of the Hornet, Capt. Biddle, and Peacock, Capt. Warrington, which belonged to Com. Decatur's Squadron. It would be a delightful employ, to give a minute account of these noble Sloops of War, and their gallant commanders while in this squadron. A brief one will be attempted.

Pursuant to Com. Decatur's orders, they proceeded unmolested to the Island of Tristan d'Acunha, as the place of rendezvous appointed by him. The Hornet separated from the Peacock in a chase, two days out. Upon the 23d March, 1815, as Capt. Biddle was about to anchor the Hornet at the north end of Tristan d'Acunha, he fell in with one of the largest armed, and best fitted Brigs in the British navy, and commanded by one of the most distin-guished of the younger class of British naval officers. It was the Penguin, Capt. Dickinson, mounting 20 guns. Admiral Tyler loaned him 12 men from the Medway, 74,—and he was directed particularly to cruise for the Young Wasp, much superior in her armament to the Hornet. The little Hornet, in the hands of Capt. Biddle, nobly supported the fame she acquired in the hands of the heroic and lamented Capt. Lawrence.

Capt. Biddle, in his letter to his beloved commander, Com. Decatur, of the 25th March, says"From the firing of the first gun, to the last time the enemy cried out he had surrendered, was exactly twenty-two minutes." After surrendering the first time, Capt. Biddle received a dangerous wound in

his neck!! Twenty men were killed or died of wounds in the Penguin, and thirty-five wounded. In the Hornet 1 killed, 9 wounded. The Penguin was so completely riddled in her hull, and her rigging so effectually demolished, that Capt. Biddle scuttled and sunk her-the second ship of superior force, that the Hornet had sent to the bottom.

Toward the close of the action, the gallant Capt. Dickinson exclaimed to his 1st Lieut. Mc' Donald, "The fellows are giving it to us like hell-we must get on board,"-and in a few minutes after, fell dead upon his deck, with a terrible shot.-Capt. Biddle asked Mc'Donald why he did not board the Hornet? He answered" He did try-but found the men rather backward-and so you know we concluded to give it up."

The Peacock, Capt. Warrington, joined the Hor net, a few days after this brilliant victory,-remained at Tristan d'Acunha, according to Com. Decatur's instructions; and then sailed for the East-Indies. Upon the 27th and 28th April, chased a strange sail, supposed to be an Indiaman, until she was discovered to be a ship of the line; which, upon the 29th, hoisted English colours-showed a rear Admiral's flag, and commenced firing upon the Hornet--The chase lasted 42 hours! and to give the expressive language of Capt. Biddle in his letter to Com. Decatur of June 10th, 1815 It was with the most painful reluctance, and upon the fullest conviction, that it was indispensable, in order to prevent a greater misfortune, that I could bring my

mind to consent to part with my guns." One of Capt. Biddle's accomplished officers remarks, after describing the imminent danger they were in, and their fortunate escape" Never has there been so evident an interposition of the goodness of a divine Father-my heart with gratitude, acknowledges his supreme power and goodness." A heart thus grateful to a Divine Father, would raise a fearless hand in fighting his enemy. When every hope of escape had vanished, and the shot were whistling through the Hornet, the exhausted Capt. Biddle mustered his worn-out officers and crew-thanked them for their unparalleled exertions, and told them they might soon expect to be captured. "Not a dry eye," (continues the officer) " was to be seen at the mention of capture. The rugged hearts of the sailors, like ice before the sun, wept in unison with their brave commander."

Upon the arrival of the Hornet at St. Salvador upon the 9th June, without anchor, cable, or boat, and but one gun, Capt. Biddle received news of Peace. The Hornet returned safe to America; and the veteran DECATUR, welcomed the gallant BIDDLE, with one of the remainder of his squadron*—a squadron never surpassed either in conquering an equal, or in escaping an overwhelming superior force. When

* The Peacock cruised nine months. A war against Algiers had been declared, prosecuted and ended, since the Peacock sailed; and Com. Decatur returned triumphantly from the Mediterranean, about the same time Capt. Warrington returned with the Peacock.

ever á British naval officer looks with complacency upon the frigate President at Spithead, let him remember the shattered Endymion,—the sunken Penguin, and the mortified rear-admiral (name unknown) whose cannon could not sink, and whose skill could not capture the Hornet or Peacock. In regard to the whole of this little squadron, then, we may again repeat:

CHAPTER XV.

Com. Decatur returns from his fourth cruise-Reception-PEACE ratified--Scenes of domestic felicity-Depredations of Barbary powers-By whom instigated-Squadron to chastise and humble them-Com. Decatur appointed to command the first Mediterranean Squadron in 1815-Victory over Algerine AdmiralConsternation of the Dey-Indemnifies Americans and concludes a Treaty of Peace-Com. Decatur demands and receives indemnification from Tunis and Tripoli for British violations-Demands release of Christian captives-Restores them to Naples, and is honoured by the King-Surrenders squadron to Com. Bainbridge, and returns to America-Com. Bainbridge's respect to him.

COM. Decatur, in his fourth cruise, had been absent from New-York, fifty-one days, during which time he conquered a British frigate equal to his force-almost escaped a British squadron four times his force-arrived in a British port-arranged his affairs with the British forces, and upon returning again to New-York found his beloved country enjoying a peace which he had so signally aided in rendering secure, and it is hoped as permanent as the fame he had acquired. He was welcomed into that patriotic city with no less ardour of attachment, and with no less admiration for his gallantry, than when he gladdened the eyes of the citizens with the sight of the Macedonian, on the 1st of January, 1813;