THE resumption of the suspended story of the eventful life of commodore Preble, affords us an excellent opportunity of adverting to the duties and the delights of biography. The duty, which it imposes upon the biographer, is high and solemn, the delight it yields to the reader is, perhaps, of the very first class of our literary pleasures. We are so enthralled ourselves by this bewitching species of composition, and so thoroughly persuaded by old Experience that biography is not less beautiful in the eyes of others than in our own, that it is determined to devote to her airs and graces a very liberal share of this Journal. My lord Bolingbroke has remarked, with his accustomed felicity of thought and expression, that history is philosophy, teaching by examples. Now if one, who was himself an eloquent historian, describes with so much truth and beauty, the perfections of the historical Muse, how rhetorically might his periods have flowed in praise of her seducing sister, at once a Muse, and a Grace, whose fascinating power inflames the noblest passions, and excites all the better energies of the soul? How ardently might his lordship have declaimed, and what conviction would have accompanied his harrangue, if he had pointed his graceful hand to the Biographical Beauty, who delights, and instructs too, the majority of mankind? With Plutarch and Bayle before him, it is wonderful that his lordship did not insist more distinctly on the merits of that charmer, who captivated such philosophers. Lord Chatham once declared in the house of commons with that solemn energy, the leading characteristic of his elocu

tion, that the most instructive book he ever read was Plutarch's lives. Theodore Beza has left on record a glorious testimony in favour of Plutarch; and it is remembered by the writer of this article that to Langhorne's translation, a gift to a celebrated university, the learned donor prefixed this sterling recom mendation, that Plutarch was an author, whom he had studied at those hours, when he should have slept, and to whose illuminated genius, he was indebted for some of the finest dispositions of his mind. Rousseau, who has always a right to be heard upon such a topic, has depicted with all his phosphoric power, the lineaments of the accomplished Grecian, and is never more triumphantly eloquent, than when pronouncing the panegyric of Plutarch. What liberal scholar is ignorant of the Biographia Britannica? What philosophical student has not turned over the curious pages of Bayle? What lounger has not been amused by the literary gossiping of Boswell, and what lady who is not entertaind by the gay vivacity of Thrale? Dr. Aikin delights us more by his biographies, modelled after the best manner of Addison and Goldsmith, than by any other class of his composition; and what judicious critic is ignorant that Johnson's lives are the most pleasing of all his productions?

With these vivid impressions of the beauty of biography, we are resolved pro virili to engage as liberally as possible in this pleasing department of our labours. It is our intention, with periodical punctuality, to publish according to the extent of our materials, a domestic and a foreign biography. The editor, though thankful for every aid from the information of his correspondents, proposes to rely much on his own limited strength in this behalf. He has already prepared many pages of this sort of composition, and hopes, not without reason, to exhibit at least one sketch, in every number of his Port Folio. His canvas may be ill chosen, his colours faint, and his pencil heavy; the picture may be unskilfully disposed, and its light and shade blended with all the awkwardness of a pupil; yet, nevertheless, from the public partiality for such designs, he is confident they will not be viewed with emotions of absolute indifference.

For the interesting pages, immediately ensuing, we are indebted to the researches and genius of a gentleman, who is most deservedly enrolled among the very first scholars of the country, and who by the wisdom of a learned university has recently been exalted to the loftiest and most dignified of her Academical distinctions. The composition of this beautiful biography is in full harmony with the tone of its amiable author's mind. It is like "the mild reflex of Cynthia's bow; it shines temperately with a radiance soft and pleasing.

The venerated name of Preble is so illustrious in our maritime annals, that his life will be perused with equal delight, by the gallant tar, and the ardent patriot. With the rare union of phlegm and fire, he planned deliberately, , and fought valiantly. Prudent, and yet adventurous, daring, but not despe

Shakspeare,

rate, with a sedate mind, and a generous enthusiasm, he waved spotless Honour's shining sword over the grim bucanneer, and Triumph and Fame and America still intertwist his laurels.

EDITOR.

THE LIFE OF COMMODORE EDWARD PREBLE.

(Concluded from page 365 of vol. 3.)

