.0^ *" V . ' ■ ». >^„ "-" '.■ AV-^ ■.■■ ■■•■ .^%-c. A ,^r? ^•>^<^ ". .^ ^*>^^' ^^' ^'-^^ ^0^ ') %IK^ %^^^ t-'; vO V > ^^../ ;:^IC'^:'» ^-n^^" ^^v o * • "^^-0^ f^"" "-0 -^: ^Ho,. -.^; .0 * ^0 <', '^'^i- , v^^ o I, '*bV^ •-i^: "(?^. '# >»v% o V ^,5^ * e • o ' «,> 5; .V "'^^^ *, \ COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE FROM THE GUNROOM TO THE QUARTER-DECK BY JAMES BARNES AUTHOR OF MIDSHIPMAN KARRAfJUT, FOR KING OR COUNTRY, NAVAL ACTIONS OF THE WAR OF 1 8 1 2, A l.OYAI, TRAITOR, ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE GIBBS AND OTHERS •^ SCIMK1AK I'KESENTED Tl) COMMOnOKK BAINBKIDGE BY SIDI MOHAMMEU D'GIIIEKS NEW YORK D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 1897 s\ ?" ^3fs 3ZiB •7 /.I Copyright, 1897, By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. PUBLISHER'S NOTE. It will be oi interest to know that the miniature por- trait of Mrs. Bainbridge, the scimiter presented by Sidi Mohammed D'Ghiers, and the sword presented by General Hislop arc all reproduced from the originals in the pos- session ' of a family descended from Commodore Bain- bridge, which includes among its number the au^^hor of this book. This circumstance readily suggests the ex- ceptional opportunities at the author's command in the way of uni)ublished letters and papers, and in a personal knowledge, which imparts a peculiar actuality to the scenes described in his story. LIST OF FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS. FACING PAGE The Java strikes ........ Frontispiece Mutiny on the Cantor .......... i6 ^ On tlie deck of the Vulontier 47 * The Turki>h admiral visits the \Va.-,hington 76 • The miniature of Mrs. Bainbridge .... ... 109 Decatur boarding the Philadelphia 130 • Watching the bombardment from the Tripoli prison cell . . . 138 '« Action between the Constitution and the Java . . . 163 " Bainbridge's reception at Boston . . 167 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. CHAPTER I. John Taylor, Esq., of Monmouth County. New Jer- sey, was walking slowly along beneath the shade of the trees bordering the path that led from the turnpike up to the big white house, an odd-looking building begun by his fatherland completed by himself, in an entirely different style of architecture, a score of years previous to the time this story begins. It had an air of ponderous pros- perity. As the old gentleman walked slowly up the path he took from his pocket a letter, the seal of which had already been broken, and thrusting his gold-headed stick beneath his arm, he re-read the epistle for the second time. Mr. Taylor was stamped with the unmistakable air of wealth, respectability, and importance. One could see that his was a mind that came to conclusions slowly, and in the Hues of his strongly marked old face a close student of character would have perceived firmness and resolution. He halted for an instant before he stepped out into the brio-ht sunlio-ht at the end of the row of trees, and finished his letter, reading the last words half aloud: " I trust, mv dear sir, that you will find our son tract- able in disposition, willing and eager to meet your views, and obedient to your behests. Although he is so young. COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. his mother and myself have discovered in him evidences of a lofty temperament, and I am sure that no lad could wish for a better promise for the future than the chance of spending his early life near one so able to teach the importance of high moral sentiments and proper rules of conduct as vourself. I shall bring William to vou in the course of the next fortnight. Believe me. I am. most honored sir. vour verv devoted son-in-law, Absalom Bain- bridge." When Mr. Taylor reached the portico of the house he turned and looked back toward the big gateway and smiled broadly and pleasantly. It was almost as if he had seen some one whom he was glad to welcome walking toward him. and in his imagination the old man had pictured a boxish figure coming up the shaded walk. Yes. it would be pleasing to have his grandson here; the old house had been lonely for many years. It would be a delightful task to again feel a young mind expanding under his control, for John Taylor was one of those nat- ural-born instructors, a man with a gift of imparting in- formation and controlling character. As he stood there mopping his forehead with a large handkerchief, and smoothing back the thin, gray hair tied in a long queue down his back, his thoughts were inter- rupted by the approach of a little dried-up individual whose appearance showed that he occupied a position above that of a servant ; but his manner was respectful, and was that of one well accustomed to Mr. Taylor's peculiarities, lie coughed gently to attract the old gen- tleman's attention. " Ah, Fenwick ! " exclaimed the latter, turning. " Good news! Mv grandson is coming to us inside of a fortnight." " I am very glad of that, sir." was the reply. " I was COMMODORE RAINBRIDGE. much taken with the young gentleman at my first sight of him, sir." With that the two old men entered the house. Two weeks later a heavy, clumsy-looking coach rolled down the Aliddlctown turnpike and stopped at the big- gate of the Taylor place, and a boy of about thirteen years of age clambered down from the top. His box was handed to the roadside by the guard, and he stood there looking across the lawn at the great white house that seemed to smile a welcome from its wide-open doors and windows. There was no shade of sadness or despondency in the boy's face; he looked eagerly through the gateway as if expecting some one to come and meet him, and at this instant two figures appeared upon the veranda. His grandfather's appearance was well known to him, and al- though too far off to speak a word, he lifted his hat in a salutation at long range. Soon the old gentleman came hurrying down to meet him, accompanied by a servant, who shouldered the box and followed his master and the newcomer back to the house. " Mother sends her love to you and my father sends assurances of his deep regard, and regrets that it was im- possible for him, owing to his practice, sir, to accompany me," said the boy gravely, after the first words of greeting. "And they are all well? " inquired Mr. Taylor kindly, but speaking as though he were addressing a man of mature age and understandinQ-. " All well, sir. 1 am glad to say." " And so you wish to study to become a merchant, or mayhap a lawyer, eh, William? " " I had rather be a sailor, sir." " Highty-tighty! " exclaimed Mr. Taylor, lifting his evebrows; " and what put such an idea as that into vour head?" " I thought about it a great deal, grandfather," the lad COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. answered. " In fact, ever since we came to New York 1 lia\c- likc'(l to think of going to sea." " What does your father say to it, W'ilHam? " '' He says I'm too young to decide what I want; but I haven't spoken to him about it for a long time now." " Then vnu would rather be a sailor and have to en- dure all the hardships of his precarious calling than to be a merchant and have dry ground under your feet, and a safe living always in peace and comfort? " " ^'es, sir. I think so." " Well, well! ■■ smiled the old man. a little nonplused at his grandson's calm frankness. " We'll see about all this after a while; perhaps you will change your mind." " I think not, sir." " We'll see." responded the grandfather. Then he went on to ask questions of the boy about his studies, his progress in the classics and languages, and to his delight he found him responsive and eager to learn. Before the day was over John Taylor's heart went out to the son of his only daughter, and a great affection grew between them, to ripen into trust and confidence never to be displaced. And tlius it is easy to perceive that young William Bainbridgc's changing his home from that of his father, a hard-working jihysician in New York cit\". to the shelter of the mansion of his maternal grandfather auirured well for his future career in life. Two very imcventful years followed in the peaceful New Jersev town. StiuKing with his grandfather and the village schoolmaster, young liainbridge made great progress, and endeared himself to all those with whom he came in contact. P>ut there is not space to tell of these early school days tluit tlew by as quickly with Wil- liam as the\' do with e\ery boy. 'I'hat unalteiaMe in- clination tow aril the life of a seafaier had led him upon COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. more than one occasion respectfully to petition his parents and Mr. Taylor to grant him an opportunity of taking up early a profession in which sooner or later he be- lieved he would hnd himself. He dreamed of ships and the sea. Although ]Mr. Taylor had nothing to complain of in regard to the way he attended to his duties and pursued his studies, with great wisdom he saw at last that it would be best to grant the boy's request, and, instead of hinder- ing him in fulfilling the wishes of his heart, he concluded, not without sorrow and some misgivings, to give him a good start, and place him in a position to make the best of any opportunities for advancement. To this end he wTOte to Dr. Bainbridge a letter that surprised the good physician into an expression of astonishment, for it advo- cated placing William under the charge and patronage of a " respectable and intelligent commander " whom Grandfather Taylor knew w^as soon about to sail from Philadelphia. " We had better let the lad follow his inclinations — a determined spirit may be broken, but not bent," read the letter. '' Let him go to sea." After some delay and much discussion, this was agreed to, and William, at the age of fifteen, started for Philadeli)hia with a letter in his pocket introducing him to Captain Waldron, well known as one of the most care- ful and painstaking officers then sailing out of the port of Philadelphia. The good ship Ariel was his vessel, and, although she was small, she had made many voyages, and had the repu- tation of being a lucky ship with all the seamen— -a point in her favor that offset her small size in securing a good crew. Thus far this introductory chapter deals but slightly with the personal qualitications or the appearance of the COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. hero of the succeeding tale, so before we follow him in his numerous adventures a few words are not amiss. He was a tall boy for his age, with a dignified, quiet man- ner, gentlemanly bearing, and a low. modulated voice. He was strong and active and of an adventurous dis- position. In every boyish enterprise where peril was to be encountered, he had been the leader of his youthful comrades and many stories of his school days might be recounted. But we skip over the early life at Mid- dletown to the very day on which began the career that has made his name famous among those " who go down to the sea in ships," and made him. moreover, a model for the young American sailor to look up to. Fenwick. Mr. Taylor's confidential clerk and general major-domo, accompanied \\'illiam on the way to Phila- delphia. If there was one thing that the wizened little man objected to. it was the idea that any one in whom he felt an interest shoukl display such a lack of apprecia- tion as to choose to adopt the life of a seaman. And so William was compelled to listen to a long lecture, and many mournful predictions as to what might become of him after leaving good dry land. He dreamed of the numerous dangers that Fonwick had called up to his mind — shipwreck and disaster, pirates and icebergs — but awoke the next morning undeterred and eager. He jxirted from his old frieml at P)urton's Coffee House after a hasty breakfast, and all alone he walked to the water front, to present himself to Ci\p- tain W'aldron on board the Ariel, then almost ready to set sail. CHAPTER II. " Well, my young gentleman," said Captain Waklron, looking up from a letter that he had just finished reading, " this is no time to make a speech to you; in fact we are so busy that I have hardly time for more than a few words, but those are words of welcome. We are glad to have you aboard. And I can promise you that you will have every opportunity given you to show what you are made of." He surveyed young Bainbridge from head to foot, and then turning to one of the sailors, he directed him to take the little sea chest down below and show the young gentleman where he was to swing his hammock. A great many captains in those days took out with them upon their voyages young boys who had shown a i)re- dilection for the sea, instructing them in seamanship and navigation, and thus many of the larger vessels were prac- tically school-ships that turned out many young officers who afterward became famous in the service of their country, for, most unfortunately, the regular navy, during the ten years that followed the cessation of hostilities between Great Britain and the United States, had dwindled into nothing. Captain Waldron's vessel was not large enough to accommodate many young gentlemen, and upon this voy- age Bainbridge found himself the only scholar. " That's a likely youngster," observed the captain to his first mate, his eyes following William's figure as it dis- 7 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDOE. appeared down the companion way. " I can tell by the looks of a lad how he's going to move. He's quick- handed and quick-witted, mark my words, Mr. Seth. There's a topman and an officer, too, in the make-up of him." Mr. Seth was not altogether an optimistic person. He was curt and short-spoken in his manner, and a be- liever in the hard school from which he had graduated, for he had worked his way from the forecastle to the quarter-deck, and had not " come in through the cabin window," as he expressed it. " Three weeks at sea will show us more about the lad," he observed. " But I confess, sir, I rather like the cut of his jib myself." " I wish you to give him every opportunity, Mr. Seth." " Be easy on that score, sir," Mr. Seth mad^ answer. " He will not be neglected." And this was a fact. Before the Ariel was four weeks from land young Bainbridge had proved, even to the first mate's satisfaction, that the choice of his calling had not been made haphazard. He could lay upon the yard with the best of them. His work was thoroughly done, and he kept his eyes and ears o])cn to such good advan- tage that even before the return voyage was over he was no longer counted a green hand, and had lost all traits that niark the landsman. Captain Waldron was delighted. Although not given to praising, upon one occasion, when Bainbridge had sur- prised him by his alertness and good judgment, he placed his hands on the boy's shoulder. " My son," he said. " some youngsters I've advised to go home and seek a place in the counting house, some few to return to their mothers, but the sea is the place for you. there's no mistaking." Thus when Bainbridge returned home from his maiden COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. voyage his family found him well launched in his career, and Cirandfather Taylor did not regret the fact that he had been instrumental in helping to provide the mer- chant service with so proficient a candidate for honors. For three years he sailed with his good friend Cap- tain W'aldron. and at the age of eighteen the latter wrote to the firm that owned the Ariel, stating that, if they wished to keep the services of young Bainbridge, they had better offer him a berth aft at the earliest possible moment, despite the fact of his extreme youth. The captain concluded by saying that he should have been glad to take him out with him as first of^cer on his next voyage, but. he added, he was reluctantly compelled to stay on shore for some months, and he bespoke for his young charge the first vacant position that could be found on any ship of the company that might be sailing. William was paying a visit to the parents in New York when he received the notice of his appointment as first mate of the ship Cantor, sailing in the Holland trade. His stay on shore was cut short, and he hurried to Phila- delphia to assume his post. Before young Bainbridge had been on board of the Cantor half an hour he found that his position was to be very different from that of first mate on the vessel on which he had previously served. It needed but a glance at the crew to determine that the men were a bad lot. and the captain was not the man to have been placed in charge of them. He was undersized, and did not pos- sess an air of authority. It w^as the day previous to sailing, but the crew, at least those of them that were on board, were in various stages of intoxication. The cargo had been stowed, and Captain Stebbins was waiting for the tide, to set sail on the following morning. Bainbridge looked older than his years. He stood lo COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. five feet eleven inches, and weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds. His broad shoulders and deep chest, and the tremendous strength of his arms and back, to- gether with the fearless glance of his eye, gave him the appearance of being at least four or five years older than he really was. But he longed for Captain Waldron and Mr. Seth, and his fears that there might be trouble before long were verified by the first words spoken l)y Captain Stebbins after their greeting. " Glad to see you, Mr. Bainbridge, and I might as well tell you that 1 am agreeably disappointed, sir. I had been told that you were but a lad who had secured this appointment through family influence. It will be a man's job to handle that lot of cutthroats — just look at