HORNET AND PENGUIN.

ON the 23d of March, 1815, as the Hornet, commanded by captain Biddle, was about to anchor off the north end of the island of Tristan d'Acuna, a sail was seen to the southward; which, at forty minutes past one, hoisted English colours, and fired a gun. The Hornet immediately luffed to, hoisted an ensign, and gave the enemy a broadside. A quick and well directed fire was kept up from the Hornet, the enemy gradually drifting nearer, with an intention, as captain Biddle supposed, to board. The enemy's bowsprit came in between the main and mizzen rigging on the starboard side of the Hornet, giving him an opportunity to board, if he had wished, but no attempt was made. There was a considerable swell, and as the sea lifted the Hornet ahead, the enemy's bowsprit carried away her mizzen shrouds, stern davits, and spanker booms, and hung upon her larboard quarter. At this moment an officer called out that they had surrendered. Captain Biddle directed the marines to stop firing, and, while asking if they had surrendered, received a wound in the neck, The enemy just then got clear of the Hornet; and his foremast and bowsprit being both gone, and perceiving preparations to give him another broadside, he again called out that he had surrendered. It was with great difficulty that captain Biddle could restrain his crew from firing into

him again, as it was certain he had fired into the Hornet after having surrendered. From the firing of the first gun to the last time the enemy cried out that he had surrendered, was exactly twenty-two minutes. The vessel proved to be the British brig Penguin, of twenty guns, a remarkably fine vessel of her class, and one hundred and thirty-two men; twelve of them supernumeraries from the Medway, seventy-four, received on board in consequence of their being ordered to cruise for the privateer Young Wasp.

The Penguin had fourteen killed and twenty-eight wounded. Among the killed was captain Dickenson, who fell at the close of the action. As she was completely riddled, and so crippled as to be incapable of being secured, and being at a great distance from the United States, captain Biddle ordered her to be scuttled and sunk.

The Hornet did not receive a single round shot in her hull; and though much cut in her sails and rigging, was soon made ready for further service. Her loss was one killed and eleven wounded.

ESCAPE OF THE HORNET.

On the 28th of April, 1815, the Hornet was chased by a British seventy-four, and was compelled to throw over her guns, shot, spars, &c. She escaped, and put in at St. Salvador. On his arrival at tha

port, captain Biddle received information of the peace between the United States and Great Britain.

On the return of captain Biddle to the United States a naval court of inquiry was held by order of the secretary of the navy, on board the Hornet, in the harbour of New York, on the 23d of August, 1815, to investigate the causes of the return of that ship into port, and to inquire into the circumstances attending the loss of armament, stores, &c. during her cruise; and the following opinion has been pronounced by the court:

The court, after mature deliberation on the testimony adduced, are of opinion, that no blame is imputable to captain Biddle, on account of the return of the Hornet into port, with the loss of her armament, stores, &c. and that the greatest applause is due to him for his persevering gallantry and nautical skill, evinced in escaping, under the most disadvantageous circumstances, after a long and arduous chase by a British line-of-battle ship.

SAMUEL EVANS, President.

HENRY WHEATON, Special Judge Advocate.

PRIVATE ARMED VESSELS.

THE ATLAS.

THE privateer schooner Atlas, of nineteen guns, captain David Moffat, soon after the declaration of war, sailed from Philadelphia. On the third of August, at eight A. M. she discovered two sail, for which she bore away. At eleven o'clock, the action was commenced by the Atlas, with a broadside and musketry. She continued engaged with both ships till noon, when the smallest one struck her colours. The Atlas then directed the whole of her fire against the large ship; when the small one, though her colours were down, renewed her fire on the Atlas, which had to recommence firing on her. In a few minutes every man was driven from her decks. Twenty minutes after twelve, the large ship struck. Possession was immediately taken of both of them. One proved to be the ship Pursuit, captain Chivers, of four hundred and fifty tons, sixteen guns, and thirty-five men. The other was the ship Planter, captain Frith of two hundred and eighty tons, twelve guns, and fifteen men. The cargoes of both were very valuable.

The Atlas had two men killed and five wounded, and her rigging and sails much injured. She arrived safe in port with the Pursuit; the Planter was recaptured off the capes of Delaware.