240 Naval War of 1812 



edging, in spite of these and a few other isolated 

 instances, that at that time the French were inferior 

 to the English, and the latter to the Americans. 



It is amusing to compare the French histories 

 of the English with the English histories of the 

 Americans, and to notice the similarity of the argu 

 ments they use to detract from their opponents 5 ' 

 fame. Of course I do not allude to such writers 

 as Lord Howard Douglas or Admiral de la Gra- 

 viere, but to men like William James and" Leon 

 Guerin, or even O. Troude. James is always re 

 counting how American ships ran away from British 

 ones, and Guerin tells as many anecdotes of British 

 ships that fled from French foes. James reproaches 

 the Americans for adopting a " Parthian" mode of 

 warfare, instead of "bringing to in a bold and be 

 coming manner." Precisely the same reproaches 

 are used by the French writers, who assert that the 

 English would not fight "fairly," but acquired an 

 advantage by manoeuvring. James lays great stress 

 on the American long guns; so does Lieutenant 

 Rouvier on the British carronades. James always 

 tells how the Americans avoided the British ships, 

 when the crews of the latter demanded to be led 

 aboard; Troude says the British always kept at 

 long shot, while the French sailors "demanderent a 

 grands cris, Tabordage." James says the Ameri 

 cans "hesitated to grapple" with their foes "unless 

 they possessed a twofold superiority;" Guerin that 

 the English "never dared attack" except when they 

 possessed "une superiorite enorme." The British 



