emy. With his single boat, he attacked five full manned Tripolitan boats, within pistol shot. He defeated, and drove them in a shattered condition, and with the loss of many lives, to take refuge under the rocks.

The two bomb vessels kept their station, and threw a great many shells into the town. Five of the enemy's gun-boats, and two galleys, composing their centre division, stationed within the rocks, being reinforced, and all joined by the gun-boats that had been driven in, twice attempted to row out and surround the gun-boats and prizes of the Americans. They were, however, prevented by the vigilance of the commodore, who made signal for the brigs and schooners to cover them. This was properly executed by these vessels. Their conduct was excellent during the whole of the engagement, and they annoyed the enemy exceedingly. The fire from the Constitution did considerable execution, and kept the enemy's flotilla in constant disorder. She was several times within two cables' length of the rocks, and three of the batteries. As soon as her broadside was brought to bear on any of the batteries, it was immediately silenced. But having no large vessels to secure these advantages, the fire was recommenced as soon as she changed her position.

At half past four, the wind having inclined to the northward, and the enemy's flotilla having retreated to a station which covered them from the fire of the Americans, signal was made for the gun-boats and bombs to retire from the action. This was effect

ed, and in fifteen minutes the squadron was out of the reach of the enemy's shot. The squadron was more than two hours within grape shot distance of the enemy's batteries, which kept up a constant fire. The damage sustained by the Americans was by no means proportionate to the apparent danger. The frigate Constitution was struck in her mainmast by a thirty-two pound ball, her sails and rigging were considerably cut, and one of her quarter-deck guns was injured by a round shot; not a man, however, was killed on board of her. The other vessels suffered in their rigging, and had several men wounded; but none were killed, excepting lieutenant Decatur. On the part of the enemy the effect of this engagement was very different. The boats cap

tured by the Americans had one hundred and three men on board, forty-seven of whom were killed and twenty-six wounded. Three other boats were sunk with all the men on board of them. Numbers were also swept from the decks of the other vessels in the harbour. On shore, several Tripolitans were killed and wounded; a number of guns in the batteries were dismounted and the town was considerably injured.

When the squadron was standing in for the attack, the bashaw affected to despise them. After having surveyed them from his palace, he said, "they will mark their distance for tacking; they are a sort of Jews, who have no notion of fighting." The palace and terraces of the houses were crowded with spectators to behold the chastisement the bashaw's boats

would give the American vessels if they approached too near. Momentary, however, was this exultation. Scarcely had the battle commenced, when no one was to be seen, except at the batteries. Many of the inhabitants fled to the country: and the bashaw retreated to his bomb-proof room.

On the 5th of August the commodore prevailed on a French privateer, that had left Tripoli in the morning, to return with eleven wounded Tripolitans, whose wounds had been carefully dressed. The commodore also sent a letter to the bashaw's minister. The prisoners informed the prince, that the Americans in battle where fiercer than lions, but in the treatment of their prisoners, they were even more kind than the mussulmen. The bashaw at first misunderstood the motive of sending these men but when informed that it was done through motives of humanity, he professed to be pleased, and said that if he took any wounded Americans, he should in like manner, restore them: but he would not release any of the crew of the Philadelphia.

On the 7th the privateer returned with a letter from the French consul, signifying, that the bashaw would probably treat on more reasonable terms. Nothing, however, definitive or satisfactory was proposed. The terms intimated were considerably higher than the commodore felt willing, or thought himself authorized to accept. He therefore prepared for a second attack. The bomb-ketches, commanded by lieutenants Crane and Thorn, were to take a station in a small bay west of the town, where, without be

ing much exposed, they might throw their shells with great effect. The gun-boats were to attack a seven gun battery. The brigs and schooners were to support them, in case the enemy's flotilla should venture out. At half-past two, the action commenced. In the course of two hours, six of the seven guns in the battery were silenced. During the action, forty eight shells and about five hundred round shot were thrown into the town and batteries. The Tripolitan galleys manœuvred to gain a position that might enable them to cut off the retreat of the American gunboats; but the large vessels defeated their design. One of the American prize boats, taken in the first attack, was blown up by a red-hot shot from the battery passing through her magazine. She had on board twenty-eight men, ten of whom were killed, and six wounded: among the former were James Caldwell, first lieutenant of the Siren, and J. Dorset, midshipman. Mr. Spence, midshipman, and eleven men, were taken up unhurt. When the explosion took place, this young officer was superintending the loading of a gun; having discharged the piece, he with the survivers jumped into the sea. They were soon taken up by another boat.

At eight in the evening of the same day, the John Adams, Captain Chauncy, joined the Squadron. By him the Commodore was informed, that four frigates were on their passage; also, that by the appointment of a senior officer to one of the frigates, he would be superseded in his command. The government was highly satisfied with the conduct of the

commodore; but had not a sufficient number of captains juniors to the commodore to supply all the frigates with commanders; nor had information of his brilliant success as yet reached America.

The John Adams having been sent out as a transport, no assistance could, for the present, be received from her. All her guns were stowed by the kelson, and their carriages put away on board of the other frigates. As these last were all to sail four days after the John Adams, further operations were suspended in expectation of their arrival.

On the 9th, the commodore reconnoitred the harbor, in the brig Argus. Next day a flag of truce was seen flying on the shore. The commodore sent a boat, but which, however, was not permitted to land her men. They returned with a letter from the French Consul. By it the commodore was informed that the bashaw would accept five hundred dollars for the ransom of each prisoner, and put an end to the war without any annuity for peace. The sum demanded amounted to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This the commodore rejected; but for the sake of the captives, and to prevent further effusion of blood, he offered eighty thousand dollars as ransom, and ten thousand dollars as presents. The bashaw, however, suspended the negotiations, and said he would wait the result of another attack.

On the night of the 23d, the bomb-ketches were sent under the protection of the gun-boats, to bombard the town. The bombardment commenced at