268 Naval War of 1812 



the success of his nation to "the aptitude of the 

 American character for the sea," and the Briton 

 similarly writes that "the English are inherently 

 better suited for the sea than the French." Race 

 characteristics may have had some little effect be- 

 tween the last pair of combatants (although only a 

 little), and it is possible that they somewhat affected 

 the outcome of the Anglo-American struggle, but 

 they did not form the main cause. This can best 

 be proved by examining the combats of two preced- 

 ing periods, in which the English, French, and 

 Americans were at war with one another. 



During the years 1798-1800, the United States 

 carried on a desultory conflict with France, then at 

 war with England. Our navy was just built, and 

 was rated in the most extraordinary manner; the 

 Chesapeake, carrying i8-pounders, was called a 44; 

 and the Constellation, which carried 24*5, a 36, while 

 the Washington, rating 24, was really much heavier 

 than the Boston, rating 28. On Feb. 9, 1799, after 

 an hour's conflict, the Constellation captured the 

 French frigate I'Insurgente; the Americans lost 3, 

 the French 70 men, killed and wounded. The Con- 

 stellation carried but 38 guns ; 28 long 24*8, on the 

 maindeck, and 10 long I2's on the quarterdeck, 

 with a crew of 309 men. According to Troude (III, 

 169), I'Insurgente carried 26 long i2's, 10 long 6's, 

 and 4 36-pound carronades; the Americans report 



