1814	Pique and Constitution	327

terms not quite so unequal as had been the case in nearly every action in which the latter had come off victorious.

On the 1st of January, 1814, after having suffered herself to be blockaded, for several weeks, by the 38-gun frigate Nymphe, Captain Farmery Predam Epworth, the Constitution escaped to sea unperceived from President road. On the 14th of February, to windward of Barbadoes, Captain Stewart captured and destroyed the British 14-gun schooner Pictou; and on the 23d, when running through the Mona passage on her way homewards, the Constitution fell in with the British 18-pounder 36-gun frigate Pique, Captain the honourable Anthony Maitland. The Pique (late French Pallas *) was a remarkably fine frigate of her class, measuring 1029 tons, and mounted, with her 26 long 18 pounders on the main deck, 16 carronades, 32-pounders, and four long nines on her quarterdeck and forecastle, total 46 guns, with an established complement of 284 men and boys.

When, at about noon, they first discovered each other, the two ships were steering to the north-west, with a light wind right aft. The Pique immediately braced her yards by, to allow the stranger, who was astern under a crowd of sail, to come up. At 4 h. 30 in. p.m. the Constitution took in her studding-sails. Observing this, the Pique hauled to the wind on the larboard tack, and, hoisting her colours, made all sail to close. Almost immediately afterwards, and when bearing from the Pique south-east by south distant three miles, the Constitution took a reef in her topsails, hoisted her colours, and hauled to the wind on the starboard tack. The island of Zachee at this time bore from the Pique north by east distant 12 or 13 miles. The change of position of each ship afforded to the other a tolerable idea of the force which would be opposed to her. The Constitution counted 13 ports and a bridle on the Pique's main deck, and saw at once that she was of a class inferior to the Guerrière and Java ; and the Pique counted 15 ports and a bridle on the Constitution's main deck, and therefore knew as well that she was one of the large class of American frigates.

We formerly noticed the directions given by the British admiralty, that the 18-pounder frigates were not to seek an engagement with the American 44-gun frigates. A prohibitory order of this kind was in the possession of Captain Maitland ; but was of course unknown to his crew. He had the good fortune to command one of the finest ship's companies in the British navy; and, as a proof how much British seamen had been " cowed by the successes of the Americans," the Pique's men, on observing that it was not Captain Maitland's intention to become the assailant, went aft and requested him to bring the American frigate to action. Captain Maitland could do no less than read to them the instructions he had received, but entirely failed in

* See vol. iii., p. 32,

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