102 TlMEHRI. 



did not take part in the a6tion. Either mistaking 

 Little Courabanna, off which his ship now lay an- 

 chored, for Courabanna, whence he had seen both the 

 Espiegle and the Peacock, or, in the excitement of the 

 fight, not realizing that during the fight he had gone to 

 the south-east more than twenty miles, Captain LAW- 

 RENCE was under the impression that the firing of the 

 guns must have been heard by the Espiegle. Under 

 this misapprehension, he expe6ted to be instantly 

 attacked. Every exertion was, therefore, used to get 

 the Hornet ready for a6tion. By nine o'clock the 

 boats were stowed, a new set of sails were bent, and 

 the ship was again in fighting trim. At 2 a.m., on 

 the 25th, the anchor was weighed, and the Hornet stood 

 by the wind to the northward and westward, on her home- 

 ward way. The pitiful state of the prisoners touched 

 the crew of the Hornet. They subscribed among them 

 for the Peacock's men, two shirts, and a jacket and trousers 

 for each. So kind were Captain LAWRENCE and his 

 officers to their prisoners that, shortly after the Hornet 's 

 return to the United States, Lieutenant WRIGHT and 

 his brother officers addressed a handsome letter of 

 acknowledgment to their captors. " We ceased to con- 

 sider ourselves prisoners," they said, so considerately 

 had ihey been treated when received on board. This 

 goodness had been extended to the ship's company. 



The appearance in Georgetown of the four sailors of 

 the Peacock who had been rescued off Mahaica, brought 

 home to colonists that they had indeed lost their naval 

 protector. Captain Peake'S desk, with papers, and 

 several other articles from the Peacock floated ashore 

 between the Mahaica and the Demerara. The Governor 



