a sounding, and complete survey, they passed so near the Tripoline gun-boats that they distinctly heard the men conversing below. They also heard the sentinels on the walls of the battery conversing together. As they were returning from the harbour, a heavy gale sprung up, and they had a narrow escape to the Nautilus, which vessel was then in the very act of leaving her position. During this cruise, which extended from 1804 to 1806, Allen thus writes to his correspondent:

"I was, while at Lisbon, witness to a very ludicrous ceremony My ears were saluted by the hoarse chanting of some Portuguese sailors, and I perceived about twenty in number approaching, bearing a large topsail, barefoot, with their hats in their hands, into which the multitude would now, and then drop a sixpence, to save their souls from purgatory. On inquiry, I was informed, that it was a custom amongst them, when overtaken by a violent gale at sea, instead of trusting to their own exertions, to offer up their prayers to their guardian saint, and to promise him the best sail in the ship if he would condescend to protect them from the dangers of the element. The topsail was then taken to the church in the manner described, laid at the foot of the altar, and dedicated to the saint. It was then appraised by an old friar, who, unwilling to distress the votaries of old mother Church, accepted, as an equivalent, in money, one half of its nominal value. The saint has, by this time, become perfectly well acquainted with the value of sailcloth.”

In the month of October, 1805, captain Rodgers removed to the frigate Constitution, and assumed the command of the squadron, in consequence of the return of captain Baron to the United States. Mr. Allen was also removed to the Constitution, and promoted to a lieutenancy. In a cruise off Capanea, lieutenant Allen, in company with commodore Rodgers, visited Mount Etna. Ascending the south side of the mountain, the wind, while blowing from the north, covered that side of their bodies exposed to its violence, with frost, while the other remained perfectly free. Descending, they lost their way amongst fields of lava, but were found by the monks in the convents below. Lieutenant Allen likewise visited Mount Vesuvius, and the cities of Herculaneum, and Pompeia. He served as third

lieutenant on board the Constitution, and returned in that frigate to the United States in the year 1806.

During these several cruises to the Mediterranean, although nothing transpired on board of the frigates where lieutenant Allen was stationed, that might fairly be denominated naval glory, still a peculiarity of circumstances gave a lofty and elevated tone to the feelings of all the officers. An American squadron in the waters of the Mediterranean was itself a novelty. That squadron was small, and it was destined to pass under the review and strict scrutiny of English ships of war occasionally stationed in those seas, and passing the straits of Gibraltar. Personal courage, skill, and correctness of discipline, could alone insure them respect in a company so illustrious; and to these points all their efforts were directed. They felt the high responsibility attached to their station; and knowing how important the first impression of a national character was, they acted up to that dignity which the occasion demanded.

After this long and fatiguing cruise, he was permitted, for a short time, to visit his friends and relations in Providence. In February, 1807, he received orders from government to join the frigate Chesapeake, commanded by captain Baron, then fitting out at Washington, for the straits. He remained at Philadelphia while the ship was preparing for sea, during which time he was busily employed in recruiting men for the service, and then entered as third lieutenant. The circumstances preceding and succeeding the attack on the Chesapeake, by the Leopard, are thus detailed by lieutenant Allen, in a letter to his correspondent:

"On Monday, June 22d we weighed anchor and stood to sea. The Chesapeake had, on this day, twenty-eight eighteen pounders mounted on the gundeck, twelve thirty-two pound carronades on the quarterdeck, and had, fitted for these guns, three hundred and twenty cartridges, thirteen powder horns (not sufficiently filled) and matches ready for action. All these were in the magazine; the keys in charge of the captain, as usual, and which are never delivered to any but the gunner, by the captain, for fear of accidents. In the cable ties, and around the foremast, one thousand wads and spunges; the guns loaded and shotted, but, of course, not primed. Round shots in the lockers were

ready on deck, with a box of canister for each gun. At three the Leopard came within hail; at half past three the boat came on board, with a demand from captain Humphries for permission to search the Chesapeake for deserters; concluding his orders by saying, 'I inclose you the orders of the admiral on this subjects any comment from me would be superfluous. But I trust that your answer will be of a nature that will prevent me, in the execution of my duty, from interrupting the amity at present subsisting between the two nations. The orders of the admiral were, 'You will offer to the commander of the Chesapeake a mutual search; and, in any event, to take the men described, wherever they may be found.' Here was a demand which our commodore knew he must absolutely and positively refuse. Why did he not order his men beat to quarters; detain the lieutenant and his boat until we were ready for action? But no! he gave a positive refusal, which, in composing, penning, and copying, detained the lieutenant half an hour. Our commodore did not order his men beat to quarters until the first gun was fired, nor until then was the key delivered to the gunner, alk the officers remaining at this time in perfect ignorance of the contents of the note. I was at the galley (the camboose) and snatching a coal from the flames, fired the only gun, which went through the wardroom of the English ship. A shot came into us, and struck a man on the breast-he fell at my feet, covering me with blood and splinters of bones. One of my guns suffered severely; one had his leg carried away, two an arm each, and two more were wounded severely-five out of eight. After one gun, one single gun was fired, we struck, by order of the captain, who then called his officers into the cabin, and asked their opinions. My answer was, “ Sir, you have disgraced us.”

