When Com. Decatur received this acknowledgment from the king of the Two Sicilies, his noble and generous heart felt a higher satisfaction than when Nelson, from the same source received the Title and Dukedom of Bronte.

The Commodore, in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, of August 31st, says" I hope to find the relief squadron from America,"-He sailed for Gibraltar, and there enjoyed the satisfaction of finding his noble friend Com. Bainbridge, in the noble lineof battle-ship INDEPENDENCE, the first American ship of her rate that ever anchored in the bay of Gibraltar. She was accompanied by the Congress, Chippewa, Saranac, Erie, &c. and both Squadrons formed a junction under Com. BAINBridge.

Upon the arrival of Com. Bainbridge at Gibraltar with the relief squadron, the officers of his Britannic Majesty's army, were as much irritated with the names of some of his ships, as the naval officers were with those of Com. Decatur's. The "Chippewa" reminded them of the battle of the 5th of July, 1814, in the Peninsula of Upper Canada. The "Saranac" of the battle of Plattsburgh, September 11th. The "Erie" of the splendid sortie from that fort, September 17th.

Com. Bainbridge arrived at Carthagena about the 10th of August, 1815-proceeded to Algiers, and by exhibiting the Independence, convinced the Dey of a fact which he before doubted; that the American government could build Seventy-Fours without the consent of that of Great Britain. He

found Mr. Shaler and his countrymen in the enjoyment of the peace negotiated a few weeks before by Com. Decatur and him.

He then proceeded to Tripoli, and found the vigilant DECATUR had suddenly settled affairs with that barbarian power. It is easy to imagine the feelings of the noble Commodore upon reaching the bay of Tripoli. It was there the fine frigate Philadelphia was lost upon the rocks, under his command-and it was in the dismal dungeon now in his view, where he, Capts. Porter, Jones, Biddle, and his fine crew, lingered away eighteen tedious months in a bondage indescribably wretched. Had war existed, the castle where he was immured, would have been demolished by his squadron in one hour.

He then sailed for Tunis and found the dismayed Tunisian Bey had given all that DECATUR demanded, showed him his squadron, and took his leave.

He then sailed for Malaga, having missed Com. Decatur, who was either at Messina repairing his fleet, or at Naples, receiving the grateful acknowledgments of a king. At Malaga, the governor manifested a respect for Com. Bainbridge which he never had shown to any admiral, of high or low grade. He made the Commodore a formal visit in the Independence, where afterwards, (in 1817,) the President of the United States paid him the same respect. No man deserved his honours better. Com. Bainbridge is not only an accomplished and gallant, but a veteran naval officer.

He met Com. Decatur at Gibraltar-the two

squadrons formed a junction at that place and he, with infinite satisfaction, lowered his broad pendant, and saw that of his noble friend in life and at death, triumphantly waving over a noble fleet of SEVENTEEN SAIL: a fleet, a commander, officers, and seamen, never surpassed, if ever equalled.

Eleven years before this period, the little squadron of Com. Preble had excited the admiration of the friends of the Republic, and the consternation of her enemies. The achievements of this, had produced unspeakable astonishment. Com. Bainbridge, in speaking of the Barbary powers of Africa, says— "The only mode of convincing these people is, by ocular demonstration." Com. Decatur says-" The only sure guarantee we can have for the maintenance of the peace just concluded with these people, is the presence in the Mediterranean of a respectable naval force."

The disciples and followers of Allah, Mahomet, Mohammed, or whatever the arch impostor of Mecca may be called, may hereafter rest assured, that their four-times daily repeated orisons, and their devotional enumeration of beads, will no more save them from the Christian cannon of America, when they recommence their Mahometan rapacity.

CHAPTER XVI.

Recapitulation of Com. Decatur's achievements, &c. in the Mediterranean in 1815-Rewards by promotion-Necessity of different grades of office-Arduous duties of Department of the Navy Board of NAVY COMMISSIONERS established-Com. Decatur appointed Navy Commissioner--Duties of the Navy Commissioners-Responsibility of the office-Naval ArchitectureRates of ships-Comparative power-Annual expense of ships of different rates--Improvement in Ship-building-Inventions—Assiduity of Coin. Decatur-Honours paid him-Difficulty of designating Officers-Com. Macdonough--Com. Barron.

Coм. Decatur arrived in America in the Guerriere, upon the 12th day of November 1815, having surrendered the other ships of his squadron to Com. Bainbridge, and which returned in the squadron with him. Com. Decatur had been absent from America one hundred and eighty-seven days. It may afford gratification, as it surely must excite astonishment to the reader, to recapitulate in few words, the service performed, and the deeds achieved by the squadron under his command during this periodthe time in which a single merchantman usually makes a voyage from an American to an European port, and back again. In this little period of time, Com. Decatur

1. Made a voyage from America to Europe in squad

ron.

2. Captured an Algerine Frigate in the Mediterra

nean, killed the, Algerine Admiral with 30 of his crew, and took 406 prisoners.

3. Captured a large Algerine Brig of war, with 170 prisoners, and sent her to a neutral port. 4. Negotiated a most advantageous treaty with the Dey of Algiers-obtained indemnification for captures of American merchantmen, &c. &c. and released a Spanish consul and merchant from bondage.

5. Demanded and obtained indemnification from the kingdom of Tunis, for suffering the British to violate the neutrality of their port by taking American vessels.

6. Demanded and obtained from the kingdom of Tripoli indemnification for the same cause, and the release of ten European Christian slaves in bondage.

7. Repaired the American Squadron in a Neapolitan port.

8. Restored to the king of the Two Sicilies, eight of his subjects rescued from Turkish bondage-received his grateful acknowledgments and assurances of favour to the "brave American nation.” 9. Sailed down the Mediterranean and surrendered his squadron (except the Guerriere) in prime order to Com. Bainbridge.

10. Made a voyage from Europe to America in the Guerriere.

We may fruitlessly search the annals of navigation from the time the magnetic needle was discovered from the days of Vasquez de Gama and Co