THE Commodore having nothing at present to fear from Morocco, was at liberty to direct his principal attention to Tripoli. The season, however, was too far advanced for active and permanent operations against the enemy. Yet this officer did not indulge himself in repose, or suffer his forces to be idle. In cruising, where they necessarily at this time of year encountered a rough sea and tempestuous weather, in supplying convoy, and in maintaining the blockade of Tripoli, when practicable, the squadron was fully and arduously employed. It was apparent that the commodore aimed to do all that was possible, and not merely what was convenient. The Philadelphia and Vixen had been ordered to the coast of Tripoli. The commodore now formally declared the blockade of that place, and sent notice of the fact to the ministers and consuls of the United States, to be communicated to the respective neutral powers.He found it expedient to go to Cadiz, in order to make up his complement of men, and procure a few supplies not to be ob tained at that time at Gibraltar. An unpleasant circumstance not expected, seldom before experienced by our public vessels, and afterwards remedied by orders of lord Nelson, made him willing to shorten his stay at the last mentioned port. Several commanders of British ships of war lying there, insisted on retaining those deserters from the commodore's squadron, who were believed to be British subjects. It was indispensable to the exercise of discipline, to be protected in his right to his own The refusal of this essential courtesy, in the present instance, was one reason of his fixing on Syracuse, instead of Malta, for his rendezvous.

seamen.

Our officer returned from Cadiz on the sixth of November; and having allotted the Argus, captain Hull, to the Gibraltar station, and disposed of his other force, he proceeded to Algiers, where he was to leave colonel Lear, the consul general. On the 224

he sailed from Algiers for Syracuse; and on his voyage was informed of the disastrous loss of the Philadelphia, captain William Bainbridge. On the 31st of October, after pursuing a Tripoline corsair till she came to seven fathoms water, in beating off, she ran on a rock, not laid down in any chart, about four and a half miles from the town. Every exertion to get her off proved ineffectual. Meanwhile she was attacked by numerous gunboats, which she withstood for four hours, whilst the careening of the ship made the guns totally useless. A reinforcement coming off, and no possible means of resisting them appearing, the captain submitted to the horrid necessity of striking to his barbarous enemy. They took possession of the ship, and made prisoners of the officers and men, in number three hundred, with robbery, violence, and insult. In forty-eight hours, the wind blowing in shore, the Tripolitans were able to get off the frigate, and having raised her guns, towed her into the harbour of Tripoli. The commodore apprehended the worst from this diminution of his force; a war with Tunis, and perhaps with Algiers; at least, a protraction of the present war. He could not but hope the government would repair this loss by another frigate in the spring, and also would furnish him with more small vessels or gun-boats. His idea of the amount and distribution of force to be desired, he mentions in a subsequent letter; observing, "we ought to have a brig and schooner to cruise between Cape Bon and Sicily; a brig or schooner off Cape Margaret, to the south of Tripoli; a brig on the coast of Calabria; two frigates, with one schooner and some gun and mortar boats, before Tripoli, and a brig and schooner to cruise from Derne to Bengaza. With such a force, so disposed, Tripoli might soon be brought to any terms we might please to dictate."

He proceeded to Syracuse, where he was received with much hospitality, and aided by the governor with the accommodations he needed for his squadron. He also found sir Alexander Ball at Malta, (which he soon visited,) disposed to show him every good office. December 14, he sailed with the Enterprize on a winter cruise, amidst boisterous weather; for many days it blew a gale. On the morning of the 23d, the En

terprize captured a ketch in sight of Tripoli, which left that port in the night, bound to Bengaza. She was under Turkish colours, and navigated by Turks and Greeks; but had on board two Tripolitan officers of distinction, a son of one of the officers, a number of Tripoline soldiers, and forty or more blacks, men and women, slaves belonging to the Bashaw and his subjects. He at first determined to release the vessel and men claimed by the Turkish captain, and retain the Tripolines, about sixty in number, as prisoners; hoping they would afford an advantage in negociation, and perhaps be exchanged for some of our countrymen. Before this determination was executed, he ascertained that the captain had been active in taking the Philadelphia. Having received on board this very vessel one hundred Tripolitans, armed with swords and muskets, and substituted the colours of the enemy for his own, he assaulted the frigate, and when she was boarded, plundered the officers. He had no hesitation in retaining the vessel; because she was either a Tripoline, and then a prize, or a Turk, and then a pirate. She was not in a condition to be sent to the United States. He transmitted her papers to government, and some time after had her appraised, and took her into the service as the ketch Intrepid.

February 3d, 1804, lieutenant Stephen Decatur, with seventy volunteers in the Intrepid, and accompanied by the Syren, sailed for Tripoli, with a view to destroy, as they could not in any event expect to bring out the frigate Philadelphia. On the 16th, the service was accomplished in the most gallant manner. lieutenant Decatur entered the harbour of Tripoli in the night; and laying his vessel along side the frigate, boarded and carried her against all opposition. A large number of men were on board, of whom twenty or thirty were slain, and the remainder driven over the side, excepting one boat's crew, which escaped to the shore, and one person made prisoner. The assailants then set fire to her and left her. She was soon in a complete blaze, and was totally consumed. The frigate lay within half gun shot of the castle and the principal battery, with her guns