Naval War of 1812 89 



ing a broadside of 720 pounds just 3 per cent 

 more than the Endymion.* If our frigates were 

 line-of-battle ships the disguise was certainly mar- 

 velously complete, and they had a number of com 

 panions equally disguised in the British ranks. 



The 44*s were thus true frigates, with one com 

 plete battery of long guns and one interrupted one 

 of carronades. That they were better than any 

 other frigates was highly creditable to our ingenuity 

 and national skill. We can not, perhaps, lay claim 

 to the invention and first use of the heavy frigate, 

 for 24-pounder frigates were already in the service 

 of at least three nations, and the French 36-pound 

 carronade, in use on their spar-decks, threw a heav 

 ier ball than our 42-pounder. But we had enlarged 

 and perfected the heavy frigate, and were the first 

 nation that ever used it effectively. The French 

 Forte and the Danish Nayadcn shared the fate of 

 ships carrying guns of lighter calibre; and the Brit 

 ish 24-pounders, like the Endymion, had never ac 

 complished anything. Hitherto there had been a 

 strong feeling, especially in England, that an 18- 

 pound gun was as effective as a 24 in arming a frig- 



30 It was on account of this difference of 3 per cent that 

 Captain Hardy refused to allow the Endymion to meet the 

 States (James vi, p. 470). This was during the course of 

 some challenges and counter-challenges which ended in noth 

 ing, Decatur in his turn being unwilling to have the Mace 

 donian meet the Statira, unless the latter should agree not 

 to take on a picked crew. He was perfectly right in this; 

 but he ought never to have sent the challenge at all. as two 

 ships but an hour or two out of port would be at a frightful 

 disadvantage in a fight. 



