On the Ocean 253 



carried, besides her regular armament, two long 

 6's as stern-chasers, and her broadside weight of 

 metal was thus : 53 



i x 6 

 i x 6 



I X 12 



8 x 32 



or 280 Ibs. against the Argus': 



I X 12 



9 X 21 



or, subtracting as usual 7 per cent for light 

 weight of metal, 210 Ibs- The Pelican's crew con- 

 sisted of but 116 men, according to the British ac- 

 count, though the American reports make it much 

 larger. The Argus had started from New York 

 with 137 men, but having manned and sent in sev- 

 eral prizes, her crew amounted, as near as can be 

 ascertained, to 104. Mr. Low in his "Naval His- 

 tory," published just after the event, makes it but 

 99. James makes it 121 ; as he placed the crew of 

 the Enterprise at 125, when it was really 102; that 

 of the Hornet at 162, instead of 135; of the Pea- 

 cock at 185, instead of 166; of the Nautilus at 106 

 instead of 95, etc., it is safe to presume that he has 

 over-estimated it by at least 20, which brings the 

 number pretty near to the American accounts. 

 The Pelican lost but two men killed and five wound- 

 ed. Captain Maples had a narrow escape, a spent 

 grape-shot striking him in the chest with some 

 force, and then falling on the deck. One shot 

 had passed through the boatswain's and one through 



M James, vi, 320. 



