fire on the Comet, with round and grape shot, which she returned. The Comet had now the whole force of the four vessels to contend with. She, however, kept as closely as possible to the English vessels. They frequently separated, to give the sloop of war an opportunity of firing into the Comet. The latter as frequently poured whole broadsides into them; at times also into the sloop of war.'

About eleven P. M. the ship surrendered—she was cut to pieces, and rendered unmanageable. Soon after the brig Bowes struck-she also was much injured. A boat was sent to take possession of her; as it passed the sloop of war, a broadside was fired by ner, which nearly sunk it, and obliged it to return. The Comet then commenced a brisk fire at the sloop of war, which sheered off to some distance. After following her a short distance, she obliged the third English vessel to strike. The latter was very much cut to pieces. The Comet now again proceeded to take possession of the Bowes, when she spoke the ship that had first surrendered-her captain being ordered to follow, informed captain Boyle that his ship was in a sinking condition, having many shot holes between wind and water, and every rope on board of her being cut away. At half past one, A. M. the Bowes was taken possession of and manned. The sloop of war then fired a broadside into the prize, and passed her. The moon was now down, and it became quite dark and squally. This caused the Comet to separate from the other vessels, excepting the sloop of war, with which broadsides

were frequently exchanged. At two, she stood to the south. Captain Boyle now thought it most prudent to take care of one of the prizes until daylight, the other two being out of sight. At daybreak, the sloop of war, and the two other prizes, a ship and brig, were discovered. The Comet immediately. hove about, and stood for them. The sloop tacked, and made signals for her convoy to make for the first port. Captain Boyle, knowing the situation of the ship and brig, determined not to take possession of them, but to watch their manœuvres. Great exertions appeared to be made to keep them from sinking.

Captain Boyle was afterwards informed that the sloop of war, was much injured-she had five men killed, and a number wounded. The ship's mast scarcely lasted to carry her into Pernambuco. Her cargo was nearly all damaged. It was with difficulty the brig was kept from sinking before she reached Pernambuco harbour.

After capturing the Aberdeen, of eight guns, two vessels of ten guns each, in sight of a sloop of war, and a schooner, captain Boyle returned to the United States. He passed the blockading squadron in the Chesapeake, and arrived safe at Baltimore.

THE GENERAL ARMSTRONG,

At

A SCHOONER of eighteen guns, commanded by captain Champlin, was cruising off Surinam, on the 11th March, 1813. At seven A. M. she discovered a sail, which at half past eight, fired three guns, and hoisted English colours. About nine, the Armstrong fired a gun, and hoisted American colours. At half after nine, the British vessel tacked, and stood as near the Armstrong as the wind would permit, keeping up a brisk fire from her main deck guns. half past ten, the Armstrong bore down, intending to pour her starboard broadside into her, then wear ship, discharge the larboard broadside, and then board. This was done, except the boarding. The English vessel was now discovered to be a frigate pierced for twenty-four guns. She kept up a constant fire on the Armstrong, which lay for ten minutes like a log. The fore-top-sail and mizzen-gaff halyards of the frigate were shot away. This brought down her colours. The crew of the Armstrong, thinking she had struck, ceased firing. But they were soon again seen flying, and the action was renewed. The frigate lay for a few minutes apparently unmanageable. She soon, however, recovered, and opened a heavy fire from her starboard broadside and main-top; apparently with the intention of sinking the Armstrong. The latter lay for the space of forty-five minutes within pistol shot of the frigate. Captain Champlin

was standing by the centre gun, in the act of firing his pistol, when he was wounded by a musket ball from the main-top of the frigate. The Armstrong luffed to windward, and forereached the frigate.

The Armstrong had six men killed, and sixteen wounded, and was very much injured in her rigging, masts, and hull-she, however, succeeded in escaping from the frigate.

THE YOUNG TEAZER,

CAPTAIN DOBSON, of New York, was chased into Halifax by the Sir John Sherbroke, a vessel of superior force. When within the light house she hoisted English colours over the American, and was chased nearly up to the forts. when the Sir John Sherbroke supposing her to be a prize, hove about, and put to sea. As soon as the latter was out of sight, the Young Teazer hauled down her English colours, and effected her escape.

THE DECATUR,

Or Charleston, mounting seven guns, with a crew of one hundred and three men, and commanded by captain Diron, being on a cruise in the month of August, discovered a ship and schooner. She imme

diately stood towards them to reconnoitre. At half past twelve, the Decatur was abreast of the schooner, which hoisted English colours. At one the Decatur wore round; and half an hour after the schooner fired a shot without effect. The captain of the Decatur immediately gave orders to prepare for action. At. two o'clock the schooner fired another shot, whicn passed over the Decatur. At a quarter past two, the latter fired her large gun, and hoisted American colours at the peak: two more discharges were made from the same piece, which were answered by two guns from the British schooner. The two vessels were now within half gun shot distance. Captain Diron, observing that the schooner was prepared to bear away, hauled upon the larboard tack, in order to present the bow of his vessel to his antagonist. Soon afterwards the latter fired her whole broadside, which only slightly damaged the Decatur's rigging. This was returned from the eighteen pounder of the Decatur. Her captain at the same time, ordered every one of the crew to his post, in order to carry the British vessel by boarding, as soon as the necessary preparations for the purpose should be made. It was now three quarters of an hour past two, and the vessels were within pistol shot of each other. A severe fire of musketry commenced from the Decatur. The British schooner bore away to prevent being boarded; and fired a broadside into the Decatur, which killed two of her men, and injured her rigging and sails. The Decatur closely followed her antagomst in her manoeuvres, and again endeavoured