cled with danger. This consideration, which would have induced a timid mind to retire to the peaceful shades of private repose, only served to stimulate him to pursue the hazardous path which he had entered. Although at this period he might have left the navy with the reputation of an accomplished young officer, yet this would have been too humble fame for him. And yet, it is not doing justice to his character to say, that personal fame was his only object. He was a sincere lover of his country; and was determined, whether in a humble or exalted station, to defend its rights, and secure its independence as far as his own exertions could accomplish that great object.

The little American Navy had but a short respite from action, after the arduous duty it had performed in the predatory warfare carried on against American commerce by the French, until seasonable chastisement induced them to make a peace with America. The class of officers of Decatur's grade, had in that contest, begun, and well begun their naval education. They had acquired that practical knowledge of naval tactics which qualified them to move in more exalted stations; and the country may now congratulate itself that an opportunity was then presented to call into operation the skill and the valour of the youthful pupils of the American Navy.

To every historian, the history of the barbarous, cruel, and sometimes destructive warfare, which the Barbary States, bordering upon the Mediterranean, have, for centuries past, carried on against the whole

commercial world, is perfectly familiar. It is left almost wholly to conjecture to determine why nations, powerful upon the ocean, have so long permitted the property of their subjects to become a sacrifice, and their subjects themselves to become the victims of these merciless hordes of inhuman wretches. The little kingdoms of Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli and Tunis, ever since the discovery of the magnetic needle has so immensely extended the commerce of the world, have preyed upon that commerce, and made miserable slaves of those who carried it on. Not sufficiently powerful to draw forth the vindictive punishment of great naval powers, they have, nevertheless, been powerful enough to plunder merchant vessels of all nations, and reduce their crews to horrid bondage. Had the sanguinary and powerful monarchies of Europe, instead of contending for each others' crowns, and encroaching upon each others' dominions, reduced these ferocious sons of Ishmael, and worshippers of Mahomet, to obedience and fear, they would far better have served the cause of humanity. It seems to have been reserved for the American Republic, situated more than three thousand miles from these enemies of all mankind, to reduce them to complete submissionor that submission which is occasioned by fear. Indeed, there is no other way for that portion of the world called Christian, to secure itself from the disciples of Mahomet, but by exciting their fear. They have such a deadly and implacable hatred against Christians, that they think they render the most ac

ceptable service to their tutelar deity by immolating them upon the blood-stained altars of Mahomet. The most solemn treaties that can be negotiated with them are bonds no stronger than a rope of sand, unless they are compelled to regard them by a force sufficient to menace them into a compliance with its provisions.

At the commencement of the nineteenth century, American commerce was expanded over the world. Much of it was spread upon the bosom of the Mediterranean, within the reach of those contemptible Barbary States already mentioned. Encouraged by the supposition that the American Republic, situated as they supposed in a wilderness across an immense ocean, would afford no protection to its adventurous merchants, they preyed upon them with impunity. Having long received tribute from nations which they knew to be powerful, they supposed Americans to be the last people on earth who would dare assail the Turkish crescent. Their vessels and cargoes were considered as fair plunder, and the only way to redeem her citizens from the most miserable bondage which the diabolical cruelty of Mahometans could inflict upon Christians, was supposed to be by paying an exorbitant ransom.

The American government adopted a sentiment worthy of its rising greatness, that the whole community is degraded when one of its members suffers. Casting an indignant frówn across the Atlantic, and over the Mediterranean, it beheld at home its little gallant navy, and saw its officers and seamen impa

イ

If the

tiently panting for naval glory, and for an opportunity to pour out vengeance against these unsanctified heathen-these spoilers of unprotected innocencethese butcherers of mankind. Disdaining to supplicate for favour or forbearance from those whom they could drive from imperious insolence to humble submission, they scorned the very idea of paying tribute, unless it was at the mouth of the cannon. world once paid tribute to Cæsar, it was because Cæsar had power to enforce it. The American government, knew too well the noble pride of Americans, to see them paying tribute to miserable Moors, Algerines, Tripolitans and Tunisians. There is a real dignity in graceful submission to irresistible power; there is a kind of pleasure in obedience when paid to a great potentate; but to see real power sinking down before arrogant weakness, as it cannot be endured by a gentleman, neither ought it to be endured by an independent nation. At this period the common sentiment of Americans was, "MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE-NOT A CENT FOR TriBUTE." It was uttered by the faltering tongue of age, and it hung upon the lisping lips of infants.

Decatur, if not already in his glory, clearly saw the shining path that led to it. He had not that untutored and blustering courage which sometimes, by fortunate circumstances, crowns a rash fool with laurels, but had that cool, regulated and scientific fortitude, which almost invariably carries forward a great man to temporal fame. If an hackneyed expression is admissible upon a subject so elevated, it might be

se

said that Decatur was born to achieve victories "" cundum artem.' He did not wish to leave to the uncertain and variable fortune of war, those conquests which are to be obtained by systematic, and regulated courage. At this period of his life he had acquired the first rudiments of naval tactics. He had studied his profession thoroughly, and was well prepared for admission to the practice of it.

The first squadron fitted out for the Mediterranean was placed under the command of Commodore DALE, who was amongst the earliest Post-Captains appointed by Congress. Decatur was ordered to the Essex Frigate as her first lieutenant. He had for some time enjoyed all the blandishments of fashionable life, and moved in its most exalted circles. He had participated in all the charms of refined society, and, delighted himself, he imparted delight to his associates. But he had higher views than those which limit the mind of the mere man of fashion. That effeminacy which is almost invariably produced by a devotion to the unmeaning ceremony of modern high life and fashionable amusements, could not impose their paralyzing effects upon this ardent child of fame. He hailed the time when he was removed from the pretty amusement of pacing the parlour, to the more manly duty of pacing the deck.

The duty of a first Lieutenant on board of a frigate is vastly more arduous and difficult than those, who are unacquainted with naval discipline, imagine, Although not in absolute command, it is to him the