1815	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	374

weight and number of guns, I deem the speedy and decisive result of this action the strongest assurance which can be given the government, that all under any command did their duty, and gallantly supported the reputation of American seamen." The term " speedy " may appear misapplied when, according to the " Minutes " published in the American papers, the action began at 6 h. 5 m. and ended at 10 p.m., or, as the British account states, at 10 h. 40 m. ; but, by a mode of reckoning peculiar to himself, Captain Stewart declares, that the action lasted only 40 minutes.

Let us suppose that the Peacock and Hornet, soon after leaving New-York together, had fallen in with the Endymion, to windward of them, and (the only improbable part of the supposition) had staid to engage the frigate until they were captured. How would the American citizens have behaved on this occasion ? Why, they would have received Captains Warrington and Biddle precisely as they did Captain Stewart, and published accounts in every paper of the " heroic defence against decidedly superior force ; " not failing to point out, as they did in the Essex's action, the great disparity between carronades and long guns, when the ship carrying the latter has the choice of distance. Mr. Madison, too, in his next speech to congress, would have declared, that the two little sloops continued the unequal contest, until, as he said of the Essex, " humanity tore down the colours which valour had nailed to the mast. " How would Captain Hope have behaved ? He would have told a plain tale of his good fortune, applauding the American commanders for having so long maintained a contest, in which, from the nature of their armament, and from their leeward position, they could not have hoped to succeed.

Before we attend to the further proceedings of the Constitution, we will dismiss all we have to state on the subject of her action with the two sloops. On the 28th of June a court-martial was held on board the Akbar at Halifax, Nova-Scotia, to try the two captains and their respective officers and ships' companies for the loss of the Levant and Cyane. They were all, except three seamen of the Cyane who deserted to the Americans, most honourably acquitted for the surrender of their ships, and justly applauded for the gallant defence they had made, against an enemy's ship so decidedly superior. With the exception of the three deserters, the two crews resisted the repeated offers made to them to enlist with the enemy. It was stated by the British officers, at the court-martial, that the crews of the two ships were, for three weeks, kept constantly in the Constitution's hold, with both hands and legs in irons, and there allowed but threw pints of water during the 24 hours. This, too, in a tropical climate ! It was further proved that, after the expiration of the three weeks, upon the application of Captain Douglas, one third of the men were allowed to be on

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