them! " Bainbridge glanced at the forecastle where three or four surly, hangdog-looking villains were sitting with their backs against the rail. Then he looked at Captain Steb- bins's irresolute face, and again at the group on the forecastle. One of the men at this moment produced a big black bottle and, without any effort at concealment, passed it to his comrades. Each one of them took a pull, and the last half-insolently held the bottle up to the light and said in words loud enough to be heard well aft: " Here's to the young gentleman on the quarter-deck." " Hadn't you better stop that, sir? " inquired Bain- bridge politely of the captain. The latter turned his head away. " I'm afraid to attempt it, Mr. Bainbridge, just now; 'twas hard enough to get a crew as it is. In fact. I had to ])ay them something in advance, and I fear mo liioy would leave the shij") — wait till we get to sea. Wo can't pre- vent it now." " T think T can prevent it. sir." Bainl")ridge answered quietly. " if you v.ill allow me to make the attempt. Are thcv all on Ix^anl? " COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. ii " All but two. 1 suppose they'll come ou board to- night drunk as the others." It was indeed a bad lookout. But the young officer's temper had risen. " I should like to make the attempt to put a stop to it, sir, if I may, during my watch." "Very good; then it's your watch now," answered the captain, a little provoked and showing it plainly. " I shall be below." " Will you tell me the names of the men as they sit there, sir? " The captain answered, speaking in a whisper, giving the names of the men in order. The fellow who had pro- posed the insolent toast answered to the sobriquet of " Whisky Jack," but his real name was Monson. No sooner had the captain disappeared than Bain- bridge walked forward to the mast. " Alonson," he called, " step aft here, my man." The sailor lurched unsteadily to his feet, and, followed by all of his companions (there were six of them), obeyed the order with a leer on his sodden countenance. " The rest of you stay forw'ard; I want to speak to this lad alone." It was rather a strange thing for a boy of eighteen to address a man of at least forty in these terms, but there was no mistaking the import of his tone. A sailor knows quicker than any other man when he meets his master, and the rest halted waiting to see what \\'hisky Jack would do. Bainbridge did not speak a word. With his arms folded he looked the approaching man full in the face. The latter shuffled uneasily as he attempted to reply to the first mate's steady gaze. The leer faded from his face, and slowly his fingers rose to his forehead. " Well sir? " he said thickly. " Fetch me that bottle." 12 COMMUDURK BAINBRIDGE. *' What bottle, sir? " There was no reply for an instant. Bainbridge's face had a dangerous, set expression, but he repeated his order, if anything more quietly and calmly than before. " Fetch me that bottle! " The man turned and walked forward. " The young gentleman wants a drink. Bill." he said, as if trying to keep up appearances. " Let's let him have it." The fellow addressed as Bill grinned, and produced the bottle from his jacket, and Monson again walked up to his officer. Bainbridge extended his hand. " Give it me," he said. With a last attempt at bravado the sailor began to remove the cork. " Never mind that." and with a quick movement the bottle was snatched from his grasp and tossed over the rail. " Now, below, every man-jack of you! " thundered the first mate, stepping forward. It was very wonderful indeed, almost jxast believing, in fact, but the discomfited group had no time to parley. Without a question they stumbled down the forward hatch. The vessel yet lay moored alongside the wharf, ami her rail was lower than the stringpiece. ■• Well done, sir! This is Mr. Bainbridge. I presume." exclaimed some one. and looking up. William saw that an elderly man dressed in a rough sailor jacket was looking down at him. " I'm Mr. Taft. second mate, sir." said the man. bend- ing forward and climbing down to the vessel's deck. "That's the way to treat those drunken rascals. I'm glad to see it. sir. and r«l ha\e begun it long ago myself if Captain Stebbins " COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 13 " I was acting under Captain Stebbins's orders," inter- rupted Bainbridge, not wishing to discuss the actions of his commanding officer. " When will the rest of the crew be on board, Mr. Taft? " " They're coming down the wharf now," the second officer made reply, " drunk as fiddlers." And no sooner had he spoken than two more hard- featured individuals were seen climbing unsteadily down on to the forecastle. " Monson," said Bainbridge, turning quickly to the sailor who had waited at the mainmast, " tell those men that I wish to speak to them." With a look almost of admiration, Whisky Jack obeyed the order. " See here, my bullies," he exclaimed in an undertone to the other two. " we are not going to have such an easy time of it after all. There's an officer on board this ship. Ue wants to speak to you. Don't give him any back talk; won't do for a minute." The two sailors came aft. " Monson," said Bainbridge. '' search these men." Two more bottles of whisky went overboard. At this juncture Captain Stebbins came on deck. The first mate had given a glance at the weather vane that surmounted a flagstaff on top of one of the near-by build- ings. He rememl)ered a bit of seamanship that he had seen Captain Waldron successfully execute when lying at a wharf. A light breeze was ])lowing from just the right direction. It would require no warping for the Cantor to back out of her slip. " Had we not better get out into the stream and an- chor, sir? " Bainbridge asked, then perceiving for the first time that Ste1)l)ins was sulTering from the same ailment that afifected the crew. But his head was clear enough to grasp the idea that had entered Bainbridge's mind. 14 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. " Perhaps we had," he acquiesced. The second mate sprang on the dock, and with the assistance of Monson cast off the moorings; the two sailors who were sober enough to have some of their wits still about them were sent aloft, and soon the mizzen topsail was laid against the mast, then with the assist- ance of the current the little ship gained stern way and fell off into the stream. Scarcely had the end of her flying jib boom cleared the pier head when those of the crew who were below in the forecastle came rushing up on deck. But another surprise was in store for the first officer. Captain Stebbins, irritated that he should have appeared to have lost authority, burst into a torrent of profanity. The men came crowding down to the waist. One of them detached a belaying pin from the bitts. It looked like mutiny, liainbridge stepped to the captain's side. " I understood you to say this is my watch, sir." he said quietly. Stebbins glanced at him. and without another word went down into the cabin. One of the foremast hands had constituted himself spokesman, lie was of ilial tyi)e so feared by officers of ships — a natural disturber, a born loafer and sea lawyer, breeder of trouble in the forecastle. " We're not on the high seas yet. my Bucko," he said defiai'itly, " and we're not to sail until to-morrcnv morn- ing. W'c ha\'c a right to go ashore." " ("an vou swim? " asked Ikiinbridge quietly. " If so, overboard with you, and be quick about it. Come, now, are you ready? " T]]v man looknl >>\cv the side. It was b\'bruary: the river was vet tilled with floating cakes of ice. "Too cold, eh?^" P.ainbridge went on: "well. then, go forward. All hands get ready to drop starboard anchor." COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 15 Whisky Jack was among the first to obey, and in surly fashion the others followed suit. They had found out, as he had said, that there was " an officer on board," and no mistake. The first mate was very tired the next morning at daybreak when the anchor was weighed, for he had not closed his eyes all night, and as soon as the vessel was under way he sought his berth and fell into a troubled slumber. He could see that all the seafaring he had done was but child's play to the experience that was probably before him. In these surmisings he was correct. Bad weather was encountered during the first two weeks in the open sea, and so busy were the crew handling the vessel when on watch, and so wearied were they when below, that little time was found for grumbling. It had not taken William very long to perceive one reason at least why it had been so difficult for the Cantor to secure a better crew. The vessel was small, scarcely more than three hundred tons burden, and Captain Stebbins had received rather a bad name. It was easy to see that he was not so much of a martinet or a driver as a " nagger " ; although of rather a cowardly disposition, he was great on bluster, threats, and profanity, and when erood weather was met with, instead of relax- ing a little, owing to the hard time that had just been gone through with, he kept the men hard at it — first one thing and then another, and rating them severely on the slightest provocation. It almost appeared as if he did this to retrieve what he thought he might have lost by his timid 1)elia\i()r when in port. But at last they reached the English Channel, and dropped anchor in the roadstead of Rotterdam. On the second day of their arrival more trouble occurred. They had passed the customs and were going to begin the unloading of the vessel when an affair took place that i6 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. came near relieving the old ship of her rather obnoxious commander in a sunmiary way. How the men had obtained anything to drink Bain- bridge never found out; probably from some of the small boats that were rowing about, for none of the crew had been permitted to go ashore, the captain having landed in a small boat he had hailed from the (juarter-deck. He had returned to the ship late in the evening. Bainbridge had been below in his berth writing a letter in order to send it back by a vessel nearly ready to set sail, when suddenlv there came from the deck above a sound of scuffling feet. What possessed him to think of danger he did not know, but reaching up to the rack above his head he drew forth a brace of heavy pistols and hurried out. At the door of the cabin he ran into Monson. almost knocking him full length against the ladder, so great was his haste to gain the deck. "What are you doing here, you rascal"'" he cried, helping the man to his feet. Whisky Jack was very drunk. '* Hurry, sir," he said thickly. " I ain't no talebearer, but there'll be dirty work up there in a minute." A muffled cry for help reached the first mate's ears. In two bounds he was on deck. It was almost pitch dark, but there was light enough to see a confused struggle off to the port side against the rail, and in the rays from the anchor light he noticed Mr. Taft fighting furiously in the arms of two of the strongest members of the crew. One of them had wound his arms about the second mate's throat, and was almost throttling him. while the other was attempting to pini(Mi his arms down to his sides. The old man was no match for them, and it would have been all up in another moment if it liad not been for Bainbridge's opportune appearance. He grasped one of COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 17 the heavy pistols by the barrel and brought the butt down upon the nearest sailor's head. At this same instant he caught the other by the back of his collar and gave him a twist that set him off his feet; the man tripped and disappeared backward down the hatchway. Bainbridge's eyes had become better accustomed to the darkness by this time, and he saw that another struggling group was centered about a prostrate figure on the deck. '' Don't use your knife, you fool," grunted some one thickly; "just heave him overboard." The first mate's onslaught was so sudden and so un- expected that even he himself afterward marveled at the results of it. There were five men against one, for the second mate had not yet recovered himself sufficiently to render assistance. Two of the mutineers went down under two separate strokes of the heavy pistol. The men were too drunk to do much fighting, and even at the best. Bainbridge would have been equal to both of them; but as he turned from giving the last blow his foot slipped and he fell forward on one knee. At this instant he saw standing above him one of the men with an o])cn sheath knife in his hand. Ouickly he raised the other pistol and pulled the trigger; the powder only flashed in the pan, and the knife descended at him viciously. But the point struck one of the buttons of his coat. and. being deflected, entered the cloth and ri])ped it open the full length. But help came from an unexpected quarter. Whisky Jack made his way on deck, and probal)ly could not have explained whv he had chosen the weapon that he had. but a heavy l)ucket can do a great deal of damage when swung bv a strong arm. and the blow that Jack delivered upon the head of the would-be assassin put him out of the fight. Mr. Taft had gathered himself together, and. armed with a belaying pin, laid one of the two remaining sea- i8 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. men on the deck with a blow that opened his head and nearly was the end of him. The last man, who was the soberest, cried for mercy. Captain Stebbins managed to get to his feet. He had l)een frightfully mauled and was trembling so he could hardly stand; but the mutiny was over, and in five minutes the three ringleaders, who were the least hurt, were below in irons. This was an end of the trouble for some time, but when the Cantor was ready for her return voyage Stebbins re- fused to sail and resigned command of her. Although exceedingly short-handed, Bainbridge agreed to bring her back to America, which he successfully accomplished, land- ing in Philadelphia in the latter part of June. But although he said nothing, the story of his manly conduct and his display of nautical skill on the return vovage reached the ears of the owners of the ship, and in conversation with him before he left for a short visit to his family in New^ York, the senior partner offered him command of the vessel on her next voyage if he wished to accept the position. When William returned home, he found that his younger brother Jose])h had also decided to take up the sea as a vocation, and was then absent on his first cruise to South America. CHAPTER III. So we find Bainbridge a full-fledged commander at the early age of nineteen. At his suggestion, some alterations were made in the Cantor's rig that improved her sailing qualities in a great measure, and, odd to relate, when it came to shipping a crew, IMonson was one of the first to make application; and when it came to sailing, it was evident that he had taken pains to turn up particularly clean and sober. Three successful cruises were made without occur- rences of much importance — one to Haarlem, one into the Mediterranean, and one south to Brazil. Upon his return from the last, Bainbridge spent some time ashore, and in the spring of 1796 he was offered the command of the ship Hope, a new vessel belonging to the same firm by which he had always been employed. And in June of this year we find him lying at anchor in the Garonne opposite Bordeaux. His vessel was one of the neatest in the harbor; all the metal shone, the decks where white and clean, and the paint work bright and well touched off. He had been most happy in securing good crews to work with him, and he had found out that to make a sailor contented he must be well fed and kept busy. His first ol^cer was the same Mr. Seth whom he had sailed with in the Ariel, and his second was a young Yankee, named Beebe, but a few years older than him- self, who hailed from Portsmouth. New Hampshire, an adventurous fellow and a good all-around sailorman. 