board our fleet. The fleet touched at Erie. The citizens saw the affecting spectacle of Harrison and Perry leading the wounded British hero, still unable to walk without help, from the beach to their lodgings.

"On board the Detroit, twenty-four hours after her surrender, were found snugly stowed away in the hold, two Indian Chiefs, who had the courage to go on board at Malden, for the purpose of acting as sharp shooters to kill our officers. One had the courage to ascend into the round top and discharged his piece, but the whizzing of shot, splinters, and bits of rigging, soon made the place too warm for him--he descended faster than he went up; at the moment he reached the deck, the fragments of a seamen's head struck his comrades face, and covered it with blood and brains. He vociferated the savage interjection "quoh!" and both sought safety below.

"The British officers had domesticated a bear at Malden. Bruin accompanied his comrades to battle-was on the deck of the Detroit during the engagement, and escaped unhurt.

"The killed of both fleets were thrown overboard as fast as they fell. Several were washed ashore upon the island and the main during the gales that succeeded the action.

"Commodore Perry treated the prisoners with humanity and indulgence; several Canadians, having wives at Malden, were permitted to visit their families on parole.

"The British were superior in the length and number of their guns, as well as in the number of men. The American fleet was manned with a motley set of beings, Europeans, Africans, Americans from every part of the United States. Full one fourth were blacks. I saw one Russian, who could not speak a word of English. They were brave-and who could be otherwise under the command of Perry?

"The day after the battle, the funeral obsequies of the American and British officers, who had fallen in the action, were performed, in an appropriate and affecting manner. An opening on the margin of the bay, was selected for the interment of the bodies. The crews of both fleets atteuded. The weather was fine the elements seemed to participate in the solemnities of the day, for every breeze was hushed, and not a wave ruffled the surface of the water. The procession of boatsthe neat appearance of the officers and men-the music-the slow and regular motion of the oars, striking in exact time with the notes of the solemn dirge-the mournful waving of the flags the sound of the minute guns from the different ships in the harbor-the wild and solitary aspect of the place

-the stillness of nature, gave to the scene an air of melancholy grandeur, better felt than described--all acknowledged its influence-all were sensibly affected. What a contrast did it exhibit to the terrible conflict of the preceding day. Then the people of the two squadrons were engaged in the deadly strife of arms. Now they associated like brothers, to pay the last sad tribute of respect to the dead of both nations.

“Five officers were interred, two American and three British. Lt. Brooks and Midshipman Laub of the Lawrence; Captain Finnis and Lt. Stokoe of the Queen Charlotte, and Lt. Garland of the Detroit. The graves are but a few paces from the beach, and the future traveler of either nation, will find no memento whereby he may distinguish the American from the British hero.

"The marines of our fleet were highly complimented by the commodore, for their good conduct; although it was the first time that most of them had seen a square rigged vessel, being fresh from Harrison's army. The Kentuckians proved, on this occasion, as has the commodore since, that they can fight on both elements."

BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

THE British fleet appeared in view at Plattsburgh early in the morning of the 11th. It consisted of the frigate Confiance, carrying 39 guns, 27 of which were twenty-four pounders; the brig Linnet, carrying 16 guns; the sloops Chub and Finch, each carrying 11 guns; and thirteen galleys, five of which carried two, and the remainder one gun each. The American force consisted of the Saratoga, carrying 26 guns, eight of which were long twenty-four pounders; the Eagle, 20 guns; the Ticonderoga 17; the Preble 7; and ten gal. leys, six of which carried two, the remainder one gun each. The British were superior, both in size and number of guns.

At eight in the morning, the American look-out-boat announced to Commodore Macdonough, the commander of the squadron, the approach of the enemy. He at this time lay at anchor in Plattsburgh bay, calmly awaiting the approach of the British squadron, the fleet being moored in line, abreast of the works with a division of five gun-boats on each flank. At nine, the British fleet anchored in line abreast the Ameri.

can squadron, at about 300 yards distance, the Confiance opposed to the Saratoga; the Linnet to the Eagle; the British galleys and one of the sloops to the Ticonderoga, Preble, and the left division of the American galleys; the other sloops to the right division of the American galleys.

In this situation the whole force on both sides became engaged, the Saratoga suffering much from the heavy fire of the Confiance. But the fire of the Saratoga was also very destructive to her. The Ticonderoga likewise gallantly sustained her full share of the action. At half past 10 o'clock the Eagle, not being able to bring her guns to bear, cut her cable and anchored in a more eligible position, between the Saratoga and the Ticonderoga, where she very much annoyed the enemy, but unfortunately left the Saratoga exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's brig. The guns on the starboard side of the Saratoga being nearly all dismounted, or not manageable, a stern-anchor was let go, the bower cable cut and the ship winded with a fresh broadside on the enemy's ship, which soon after surrendered. A broadside was then sprung to bear on the brig, which surrendered in about fifteen minutes after.

