the Macedonian's mizen-mast, called out to his comrades, as it fell over her side, “Look, messmates, I have made a brig of her!"

There was a musical band on board the Macedonian, composed of eight Germans. It was a maxim of their policy to play for the strongest party; and, on the surrender of the ship, they deserted to the enemy and celebrated his triumph.

The Macedonian being almost a new frigate, Captain Decatur felt very solicitous to get his prize into port; and his first heutenant, Mr. Allen, used such diligence to render her sea-worthy, that, in forty-eight hours, he succeeded with his seamen in raising a jury mizen mast, swaying up a fore and main-top-mast, crossing lower and top-sail yards, and bending new sails; so that she soon again had the appearance rather of a ship that invited an action, than of one just come out of it. The good fortune of Decatur attended him into port, where he arrived with his prize, in spite of the British squadrons that hovered on the coast.

ACTION

BETWEEN THE JAVA AND CONSTITUTION.

December 29. The British frigate Java, Captain Lambert, is taken, off Saint Salvador, on the Coast of Brazil, by the American frigate Constitution, Captain Bain

bridge, after a protracted and deadly conflict. The Java was on her passage to the East Indies, having on board Lieutenant-general Hyslop, appointed governor of Bombay, Major Walker and Captain Wood of his staff, and Captain Marshall of the navy, going out to take the command of a sloop of war. She sailed from Spithead on the 12th of November, with two outward-bound Indiamen that availed themselves of her convoy; and, about the middle of December, captured an American ship called the William. On the 24th, the Java, parting company with her friends, stood in for St. Salvador to obtain a supply of water, and, on the 29th, when close in with the coast, having her prize in tow, at 9 in the morning the Constitution hove in sight in a S. S. W. direction, and the Hornet sloop, Captain Lawrence, appeared at the same time off the bay of All Saints, who was coming out to seek his consort in the offing. Captain Lambert immediately cast off the prize, (which, standing in for St. Salvador, was re-taken by the Hornet,) while he made all sail in chase of the Constitution to leeward. It blew a moderate breeze from the N. E. the sky was clear, and the water smooth. At 11 the stranger was made out on board the Java to be a large frigate, standing towards her under an easy sail; and not having answered the private signal, Captain Lambert took in his studding sails and prepared for action. At noon, when the two ships were distant from one another about 4 miles, Captain Bainbridge hove about, and made all sail from the Java on the other tack, keeping good full under his royals ; his object in this feint being to draw the Java off from the neutral

coast, and separate her entirely from her companion, of whose real character he could form no precise estimate. Captain Lambert hauled up in pursuit, but, the breeze freshening, was obliged to furl his royals; the Java was now going at least ten knots through the water, and forereaching sensibly upon the chase. In about another hour, having closed with her to about two miles, she took in her spanker and royals, hoisted an American ensign and pendant, and, heaving in stays, stood towards the Java; the two ships had now gained a good offing, being full thirty-six miles from the coast. The Java, taking in her light sails, and hoisting her colours, bore down on the Constitution, who was keeping her luff about three points on the lee bow; and, at 2 in the afternoon, when half a mile apart, received the fire of the enemy, which the Java returned, on his weather-bow, within pistol-shot. The first broadside from the Java killed four seamen, and disabled the Constitution's wheel; and, as the smoke cleared away, she was perceived yawing broad round, in evident confusion. The Java made sail after her, and a brisk cannonading ensued between them, during which both ships were manoeuvred with consummate nautical skill. There was, however, a disparity in the execution of their broadsides; for while the Constitution sustained no damage in her spars, the Java had her jib-boom shot away, together with the head of her bowsprit; and her running rigging was likewise so much cut, that it was not practicable for her to preserve any longer the weathergage. It was now that Bainbridge signalized his seamanship, and by skilfully improving so favourable a

conjuncture for acquiring an ascendency over his enemy. He dexterously wore the Constitution in the smoke, and, unperceived, had nearly got her about on the other tack, before the helm of the Java could be clapt a-lee; and though it was immediately put hard down in the hope of getting the ship round quick enough to avoid her antagonist's impending fire, she, in consequence of her defective braces, missed stays, and, during the interval that she hung in the wind, received through her stern a heavy raking broadside from the whole range of the Constitution's starboard tier; the Java was now obliged to wear, and, in falling off, fired her larboard guns. At this period of the action, some bar-shot having fallen out of the Java's foremast, by her rolling, the captain of the forecastle, one Wm. Speedy, picked them up, put them into his gun, and sent them back again to the American. Bainbridge had hitherto fired high, with the view of rendering the Java unmanageable by disabling her in her spars and rigging; and having sufficiently accomplished his object, he set his fore and main-sail, and luffed up to her, so as to get her deck within reach of the rifle-men who crowded his tops; and, now, having assumed a raking position, the attack of the Constitution became doubly destructive to the Java, whose lower masts began to totter under the fire of her great guns, while her officers and seamen suffered severely from the play of her mus ketry. At 3 the Constitution had gained so great an ascendancy by the execution of her guns, that Captain Lambert determined on boarding, as the only hope he had left of successfully terminating the conflict. For

this purpose the seamen and marines were collected on the gangway and forecastle of the Java, and her helm was put a weather to lay the American abreast of the main-chains; but an unlucky broadside from her disconcerted the design by shooting away the Java's foremast by the board, which, nodding aft in its descent, stove in the boats stowed midships on the booms, and, falling through on the main-deck, disabled several of the starboard guns with the wreck; while, in aggravation of the disaster, the stump of her bowsprit passed over the Constitution's taffarel, and got foul of her mizen-rigging, when the Americans running out their stern chasers, raked her fore and aft with round and grape, and shot away in succession her main-top-mast somewhat above the cap, and her gaff and spanker-boom. As soon as the two ships became disentangled, Bainbridge wore under the stern of the Java, and laying the Constitution on her starboard quarter, poured in a tremendous fire from his whole broadside, while the English frigate, rendered nearly ungovernable, could never get more than two or three guns to bear in return. It was in this exposed condition that a rifle-bullet, fired from the main-top of the Constitution, entered the left breast of Captain Lambert, and lodged in his spine; he fell on the quarterdeck, mortally wounded, and was borne down the ladder by some sailors to the cockpit, which was already crowded with wounded and dying men. The anxiety of these poor fellows for the event of the engagement is truly memorable. While laid on their pallets, they were attentive, even under the anguish of bodily suffering, to