DETROIT TO CHICAGO. 347 



my note, the chronicle of a most delightful day, to a 

 close. 



©ne Quniireb anb Sljlrtemtl) Dan. 



Duncomhe House, 

 Decatur, Michigan, 

 September First, 



Keceived and answered a large mail after breakfast, 

 and in the afternoon took a walk tiirough the village. 

 One is, of course, reminded of the gallant Commodore 

 whose name, once among the greatest in America, now 

 honors this modest Western town, and whose deeds, 

 once upon every lip in the young republic, are well- 

 nigh forgotten. The question even suggests itself as 

 to how many of those who live here, where his name 

 is perpetuated, are familiar with his life and character. 



His capture of the frigate Philadelphia, which had 

 been seized and held in the harbor of Tripoli in 

 1801, during the pacha's seizure of our merchantmen, 

 was said by Admiral Nelson to be " the most daring 

 act of the age," and his diplomacy at Algiers and 

 Tunis and Tripoli, where in 1812 his demands were 

 acceded to, received the applause of all Christendom, 

 especially because those demands included the release 

 of the Christian captives at Algiers aifd of the Danish 

 and Neapolitan prisoners at Tripoli, and ended, forever, 

 the pretensions of the Barbary powers. 



After the trial of Commodore Barron for cowardice, 

 Decatur made some remarks which the former thought 

 should not be allowed to pass unnoticed, and accord- 

 ingly called upon his accuser to retract them. This 

 Decatur refused to do, but attempted to bring about a 



