t desire. Of this young Porter
soon had evidence. While his ship, the "Eliza," was lying in the port
of Jeremie in San Domingo, a British frigate came into the harbor, and
dropped anchor near by. One morning the lookout on the "Eliza" saw a
boat, manned by armed men, put off from the frigate, and steer for the
American merchantman. The movement was quickly reported to Capt.
Porter, who was too old a seaman not to know what it portended, and
too plucky an American to submit willingly to any indignity. His
preparations were quickly made; and by the time the frigate's boat
came alongside, the crew of the "Eliza" were armed and ready to rush
to the deck at the first alarm. Capt. Porter with his officers and
son stood on the quarter-deck, and awaited with great dignity the
arrival of the boat. Soon the British came alongside; and an officer
in the stern-sheets announced that he was about to board the "Eliza,"
and demanded to search the vessels for deserters from the British
service.

Capt. Porter replied that his was an American ship, and the British
might board at their peril; for he was armed, and would resist the
boarders to the last extremity. A great laugh went up from the boat
alongside. A Yankee merchantman to resist British sailors, indeed! And
the officer, without more ado, ordered his men to board. Hardly had
the order passed his lips, than Porter's clear voice rang out, "Repel
boarders!" and the crew of the "Eliza," armed with pikes and muskets,
rushed upon their assailants, and drove them into the sea. Young
Porter was not behindhand in the fight, but lent his boyish aid to
the vindication of American sailors' rights. One man was shot down by
his side; and Porter received his first baptism of blood in this
encounter, which thus early rooted in his mind a detestation for the
arrogance of the British, and a determination to devote his life to
the cause of his seafaring countrymen.

On his second voyage, a year later, young Porter was destined to
experience still further the hardships and ignominy which American
sailors only too often encountered at the hands of the British. Once
again the boy, now a first officer, was walking the deck of his vessel
in a San Domingo port, when a boat's-crew from a British frigate came
on board on the usual errand of impressment. This time the sturdy,
independent spirit of the elder Porter was absent; and the captain of
the American vessel basely permitted a portion of his crew, am