19 20 COMMODORE BAIXBKIDGE. There were a number of American ships in port at the time, and one fine day Bainbridge called away his gig and rowed off to a large ship half again the size of his own. the Lafayette, of Boston, whose captain, Richard Samuelson. was an old sailor of Revolutionary fame. He was giving a dinner to the officers of the American vessels on this particular afternoon, and the talk about the table was mainly upon one subject, an all-engrossing one to the Yankee mariner — the high-handed behavior of Great Britain on the seas! There was not one of them who did not have some tale to tell of having had his vessel stopped and good seamen taken from him by the display of supe- rior force, to begin a life of slavery on board of one of the great floating fortresses of King George. " What are we going to do, gentlemen, may I ask? " said one of the younger captains from the foot of the table. " Remonstrance is worse than useless. Our repre- sentatives at St. James's Court can accomplish nothing. We have no vessels of the regular navy to enforce respect. We are completely at the mercy of these sea robbers — confusion to them! And so far as I can see there is no ending to it." '* It is the solemn truth." put in another. " I've lost five men in the last two voyages, and would probably have lost two more if my little brig couldn't leg it pretty well, I can tell you. They took my third mate, a man who went to school with me in Koxbury. Sad news did I have to write to his wife, and he but just married." " What would the luiglisli ihink." exclaimed the first S])t.'akcT, "if ;i slii]) of anv other nation daroil tritlc with their merchantmen in this fashion? There'd be a lino hullabaloo, wouldn't there? " "Oh, just another w.ar!" remarked Captain Samuelson. " I wish that we had a few fine live-oak frigates afloat with men like my old Iricntls. John Raul Jones, Nichol- COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 21 son. Barry, aiul JJiddle, to command them. lUit no, the Government expects us to look out for ourselves. Bain- bridge here — what experience has he had with the John Bullies?" " I've been most fortunate, sir," responded Bainbridc^e, who was by far the youngest of the five men seated in the cabin; " but I think that we have been rather too submis- sive, perhaps; though I say it who should not, I might feel inclined to make a show of resistance. We might even persuade the country at large that it is worth while to take up cudgels in defense of their citizens abroad, as well as to fight for their interests at home." " Well said. Captain Bainbridge," put in Captain Steele, of the brig Bangor. " But the onlv trouble is that we would probal)ly be blown out of the water for our pains. It is well to have a locker full of foreign tlags at one's dis- posal, I find it, and to know a few words of foreign lingo." Bainbridge said nothing, but he had long ago made up his mind to one thing: He would permit no one to search his vessel or to rob him without a show of the strongest remonstrance. He was afraid that if he spoke his full mind upon this occasion he might be regarded as bluster- ing, a thing absolutely impossible to his nature, as he had never made a threat or a ])romise in his life that he did not intend at the time to carry out. It had been his good fortune, as already stated, to have escaped the numerous discomfitures that had fallen to the lot of most of his companions at the dinner, but he knew that sooner or later their experience w'ould be his. Proud of his country and jealous of the rights of her citi- zens, it rankled deeply to think that he would have to submit to the indignities of which he had heard the others tell. But this day was not to go by without incident of more importance than a dinner party. As his gig ncared 22 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. the side of the Hope, that was lying quite a distance out in the harbor alongside of the vessel hailing from Charles- ton, South Carolina, he suddenly perceived a commotion on the deck of the latter — voices in loud talk, a sudden hoarse cry, and then a hail. " Ho, on board the ship there! Help! Mutiny! " Bainbridge had not left the deck, but at the cry he hastened below, and opening a chest, he drew out the two big pistols that had served him in such good stead on board the Cantor. He hastened up again and jumped into the gig. In three minutes he was alongside the other vessel, and followed by half his crew, he climbed on deck. Without a shot being fired or blood spilled, the rioters were made prisoners and placed in irons. Tlien, after receiving the thanks of the captain, Bainbridge rowed back to the Hope. As he was lifting the lid of the chest to stow the pis- tols away, the vessel lurched a little and the lid fell down upon his forearm, but unfortunately in such a way as to touch the hammer of one of the pistols, which was dis- charged, the flame igniting a bag of powder which lay in a compartment of the chest. Instantly there was an ex- plosion, and Pniinbridge was hurled across the cabin, badly wounded in his legs and the u])per portion of his body. The crew, who were hoistins/ the cfi"; out of the water, rushed down to see what had happened. A few buckets of water extinguished the flames, and a doctor came off shore at once. He pronounced luiinljridge dangerously hurt, but stated that he had a fair chance of recovery. No one could have liccn nursed more carefully than he was by his officers and crew, each vying with the other to see what he could do for the injured commander. In five weeks he was able to be about the deck again, and in such a healthy condition was he that his wounds healed almost immediately. In a fortnight the Hope was loaded COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 23 with a cargo, and weighed anchor for the island of St. Thomas. The crew of the Httle ship was composed of a fine lot of sailormen. They were, without exception, full-blooded Yankees, although the cook was a black, and hailed from the island of Barbadoes. Bainbridtre had never had any trouble with them, and had always found them willing and eager. Very different indeed was his position from that he had held on board the Cantor when he had under him the crowd of half- drunken scalawags. Just before the sailing of the Hope an American vessel had come into port and dropped anchor close to hand. She reported that ten days previously she had been boarded by an English cruiser, and no less than three of her crew had been taken from her by main force — de- liberately kidnapped! Bainbridge's blood boiled when he heard the story, and a firm determination was formed in his mind to resist to the very last any attempt that the English might make to force such treatment upon him. The second day at sea he called the crew to the waist and made a short speech — something he had never found occasion to do before. " Men," he said quietly, " I do not intend to allow this vessel to be robbed, and I know that you will understand my meaning when I say that if any press officer boards us and takes one of you away he will have to take the rest of us also, and probably the ship into the bargain." With that the Hope's crew were told off into divi- sions and a gun captain was appointed for each one of the four nine-pounders. They did not make a very formidable array, to confess the truth, as each gun captain found himself in command of exactly one man, for the number of souls on board the Hope was but eleven — eight sea- men and three of^cers. 24 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. During- tlie calm weather that followed for several days the ineii were worked at the L;uns. A target was towed out from the side of the ship, and good practice was made with the little broadsides. Xo occasion was found for their immediate use, how- o\ cr. and ]>ainbridge's usual good fortune seemed to fol- low him; but late one afternoon, off the island of St. John, a small schooner was seen bearing down, carrying all sail and evidently intending to speak the Hope. Bainbridge might have run for it and esca])ed, but the small size of the vessel made him think tliat he had nothing to fear from her, and he held his course. Before the schooner came within hailing distance he raised the American flag at his peak, and, calling all hands, had the nine-pounders loaded with as niucli powder as he thought they could possibly stand, and double-shotted, and for sood measure a handful of musket balls was added to each charge. Loaded muskets, two to each man, were placed along the bulwarks, and everything was made handy in ca.se resistance should become necessary, for there was no doubt that the schooner w^as one of the small English cruisers whose commanders took it ujion themselves to stop American ships at every o])portunity, and, trusting to I he prestige (jf the royal service, insist upiMi the right of search. \'ery soon the schooner had ranged alongside. She had not disi)laye(l her Hag, but an ofticer in a cocked hat ;mil a brilliant uniform was seen stantling near the rail oil the (|uarter-deck. trumpet in hand. Although the lat- ter instrument was not needed, he placed it to his lip, and, disdaining the usual formalities, he bellowed at top voice: " On board the ship tliere! Heave to! I'm going to send a boat oil to you." IJainbridge stepped to the side of the Hope. He saw that the little schooner carried four guns of a side. Init COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 25 they were of no heavier metal than his own. although, of course, they were twice the number. The men had all come to the port side, and the nine- pounders had been cast loose. Everything was in readi- ness. " I'm sorry I can't stop," Bainbridge shouted in an- swer to the Britisher's hail. " We are in a great hurry to- day." " Perhaps they're in some distress, Captain Bain- bridge," suggested Mr. Beebe. " They may be in a minute," suggested one of the gun captains who had overheard the remark, slapping the breech of his gun with a chuckle. " Heave to! " shouted the Englishman, disdaining to use his trumpet this time. " Heave to, or Ell lire a shot into you." " I advise you not, sir," was Bainbridge's return to this. The conversation had evidently caused some surprise to be felt on board the schooner, and, as the two vessels were now so close that evervthing could be observed clearly, it was noticed that the men employed in cast- ing the lashings ofT the small quarter boat stopped their work: and that very deliberately the forward gun was run in and loaded. As the Hope was all prepared, her men stood apparently inactive along the bulwarks. "Ready there!" said Bain])ridge quietly; "if a shot touches us, let them have it." Grimly he waited for the Englishman to take the initiative. Bang! went the first gun. The ball plashed harm- lessly across the bows. " Steady! " ordered Bainbridge. " Don't fire until she hits us." It was evident that the commander of the schooner 3 26 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. did not know what to make of the unexpected behavior of the Yankee vessel, for, instead of seeing her heave to with all evidences of consternation and fright, there she was sailing along as if nothing had occurred, with her commander looking over the rail with his arms folded, apparently unconcerned. The Englishman's next order was heard by every one of the Hope's crew as well as by those for whose ears it was intended. " Fire into her! " he roared. Plainly he did not think it worth while to discharge his broadside, for the same gun was loaded, but this time with the intention of doing damage. Bang! it went the second time. A long splinter whirred across the Hope's deck and the ball, deflecting, plunked through one side of the deck house and out the other, making a great crash among the " doctor's " pans and kettles. But before the John Bulls could see the result of their marksmanship the doubled-shotted gtms of the Hope had answered. Away went the schooner's gaff and the main-topmast, brought down by the after gun. while the forward division of one. with equal good fortune, shot away the flying jib boom and the fore-top- mast stay. The shoe was on the other foot now! The man at the schooner's helm became confused, and Bainbridge had to come about to avoid collision; or perhaps it was the I'.rili.sh captain's intention to board. So close did she cross the l)Ows of the Hope that the latter's jib boom struck her side, carrying away all her starboard shrouds and braces. She fell otY rapidly to leeward, and as she did so found time to discharge a gun of her port battery, the ball lodging in the Hope's mainmast. But P)ainbri(lge's starboard guns were double-shotted also, and the answer thev gave to this was almost as dis- COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 27 astrous to the schooner as the first reply had been. One hall entered near the fore chains, and another, coming throngh the i)t>rt. disniounlcd one of the guns, killing or wounding three or four of the crew. The second irun had put two balls into the schooner's side, ripping a gash but a foot or so above the water line. So great was the confusion on board of her that Bain- bridge could see her crew running hither and thither as if they had lost their heads completely. But what was his surprise when he saw^ the English ensign run a short w^ay up on the color halyards that flapped from the wounded peak, and then hauled down again. "We've surrendered!" shrieked the English captain, who but a few minutes before had been so full of impor- tance and bravado. " Cease firing, for Heaven's sake! " Here was a pretty mess. Great Britain and the United States were ostensibly at peace. There was a strong party in the United States who deprecated any idea of resistance to the Crown, and what would be the conse- quences of his action Bainbridge could not foresee. Paying no attention to the words he had just heard, he raised his voice and called an answer slowly back: " What schooner is that? " " Her Majesty's schooner Linnet, commanded by Cap- tain Sir Philip Townes. What ship is that? " Before Bainbridge could reply to this the action of his own crew drew his attention. They had given three cheers when they saw the English flag come down, and now\ much excited, they were gathered in a body, evidently waiting for further orders. " Shall we board and take possession of her, sir? " asked ]\Ir. Beebe eagerly. "Not for the world." replied Bainbridge. "Those guns were put on board of us for our defense, and we have used them for that purpose, but we have no right 28 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. to i)ut a foot on board that vessel. Our lives would pay the forfeit, and justly too. sir." The crew looked a little disappointed, and some were quite angered that they should not be allowed to take advantage of their victory, but Bainbridge's course was the only one left open, for had he dared to treat the Lin- net as a prize, he would have been guilty of piracy, or something akin to it. So seeing that the Englishman was yet waiting for an answer and displaying no indica- tion of a desire either to escape or to renew- the action, he called across the water to him: "Schooner there! Will Captain Sir Philip Townes pray go about his business in peace, and report to his masters that if they want this ship they must send a greater force or a more skillful commander? " With that he squared his yards and cleared away on the course for St. Thomas, leaving the English captain to chew the bitter cud of reflection, to his own enlighten- ment it is to be hoped. Although Bainbridge did not mention the affair ex- cept in a short report to the owners of the Hope, the news of it was soon traveling about Philadelphia within a few days of his arrival, and before he left to pay a visit to his friends in New York he had been offered the pick of the finest vessels then lying in the port of Philadelphia. The English captain had thought fit to belittle the aft'air more than likely, or he had failed to make a report of it altogether. There was no complaint made to the United States Government, and it is doubtful whether Sir Philip's masters ever received the message sent to them. CHAPTER IV. When Bainbridge returned to Philadelphia after his visit to his parents he decided not to desert the owners of the Hope for a more ambitious command, but to make at least one more voyage in the little vessel before he turned her over to other hands. He knew her tricks and her manners, and he found that the large proportion of the crew were anxious to ship with him once again. Mr. Seth had obtained a vessel of his own. Beebe was promoted to be first mate, and just previous to sailing, Bainbridge was fortunate enough to fill the latter's place with a young Philadelphian, Allen M'Kinsey, who, al- though he was but thirty-three years of age, had been eighteen years at sea, a tall water sailor and a good ofti- cer, although his lack of education had for a long time told against his securing a berth aft. His parents \vere respectable townsfolk; his father kept a small ship chandlery near the wharf. The cargo was delivered successfully at Bordeaux, and after a short stay, Bainbridge by a most lucky chance was able to load his vessel with silks and wine and set sail, almost retracing his former course. Everything went well until within three hundred miles of the American coast, when at sunrise a large vessel was descried to windward drifting leisurely down upon the Hope before the light morning breeze. About nine o'clock she was near enough for it to be seen that she was a British line-of-battle ship, or better a razee — that is, a three-decker cut down to a ship of two decks only. 29 30 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. On she came, a fine sight to behold, with every stitch of canvas set, catching the gleams of the sun, the shadows shifting on her sails as she rolled lazily from side to side on the bosom of the long, easy swell. When within speaking distance she hauled her wind a little, and without a hail dropped a boat cleverly from her quarter, and soon a young officer in a lieutenant's uni- form hailed the little Yankee ship and recjuested " some one there on board " to heave a line to him. As no one apparently replied to that title, which was certainly as in- definite as it was insulting, the young ofticer scrambled on board over the low bulwarks, assisted by no one but the members of his crew. Bainbridge was standing near the wheel with his hands folded in front of him, calmly waiting for the interview that he knew was soon forthcoming. " Ship's this? " questioned the Englishman, straighten- ing: his cocked hat. '* Is anv one in command here? " " I suppose you wish to inquire," responded Bam- bridge, " the name of this vessel. It is the American ship Hope from Philadelphia, and if you are looking for the commanding officer, sir, you have the honor of address- ing him." " Very distinguished, I am sure. Have you your papers handy, my young Yankee? " Bainbridge looked over the taffrail at the great shape of the battle ship, in whose shadow his own little vessel was then swallowed up completely. His brows knitted. It was odious that he had to stand and boar this insult, that he felt was more leveled at liis country ilian at liini. without doing anything to resist the imposition. " Just wait a moment, please," he saiil politely. And going to the head of the companion ladder, he called the steward and told liim to liring tip the large tin box that stood in the corner o! the cabin. COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 31 His leisurely movements angered the lieutenant, who exclaimed in irritation: " Come, come, my man, make haste. You are squandering time." " Not altogether," Bainbridge replied. " I am giving you a few minutes to think, so that you may act with care and discretion and regain your composure." He looked the other squarely in the eye with his fear- less glance as he spoke. And, as there was no reply made, he extended the papers to his unwelcome visitor, adding only: " Read here for yourself. I have no one shipped with me who is not an American seaman; but I assure you, sir, that were it not for the fact that we are under the muzzles of yonder guns, you would not receive the satisfaction even of my assurance, or the pleasure of glancing over the paper that you now hold. There are my men; their ap- pearance speaks for itself." The boarding officer, who had been followed by five or six of the Ijoat's crew, commenced to read the names in the order of their enlistment, but everything was so plainly as Bainbridge had stated it that it scarcely needed a glance to confirm his words. The men were passed and everything appeared to be over with, when suddenly the name of M'Kinsev caug^ht the lieutenant's eve. " This man here — M'Kinsey — where is he? " he asked as if with a ray of hope. " He's my second of^cer," Bainbridge replied, " and is standing here beside me." " You are a Scotchman," stated the officer positively, glancing from the paper in his hand to the face of the honest seaman. " Any one who says that is a liar! " returned the young Philadelphian hotly. " ril make you eat that word," replied the Britisher, 32 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. stepping forward quickly. " Here, you two," he said, speaking- to his own men. " lay hold of him and toss him into the boat. I'll break his heart for him."' Bainbridge quietly pushed his second mate to one side and, stepping between the two angry men, said quietly: " Patience, sir, a moment; I know this man. He was born in Philadelphia. 