On the Ocean in 



This was not a very auspicious opening of hostili 

 ties for America. The loss of the Belvidcra was not 

 the only thing to be regretted, for the distance the 

 chase took the pursuers out of their course probably 

 saved the plate fleet. When the Belvidcra was first 

 made out, Commodore Rodgers was in latitude 39 

 26' N., and longitude 71 10' W., at noon the same 

 day the Thalia and her convoy were in latitude 39 

 N., longitude 62 W. Had they not chased the 

 Bclvidera the Americans would probably have run 

 across the plate fleet. 



The American squadron reached the western edge 

 of the Newfoundland Banks on June 29th, 9 and on 

 July ist, a little to the east of the Banks, fell in with 

 large quantities of cocoa-nut shells, orange peels, 

 etc., which filled every one with great hopes of over 

 taking the quarry. On July 9th, the Hornet cap 

 tured a British privateer, in latitude 45 30' N., and 

 longitude 23 W., and her master reported that he 

 had seen the Jamaica-men the previous evening ; but 

 nothing further was heard or seen of them, and on 

 July 1 3th, being within twenty hours' sail of the 

 English Channel, Commodore Rodgers reluctantly 

 turned southward, reaching Madeira July 2ist. 

 Thence he cruised toward the Azores and by the 

 Grand Banks home, there being considerable sick 

 ness on the ships. On August 3ist he reached Bos 

 ton after a very unfortunate cruise, in which he had 



Hardy which certainly shone in comparison to some of the 

 rather buccaneering exploits of Cockburn's followers in 

 Chesapeake Bay. 

 ' Letter of Commodore Rodgers, Sept. ist. 



