492 PIRACY. 
This naval engagement was in full view of both armies at 
Plattsburgh. The killed on board the American squadron 
amounted to 52, the wounded to 58. The killed on board the 
captured vessels amounted to 84, including Captain Downie, 
the commander of the squadron ; the wounded amounted to 
110 ; the loss on board the British galleys has never been as- 
certained. The number of men in the American squadron 
was 820 ; the British were supposed to exceed 1000. 
PIRACY. 
In the early part of June I sailed from Philadelphia in the 
schooner Mary, on a voyage to New-Orleans. My principal 
object in going round by sea was the restoration of my health, 
which had been for many months declining. Having some 
friends in New-Orleans whose commercial operations were 
conducted on an extensive scale, I was charged with the care 
of several sums of money in gold and silver, amounting alto- 
gether to nearly eighteen thousand dollars. This I commu- 
nicated to the captain, and we concluded to secure it in the 
best manner our circumstances would admit. A plank was 
accordingly taken off the ribs of the schooner in my own ca- 
bin, and the money being deposited in the vacancy, the plank 
was nailed down again in its original place, and the seams fill- 
ed and tarred over. Being thus relieved from any apprehen- 
sion that the money would be found upon us in case of an 
attack from pirates, my mind was somewhat easier. What 
other articles of value I could conveniently carry about me, I 
did so. I had also brought a quantity of bank-notes, to the 
amount of fifteen thousand dollars. Part of these I caused to 
be carefully sewed in the left lappel of my coat, supposing 
that, in case of my being lost at sea, my coat, should my body 
be found, would still contain the most valuable of my effects. 
The balance was carefully quilted into my black silk cravat. 
Our crew consisted of the captain and four men, with a 
supply of live stock for the voyage, and a Newfoundland dog, 
valuable for his fidelity and sagacity. He had once saved 
his master from a watery grave, when he had been stunned 
and knocked overboard by the sudden shifting of the boom. 
I was the only passenger on board. Our voyage at first was 
prosperous, and time went on rapidly. I felt my strength in- 