1 know his parents. He is an American. I state this to you upon my honor. His reply to you was hasty, that I admit, but he had provocation.' " Provocation or no provocation," was the return, " he'll come with me, or Fll know the reason why." " Just a moment," Bainbridge responded. *' May I ask your name and that of your vessel? " " I am Lieutenant Norton, of his Majesty's ship the Indefatigable, Sir Edward Pellew." " Ah, so! Then does Lieutenant Norton mean to tell Captain Bainbridge that he lies? " There was such a dangerous light in the young Ameri- can's eyes that for an instant Lieutenant Norton hesi- tated. " He may have deceived you," he half faltered. *' He's Scotch." "He has not deceived me. Do you intend to take him by force? " ■■ Do you intend to resist? " " I am not so foolish; but I have no objections to his doing so. — Mr. M'Kinsey. in the corner of my cabin you will fmd two loaded pistols lying on the bunk. A sharp- ened cutlass hangs from the bulkhead close to hand. See if it is not as I say." Suddenly turning, the mate jumped down the ladder, and as all this conversation had been heard by the crew grouped in the waist, an audible titter ran through the comi)any. " One's as good as another," the lieutenant growled, COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 33 trying to afifect amusement to hide his discomfiture. " I'll take this man instead." Reaching forward his hand, he seized one of the Hope's crew, a lad scarcely more than eighteen years of age but well-grown and hardy. Two of his henchmen caught the young fellow about the waist, and he was uncere- moniously tossed over the side almost on the heads of those sitting below on the thwarts. But the officer did not wish to make his own exit with any degree of haste, although he perceived that there was a long pull ahead of him before he would again reach his ship, as she had edged off and now lay a couple of miles distant waiting for him. He turned to Bainbridge as if to make some parting sally, but the Yankee captain spoke first: " Will you convey my compliments to your superior officer and congratulate him upon having so efficient a bailiff; and also inform him that for the young man you have robbed me of I shall take one of his Majesty's citi- zens serving in the first ship I meet, if her force does not preclude my attempting to do so. You know as well as I do that you have taken an American citizen to lead him into a life of slavery and bondage." " You talk well," responded the lieutenant. " but no Yankee merchant captain w'ould dare to impress one of his Majesty's subjects. A fig for your threatening, and good-day to you." With that he dropped down into the boat and pulled away to the battle ship. Five days afterward the lookout forward reported that there was a sail dead ahead holdins: the same course. Spreading all sail, Bainbridge made after her, and as the Hope proved to be much the faster he soon had the chase, a fine merchant brig, quite as large as his own little ship, under his lee. He raced down past her quarter, fired a shot across her bows, and suddcnlv hove short in front 34 COxMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. of her in such a way that the brig, in great consternation, let go all standing, and. with a tremendous Ikittering and clattering of canvas, she swung about and heaved there up and down, helplessly confused. She was within easy hail, so Bainbridge called to her stating that he was going to board, and that if she attempted resistance he would blow her out of the water. "Mr. Beebe," he said, "board that brig; take nine men with you, and bring back a healthy John Bull — single and sober, and presumably industrious. Don't re- turn without him." If Mr. Beebe had not returned at all, he would have left the Hope in a very precarious condition, for there were then on board of her no one but the captain and second mate, and an old seaman on the forecastle! When Beebe came on board the Englishman he saw to his consternation that she was much larger and more heavily armed than it was at first supposed, for she carried eight guns, and there w^ere in the neighborhood of twenty seamen huddled on deck near the mainmast. For this reason he did not stop long to parley, but running up to a tall, tow-headed young fellow, he addressed the fol- lowing question to him, roaring the words in his ear as he grasped him by the shoulder: " Young man, are you married? " " No, sir," faltered the seaman, taken all aback with the suddenness of the (luestion. "Then come with me," answered Beebe; and lakiuij the sailor at a disadvantage, he grasped him from behind and hustled him across the deck through the gangway into the waiting boat before any one could lift a hand to prevent him. Tlierc was a rush made to the side, but the boat was almost an oar's Icngtii distant. Tn a few strokes T)cebe hail ])laced the ]irisonor. who was too frightened to resist, on board the lIoi>e. COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 35 " Better get out of this," panted the first mate, run- ning aft. " She's armed Hke a man-of-war, sir." *' Well, not before she takes a message that I have been longing to send, and wouldn't lose the chance of sending for the gain of a few minutes." " On board the brig there! ^^'ill the captain make report that Captain William Bainbridge has taken one of his Majesty's subjects in retaliation for a seaman taken from the American ship Hope by Lieutenant Norton, of the Indefatigable razee, commanded by Sir Edward Pel- lew? " Then sheeting home, the Hope was off before the brig managed " to get out of her own way," as M'Kinsey put it. Before night she was hull down, for she had not at- tempted a pursuit. Bainbridge sent for the new hand. " Young man," he said, " I am sorry for you; but now let's make the best of it. You'll be paid your wages from now on to the end of the cruise, and will be discharged at Philadelphia with money in your pocket, if " — and he paused — " if you do your duty. Otherwise your posi- tion may not be quite so comfortable. Step forward." That was an end to it, although, of course, it did not make up for the hardships the poor lad had to undergo who was taken by Lieutenant Norton; but of this more hereafter. The seaman was paid in full, and, as some one said at the time, he did not appear to be at all dissatisfied with either the service or the country into which he had been forced. A writer of the early part of this century, in referring to this incident, said as follows: " The proceeding of Captain -Bainbridge on this occasion was doubtless as illegal as the act wliicli had provoked it; but to a mind like his, alive to the honor of his country and the rights 36 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. of his fellow-citizens, especially of those under his im- mediate protection, the outrage he was compelled to wit- ness liy whicli a citizen of the United States was torn from his country and family, perhaps forever, was an apparent justification. Although it afforded no redress for the original wrong, yet it was designed to show the naval officers of Great Britain that the rights of American citizens, so far as they are committed to the protection of Captain Bainbridge, are not to be violated with impunity." It was high time indeed that something should be done to settle the question of the assumed ri:_;hi of search that was to be l)rought to a conclusion some years later only by open hostilities between Great Britain and this country, in which Bainbridge was to have a proper arena for the display of his judgment, coolness, and good sea- manship. Once more he found himself much talked about, and accepted an offer made to him to take command of a large ship of some six hundred tons about to sail for the South. After landing a cargo from New Orleans in an Eng- lish port, he took another shipload for the West Indies. As part of his consignment was for the island of St. Bar- tholomew, a mere dot on the map, just north of the island of St. Giu-istophcr in the Caribbean Sea, he put into the harbor of Le Carenage, a commodious anchorage, but very difficult of access owing to the tortuous chaimel and al)un(lanl shoals, just l)oforc lie was ready to sail a period of cahn weather began during which scarcely enough wind blew to lift a fiag, let alone to waft a big vessel through a difficult passage. CHAPTER V. However, this unlooked-for calm, which under most circumstances would have proved annoying, turned out to be, as Bainbridge often asserted, the most fortunate hap- pening of his life, and it involves a little romance well worth the telling. St. Bartholomew was not the most delightful place in the world for a protracted stay, although the island is rich and fertile and produces large quantities of tobacco, cot- ton, and indigo; it contains no permanent springs, and it is impossible for a vessel fully to replenish her water supply there, as the inhabitants depend almost entirely upon the rainfall for drinking purposes. At the time of which we are speaking there were scarcely more than twenty-five hundred white people and about eight thousand blacks on the island. The latter lived in huts scattered about the plantations, or in a little settlement of their own at the southern bend of the harbor, while the European colony was collected on the top of one of the sloping hills on the opposite side. The low white houses stood well back from the roads, sur- rounded by gardens of tropical luxuriance. One day Bainbridge was walking up the palm-shaded walk with Monsieur Le Vidocq, a descendant of one of the earlier French settlers. He looked down upon the harbor, where his own vessel and one or two others were lying at anchor, and. turning, he spoke to the gentleman at his side, addressing him in French, for the young cap- 37 38 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. tain was quite as familiar with tliat language as he was with his own native tongue. " Monsieur, 1 do not know what we will do if we do not get some wind very soon. Have you ever known a calm to last for so long a time? " " Well, hardly. Captain Bainbridge," replied the Frenchman. " That is, not within my recollection. But probably in the course of the next few hours we will see a difference with the changing of the moon." " Indeed, I hope so," Bainbridge replied, " or I may have to resort to kedging. a difticuh process amid such tides and currents." He turned again and looked at the still unruffled sur- face of the harbor, but just as he was about to resume his walk somethins^ arrested his attention, and he stood there without moving. It was the sound of a woman's voice singing to the accompaniment of a harp. Monsieur Le Vidocq noticed the effect of the music upon his companion. " Ah. monsieur," he said, " you are listening to the voice of the Rose of St. Bartholomew, ]\Iiss Hyleger, the granddaughter of a distinguished Hol- land gentleman who has business interests here. Yes, it is most entrancing," he added, for Bainbridge had not moved. " Indeed vou are ris^ht, monsieur," he answered at last; " form and feature to accompany such a voice would be well-nigh perfection." "And so it is," replied the other. "Monsieur le Capitainc. I have an idea. \'on must meet her and de- termine for yourself if. in my enthusiasm. I have over- estimated the talents of this lovely person." " Thank you indeed, my kind friend." Bainbridge re- plied so earnestlv that the ()thcr cc^iild not but smile. " I accept \-our offer, and I i^ray you that, if it is your con- venience, the meeting shall be soon." COMMODORE BAINRRIDGE. 39 He turned again to listen more to the low music when his eye happened to sweep out upon the harbor. A breeze had rippled the surface, and a little Swedish brig, lying far out, dropped all her sails as if to take advantage of it. For an instant duty drove all thoughts of the charmer from Bainbridge's mind. With a suddenness that existing circumstances were alone the excuse for, he apolo- gized to the little Frenchman and ran hot foot down the hill to where his boat was waiting, drawn up in the sand. " Off to the ship! " he shouted to the three men at the oars; and in ten minutes the capstan falls were clicking merrily as the ship crawled up to her anchor. Then, as he had a moment to think, a disappointment came over him. He was not to meet the owner of that voice after all, and a deep regret seized upon him, which showed plainly what a strong impression the sweet notes had made upon his heart. But the topsails had scarcely begun to draw when the breeze died away and the ship again lay entirely motionless upon the smooth surface. The little brig farther out held it but a little longer, and then dropped anchor with a hasty plash, as if angered at the failure of the elements to help her in her escape. But. although Bainbridge was anxious to leave the port, the dropping of his own " mud hook," as the sailor calls it, caused him no such feeling, and a boat rowed out to him early in the afternoon with the welcome tidings from Monsieur Le Vidocq that everything had been arranged, and that he would have an opportunity of meeting Mademoiselle Hyleger that evening at a dinner to be given to Captain Bainbridge at the kindly Frenchman's house. When the young officer entered the large, low-ceil- inged drawing-room, it took him but a glance to decide which one of the four ladies present was the possessor of the voice, for, seated on a divan in the corner of 40 COMxMODORE BAINBRIDGE. the room, was a tall, slender girl with a great mass of brown hair; her light-gray eyes looked up to him as the host introduced his guest, saying " the siren who so delightfully charmed us the other day." " But Captain Bainbridge, unlike Ulysses, made no effort to escape," put in one of the other gentlemen who had listened to the introduction. " When was it you heard me singing? " asked Miss Hyleger, roguishly glancing at Monsieur Le Vidocq. " Yesterday morning, mademoiselle." "Ah! then I can answer that the captain did do his best to escape, for shortly after practicing on the harp I walked out upon the veranda and was just in time to see him running down the hill. He put off in his boat and apparently did his very best to leave the harbor, in which he all but succeeded." " The unfavoring winds were kindly," put in the cap- tain at last, who, during this pleasantry, had been watch- ing the play of Miss Hyleger's features and indulging in a strange fluttering of the heart hitherto unknown to him. " A very paradoxical statement, sir," smiled the young lady, arising as she took his arm to go into the dining- room. Well, the long and short of it was that Bainltridge did not leave the island that day. or the next, or the next. In fact it was quite a week before the wind blew suffi- cientlv hard to carry him out past the headland and beyond the rocky reefs. From the wide veranda of a low white house upon the hillside a tall young girl in a white dress stood half lean- ing against one of the portico pillars. Her eyes had a suspicion of tears, but she did not move from her posi- tion until she had seen the big ship break out into a cloud of swelling, gleaming sails as she reached the safe waters outside the shoals. COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 41 Captain Bainbridge, as he looked back at the hillside, realized that tiiis little island, scarcely twenty-five square miles in extent, contained all in the world for him, and he once had imagined that he saw the Hash of a signal as if a white kerchief was waved from the garden-shrouded porch of the house on the