164 Naval War of 1812 



After the Cottstitution had escaped from Boston, 

 as I have described, she ran to the Bermudas, cruised 

 in their vicinity a short while, thence to Madeira, 

 to the Bay of Biscay, and finally off Portugal, cruis 

 ing for some time in sight of the Rock of Lisbon. 

 Captain Stewart then ran off southwest, and on Feb. 

 2Oth, Madeira bearing W.S.W. 60 leagues, 56 the 

 day being cloudy, with a light easterly breeze, 57 at 

 I P.M. a sail was made two points on the port bow ; 

 and at 2 P.M., Captain Stewart, hauling up in chase, 

 discovered another sail. The first of these was the 

 frigate-built ship corvette Cyane, Captain Gordon 

 Thomas Falcon, and the second was the ship-sloop 

 Levant, Captain the Honorable George Douglas. 58 

 Both were standing close hauled on the starboard 

 tack, the sloop about 10 miles to leeward of the 

 corvette. At 4 P.M. the latter began making sig 

 nals to her consort that the strange sail was an ene 

 my, and then made all sail before the wind to join 

 the sloop. The Constitution bore up in chase, set 

 ting her topmast, topgallant, and royal studding- 

 sails. In half an hour she carried away her main 

 royal mast, but immediately got another prepared, 

 and at 5 o'clock began firing at the corvette with the 

 two port-bow guns; as the shot fell short the firing 



66 Letter of Captain Stewart to the Secretary of the Navy, 

 May 20, 1815. 



67 Log of Constitution, February 20, 1815. 

 M "Naval Chronicle," xxxiii, 466. 



