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not suffer the same fate, was, because his wary policy dictated to him not to expose it to certain destruction.

Although distant nations scarcely ranked America' with naval powers, yet the proud and jealous Ministers of George III. full well knew what the infant Navy of the Republic had accomplished in the Atlantic, at the close of the eighteenth, and in the Mediterranean, at the commencement of the nineteenth century. The names of Truxton, Preble and Decatur reminded them of their own Duncan, Jervis and Nelson. Although the British government could not obliterate the fame of these American naval heroes, they wished to annihilate the little Navy in which they had acquired it. Hence the rude and outrageous attack upon the frigate Chesapeake, which Decatur now commanded, but which he did not command when she surrendered. Although the British government diplomatically disavowed the act, and tendered satisfaction and atonement, yet it secretly rejoiced that she became such an easy victim. Her naval commanders imagined that her fate was the forerunner of that of every deck that carried American guns.

Next to the American Navy, amongst the causes of British jealousy, was the almost boundless extent of American commerce. Americans for some years had been the carriers of almost all the belligerent powers in Europe; and although Britain herself participated in the benefit of this "carrying

trade," she could not endure that the Republic should rapidly grow rich and powerful by means

of it.

Com. Decatur, while in the Chesapeake frigate as commander of the Southern Squadron, had the double duty of watching British armed ships constantly hovering upon the American coast, and enforcing the acts of the government regarding American vessels.

CHAPTER XII.

Commodore Decatur takes command of the Frigate United StatesInterview with Capt. John Surnam Carden, in time of peaceBritish Naval Officers on American station before the commencement of War-Declaration of War against G. Britain-Immense disparity of naval force between America and Britain-Com. Decatur puts to sea from New-York, June 21st, 1812-Makes an extensive cruise and enters the port of Boston-Sails from thence 8th October-Upon the 25th captures the Frigate MACEDONIAN -His official account of the action-Length of, and incidents in the action-Meeting of Com. Decatur and Capt. CardenDreadful slaughter in the Macedonian-Arrival of frigate United States and that ship at New-London-Reception of Flag at Washington-Arrival at New-York-Reception there-Com. Decatur's humanity.

COM. Decatur, in 1810, was ordered to take command of the frigate United States, which was again fitted for sea, and put in commission. Exhilirating indeed must have been the reflection, that he was now sole commander of the noble Frigate in which he commenced his naval career in the humble capapacity of Midshipman. A retrospective view of the scenes through which he had passed-the variety of vessels in which he had served and conquered-the numerous commanders whom he had assiduously obeyed and supported, were calculated to produce in his mind the most complacent delight.-At the same time, a glance into futurity excited his deepest

solicitude. It was in his very nature to " press forward to the mark of the prize of his high calling." The glory he had acquired, and the high standing he held in the records of fame, instead of producing supineness, rather excited his vigilance. He knew that the character he had acquired, must still be supported; and although he could scarcely hope to surpass the deeds he had already achieved, he was determined not to tarnish the brilliancy of them, by the rust of inaction. While the great Achilles was supinely reposing in his tent, the blustering Ajax was exciting the admiration of Agamemnon, and even the anxiety of Hector.

Com. Decatur, "through the mind's eye," saw the storm which was gathering, and even lowering, over his beloved country. Perfectly well acquainted with the power and the disposition of the enemy the Republic was to encounter, he looked forward to the contest as to a dreadful struggle in which equals were to engage. Having one common origin, but no longer any common interest, he knew that when Americans and Englishmen, the descendants of Saxons, met each other in hostile array, it would be an encounter, fierce in the extreme, and would remind the classical reader of ancient battles

"When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war."

So confident were the statesmen, who guided the destinies of America, that the just and equitable

terms on which she would negotiate, would eventuate in peace, that they were less vigilant in preparing for war, than they would have been under a different state of things. The military spirit of Americans upon land, was almost lost in the luxuries which sudden wealth occasions; and the declaration of the facetious Knight in regard to his soldiers, might with some propriety be applied to ours."They were the cankers of a dull world and a long peace" and although they might afford" food for powder and fill a pit"? they were little calculated at once, to meet the veterans who had recently conquered Portuguese, Spaniards and Frenchmen ; hence the disasters of the army, in the campaigns of 1812 and 13, which awakened that martial fire that went on "conquering and to conquer," in

1814.

The reverse of this picture may well apply to the gallant little American Navy. Although from 1805 to the commencement of the second war between the Republic and Britain, but a small portion of it was in commission, or in service, the whole of it was, at all times, in prime order. The vigilance of the Navy Department, although it could not extend, it nevertheless preserved, our few ships, and kept them in constant readiness for any emergency. What was still more important, Com. Decatur, and the rest of the Post-Captains who were retained in service, would not permit the Naval spirit to slumber.

Bainbridge, Rodgers, Porter, Hull, Stewart, Jones,

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