hilltop. He would return again, cargo or no cargo; to that he made up his mind: but he did not know how soon this event was sfoine to occur. However, to his delight, when he reached his destination, one of the islands of the western archipelago, he found a letter from the owners instructing him to pick up a cargo of indigo and dyestufTs, and then set sail for Philadelphia. Never was a ship unloaded so quickly, and almost one month to a day from the time he had left the harbor of Carenage his vessel, in charge of a native pilot, was a second time threading the narrow passage through the reefs. A small boat left the little white jetty as soon as Bainbridge had come to anchor. Under the sturdy strokes of her black crew she was at the vessel's side almost before Bainbridge could complete his arrangement to receive his visitors, for he had noticed the little boat and knew who the two figures were that sat in the stern sheet : one was his friend the Frenchman, and the other was John Hyleger, who had been for many years Governor of St. Eustatius, one of the islands belonging to the Dutch Government. Bainbridge was hard \m{ to it to hide his eagerness when, after the greeting, he asked concerning the health of the Honorable John's granddaughter, who. although he did not know it, had been the first to sight the ship and had informed her grandfather and his friend of the Ameri- can captain's approach. In three weeks everything was ready for departure, 4 42 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. the wind blew strong and steady, the cargo was stowed, and the sails were loosened ready to be dropped at the word; but there was some delay. On shore at the little church, whose windows were wide open to the flower- scented breeze, a ceremony was going on, and when Cap- tain Bainljridge, resplendent in a new blue coat witli silver buttons as large as half dollars, rowed off to his ship, a woman's slender figure sat beside him in the stern sheets; she turned from a half-tearful gaze at the little island and two figures standing on the shore, to glance up into her husband's face, smiling bravely and con- fidently. Never was such a precious cargo carried by any ship that sailed under any flag for any port. CHAPTER VI. Mr. and Mrs. Bainbridge were exceeding-ly de- lig^hted when they met their new daughter, and a visit to John Taylor at Middletown resulted in the old gentle- man's being completely captured by young Mrs. Bain- bridge's tact and pleasant manners. William Bainbridge was now in his twenty-fourth year. He had, as we have seen, assumed many respon- sibilities for so young a man, and had been through ex- periences and had surmounted difficulties in a way that would have done credit to any one many years his senior. But it was the old story of an old head on young shoulders, and people were apt to forget his youth after a few minutes' conversation with him, for his maimers were grave and dignified, and his calm, iniruffled temper never left him for a minute, no matter in what position he found himself. But his good spirits, his youth, and fearless nature were shown in the merry twinkle or the (|uick glance of his blue eye. It was some time before Bainbridge went to sea again, and this came about from various reasons. The difficulties with France which led to the quasi war with that country had now opened a new field for enterprising and chivalrous exertion. The Government had found it necessary to organize a small navy for the protection of our commerce from the encroachments of the French privateers, and movements began at the various navy yards to rehal)ilitate the service, which had dwindled almost into nothing since 43 44 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. the close of the war of the Re\olution. There were not sufificient officers to man the projected vessels unless the merchant marine was appealed to, for there were few in- deed who had received any instruction at all in regula- tion naval duties or manoeuvres. Of course a few older officers who had distinguished themselves in the war of the Revolution could be still depended upon, but judicious selection from among the commanders of the American merchant vessels became necessary. Among the first names inscribed on the list of the Secretary of War, who was then acting as Secretary of the Navy, was that of William Bainbridge, already his reputation for decision of character and bravery was widespread, and when Captain Decatur (whose son, Stephen Decatur, was so soon to distinguish himself) brought into port the schooner L'Incroyable, just taken as a prize from the French by the sloop-of-war Delaware, the command of her was offered to Captain Bainbridge. In a few months the \essel was outfitted, and under a new name, the Retaliation, she set sail in September. 1789. in company with the brig Norfolk under the comman'd of Captain Williams. The two small vessels were under orders to cruise in Southern waters, where they were to join the flag of Commodore Murray, who commanded the frigate Monte- zuma. The islands of the West Indies were dangerous sailing grounds for peaceable and unarmed merchantmen. Pirates teemed in the Gulf, and the French privateers, who fell but little short of being freebooters, rendezvoused at various ports and preyed rather indiscriminately upon all vessels weaker than themselves. It might be said that although no open declaration of war had taken place as an official act. yet France (then under a Rejiublican form of govenuuent) and her sister republic, whom siie had helped not long before, were at COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 45 odds. Hostilities had commenced at sea, and overt acts were plenty. But no adventure of any moment was met with until the first week of November, although one or two small French vessels had been chased into the protection of the harbors during the month of October. Bv this time the crew of the Retaliation had, owing to Bainbridge's untiring efforts, been changed from that of a merchant vessel to one having all the marks of a regular service. Strict discipline was maintained, and strong measures had been necessary to enforce it. But the officers knew their ship and knew their men, and the latter had begun to respect their commander. Commodore Murray had taken occasion to compliment him on the wonderful improve- ment accomplished under his direction. Off the island of Guadeloupe at sunrise one bright morning during the first week of November, three sail were discovered bearing east-south-east and only about two leagues distant. At about the same time two other vessels hove in sight to the westward, upon which the commodore signaled Bainbridge to hold his course, while he in the Montezuma and Captain Williams in the Nor- folk bore away in chase of the strangers to the west. It was thought that the three sails first sighted were Brit- ish, so Bainbridge kept on his way and was not surprised when he saw the English colors go up to the peak of the leading frigate. Nearer they approached, but, when at about pistol-shot distance, down came the English flag and up went that of France. One of the big fellows fired a broadside that brought a few spars to deck and smashed into the bulwarks of the Retaliation, and at the same time another ranged alongside and ordered the com- mander of the schooner to lower his flag and repair on board immediately. Bainbridge was totally unprepared for making any re- 46 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. sistance, and as the ship on his port hand carried forty- fuur guns, and the one on the other carried ihirty-six, there was nothing else to do Inn give in. Sadly he saw his flag come down, and calling away his boat, he rowed off to the larger vessel in obedience to the order. She was a fine craft, but at half a glance he could see that thine-s existed on board of her that would not be toler- ated on board an English or an American vessel of the regular service. The men appeared slovenly and the decks were littered about with various odds and ends, and untidy to a degree. As he walked u]) to the (luarter- deck, a handsome, middle-aged man with a great deal of gold lace on the wide lapels of his long-tailed coat, approached him. Bainbridge drew his sword and extended the hilt toward the resplendent stranger, balancing the blade across his forearm. " r^Iav I ask to whom I have the honor of surrender- mg? "To Commodore St. Lawrence, of the navy of the French Republic. But as you had no opportunity to de- fend yourself. I beg you. sir. pray retain your sword." Very politely he then asked the name of Bainbridge's vessel, and, learning of her former career, made some remark that might be translated into " turn about is fair play." The X'olontier. the flagship, remained hove to while she placed a prize crew on board the unfortunate Re- taliation, but the other vessels, the larger of which Bainbridge learned wa^ named 1/ Insurgent, accom- panied by a little sloop, were making off after the Nor- folk and the Montezuma, who had run out of their wind and whose chase had escaped them. Their capture ap- peared inevit;ible. and as the \'(»lontier was a mile or so behind them, it ajii^eared that she would be too late to take a hand in the action if there was to be one. On tlie ilcck nf tlie Volontier. COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 47 Bainbridge had joined the group of officers that had made their way forward to the forecastle, and with feel- ings of great distress he watched the two vessels ahead near the American ships, which had little chance of escape left them. Suddenly the h^rench commodore turned to him. '■ Monsieur," he said, " what is the size and armament of your two consorts yonder? " Without hesitation Bainbridge made reply: " The ship, sir, mounts twenty-eight long twelve- pounders and the brig twenty nine-pounders." And if he breathed an inward prayer for thus doubling his friends' armaments, he must have smiled also to see the result of his ruse de guerre, for Commodore St. Law- rence, with a great deal of excitement in his manner and gestures, hustled his officers to right and left, loudly calling upon them to signal L'Insurgent and the smaller vessel to return. Soon it was seen that the former had perceived her recall, for she came about and waited until the Volontier bore down within speaking distance. In the mean time the Norfolk and the Montezuma, having caught a new slant of wind, were making off, carrying all sail and grow- ing smaller and smaller every minute of the time. An amusing conversation now took place between the flagship and smaller frigate. Captain Barro, the commander of the latter vessel, al- most jumped up and down in his anger as he demanded the reason for his being called off just as he was about to capture both vessels; and upon the commodore stat- ing that they were of " superior force," he went on to state, shrieking his words over the taffrail. for the two ships were now near together: " I could have taken them both — both, monsieur. There was not a gun on board either heavier than a six- 48 COMMODORE BAINBIIIDGE. pounder." He hammered angrily upon the rail with his heavy cocked hat, almost weeping in his wrath and irrita- tion. The commodore, who had spoken hitherto in fairly good English, turned to Bainbridge, who was standing by, with difficulty repressing the smile that would rise to his lip. " Did you not say. sir. that the force of these vessels was such as I have stated? " " I did,'' responded Bainbridge sternly; " but if I could save two ships of my Government simply by misrepresent- ing their strength, I think I was justified in doing so. The circumstances warranted my hazarding the asser- tion, sir." Perhaps St. Lawrence recognized the logic and made allowance for the temptation, for he said no more, and that evening requested Captain Bainbridge's presence at his table, as if nothing had occurred. During the course of his stay on board the Volontier he treated him with the greatest kindness and consideration, and pre- sented him to General Desfourneaux. who was being sent out from France to Guadeloupe to supersede the famous Governor, Victor Hughes. The day after the capture, the three vessels of war and their prize anchored in the harbor about six miles from Basse-Terre. the capital of the island, and the next morn- ing all were landed. The officers and crew of the Retaliation were ordered into close confinement in a loathsome prison; but, owing to the solicitation of his friend the commodore. Bainbridge and the commissioned officers were afterward brought ofT shore and allowed to remain on board the frigate, where they were given full liberty and treated with kindness. On the tenth day Bainbridge was permitted to visit the shore on his parole of honor, for the purpose of arrang- COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 49 ing with General Desfourneaux. with whom he had had but a few words on shipboard, an exchange of prisoners, in accordance with instructions transmitted to him by Com- modore Murray, who had sent a letter in to him by a Danish brig. It was just at this time that the French people had begun that system of the alTectation of extreme equality. Ceremony was dispensed with and a strange attitude of comradeship, simplicity, and make-beheve frankness took its place. Dressed in a quiet suit of citizen's clothing. Bain- bridge awaited an audience with General Desfourneaux. In a few minutes he was admitted, and at once was asked to seat himself at table with Ic general, as the latter was about to take his luncheon. With the assertion that " sea fare did not agree with him," the general requested the vouns: American to ioin him in the meal of a " blunt old soldier," and invited him to speak openly and frankly, as two citizens " would talk over their wdne." The remark- able interview that followed is well worth a chapter to itself. But it did not take the young lieutenant (for that was but his actual rating in the service) long to deter- mine that he was dealing with a wily old diplomat used to intrigue, and able to blow hot and cold with the same breath, despite his air of sincerity and bo)ihoinic. It would pay him well to be upon his guard. CHAPTER VII. " Now, captain," commenced the hoary old villain. " Lieutenant, sir." ])nt in Bainbridge, anxious to ap- pear on even terms at the outset. The general did not notice the interruption, except that he corrected himself in the next sentence, continu- ing: " I do not wish you to consider yourself as a prisoner, lieutenant, or I do not desire that your comrades shall be treated as such. I pray you look upon your stopping here as if you were visitors detained merely from political motives. We intend to treat you as both friends and allies, I assure you." In view of the fact that his crew were now lingering in a dungeon, this assertion appeared to be something remarkable, but it did not trouble the " blunt old soldier " in the slightest degree. " Of course, it may seem strange, but I have long thought how great an advantage would accrue from the establishment of commercial relations between this beau- tiful island and your great countr\- of the United States." Bainbridge remained silent, waiting to hear what all this would lead uj) to. for he did not doubt that there was much more behind it. " If you would but consider yourself the representative of your nation — which you are. for there are no others that rank you on the island — we could accomplish a great deal to the mutual advantage of countries," went on Des- 50 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 51 foiirneaux, who had lost all interest in his soldier's fare. " I promise that I will liberate your men and officers, and restore your ship to you, if you will agree to consider, as the representative of your country, of course, the island of Guadeloupe as neutral during the passage cfafincs be- tween the French Republic and the United States." Bainbridge saw the pit into which the other would draw him. and he replied calmly, after a moment's thought, choosing his words in order that he might not be misunderstood. " You must know, general," he said, " that my au- thority extends no farther than to enter into an arrange- ment for an exchange of prisoners. If I took upon myself to enter into such negotiations as you mention, and they were disclaimed, you would place the United States in the position of an aggressor, which probably would please you. And whatever may be your views in regard to the condition of my men — I speak not for myself — I consider the crew of the Retaliation as not only being held in cap- tivity, but as being treated with great barbarity." The general then adopted a confidential tone in his reply: " I admit that it appears so, yes," he said; "but you see Monsieur Hughes has not yet left the island. I can not revoke his orders until his departure. This, allow me to say, is the explanation." "General Desfourneaux," returned Bainbridge, " while your proposition seems very liberal, I can not see my way clear to assume this responsibility; but if you wish to make a cartel of my vessel, I will vouch that my country will exchange prisoners, man for man." " I intend to include," put in the wily Governor, as if offering special inducements, " all of the political hostages now on the island." Bainbridge. however, was not to be entrapped, and the curious interview was terminated without the Frenchman 52 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. securing- the upper hand. The " political hostages " were confined in a dungeon much too small for them. They were almost naked and in a state of starvation. Many of them were masters of vessels, and the jailer had proved himself to be a drunken, unfeeling brute. The news had been circulated among them that they were about to secure their liberty, and great rejoicing was the result; but they were doomed to sore disappointment. Their condition grew worse and worse, as if the new Governor had determined to wreak vengeance upon them. Bainbridije had received assurances from Desfour- neaux that they would be placed in better prisons, and at least treated as if they were human beings, but these promises came to naught, and the young officer found himself powerless to assist his unfortunate countrymen, although he boldly remonstrated against conduct so averse to the modern usages of war. Nothing but the fact that he had gained some powerful friends through his own personality prevented the Governor from placing him in close confinement. About the last of December the Pohsea. frigate, from Point Petre, arrived at Guadeloupe, and on board of her were twenty or thirty Americans who had been captured by French privateers. Tn consequence of the diminution of the French force, as alleged by the captain of the frigate, these men had been compelled to do duty as part of the crew. Hearing of this occurrence, Bainbridge waited upon Desfourneaux, and alleged that as these men were prisoners of war they should not 1k^ kept in confine- ment where thcv iiiiglit be compelled at any time to take up arms against their countrymen. 