1815	St.-Lawrence and Chasseur	371

of 115 men, five men killed and eight wounded. Men are not in the best trim for fighting, just upon receiving the news of peace. Sailors are then dwelling upon their discharge from servitude, the sight of long absent friends, and all the ties of their homes and families. But even that, although it perhaps contributed to weaken the efforts, could not impair the courage, of the crew of the St.-Lawrence : they defended her, until nearly half their numbers were killed or wounded.

The British force stationed in Boston bay in the beginning of December, 1814, consisted of the 50-gun ship Newcastle, Captain Lord George Stuart, 18-pounder 40-gun frigate Acasta, Captain Alexander Robert Kerr, and 18-gun brig-sloop Arab, Captain Henry Jane. On the 11th, when this squadron was cruising off St.-George's shoals, the Newcastle parted company, to reconnoitre the road of Boston. On the 12th Lord George discovered lying there the 44-gun frigate Constitution, Captain Charles Stewart, in apparent readiness for sea, and the Independance 74, with her lower yards and topmasts struck. The Newcastle then steered for Cape Cod bay ; where, in a few hours, after having grounded for a short time on a shoal, she came to an anchor. On the 13th one of her men, from a boat sent on shore, deserted to the Americans. On the 16th the Acasta arrived, and anchored near the Newcastle.

On the 17th, having ascertained, in all probability from the Newcastle's deserter, that the two blockading frigates were not in a situation to offer him any annoyance, Captain Stewart put to sea. The Constitution stood across the Atlantic to the coat of Spain and Portugal, and cruised for some time off the rock of Lisbon. In the latter end of January, or beginning of February, Captain Stewart stretched over to the Western isles, and was tracked and followed by the British 38-gun frigate Tiber, Captain James Richard Dacres. The latter boarded two or three neutral vessels, which had been boarded by the American frigate only a few hours before. At one time, it appears, the Constitution actually got a sight of the Tiber, but did not shorten sail, because Captain Stewart, as he is said to have subsequently admitted, thought it probable that the ship was the Eurotas, or some other of the newly fitted 24-pounder frigates, detached in pursuit of him.

On the 20th of February, at 1 p.m., the island of Madeira bearing west-south-west, distant 60 leagues, the Constitution, steering to the south-west with a light breeze from the eastward, discovered, about two points on her larboard bow, and immediately hauled up for, the British 22-gun ship Cyane, * Captain Gordon Thomas Falcon, standing close hauled on the starboard tack, and about 10 miles to windward of her consort, the 20-gun ship Levant (18 carronades, 32-pounders, and two nines),

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