On the Ocean 141 



persisted in remaining on deck throughout the en 

 gagement. 



The Wasp was armed with 2 long i2's and 16 

 32-pound carronades; the Frolic with 2 long 6's, 16 

 32-pound carronades, and i shifting 1 2-pound car- 

 ronade. 



COMPARATIVE FORCE 



Tons No. Guns Weight Metal Crews Loss 



Wasp 450 9 250 135 10 



Frolic 467 10 274 no 90 



Vice-Admiral Jurien de la Graviere comments on 

 this action as follows : 52 



"The American fire showed itself to be as accu 

 rate as it was rapid. On occasions when the rough 

 ness of the sea would seem to render all aim exces 

 sively uncertain, the effects of their artillery were 

 not less murderous than under more advantageous 

 conditions. The corvette Wasp fought the brig 

 Frolic in an enormous sea, under very short canvas, 

 and yet, forty minutes after the beginning of the ac 

 tion, when the two vessels came together, the Amer 

 icans who leaped aboard the brig found on the deck, 

 covered with dead and dying, but one brave man, 

 who had not left the wheel, and three officers, all 

 wounded, who threw down their swords at the feet 

 of the victors." Admiral de la Graviere's criticisms 

 are especially valuable, because they are those of an 

 expert, who only refers to the War of 1812 in order 

 to apply to the French navy the lessons which it 

 teaches, and who is perfectly unprejudiced. He 



M "Guerres Maritimes," ii, 287 (Septteme Edition, Paris, 

 1881). 