1 le added that if they were neutrals, as the Governor had intimated in a previous conversation, there could be no excuse for their deten- tion on board a public ship. The Governor gave prompt assurance that the prison- COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 53 ers would be landed, as the vessel, he acknowledged, was within his jurisdiction. lUit the next day Bainbridge, to his anger and indignation, saw the Ponsea sailing for France without one of the Americans being released from their bondage. Angry at being thus trilled with, he again sought an interview, and a heated discussion followed, which ended in the Governor's renewing his offer to liberate all citizens of the United States, pro- vided that Bainbridge would assume the responsibility he had hitherto refused. He also insisted that Bainbridge should use his best influence to open trade with Guade- loupe, although he knew what a nest of pirates the harbor was. An extract from Bainbridge's letter, which he wrote a few davs later, is of interest: " To His Excellency, the Governor of Guadeloupe. " Sir: As you are well aware that the prisons of Basse-Terre are crowded with my fellow-citizens, many of whom have l)een brought into port since my arrival, and as I know from my own observation that American mer- chant vessels have been here condemned as lawful prizes, your Excellency will excuse me if I express doubt of your good will toward either the Government or the citizens of the United States. You offer to restore the Retaliation to mv command. I can not accept unless I am permitted to follow the instructions of my Government, viz.. to cap- ture all armed vessels sailing under the flag of the French Republic. The Retaliation is n(nv a French prize, being captured bv two of your national frigates. I can not take command of a vessel belonging to an enemy and give a pledge to be governed by an enemy's orders without disgracing myself as an ofBcer and rendering myself liable to deserved punishment by a court martial. If I return 54 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. in the Retaliation, she must be a cartel and commanded by a French officer. " I have the honor to be yours, etc., " \V. Bainbridge." The Governor was thrown into a frightful rage at this refusal to accept his proposition. He sent for the lieu- tenant and informed him of his intention to place him in close imprisonment, to which Bainbridge replied that no fear of punishment could induce him to abandon the principles which would always govern him as an officer of the American navy. At last, wishing to conciliate the United States, even if he could obtain no pledge in advance, Desfourneaux fitted out a cartel, under the command of a French cap- tain, and sent her with the Retaliation to the United States, the returned prisoners amounting to nearly three hundred. In a final interview with Bainbridge he declared that he had resolved to compel the immediate departure of the Retaliation, and in the event of anv act of hostilitv beine committed previous to her arrival in the United States, he would put to death every American prisoner who might be hereafter captured or brought to the island. The cartel bore prepared dispatches to the President of the United States, in which General Desfourneaux made assurances of the neutral position of the island, and pointed to his release of the prisoners as a pledge of his sincerity. What he really feared was a blockade of his ports! Bainbridge's conduct was highly approved of by the Government upon investigation, and he was immediatelv promoted to the rank of master and commander, and or- dered to take charge of the brig-of-war Norfolk (the ves- sel he had saved), then lying in the Delaware River. He COMxMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 55 was given directions to fit her for active service as quickly as possible. As soon as the brig was ready to proceed to sea, her commander was ordered to report to Commodore Trux- ton, then sailing with the frigate Constellation in the West Indies. He cruised among the Windward Islands, and took under his charge successfully several convoys of American merchantmen, among which was one fleet of one hundred and nineteen sail, bound to different ports of the United States. Returning from this arduous service to New York in the month of August, Bainbridge learned to his great mortification that while absent there had been five lieu- tenants promoted over him to the rank of captain. He remonstrated in vain against this act of injustice, but re- ceived no reparation, except an assurance that it would not occur again. Nothing but his pride and attachment to the service, and the earnest solicitation of his friends, prevented his pursuing a course which would have de- prived the navy of an efificient and capable officer. Again he set sail on a cruise to the West Indies, where he captured a number of piratical craft, and landed on the island of Hispaniola, and on the 8th of November, off Cape Nicola Mole, he took the French armed vessel Republican and a prize that she had just taken. On the 14th of November the young commander found himself at the head of a small squadron consisting of his own vessel the Norfolk, the brig W'arren. and the sloop Pinckney, each carrying eighteen guns. With this small force he blockaded the harbor of Havana to prevent the escape of a large French privateer, and he did this so effectually that the latter vessel was dismantled, and ample protection was afforded to American merchant vessels cruising in Cuban waters. Up to the time of Bainbridge's assuming command of 56 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. this station the French cruisers had preyed on the com- merce of the United States to a vast and ruinous ex- tent. But so untiring was his vigilance and exertion that for six months, during the most inclement and , boisterous season of the year, his little squadron kept continually at sea, with the exception of ten days, when he was obliged to go into port for water and provis- ions. The American merchants of Havana, upon his de- parture for the United States, presented him with the fol- lowing letter, dated March i, 1800: " Having witnessed the ample protection which you have extended to American commerce trading to this island, it would be doing injustice to our feelings were we to suppress our acknowledgments of the vigilance, perseverance, and urbanity which have marked your conduct during your arduous command on this station. *' It must afford peculiar pleasure to the citizens of the United States to know that a trade which was so re- cently exposed to frequent depredations now passes in almost certain security; and we doubt not that they, with us, will do you the justice to acknowledge the essen- tial services which you have rendered your country." ' Sailing from Havana in ]\Iarch, Bainbridge arrived in Philadelphia early in April. lie immediately ])ro- ceeded home and found all his family well and anxiously awaitino- him. To the delight of all his friends, and to his own satisfaction, he heard that his conduct had been viewed favorably l)y the 1^-esident, and that he had been promoted to the rank of captain, his commission dating from the ist of May, 1800. Only a few days later he was ordered to the command of the frigate George Washing- COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 57 ton, a fine vessel, and one of the largest in our navy. But his first orders were not calculated to give him much of either pride or pleasure in their execution; and this will be told about in the chapter that is to follow. It exposes truly a strange condition of affairs. CHAPTER VIII. John Taylor was seated in an armchair in the warm spring sunshine, and beside him sat the wife of his favorite grandson. Her head was leaning against the old gentle- man's knee, and one of her hands was clasped in both of his. " Indeed, my dear, it is hard to have him leave us again so soon; but I can tell you that it is an honor, of course, that he should accept the command of such a tine vessel; perhaps he may not be sent on the foreign service for some time, and we may have him here much longer with us. Hullo! who's coming up the road? " he added, break- ing off suddenly and raising one hand to shade his eye. " Some one on horseback." answered Mrs. Bainbridge. rising to her feet. A man on a strong brown horse reined in at the steps and, leaping from the saddle, left the nag to nibble at the short spring turf. " Dispatches for Captain Bainbridge, sir," he said, saluting. *' I'll bring them to him." said Mrs. Bainbridge. ex- tending her hand. P.ut she was saved the trouble, for just then the figure of Bainbridge himself apj^eared in the doorway. He took the package, and his handsome face clouded a little as he (il)scr\e(l his wife's troubled look. " Sailing orders. William? " she asked, her underlip trembling suspiciously. "Yes, dear, I fear so." 58 COMMODORE BAINBRIDOE. 59 Without brcakiiif^ the seal he tiinicd and went into the house. Mrs. Bainbridge again sHpped her hand into old John Taylor's outstretched palm. A tear that she endeavored to hide stole down her check, but the old man had noticed it. " A sailor's wife " he began. " Should be brave, I know," concluded his grand- daughter, anticipating his remark; "but sometimes it does seem hard, I must confess." A silence followed that was broken by the footsteps of Captain Bainbridge approaching down the hallway. It was evident that he was suffering from some irritation. " Well, William." asked his grandfather, " what's the news? Welcome, I hope." " Quite the reverse, sir," replied the captain. " I am ordered to take that infamous tribute to Alo-iers! A pretty commission for a gentleman and an officer to exe- cute! " " It is a disgrace to the country." exclaimed Grand- father Taylor, thumping down both fists on the arms of his chair. " There is one kind of tribute I would like to give them," continued William. " and that is from the mouth of my guns. The idea that we, a Christian nation, and bound to be one of the most powerful, should permit such a scandal as buying imnuniity from a lot of Barbary pirates is almost as bad as submitting to the English right of search." " If anything, it's worse," ])ut in Mr. Taylor. " Think of the contempt that they must hold us in! ' Dogs of Christians ' they call us." " \\>11. there are others in the same position." Cap- tain Bainbridge answered, sitting down on the lower step beside his wife. " Almost all of Europe pays tribute in one wav or another." 6o COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. " Except England." suggested Mr. Taylor. ''Ay, there's the rub!" was the answer. "It is my opinion that she supports these brigands and buccaneers in order to gain the supreme control of the commercial Mediterranean. Proof is not lacking to show that in this I am correct. They could suppress every pirate from Gibraltar to the Bosphorus in three months, but they would not have it otherwise than as it is." In common with many of the officers and a large pro- portion of American citizens, Bainbridge held strong prejudices against Great Britain, and bewailed her in- fluence. But, odd to relate, his grandfather, during the war of the Revolution, had been an opponent of rebellion, and his own father, Absalom Bainbridge, had been an out-and-out Tory and had moved to New York during the war in order that his children should be among the adherents of the Crown, who held the city. Nevertheless all of the younger generation had grown up stout patriots, and it had not taken the honest doctor very long to change his opinions, although he would never discuss the question under any provocation. It is easy to see how a mission like the delivering of the tribute money to Algiers should gall so high-spirited a nature as was Bainbridge's; but duty was paramount, orders were to be obeyed, and as soon as the George Washington was in readiness and all arrangements had been completed he bade farewell to his wife and family and set sail. He arrived at Algiers with the annual tribute, amount- ing to some tweniN tliousand dollars, which he placed in llio hands of the rnilod States consul, declining to assist in any ceremony of presentation to the Dey. The George Washington was the strongest American frifrate that the Algerines had ever seen, and in fact was one of the largest ships that ever dropped anchor in the COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 6i harbor. She lay close in under the guns of two powerful batteries, and the wily Dey, a little angered, perhaps, at the short way in which the tribute had been paid to him, viewed the tall spars and tinely modeled hull with envy Algiers. not unminerled with ire, and a brilliant idea entered his head. Why not humble this distant nation still more, and make use of the fine craft yonder as it it were his own? Acting upon this inspiration, he sent at once for the Ameri- can consul, ]\Ir. Richard O'Brien, a sagacious and intelli- gent man, who had been at a former period a prisoner in this very country. After the audience with the regent, the consul left the palace and hastened to the shore, where he was for- tunate enough to find a cutter of the George Washington waiting at the dock. Explaining to the cockswain the 62 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. urgency of his desire to see Captain Bainbridge, he was placed on board at once. Bainbridge received him in the cabin. Consul O'Brien was evidently in some distress of mind, so Bainbridge treated him cordially, asked him to sit down, at the same time dismissing a number of officers who were loitering at the table, for dinner was just over. " Well, sir," he said, " what is amiss? What can I do for you? " " I do not know what is to be done," responded the consul. " but 1 nmst speak quickly and to the point, even if 1 have to indulge in a short preamble. You know, Cap- tain Bainbridge. that all the Barbary States are under the direct control and obey the commands of the Grand Seignior at Constantinople. They are practically hire- lings and dependents upon the Turk and the Ottoman power. The present Dey — confound him! — has got him- self into a mess with the Porte because he has concluded a treaty of peace with France just at this time when Tur- key, and England, her all\-. are carrying on the war in Egypt against the young General Bonaparte. There is the situation in a nutshell. Xow it has entered his un- scrupulous old head — bad luck to him! — that it would be a fine thing indeed to appease the heathen Turk by sending to him presents of money and various things that the old villain has stolen, and to have them accompanied by a special ambassador to Constantinople." " Well, I can see no objection." returned Bainbridge. " Yes; but, man dear — excuse me. Captain — he wants to send them in your ship — in the George Washington, that bears the flag of the Ignited States, bv all the powers! " Bainbridge threw back his head antl laughed heartily. " Do you suppose for one minute that I intend to allow him to carry out his intentions? " he asked. COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 63 " But, my dear Captain, make note of this: he is a murdering old divil that will stop at nothing. Can't you sail out this very instant? " " Not without some wind to sail with," responded Bainbridge, looking out of one of the after ports. " Can't you secure an audience for me with the regent? I should like to politely express my opinions to him." " You will find that he is hard to change in his de- terminations," replied Mr. O'Brien. " Could you warp the vessel to the mouth of the harbor? " " It would be a hard job," Bainbridge answered. " But for that matter, if they wanted to prevent my leaving, they could dismantle me before I had sailed a cable's length. Just look up there." Over two hundred pieces of ordnance of heavy weight frowned down upon the frigate, and from innumerable loopholes in the castle a fire of musketry could have swept her decks and tops. Near the entrance to the harbor two crescent-shaped batteries stood close to the water's edge, and at the inner bend of the anchorage another small fort looked out over the roadstead. But the next morning Bainbridge found that Mr. O'Brien had been successful, and that the Dey w^ould grant him an audience soon after his morning meal, which took place at noonday. The captain found the Algerine potentate sitting cross-legged on a luxurious divan, being fanned by two large slaves, while his ministers sat at some dis- tance about the walls. No chairs were provided, and during the interview, that was carried on by the aid of an interpreter. Bainbridge stood, and he stood very erect too, with folded arms, and indulged in none of the genuflections that characterize court etiquette in Alrreria. 