British navy, built in 1812. It is said, that "when she left London, bets were three to one, that she would take an American sloop of war or small frigate."

The Peacock's length is 118 feet-breadth of beam 32 feet-depth of hold 14 feet-tonnage 509-she mounts 20 guns-had 160 men-killed none, wounded 2, shots in her hull, none. The Epervier's length--107 feet-breadth of beam 32 feet-depth of hold 14 feettonnage 477. She mounted 18 guns, same calibre with those of the Peacock-had 128 men--killed 11, wounded 15, shots in her hull 45!

The Epervier was sold at Savannah and purchased by government for fifty five thousand dollars.

CHAPTER IX.

WASP AND REINDEER.

On the 30th, and 31st of August, 1814, the Wasp fell in with his Britannic majesty's brigs Lettice, Henry Cockburn, master, and Bon Accord, Adam Duro, magter, and after short actions captured both. The Wasp on the next day succeeded in cutting out of the convoy, the British brig Mary, John D. Allen, master, laden with brass, and iron ordnance, and military stores: and after removing the prisoners, burnt her at sea.

CAPTURE OF THE REINDEER.

Copy of a letter from Capt. Johnson Blakeley to the Secretary of the Navy.

SIR,

U. S. Sloop Wasp, L'Orient, 8th July, 1814.

On Tuesday the 28th ult. being then in lat. 48, 36 north, and lon, 11, 15 west, fell in with, engaged, and after an action of nineteen minutes, captured his B. M. sloop of war, the Reindeer, William Manners, Esq. commander. Annexed are the minutes of our proceedings on that day, prior to, and during the continuance of the action.

Where all did their duty, and each appeared anxious to excel, it is very difficult to discriminate. It is, however, only rendering them their merited due, when it is declared of Lieutenants Reily and Bury, 1st and 3d of this vessel, and whose names will be found among those of the conquerors of the Guerriere and Java, and Mr. Tillinghast, 2d Lieutenant, who was greatly instrumental in the capture of the Boxer; that their conduct and courage on this occasion, fulfilled the highest expectation, and gratified every wish. Sailing-master Carr is also entitled to great credit, for the zeal and ability with which he discharged his various duties.

The cool and patient conduct of every officer and man, while exposed to the fire of the shifting gun of the enemy, and without an opportunity of returning it, could only be equalled by the animation and ardor exhibited, when actually engaged, or by the promptitude and firmness with which every attempt of the enemy, to board, was met, and successfully repelled. Such conduct may be seen, but cannot well be described.

The Reindeer mounted sixteen 24 pr. carronades, 2 long 6 or 9 prs. and a shifting 12 pr. carronade, with a complement (on board) of 118 men. Her crew were aid to be the pride of Plymouth.

Our loss, in men, has been severe, owing, in part, to the proximity of the two vessels, and the extreme smoothness of the sea--but chiefly in repelling boarders; that of the enemy, however, is infinitely more so, as will be seen by the list of killed and wounded, on both sides. Six round shot struck our hull, and many grape, which did not penetrate far. The foremast received a 24 pr. shot, which passed through its centre, and our rigging and sails were a good deal injured. The Reindeer was literally cut to pieces, in a line with her norts; her upper works, boats, spare spars, were A breeze springing up, next afternoon, he. emast went by the board.

one cou.

Having received all the prisoners on board, which, from the number of wounded, occupied much time, together with their baggage, the Reindeer was, on the evening of the 29th, set on fire, and in a few hours blew up.

I have the honor, &c.

Hon. W. JONES,

J. BLAKELY.

Sec'y Navy.

MINUTES OF THE ACTION,

Between the U. S. S. Wasp, and his B. M. S. Reindeer, on the 28th June, 1814.

At 4, A. M. light breezes, and cloudy; at a quarter after 4, discovered two sails, two points before the lee beam--kept away in chase; shortly after, discovered one sail, on the weather beam; altered the course, and hauled by, in chase of the sail to windward ;--at 8, sail to windward bore E. N. E. wind very light; at 10, the stranger sail, bearing E. by N. hoisted an English ensign and pendant, and displayed a signal at the main, (blue and yellow diagonally ;)--at half past 12, the enemy showed a blue and white flag, diagonally, at the

fore, and fired a gun-1 h. 15 minutes, called all hands to quarters, and prepared for action-1 h. 22 minutes, believing we could weather the enemy, tacked ship, and stood for him-1 b. 50 minutes, the enemy tacked ship, and stood from us-1 h. 56 minutes, hoisted our colors, and fired a gun to windward, which was answered by the enemy, with another to windward-2 h. 20 minutes, the enemy standing from us-set the royals-2 h. 25 minutes, set the flying jib--2 h. 29 minutes, set the upper stay-sails. Finding the enemy did not get sufficiently on the beam, to enable us to bring our guns to bear, put the helm a-lee, and, at 26 minutes after 3, commenced the action, with the after carronade, on the starboard side, and fired in succession-3 h. 40 minutes, the enemy having his larboard bow in contact with our larboard quarter, endeavored to board us; but was repulsed in every attempt--at 3 h. 44 minutes, orders were given to board in turn, which were promptly executed, when all resistance immediately ceased, and, at 3 h. 45 minutes, the enemy hauled down his flag. J. BLAKELY.

Return of killed and wounded, on board the U. S. S. Wasp, in the above action.--Killed, 5-wounded, 21total, 26.

Return of killed and wounded, on board H. B. M. S. Reindeer, in the above action.-Killed, 25-wounded, 42--total, 67.

J. BLAKELY.

On or about the 1st of September, 1814, the Wasp fell in with his Britannic majesty's sloop of war Avon, supposed eighteen guns, Captain Arbuthnot, and aftera desperate action of nearly two hours, the Avon struck her colors, a complete wreck, and soon after went down. Her crew were saved by the British brig Castiliau, which was also in company with the Avon.

THE WASP'S CRUSE.

Copy of a letter from Johnson Blakely, Esq. Commander of the U. S. Sloop of War Wasp, to the Secretary of the Navy, dated

SIR,

U. S. Sloop Wasp, at Sea, 11th Sept. 1914.

After a protracted, and tedious stay at L'Orient, I had, at last, the pleasure of leaving that place, on Saturday the 27th August. On the 30th, captured the British brig Lettice-and 31st August, the British brig Bon Accord. On the morning of the 1st September, discovered a convoy of 10 sail to leeward, in charge of the Armada 74, and a bomb ship-stood for them, and succeeded in catting out the British brig Mary, laden with brass cannon, taken from the Spaniards; iron cannon, and military stores; from Gibraltar to England-removed the prisoners, set her on fire, and endeavored to capture another of the convoy, but was chased off by the Armada. On the evening of the same day, at half past 6, while going free, discovered 4 vessels, nearly at the same time; two on the starboard, and two on the larboard bow-hauled for the one most on the starboard bow, being the farthest to windward-at 7, the chase (a brig) commenced making signals, with flags, which could not be distinguished for want of light; and soon after, made various ones, with lanterns, rockets, and guns at 26 minutes after 9, having the chase under our lee bow, the 12 pr. carronade was directed to be fired into him, which he returned: ran under his lee, to prevent his escaping, and, at 29 minutes past 9, commenced the action-at 10 o'clock, believing the enemy to be silenced, orders were given to cease firing, when I hailed, and asked if he had surrendered; no answer being given to this, and his fire having recommenced, it was again returned-at 12 minutes after, 10, the enemy having suffered greatly, and having made no return to our two last broadsides, I hailed him a second time, to