xiv 



INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF 



[1813. 



When a state of comparative calmness had succeeded to this excite- 

 ment, my father addressed me, nearly in the following words : 



" My son," said he, " you have my forgiveness for the past, and 

 also my consent to pursue the bent of your inclinations, if you are 

 still determined to follow the sea for a livelihood. But as it is neces- 

 sary for you to have education, I wish you to stop on shore until you 

 can acquire it ; for I shall then be satisfied that you will be capable 

 of reaching an elevated rank in the profession, and of becoming an 

 honour to the society of ship-masters. I know that you possess as 

 much ambition as any lad of your age in the country, and are capable 

 of becoming whatever you please, if you are careful to store your 

 mind with useful knowledge. You have now health, strength, courage, 

 and quick discernment. All that is wanting to ensure your success is 

 a suitable education ; and that you must have." 



Though I forcibly felt and readily acknowledged the truth and jus- 

 tice of these remarks, the " spirit-stirring" influence of the times would 

 not allow me to profit by them. My country was engaged in an 

 arduous struggle with a powerful enemy ; my countrymen were in 

 arms — a daring foe hovered on the coast, and our gallant tars were 

 reaping a harvest of glory on the ocean. During my unfortunate cap- 

 tivity, three of the enemy's first-rate frigates had been captured, by 

 those " American cock-boats, with a piece of striped bunting at their 

 mast-head," which were to have been swept from the ocean in half 

 that time.* The gallant Hull had conquered and sunk the boasting 

 Guerriere, in thirty minutes. Decatur had captured the Macedonian, 

 after an obstinate action, and brought her safely into New- York through 

 Long Island Sound. Bainbridge had captured and destroyed the 

 Java. Porter of the Essex had captured the sloop-of-war Alert, in 

 eight minutes, without the loss of a man. Jones of the Wasp had 

 captured the Frolic of 22 guns, in forty-three minutes ; and Lawrence 

 of the Hornet had captured the Peacock, of 18 guns, in fifteen min- 

 utes. All these victories had been achieved in the short space of six 

 months, from the 19th of August, 1812, to the 24th of February, 1813 ! 



How could I hear of these glorious/events — how read of the hon- 

 ours conferred upon the victors — how listen to the shouts of triumph, 

 and witness the splendid illuminations lighted up in honour of those 

 heroes, without resolving to seek the first opportunity to share in their 

 dangers and their glory ? even the common sailors attached to our vic- 

 torious ships were treated on shore like heroes and conquerors. Pub- 

 lic dinners were provided for them at the most magnificent hotels of 

 our principal cities ; while splendid and expensive dramatic spec- 

 tacles were produced at the theatres expressly for their amusement. 

 With such a luxuriant field of laurels before me, could I calmly look 

 on, and see others reap all the harvest ? Could I, in short, waste days, 

 and weeks, and months in a village school, while other lads of my age, 

 among whom were several of my own acquaintances, were gaining 

 wealth and renown upon the ocean 1 



My resolution was soon taken. The privateer Joel Barlow, a 



* Vide English newspapers of that day. 



