rection between the Bermudas, Halifax, and the continent. After a cruise of ninety-six days, she arrived at New York, having made five prizes, valued at two hundred thousand dollars. She fell in with a British squadron of six sail, two of which were of the line, and one of them a remarkably fast sailer. The chase was continued for three days and nights, and under various circumstances, but, by unremitted exertions, the Argus eluded the pursuit. Pressed on all sides by the number of the enemy, and often baffled by the unsettled state of the weather, she was at one time within gunshot of a seventy-four, and at another nearly surrounded. While in this perilous situation, she actually captured and manned one of her prizes.

UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN.

On the 25th of October, after being separated from the squadron, the United States, commanded by commodore Decatur, fell in with and captured, off the Western Isles, after an action of an hour and a half, the British frigate Macedonian, captain Carden, mounting forty-nine guns, and carrying three hundred and six men. The Macedonian being to windward, had the advantage of choosing her distance, which was so great, that for the first half hour, the United

States could not use her carronades; and at no time were they within musket or grape shot. To this circumstance, and a heavy swell of the sea, was ascribed the extreme length of the action. In this contest the superiority of the American gunnery was strikingly obvious. The Macedonian had one hundred and six men killed and wounded. She was totally dismasted, and had nearly one hundred shot holes in her hull. On board the United States there were only five killed and seven wounded; and so little injury was done to the ship, that, in five minutes after the action, she was fully prepared for another. Shortly after the action commenced, such a torrent of fire proceeded from the United States, that the crew of the Macedonian supposed she was actually on fire, and gave three cheers.

The Macedonian was a frigate of the largest class, only two years old, four months out of dock, and reputed one of the fastest sailers in the British service.

All the private property of the officers and crew of the Macedonian was given up to them; that claimed by captain Carden, amounted to eight hundred dollars, and was paid for by the commodore.

An instance of the generosity, which is so predominant in the breasts of American tars, must not be omitted. John Archibald, one of the crew of the United States, received a mortal wound, of which he soon after died. He left three children to the mer-. cy of the world and a profligate mother, who had deserted them. When the father of Archibald went

on board the frigate, to claim the wages and proper

ty of his son, an inquiry was made into the circumstances of his family. A plan was immediately agreed upon by the seamen for the relief of the orphans. Two dollars was subscribed by each of them; a sum of eight hundred dollars was made up, and placed in the hands of suitable trustees, for the maintenance and education of his children.

Commodore Decatur arrived at New London with his prize on the 4th of December. He received from all quarters the congratulations of his countrymen. A gold medal was presented to him by Congress, in testimony of their high sense of his gallantry, good conduct and services. The legislature of Pensylvania voted him their thanks, and an elegant sword; and various other testimonials of public regard were bestowed upon him and his crew.

The news of this brilliant victory was received at Washington on the evening of the 8th of December. It happened, that on that evening, a ball was given in compliment to the officers and navy generally, and particularly to captain Stewart, in acknowledgment of his politeness to the citizens of Washington on a recent occasion. A large and respectable company was assembled, and the scene was graced by the presence of all the beauty and fashion of the city. The room in which the company were assembled had been decorated with the trophies of naval victory. The colours of the Guerriere and Alert, displayed on the walls, roused the feeling of patriotism, and revived in the mind the recollection of the bravery which had won them. At this time lieuten

ant Hamilton arrived with the colours of the Macedonian, and despatches from commodore Decatur He was received with loud acclamations, and escort ed to the festive hall; and the colours of the Mac edonian were borne into the room by captains Hull and Stewart, and deposited with those of the Guerriere and Alert.

CONSTITUTION AND JAVA.

On the arrival of the Constitution in Boston, after the capture of the Guerriere, captain Hull received permission to remain on shore to attend to his private affairs, and commodore Bainbridge was appointed to command in his room. After undergoing the necessary repairs, she sailed on a cruise along the coast of South America, accompanied by the Hornet sloop of war, commanded by captain Lawrence. In running down the coast of the Brazils, they found the Bonne Citoyenne, a British ship of war, loaded with specie lying in the port of St. Salvador. Commodore Bainbridge here separated from captain Lawrence, leaving him to blockade the Bonne Citoyenne.

On the twenty-ninth of December, the Constitution, being in 13 degrees south latitude, and 38 west longitude, about ten leagues from the coast of Brazil, at nine A. M. two strange vessels were discovered on her weather bow. At ten they were discovered to