202 THE ROYAL SOCIETY. OF CANADA 
you ought to use great caution, for the loss of a single vessel may de- 
cide the fate of the campaign.’”! 
Chauncey took the lake again on August 14 and two days later 
came in sight of the British squadron lying at anchor near the Bucks. 
Yeo immediately got under way and having a good wind, bore down 
to engage. Chauncey again wisely resolved to avoid an action under 
unfavourable conditions and made off under press of sail. On the 
18th, the British squadron was seen apparently on its way to Kingston, 
and after sustaining considerable damage in a He gale, he returned 
to port on the following day. 
In the meantime Yeo had run into Toronto Bay where he repaired 
and manned his prizes and then sailed for Kingston to take in supplies 
for an extended cruise. On arriving there one of his first measures 
was to send a flag of truce to Sackett’s Harbour to gain information. 
By this means he learned that the whole of the enemy’s squadron was 
then in port and he conjectured that it was not likely to come out 
until the new brig was ready. ‘“‘I feel much disappointed at not being 
successful in bringing Chauncey to a general engagement,” he wrote, 
“T agree most fully with Your Excellency that until the enemy’s 
naval force can be reduced, the ships cannot with prudence or safety 
co-operate with the land) forces to any extent....0../..2..8% The 
commander of the Lady of the Lake, told our officer it was policy their 
not engaging us.’” 
The new vessel at Sackett’s Harbour was launched on August 
18, and named the Sy/ph. Although designed as a brig she was rigged 
as a schooner. Great efforts were made to complete and equip 
her with the utmost speed, as Chauncey believed that he would then 
have a considerable superiority. From her design she was expected 
to sail very fast and more than counterbalance his losses. This 
‘vessel was afloat in twenty-one working days after her keel was laid. 
Although designed to carry twenty-four guns, she was temporarily 
armed with four long thrity-two pounders mounted on circles between 
masts and eight long six pounders in broadside. It was expected that 
fire from these heavy long guns might dismast some of the enemy’s 
vessels and thus render them helpless in a general action. Another 
similar vessel, Chauncey declared, would enable him to dispense with 
all his dull-sailing schooners, which in a high wind had proved of little 
service on the open lake. He had then received the disquieting 
information that the construction of three new corvettes had been con- 
tracted for at Kingston under the conditions that one should be 
launched every forty days reckoning from the 3rd of August. Two 

1 Chauncey to Perry, July 14. 
? Yeo to Prevost, August 22; Baynes to Prevost, August 19. 
