212 Naval War of 1812 



polish upon the traversing bars and elevating 

 screws. 15 In other words, Captain Peake had con 

 founded the mere incidents of good discipline with 

 the essentials. 16 



The Hornet's victory can not be regarded in any 

 other light than as due, not to the heavier metal, 

 but to the far more accurate firing of the Ameri 

 cans; "had the guns of the Peacock been of the 

 largest size they could not have changed the result, 

 as the weight of shot that do not hit is of no great 

 moment." Any merchant-ship might have been as 

 well handled and bravely defended as she was; and 

 an ordinary letter-of-marque would have made as 

 creditable a defence. 



During the entire combat the Espiegle was not 

 more than 4 miles distant and was plainly visible 

 from the Hornet; but for some reason she did not 

 come out, and her commander reported that he knew 

 nothing of the action till the next day. Captain 

 Lawrence of course was not aware of this, and made 

 such exertions to bend on new sails, stow his boats, 

 and clear his decks that by nine o'clock he was 

 again prepared for action, 17 and at 2 P.M. got under 

 way for the N.W. Being now overcrowded with 

 people and short of water he -stood for home, an 

 choring at Holmes' Hole in Martha's Vineyard on 

 the i Qth of March. 



On their arrival at New York the officers of the 



15 James, vi, 280. 



16 Codrington ("Memoirs," i, 310) comments very forcibly 

 on the uselessness of a mere martinet. 



17 Letter of Captain Lawrence. 



