brig, with a french ensign and pendant. This 1812. was the french privateer Diligent, captain Grassin, Sept. whose regular armament was 16 carronades, french 24-pounders, and two long 12-pounders, with a crew of at least 120 men; but, owing to a recent gale, three of the guns had been shifted to the hold, and, from manning a prize or two, the crew of the brig had been reduced to 97 men. Having recalled her boat and men from the american ship, the Laura, with the wind from the north-east, bore up for the Diligent, whose name and full force in guns and men had been communicated to lieutenant Hunter by the third prize he had sent away.

her fire

latter.

At 3 h. 55 m. P. M., being within musket-shot on Opens the starboard and weather quarter of the Diligent, upon the Laura opened a fire from her bow guns, and the received the broadside of the french brig. At 4 P. M. the two vessels got fairly alongside each other; and, while the Diligent manoeuvred occasionally to gain the wind, the Laura tried to prevent it by lulling, as well as she was able, her opponent's sails. At 4 h. 30 m. P. M. the Diligent set her courses and tried to tack, and the Laura put her helm down to effect the same object; but, the wind falling light, both vessels missed stays, and, in paying off, became mutually engaged yard-arm and yard-arm. At 4h. 45 m., having had her peak-halliards shot away, the Laura fell a little off the wind and fore-reached; and the Diligent grazed the schooner's larboard quarter. Shortly afterwards, dropping astern, the brig caught the breeze, and, having the superiority of sailing, drew up on the weather quarter of the Laura. At this time, owing to the low firing of the two vessels, neither had materially suffered in rigging or sails. The Diligent, now in her turn, took the wind out of Dilithe Laura's sails, and ran her bowsprit over the f lays starboard taffrail, with her jib-boom between the Laura topping-lifts and through the mainsail. Here the board. brig held fast.

on

1812.

Hunter

wound

The Diligent now, under the fire of her two bow Sept. guns and her numerous musketry, made repeated attempts to board; but the Laura, although, from having 25 american prisoners to guard below, she could muster no more than 34 officers and men on deck, resisted every attempt. At 4 h. 55 m. Lieut. lieutenant Hunter, after having been several times is se- slightly grazed, received a musket-ball near the verely left ear, which, passing obliquely down the lower and part of the back of the head, made its way out. out. He Laura of course fell, and from excess of bleeding was ders. incapable of further efforts. Unfortunately no officer was left to take the command, the principal officers being absent in the three prizes, and Mr. John C. Griffith, a young midshipman who had been but a short time at sea, having been previously wounded. In this situation, there was no possibility of opposing further resistance to the overwhelming crew of the Diligent; who accordingly rushed on board and hauled down the Laura's colours.

surren

board

Loss on The Laura had 15 killed and severely wounded, each including, as already stated, her commander and his vessel. only remaining officer. The Diligent, as acknowleged

by captain Grassin, had nine killed and 10 badly wounded; a decided proof that the Laura's small crew had made the best possible use of their 18pounder carronades. Captain Grassin carried his prize to Philadelphia, and behaved to lieutenant Hunter in the most honourable and attentive manHo- ner. Lieutenant Hunter was landed and taken to nour- the hospital; and, on subsequently reaching Halifax, quittal Nova-Scotia, was tried for the loss of the Laura of lieut and most honourably acquitted. The president, vice-admiral Sawyer, then returned lieutenant Hunter his sword with a very handsome eulogium.

able ac

Hunter