The sloops that were opposed to the Eagle had struck some time before and drifted down the line; the sloop which was with their galleys having struck also. Three of the enemy's galleys were sunk, the others pulled off. The American flotilla were about obeying with alacrity the signal to follow them, when all the vessels were reported to the commodore as in a sinking state; it then became necessary to annul the signal to the galleys, and order their men to the pumps. The enemy's galleys thus got off in a shattered condition, for there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on; the lower rigging, being nearly all shot away, hung down as though it had been just placed over the mast heads.

The Saratoga had fifty-five round shots in her hull; the Confiance one hundred and five. The Saratoga was twice set on fire by hot shot from the Confiance. The enemy's shot must have principally passed just over the heads of the sailors, as there were not twenty whole hammocks in the nettings at the close of the action, which lasted without intermission two hours and twenty minutes.*

A cock, the "bird of war," was in the Saratoga, and repeatedly crowed from the shrouds during the action. A similar circumstance occurred in Fort M'Henry during the bombardment.

This naval engagement was in full view of both armies at Plattsburg. The killed on board the American squadron amounted to 52, the wounded to 58. The killed on board the captured vessels amounted to 84, including Captain Downie, the commander of the squadron, the wounded amounted to 110; the loss on board the British galleys has never been ascertained. The number of men in the American squadron was 820; the British were supposed to exceed 1000.

• PIRACY.

In the early part of June, I sailed from Philadelphia in the schooner Mary, on a voyage to New-Orleans. My principal object in going round by sea was the restoration of my health, which had been for many months declining. Having some friends in New Orleans whose commercial operations were condccted on an extensive scale, I was charged with the care of several sums of money in gold and silver, amounting altogether to nearly eighteen thousand dollars. This I communicated to the captain, aad we concluded to secure it in the best manner our circumstances would admit. A plank was accordingly taken off the ribs of the schooner in my own cabin, and the money being deposited in the vacancy, the plank was nailed down again in its original place, and the seams filled and tarred over. Being thus relieved from any apprehension that the money would be found upon us in case of an attack from pirates, my mind was somewhat easier. What other articles of value I could conveniently carry about me, I did so. I had also brought a quantity of bank notes, to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars. Part of these I caused to be carefully sewed in the left lappel of my coat, supposing that in case of my being lost at sea, my coat, should my body be found, would still contain the most valuable of my effects. The balance was carefully quilted into my black silk cravat.

Our crew consisted of the captain and four men, with a supply of live stock for the voyage, and a Newfoundland dog, valuable for his fidelity and sagacity. He had once saved his master from a watery grave, when he had been stunned and knocked overboard by the sudden shifting of the boom. I was the only passenger on board. Our voyage at first was prosperous, and time went on rapidly. I felt my strength in

creasing the longer I was at sea, and when we arrived off the coast of Florida, my feelings were like those of another

man.

It was toward the evening of the fourteenth day, two hours before sun-set, that we espied a sail astern of us. As twilight came, it neared us with astonishing rapidity. Night closed, and all around was impenetrable darkness. Now and then a gentle wave would break against our bow and sparkle for a moment, and at a distance behind us, we could see the uneven glow of light, occasioned by the foaming of the strange vessel. The breeze that filled our canvass was gentle, though it was fresh.

We coursed our way steadily through the night; though once or twice the roaring of the waves increased so suddenly as to make us believe we had passed a breaker. At the time it was unaccountable to me, but I now believe it to be occasioned by the bark behind us, coming rather near in the darkness of the night.—At midnight I went on deck. Nothing but an occasional sparkle was to be seen, and the ocean was undisturbed. Still it was a fearful and appalling darkness, and in spite of my endeavors I could not compose myself. At the windlass, on the forecastle, three of the sailors, like myself, unable to sleep had collected for conversation. On joining them, I found our fears were mutual. They all kept their eyes steadily fixed upon the unknown vessel, as if anticipating some dreadful event. They informed me that they had put their arms in order and were determined to stand or die.

At this moment a flash of light, perhaps a musket burning priming, proceeded from the vessel in pursuit, and we saw distinctly that her deck was covered with men. My heart almost failed me. I had never been in battle, and I knew not what it was. Day at length dawned, and setting all her can. vass, our pursuer gained alarmingly upon us. It was evident that she had followed us the whole night, being unwilling to attack us in the dark.-In a few minutes, she fired a swivel and came along side. She was a pirate. Her boat was low. ered, and about a dozen hideous looking objects jumped in, with a commander at their head. The boat pushed off, and was nearing us fast, as we arranged ourselves for giving her a broadside. Our whole stock of arms consisted of six muskets and an old swivel used as a signal gun, belonging to the Mary, and a pair of pistols of my own, which I carried in my belt. The pirate boat's crew were armed with muskets, pistols,