DEDICATION. 
most of the officers now holding a high rank bore an honourable 
part. In that contest they not only fought and conquered those 
" Whose flag has braved, a thousand years, 
The battle and the breeze 
but at the same time achieved a more wondrous victory over the 
prejudices of many of their own nation ; and secured to all coming 
ages the existence of a n^-vy in this country. The importance 
of a navy is agreed to by all ; and to sustain it as our pride and 
hopes, has become a common sentiment, beyond the mountains as 
well as on the seaboard. There breathes not a man in our coun- 
try " of soul so dead," whose heart is not warmed at the recital 
of .ournayal exploits. The slightest deviation of duty, even on 
board a revenue -cutter, would be a wound to our national pride. 
The navy has duties to perform in peace as in war ; if not so 
arduous and dangerous, still they are not less useful. Our flag 
should be borne to every portion of the globe, to give to civilized 
and savage man a just impression of the power we possess, and 
in what manner we can exercise it when justice demands repara- 
tion for insulted dignity. A few instances of prompt retaliation 
have a lasting effect. The strong man, "knowing his rights, and 
knowing, dares maintain," is seldom ill treated ; the weak and 
timid are those who are trampled upon. While impressing on 
others our spirit and efficiency, we may learn their ability and 
resources. With all the enterprise of our countrymen, their navy 
and commercial marine, still' we can say, — 
" Of this huge globe, how small a part we know ;" 
there is room enough for centuries, with all our zeal, to know 
.and to do. 
