156 LITERARY PILGRIMAGES 



as a part of the day's work that the records of it 

 are hard to trace and for the most part have been 

 lost. During the Revolution Salem sent out 158 

 armed vessels carrying more than 2000 guns. 

 They took 445 prizes, losing in return fifty-one of 

 their own fleet. Jonathan Harraden, for instance, 

 sailed from Salem in the privateer General Picker- 

 ing, 180 tons, carrying fourteen 6-pounders and a 

 crew of less than fifty men. Thus manned and 

 equipped they captured a British privateer of 

 twenty-two guns. Harraden put a part of his 

 crew on the captured vessel and the two sailed 

 on. Off the coast of Spain they sighted a vessel 

 bearing down upon them, and the captive Brit- 

 ish captain laughed as he told Harraden that 

 this was the British frigate Achilles of forty-two 

 guns. 



" Well, I shall not run from her," said Har- 

 raden, stoutly; and he did not. The big frigate 

 soon recaptured the prize with its short crew, but 

 the little Pickering laid up alongside of her at 

 nightfall when the battle ceased for want of light.. 

 Harraden went to bed and got a good night's 

 sleep. In the morning the battle began again so 