64 COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. " Has the consul expressed my desires to the Ameri- can captain? " was the first question the Dey asked. ** He has, and the American captain regrets that he can not comply with the distinguished request, as it would be contrary to the orders of his Government received before leaving home." " That is all right on the other side of the water," the Dey responded, " but here my wishes are of more im- portance." " That I deny," returned Bainbridge through the in- terpreter. The Dey did not allow it to be seen how these words nettled him, but the retort that he made showed the posi- tion he intended to take in the matter. " For what your country says." he sneered. " I care no more than for a handful of dried dates. You are in my power. It makes no matter to me whether you declare war or not. It would only make me richer and more powerful: but tliis niucli nui>t be understood: either ytni take my ambassador and my presents to Constantinople or you sink where you are. And in three weeks my harbor shall be filled with American shipping. I have said." At this moment O'l'ricn s])oke up. He endeavored to explain the position in which Captain Bainbridge was placed. He informed the Dey that such procedure was contrary to all national law. and he said that the whole of Europe would re\'olt at such an arl)itrary mode of procedure. But nothing moved the obstinate old Mussul- man, and when Mr. O'Brien li;ul tinished speaking he intimated that the audience was at an end. Once out in the open air. O'Brien expressed his feel- ings in no measured terms. F)ainbri(lge was too angry to speak, but he was going over everything calmly and dispassionateh' in his mind, lie knew that the Dey would make good his threats, and he thought of the unprotected COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 65 commerce thai would be at the mercy of the ruthless barbarian if the Algerines were turned loose to seek their prey. " It is a good deal like having a man put a pistol to your head and order you to dance," remarked the consul. " Yes, somewhat similar," Bainbridge returned. " What would you do in such a case? " " By the saints, 1 suppose I'd foot it." answered the little Irish-American with a shrug of his shoulders. '* Couldn't you slip your cable and get out under cover of darkness? I'd rather have a cargo of monkeys than a shipload of those heathen Turks for companions." Bainbridue called a council of his officers that night in the cabin. It was impossible to slip out of the harbor, and the next morning he wrote the following letter, which he placed on board a small vessel bound for Spain, with instructions to put it on board the first home-bound American ship that might be met with. The epistle was addressed to the home Government, and, after the in- troductory form, it read as follows: *' The Dey of Algiers, soon after my arrival, made a demand that the United States ship George Washington should carry an ambassador to Constantinople, with pres- ents to the amount of five or six hundred thousand dollars, and upward of two hundred Turkish passengers. Every effort was made by nic to evade this demand, but it availed nothing. The light in which the chief of this regency looks upon the people of the United States may be inferred from his style of expression. Tie remarked to me: 'You pay me tribute. l)y which you become my slaves; I have therefore a right to order you as I may think proper.' ■■ The un])leasant situation in which 1 am i)laced must convince you that I have no alternative left but compli- 66 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. ance, or a renewal of hostilities against our commerce. The loss of the frigate and the fear of slavery for myself and crew were the least circumstance to be apprehended; but I knew our valuable commerce in these seas would fall a sacrifice to the corsairs of this power, as we have here no cruisers to protect it. Inclosed is the correspondence between Richard O'Brien, consul general, and myself on the subject of the embassy, bx' which you will see that I had no choice in acting, but was governed by the tyrant in whose power I had fallen. " I h()j)e I may never again be sent to Algiers with tribute, unless 1 am authorized to deliver it from the mouth of our cannon. I trust that my conduct will be approved of by the President, for, with every desire to act rightly, it has caused me many unpleasant moments." .A. strange assortment of presents they were, and only such as one barbaric power could send to another, and especially if that power had at some time had free access to the contents of various vessels of all nations. Silks and satins from French looms, cloth and handsome em- broideries, ])late and chinaware frc^m various places, three handsome Arabian steeds, and two tame lion cubs were stored on board, and the retinue of the aniI)assador, num- bering some two hundred Mohammedans, thronged the decks. r>ainbri(lge. having been fiirced to submit to this in- dignitv, made u\) his mind to do it as gracefully as he could; l)Ut a crowning alTront was to be offered him be- fore he cleared the uidulh of tlie liarbor. An Algerine rowboat. manned by twenty oarsmen, came alongside the vessel with orders from the Dev that the George \\'ash- ington sliould proceed It) L ()nstantino])le tbing the llag of Algiers! ( )ne was handed up to him for the pur]")Ose. Bainbridge called awa\ his gig at t)nce and, thoroughly COMMODORE RAINBRIDGE. 67 angry, rowed ashore, and made his way to the palace. The bey would not see him, but he carried on a conversa- tion with him through one of his head men. The American captain remonstrated in vain, and was forced at last to row back to the ship and hoist the hated flag at his peak while he t^ew the Stars and Stripes at his main and fore. Once outside of the harbor and beyond range of the guns that the Dey could bring to bear upon him. down came the green and yellow rag. The flag of the United States arose in its place, and. in some way that has never been accounted for, the Algerine emblem was lost overboard. It was the nineteenth day of October in the year 1800 when the George Washington set sail from Algiers. Head winds and bad weather were encountered from the out- set, and the crowded condition of the ship made every one uncomfortable. The Mussulman is compelled by his religion to pray fre- quently at various stated intervals during the day, and a sine qua iioii is that he should face toward Mecca — in this instance toward the east. Tt was a remarkable sight to see the ambassador and his suite prostrating themselves upon the deck, and then, as the ship swung off upon another tack, rushing to the binnacle to be sure that their prayers were directed properly. With the sailors hauling and bawling about them, and not anv too careful how they stepped among the worshiping Turks, it must have been a remarkable sight. In fact, it was very hard to manage the Algerines without resorting to severe measures, which would have been hardly proper under the circumstances, as they were supposed to be distinguished guests. After fifty-nine days of severe tossing, the entrance to the Dardanelles was sighted, with the two large forts guarding the highway to Constantinople. Bainbridge took on board a pilot when some distance from the en- 68 COMMODORE RAIXP.RIDGE. trance, and as they approached the narrow gateway the officer of the deck was told that it was ahvavs necessary for foreign ships to come to anchor under the guns of the great fortress to the east and await there the permis- sion or tirman from the Grand Seignior. Immediately Bainbridge was informed, and the prospect of having to The Dardanelles. remain detained any longer than was absolutely neces- sary was most distressing to him. So stratagem was determined upon to enable the George Washington to overcome this obstacle. The guns of the forward battery were loaded with a double saluting charge, and the frigate, under the favor- ing wind, swept up the narrow channel, clewing up her topsails and hauling down the jib as if it was her inten- tion to anchor. It was a warm, hazy day: the ram])arts of the fort were seen to be lined with soldiers watcliing the frigate as she approached. When about midway in the passage, Bainbridge began to fire a salute of twenty- one guns, which he did as rapidly as they could be loaded and primed. At once both forts began to answer. The COMMODORE BAINRRIDGE. 69 air clouded up with tlic wliile. opaque smoke, and when it cleared away the Turks must have l)een astonished to perceive the vessel they supposed they would find anchored near to them a full mile or more up the straits, bowling along with studding sails and royals set and drawing. In the course of a few hours the George Washington dropped her anchor in the harbor of Constantinople, the tirst vessel in the history of man to have reached that place without first securing the permission of the Sultan. The frigate lay in the lower part of the harbor. It was the 9th of November, and late in the afternoon. The many minarets and slender spires and domes of the city gleamed in the sun. The gray castle and the fortifications that lined the water's edge were crowded, as the forts had been below, with troops of curious soldiery and citizens. Pres- ently from the castle a boat put out, the rowers of which pulled long oars whose handles were weighted at the end, and they made her dance through the water at a lively pace. A man with a large turban on his head sat in the stern sheets, and seeing that it was his intention to board, the ladder was hastily dropped, and in another instant he stood at the gangway. " What vessel is this? " he asked, speaking very good French. " The George Washington from the United States," Bainbridge replied, lifting his hat. To every one's surprise, this answer was sufficient, for, without coming down upon the deck, the visitor hastened down to the boat, and at the same racing pace rowed back to the castle. Before the sailors had finished rigging the starboard gangway he had again returned, and having boarded, he approached Captain Bainbridge and made a low obeisance. COMMODORE liAIXP.RinGE. " The Turkish Government sends greetings," he said. " But no one has ever heard here of such a Government as the United States. Will the captain please explicitly describe what countrv he hails from and what gfovern- ment he represents." Bainbridge thought for a minute, and then made an- swer. " Will you say to those who sent you," he said, dis- covering that the gayly caparisoned visitor was merely a messenger, " that this frigate comes from the country to the westward — the Xew World — discovered bv Colum- bus? " This seemed entirely satisfactory, and the turbaned one took his departure for the second time. In a few hours a larger boat was seen approaching with the same messenger, accompanied by an elderly man. and they came on board at once. They brought a lamb and a bunch of flowers, the former as an emblem of peace and the latter of welcome. The elderly man proved to be the captain of the port, and he bore instructions to conduct the frigate into the inner harbor. The anchor was tri])ped as she entered into the mole, passing close to the castle and firing a salute of twenty-one guns, which apparently afforded much satisfaction and was returned promptly. Half an hour after the George Washington had come to anchor, although it was now (juite late, a boat rowed off to the shij) with an invitatit)n from the Grand Seignior for the American commander to appear before his august presence. The Algerine ambassador was not mentioned, although word had been sent of his arrival. The Grand Seignior's first remark w;i< upon the flag that he had particularly noticed. " It is, like my own." he said, " decorated with one of the heavenly bodies, and I consider this coincidence a COMMODORE BAINP.RIDOE. good omen of the future friendly intercourse between our respective nations. It is most probable that we have many affinities of laws, religion, and manners." Bainbridge tried to explain in a few words a little about his country, and the Sultan displayed great interest but great ignorance. The next morning the Algerine ambassador reported himself at the palace but was de- nied an audience, word being sent to him to wait until the return of the Capudan Pasha, or High Admiral, then absent on a cruise. As the ambassador refused to leave the ship, Bainbridge was compelled to put up with him as a guest for some time longer; but he hoped the Capudan Pasha would not delay long, for he was anxious to get rid of his mission and proceed home- ward. The eighth day after the arrival of the George Wash- ington a very resplendent dragoman came ofTshore, and by means of an interpreter, who spoke French, he in- quired of Captain Bainbridge if the latter did not know that there was such an officer as the Reis EfTendi in the city of Constantinople. " You have reached this port," added the dragoman, " without citlier the consent or the acknowledgement of the Turkish Government — something without precedent — and }ou ha\e neglected to report yourself to the proper officer, and thereby you have offered him an indignity which requires a reparation. His Supreme Royal High- ness, the Reis Effendi, hereby orders you to report and a])])ear before him to-morrow morning at ten o'clock." Bainbridge was nonplused at first, but he concluded that it would be best to put on a bold front, although he did not know against whom he had offended. " Although I command this ship, tell your master," he said, " I carry an ambassador with presents to the Sul- tan, and I feel under no obligations to hold intercourse COMMODORE EAIXBRIDGE. with members of the Government other than an inter- change of civiHties." " Xo matter what your own personal feehngs may be," responded the dragoman, nodding significantly, " I advise you not to disobey the commands which I have deliv- ered." " I (U) not regard them as commands," Bainbridge said rather hotly, for the understrapper's insolence was cal- culated to disturb one's peace of mind. " And as for his threats, tell him they amount to nothing. This is all I have to say." Upon thinking matters over later in the day, it seemed to him that it would be prudent to find out from some of the resident ministers of one of the countries friendly to the United States exactly what position the Effendi held, and what it would be best for him to do under the circumstances. As the United States had no representa- tive at all at the Sultan's court. Bainbridge accordingly waited on Lord Elgin, the British ambassador, and told him the whole story, informing him of the message he had received from the Reis Effendi. and expressing a hope that the amicable relations then existing between their respective governments would justify his calling upon him for such aid as he might find necessary in case any trouble should arise. Lord Elgin responded promptly by offering his friend- ly services, and stating that the object of the Reis Efifendi was merely to obtain a bribe. He promised to send a message by his dragoman to the importunate gentleman that would prevent all further annoyance. " You see. Captain Piainbridge." Lord Elgin said. " the Grand \'izier. or Reis Effendi. as he calls himself, is actually next in rank to the Sultan. But he and the latter are comparative strangers for the simple reason that the Ottoman potentate has no private correspondence or in- COMMODORE BAINBRIDCxE. 