The Essex arrived safe in the Delaware a few days after.

WASP AND FROLIC.

Of all the victories achieved by single vessels, perhaps the most brilliant, and which will probably long stand on record without a parallel, is that of the Wasp, commanded by captain Jacob Jones, over the sloop of war Frolic.

On the 13th of October, captain Jones left the Delaware bay in the Wasp, on a cruise. On the 16th, she experienced a heavy gale, in which she lost her jib-boom and two men. On the evening of the next day, about eleven o'clock, being in the track of vessels passing from Bermuda to Halifax, she found herself near five strange sail, steering eastward. Some of them appearing to be ships of war, it was thought better to get farther from them. The Wasp, therefore, hauled her wind, and having reached a few miles to windward, so as to escape or fight, as occasion might require, followed the strange sail through the night. At daybreak, on Sunday morning, captain Jones found that they were six large merchant ships under convoy of a sloop of war, from Honduras to England. Four of the ships were large and well manned, mounting from sixteen to eighteen guns, and having from forty to

fifty men each. Captain Jones, however, determined to attack them. The convoy made their escape under a press of sail. The sloop of war alone remained, which proved to be the Frolic, captain Whinyates, mounting twenty-two guns, and having a crew of about one hundred and twenty men. There was a heavy swell in the sea, and the weather was boisterous. The top-gallant yards of the Wasp were taken down, her top-sails were close reefed, and she was prepared for action.

About eleven o'clock the Frolic showed Spanish colours. The Wasp immediately displayed the American ensign and pendant; and at thirty-two minutes past eleven, came down to windward on the larboard side of the Frolic. When within about sixty yards she hailed. The Frolic then hauled down her Spanish colours; hoisted the British ensign; and opened a fire of cannon and musketry. This was instantly returned by the Wasp; and, nearing the enemy, the action became close and spirited. About four or five minutes after the commencement of the action, the main-top-mast of the Wasp was shot away, and, having fallen, with the main-top-sail yard, across the larboard, fore, and foretop-sail braces, rendered her head yards unmanageable during the remainder of the engagement. In two or three minutes more, her gaff and mizzen-topgallant-sail were shot away. She however kept up a close and constant fire. The sea was so rough. that the muzzles of the Wasp's guns were frequently under water. The Americans fired as the side of

their ship was going down. Their shot of course, either struck the Frolic's deck, or below it. The English fired as their vessel rose. Their balls consequently only struck the rigging, or were ineffectual. The Wasp, having now shot ahead of the Frolic, poured a broadside into her, which completely raked her. She then took a position on the Frolic's larboard bow. A most spirited fire was now kept up from the Wasp, which produced great effect. The fire of the Frolic had slackened so much, that сарtain Jones gave up his intention of boarding her, lest both vessels might be endangered by the roughness of the sea. But, in the course of a few minutes more, not a brace of the Wasp was left. All had been shot away. Her rigging was so much torn to pieces, that captain Jones was afraid, that her masts, being unsupported, would go by the board ; and the Frolic thereby be enabled to escape. He therefore resolved to board, and at once decide the contest. With this intention, he wore ship, and ran down upon the enemy. The vessels struck each other. The Wasp's side rubbed along the Frolic's bow. The jib-boom of the latter entered between the main and mizzen rigging of the Wasp, directly over the heads of captain Jones and his first lieutenant, Biddle, who were then standing together near the capstan. The Frolic now lay in so good a position for being raked, that it was resolved not to board until another broadside had been poured into her. So near were the two vessels, that while the men were loading the guns, the rammers of the