224 Naval War of 1812 



about the same proportion that the Wasp was to 

 the Frolic, or, at a later date, the Hornet to the Pen 

 guin. The Chesapeake carried 50 guns (26 in 

 broadside), 28 long i8's on the gun-deck, and on 

 the spar-deck two long I2's, one long 18, eighteen 

 32-pound carronades, and one 1 2-pound carronade 

 (which was not used in the fight, however). Her 

 broadside, allowing for the short weight of metal, 

 was 542 Ibs. ; her complement, 379 men. The Shan 

 non carried 52 guns (26 in broadside), 28 long i8's 

 on the gun-deck, and on the spar-deck four long Q'S, 

 one long 6, 16 32-pound carronades, and three 12- 

 pound carronades (two of which were not used in 

 the fight). Her broadside was 550 Ibs.; her crew 

 consisted of 330 men, 30 of whom were raw hands. 

 Early on the morning of June ist, Captain Broke 

 sent in to Captain Lawrence, by an American pris 

 oner, a letter of challenge, which for courteousness, 

 manliness, and candor is the very model of what 

 such an epistle should be. Before it reached Boston, 

 however, Captain Lawrence had weighed anchor, 

 to attack the Shannon, which frigate was in full 

 sight in the offing. It has been often said that he 

 engaged against his judgment, but this may be 

 doubted. His experience with the Bonne Citoy- 

 enne, Espiegle and Peacock had not tended to give 

 him a very high idea of the navy to which he was op 

 posed, and there is no doubt that he was confident 

 of capturing the Shannon. 21 It was most unfortu- 



27 In his letter written just before sailing (already quoted 

 on p. 221) he says: "An English frigate is now in sight from 