73 terviews with any high official of his Government unless it happens that the officer has some near relationship through blood or marriage — a most singular regulation, but in this case one that works to your favor, for the Effendi and the Sultan scarcely speak to one another, and only meet at public functions." After expressions of gratitude for his lordship's kind- ness, Bainbridge put back to his ship, much reassured, for he was placed in a worse position in Constantinople than he was in the harbor of Algiers, having no one at all to represent his Government, and being under the guns of the fort, escape was beyond question. Two weeks went by, and on the fourteenth day a man working up aloft shouted down to the deck of the George Washington that a large fleet of thirty or forty sail was approaching, distant about six or eight miles. Before sunset the Capudan Pasha, the Lord High Ad- miral, sailed in. just home from Egypt, with fifteen sail of the line and thirty smaller vessels. As the leading battle ship entered the harbor the George Washington fired a salute. But no answer was given, for at that moment a heavy squall blew across the Bosporus, and many of the vessels were taken all aback, the largest, the flagship, only being saved from going ashore by dexterous handling. Bainbridge was disappointed and hurt that no attention had been paid to his twenty-one guns. But the next morning, very early, he was informed that the admiral's private secretary, IMr. Zacbe. was waiting to see him. Upon being ushered into the captain's pres- ence he advanced, and, omitting the low ol)eisance of the Ottoman, he extended his hand in European fashion, at the same time saying in good English: " The admiral's compliments to Captain Bainbridge. and he regrets that an accident alone prevented his re- plying to the captain's courteous salute. He desires me 6 74 COMMODORE BAINBr^IDGE. to state that he will relurn it at noon to-dav, gun for gun." Bainbridge could not help expressing his delight at meeting one who was close to those high in authority, who could speak his language, and who knew about his country. " Ah, indeed. I know of it well." returned the ad- miral's secretary. " 1 was educated in Paris and London, and while in the former place I had the great pleasure of meeting the illustrious Benjamin Franklin. Indeed, although I was a very young man, 1 might say that we became good friends." Bainbridge was much taken with Mr. Zacbe's engag- ing manner, his demeanor, and intelligence, and he held quite a long conversation. in which the secretary expressed himself as a great admirer of the structure of our insti- tutions, and displayed no little knowledge of our history. A friendship was thus commenced that lasted through many years; until Mr. Zacbe's death, in fact, regular cor- respondence was exchanged, although Bainbridge and he were so many thousands of miles apart. Promptly at twelve o'clock the Turkish flagship fired a salute with broadside guns, after which the captain re- ceived an invitation to visit the admiral at his palace, which was near to that of the Sultan and uoi far from the water. Capudan Pasha received the American officer w'ith the greatest hospitality and many protestations of delight. CHAPTER IX. When Lord El^in was informed by Bainbridge that the Capudan Pasha had taken the George Washington under his immediate protection, he was profuse in his congratulations, stating that it was an honor that had been extended to few vessels, and was full of promise for any negotiations that he might seek to bring about, or any favors he might desire to ask. " Your way is now paved," he said, " and no better opportunity could present itself for extending an entente cordiale between the Ottoman Government and your own." Bainbridge saw this, and after his reception by the Turkish admiral he invited the latter on board the frigate and made every preparation to luake a favorable impres- sion. Although the admiral declined the honor of din- ing, owing to the fact that he would have to meet the ambassador from Algiers, who had not been accredited, he came on board with a large retinue in great splendor late in the afternoon. The ship was covered with bunting, the yardarms were manned, and the crew were dressed in clean white uni- forms. The Capudan Pasha was delighted with every- thing he saw. He remarked with great approbation the correct deportment of the officers, and praised highly the discipline and subordination of the crew. He was amazed at the structure of the ship, the heaviness of her bulwarks, and the strength of her timbers; for, mind you. he looked 75 76 COMMODORE BAIN BRIDGE. at her witli a sailor's eye. Ikit most he marveled at the cleanliness and neatness thai prevailed throughout. He regretted frankly that such a state of things would never be found on board a Turkish vessel, and humorously ex- pressed it that he was afraid his junior officers would see no use in such carefulness and attention to detail. Before he left he invited Bainbridge and his first lieutenant to dine with him at his i)alace on the next day but one. Although this vvas not a state function, and there were but seven seated at the table, the dinner was of great importance, as Bainbridge learned that the embassy which he had been at such pains to bring thither was not to be accredited at all. The presents of silks and satins, the lion cubs, and the .Vrabian steeds were all to be returned whence they came. " What message the Grand Seignior intends to send to the Dey of Algiers has not yet been determined upon, but the Sultan has expressed the greatest displeasure at the conduct of Algiers, and will probably demand of him innnediate reparation for the depredations he has com- mitted on the connnerce of Austria and other friendly nations, and also for his disobedience in making peace with France, our enemy." Bainbridge then told of the insolent demand of the Dey that he should fly the Algerine tlag. When ho heard of this, the Pa^ha frcnvned. '■ While in < )tt(inian waters." he said at last, " pray lly no flag but that of yt)ur own country, and as upon your return voyage you will still be under my protection. I respectfuUv request that \(Ui do not lly any other but tliat wliicli is now at the peak ot wuir xc-^-el. ' AltogetluT the dinner was a great success. The great Enfrlish traveler. Edward Daniel Clarke, who had traveled to Constantinople from St. Petersburg in Russia over- The Turkish admiral visits the Washington. COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 77 land by the way of Moscow and Odessa, was one of the guests. He was the first foreigner to make this long and hazardous journey. This was by no means the last of the meetings be- tween the admiral and the American captain. \'isits were exchanged on many occasions, and several long excur- sions were made into the surrounding country and up the Thracian Bosporus. Bainbridge penetrating in his long boat even as far as the Black Sea. where he wnshed to hoist the American flag for the first time. He was also fortunate enough to secure a nearer view of the private and social life of the Turkish ruler than has fallen to the lot of many men. for Mr. Clarke one day presented him to Count Browlaski. a Pole in the service of the Sultan, a high ofBcer in the court circle, and one who had im- mediate supervision of the gardens and the policing of the palace grounds. Bainbridge had expressed a desire to see the inside of the seraglio and the harem, whose many grated windows looked down upon the blue w^aters of the bay from above the palace walls. The Englishman at once laughed and shrugged his shoulders. " That speech shows your innocence. Captain Bain- bridge," he said. " No one, not even our friend the count here, has had that privilege." At this Count Browlaski looked over his shoulder, and observing that no one was nigh them, he confided to them that if they wished to run a certain amount of risk he thought the adventure might be carried out. Ac- cordingly plans were arranged, and the visit was success- fully accomplished. Mr. Clarke, in his book of travels, mentions meeting Captain Bainbridge. and going with him into the inner recesses of the palace in disguise. He dwells at some length upon the dangers that were en- countered, but in a letter to a friend of his. Bainbridge 78 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. made liij;ht of them in describing- the same event. But he added generously, upon reading Mr. Clarke's account: " One gentleman may honestly apprehend great peril where it can not be perceived by another." In return for all the courtesies that had been shown him, Bainbridge gave a large entertainment in the cabin of the George Washington. Although the admiral again declined the honor of being present, he was represented unofficiallv bv Mr. Zacbe, his secretarv. The disgruntled Algerine ambassador was also present. He was a man of grave deportment and good manners, and Bainbridge had begun to feel really sorry for him, owing to the failure of his mission, and the consequences that it might entail upon him and his family, for eastern vengeance does not stop at the principles involved in trouble or dis- grace. It was a remarkable entertainment in more ways than one. Upon the four corners of the table were so many decanters containing fresh water from the four quarters of the globe. The natives of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America sat down together at one board. Fruits, preserved dishes and \iands were passed about — a sample of four different continents. In writing of this affair, Mr. Clarke explains it thus: " The means of accomplishing this extraordinary entertainment is easily understood b\- his ( r.ainbridge's) ha\'ing touched at Algiers in his j)as- sage from America, and his being at anchor so near the shores of both Europe and of Asia." Two more very important inter\icws Bainbridge held with the Capudan Pasha. The first was in answer to a re(|uest to know how long it would Ije expected of him to stay in port, and whether it would be necessary for him to return the embass\- which had made such a fruitless jour- ney. The ;i(lniii"ar> reply to the first was that he did not think Bainbridge wt)uld now be detained longer than four COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 79 or five days at the outside, but he requested especially that he would return the ambassador and his suite, who had not been permitted to land since their arrival in the harbor. As Bainbridge had had many conversations with the Pasha on the subject of a treaty of commerce with the Ottoman Government, he could not very well refuse. But this was not the only subject of discussion at the meet- ing. A few minutes previous to Bainbridge's taking his departure the Turkish admiral had incidentally observed that he had not been a little surprised to learn on his re- turn to the port that the American frigate had not been subjected to the usual restraints of the Dardanelles. " I assure you. Monsieur le Capitaine, that it is the first time a foreign armored vessel has reached this port without our express permission and a firman from the Grand Seignior — Oh, do not apologize," he added, see- ing that Bainbridge was about to speak. " I attach no blame whatever to your honorable conduct. You arc a stranger to the laws and customs of this country and could not be expected to know our rules and regulations. But," he added, frow^iing, " it was, nevertheless, the gov- ernor of the castle's duty to stop you at the Dardanelles, even if, alas! he had to sink the fine vessel which you have the honor to command. He is not to escape punish- ment for this obvious breach of duty, for he is at present under sentence of death for his dereliction. It requires but my signature, and that, I promise you, shall not be withheld. He dies the day after to-morrow at sun- down." Bainbridge drew back in horror. The idea of allowing an innocent man to suffer for a doing of his own was more than his just mind and noble nature could brook for an instant. Xo matter what the consequences might be. he would make a statement. 8o COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. I assure your highness that the governor of the castle at the straits is not c\en censurable for his con- duct. Believe me, it was through no fault of his that my vessel came by him." The Capudan Pasha smiled and shrugged his shoulders. " He should ha\e stopped you at all hazards, Alon- sieur," he said. " Pray explain how any vessel could pass those powerful batteries upon which the safety of this city depends without gross neglect on the part of the connnander of the castle.'' " Put he was not neglectful." Bainbridge spoke almost loudly now in his eagerness to convince the admiral of his sincerity. — " He was not neglectful. He imagined that I was coming to anchor. 1 frankly confess to you that I did everything in my power to deceive him into think- ing that I was going to comply with the requirements of the port, for I knew well of the custom, and deter- mined to evade it, if I could, to avoid delay. If any one should be ])unis]ied it should be myself. I'ut I trust that you will consider the circumstances and m\- haste to perform the mission that I had so unwillingly under- taken." Bainl)ridge had no idea what would be the effect of this remarkable statement. The surj^rise of the admiral was plain at the outset, but as Bainbridge proceeded, the frown gradually left his face to be replaced by one of friendly amazement, and when the captain had linished speaking, the Pasha extended his hand. " Thanks, a thousand times, for your bra\e words, my friend," he said. " The Governor was an old and trusted friend of mine. T now believe him to have been a faithful ofiRccr. T thank you from my heart again for saving me nuich pain, and preser\ing to the service of the Sultan a loyal servant. Do not fear that the words you have said COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 8i shall cause you to suffer iu any way. To-night one of my swiftest sailing boats will leave bearing the message that the governor is pardoned and restored to his former au- thority." An English ship was alxnil sailing for the port of Gibraltar, and by her Bainbridge sent the following letter, with a request to the captain to place it on board the first vessel bound for the United States. The epistle w^as ad- dressed to his Excellency the Secretary of the Navy of the United States, and read as follows: " Sir: On the 23d of December, 1801, I was requested by the Capudan Pasha to wait upon him at his palace. I was received in a very friendly manner, and had some con- versation respecting the formation of a treaty with the Ottoman Porte, and he expressed a very great desire that a minister should be sent from the United States to effect it. I informed him that there was one already named, who at present was in Lisbon, and probably would be here in six months. He said lie would write to the ambassador, which letter would be a protection for him while in the Turkish Empire, and gave me lib- erty to recommend any merchant vessel to his protection which might wish to come here previously to the arrival of the ambassador. I thanked him in the name of the United States for the protection he had been pleased to give the frigate under my command, and for his friendly attentions to myself and ofificers. I conceive it to be a very fortunate moment to negotiate an advantageous treaty with this Government. . . . The Capudan Pasha rcfiuested me to take two messengers and land them at Malta, being destined for Tripoli and Tunis, which I have consented to do. conceiving it to be good policy. I think it very probable that the States of Barbary will shortly receive chastisement from the Turks." 82 COMMODORE BAIXBRIDGE. The ambassador of the Dey requested the honor of an interview with Bainbridge the next morning. He was found in a towering rage, and was ahnost unintelhgible, as he tried to explain that at last the Grand Seignior had condescended to answer him. He said he was directed to return at once to Algiers, which country was ordered to immediately declare war against France; his master, the Dey, was to be compelled to pay the large sum of one million of piastres, and that only sixty days were to be allowed for the transmitting of this dispatch to Algiers and for an answer to be returned to Constantinople. If this time was exceeded war would be at once declared on Algiers. The ambassador begged and implored Bainbridge to make haste and leave the shores of Turkey behind him. All his airs of superiority and importance disappeared. He was a frightened, cringing, and well-nigh hopeless crea- ture whose ruin stared him in the face. As Bainbridee had been requested to wait upon the Capudan Pasha the next morning, it was impossible for him to leave until this was complied with; but yielding to the importuni- ties of the frightened ambassador, he sent a messenger to the palace, asking that he should be allowed to see the admiral in the afternoon in order that he might sail at daybreak the next morning. Word came back that the Pasha would be glad to see him. After presenting Bainbridge with a letter addressed to the Honorable William Smith, minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the port of Lisbon, the admiral turned with a great deal of courtesy and said the following- words in parting: " As your ship has been under my protection, she shall receive the honors that are reserved exclusively for my flag. In passing the fortress of Tapana it will salute you, which, of course, you will return." COMMODORE BAINBRIDGE. 83 By regulation this fortress saluted no one but the Capudan Pasha, and the compliment had never before been extended to any foreign vessel of war, nor even to Turkish vessels commanded by a less personage than an admiral; Init, what was more important, Bainbridge bore away with him passports for the George Washington which entitled that vessel and her commander at all times to greatest respect in Turkish ports, and from all ships of that empire. The officer at the Dardanelles, who had been restored to his command, sensible of the gallant conduct of Bain- bridge, invited him to his castle, and in the most feeling maimer thanked him for having saved his life when he had given up all hope and made his last will, excepting surely to perish. He insisted upon presenting the frigate with almost a cargo of fresh provisions and fruit, and he parted from the captain with renewed assurances of endless gratitude. CHAPTER X. It was the 21st of January, 1801. when the George Washington arrived again off Algiers, but Bainbridge had profited by the lesson he had learned, and he brought his ship to anchor outside of the mole and beyond the range of the harbor batteries. As soon as he had appeared, two large sailboats put out to meet him; one contained Mr. O'Brien and the other a representative of the Dey. and it was a race to see which one would arrive first. O'Brien's sailboat, how- ever, caught a bad current liy keeping too close to the shore, and the regent's boat was the first alongside. Bain- bridcre received the court officer without much ceremonv, and was rather amused to notice that the effect of seeing the returned embassy depressed the very consequential individual. Before he had asked any ([uestions of his country- man, he hastened to deliver a message for his master, in the following words: " His High Mightiness the Dey has noticed at what distance the honorable captain has