Lieutenant Allen drew up the letter to the secretary of the navy, demanding a court of inquiry to be called upon the captain.* This

• The following is a copy of the letter, addressed by the officers of the wardroom of the Chesapeake, to the secretary of the navy:

“ Late United States' ship Chesapeake, Hampton Roads, June 23, 1807. “SIR,

"The undersigned, officers of the late United States' ship Chesapeake, deeply sensible of the disgrace which must be attached to the late (in their

was favourably received, and a compliance promised. The secretary said that "their communication did them honour, and their request should be properly attended to." It is difficult to conceive of the excoriated state of lieutenant Allen's mind at this time. Let this youthful officer speak from the grave, and give utterance to his feelings. In two days after the action, he writes to his correspondent, "To see so many brave men standing to their quarters, amidst the blood of their butchered and wounded countrymen, and hear their cries, without the means of avenging them! and when, in three minutes we could have avenged them! to have the flag of my country disgraced! Was it for this that I have continued so long in the service, contrary to the wishes of all my friends! To be so mortified, humbled, cut to the soul! Yes, to have the finger of scorn pointing at me as one of the officers of the Chesapeake! But do not think, my friend, that I feel I have not done my duty. Perish the thought! I proudly feel that I would have willingly given my trifling life an offering for the wounded honour of my country." "Oh," he pinion) premature surrender of the United States' ship Chesapeake, of forty guns, to the English ship of war Leopard, of fifty guns, without their previ ous knowledge or consent; and desirous of proving to their country, and the world, that it was the wish of all the undersigned to have rendered themselves worthy of the flag under which they have the honour to serve, by a determined resistance to an unjust demand, do request the honourable the secretary of the navy to order a court of inquiry into their conduct. At the same time they are compelled, by imperious duty, by the honour of their flag, by the honour of their countrymen, and by all that is dear to themselves, to request that an order may be issued for the arrest of commodore James Baron, on the charges herewith exhibited, which the undersigned pledge themselves to prove true:

"1. On the probability of an engagement, for neglecting to clear his ship for action.

"2. For not doing his utmost to take or to destroy a vessel which we conceive it his duty to have done.

"BENJAMIN SMITH, first lieutenant.

" WILLIAM CRANE, second lieutenant.

"WILLIAM HENRY ALLEN, third lieutenant.

"L. ORDE CREIGHTON, fourth lieutenant.

"SYDNEY SMITH, fifth lieutenant.

“SAMUEL BROOKES, sailing master."

exclaims in another letter, "when I act like this, may I die unpitied and forgotten, and no tear be shed to my memory. May I lie on some barren shore, and may my bones whiten in the sun, be pelted by the pitiless storm, and may the name of Allen be blasted with infamy." "If I am acquitted honourably (says he, while writing to his father, in other words, if captain Baron is condemned) you may see me again, if not, never." "We lay here (says he, in another letter) ready, at a moment's warning, to wipe from our flag that disgrace that has been entailed upon it by our blood. When I suffer my memory to dwell on this, I feel that I can trifle with existence at pleasure." At length this question was put at rest, by the condemnation of Baron, on which licutenant Allen makes this dry remark: "How the court can reconcile some passages of their opinion with others I know not, unless cowardice can be divided into two kinds, personal and official."

At the time of the sailing of the Chesapeake, the United States were at peace with all the world. The government, however, intended to maintain constantly in the Mediterranean a small naval force, occasionally to visit the coast of Barbary. The knowledge of such a force in their vicinity would have the effect to restrain their hostility. This measure was salutary and judicious in another point of view; it usefully and advantageously employed the young officers, who were thus acquiring a knowledge of their profession, and qualifying themselves to render service to their country thereafter. Our ships in the Mediterranean had heretofore been furnished with supplies at an expense which was deemed heavy, and as we were now at peace, and had no enemy to meet or encounter, the government conceived that the Chesapeake might herself carry out such supplies, of every kind, as the squadron would require during her absence from the United States; and thus she was rather a storeship than a cruiser. She had also two ladies, with their servants, and several gentlemen, passengers; and was further burthened with their luggage Captain Baron was aware that his ship was not in fit condition to proceed to sea; but trusting to the circumstance that the country was in profound peace, and therefore could not be molested, he unfortunately sailed, unprepared as he