much to do with the ardor and bravery with
which in later days the young sailor, then elevated to the highest
ranks, did battle with the enemies of his country. When, at the close
of the War of 1812, the veteran naval officer looked back upon his
record during that conflict, he could point to one captured British
man-of-war and scores of captured British merchantmen as the measure
of his retaliation for the wrongs done him as a defenceless American
sailor-boy.

Oliver Hazard Perry, of whose famous victory over the British on Lake
Erie we shall speak later, also was brought into conflict with the
British in the days of the "right of search." His father, Christopher
Raymond Perry, in command of the United States ship "Gen. Greene," was
escorting an American brig freighted with a valuable cargo. Near
Gibraltar they were sighted by a British man-of-war, which bore down
quickly upon the two ships. Perry was an old and cautious naval
officer; and, though peace reigned between his country and Great
Britain, he no sooner saw an armed vessel approaching, than he put his
vessel in trim for action, and sent the crew to the guns. Nearer and
nearer came the great English man-o'-war; and, as she came within
range, a puff of smoke burst from her bow-port, and a ball skipped
along the water before Perry's unarmed convoy, conveying a forcible
invitation to heave to. Perry at once made signal to his convoy to pay
no regard to the Englishman; and, setting the American flag, the two
ships continued on their way. But at this moment the breeze died away,
and all three ships lay becalmed within easy range of each other. The
British captain was not slow to take advantage of this; and a boat
soon put off from his ship, and made for the American brig. This move
Perry promptly checked by a shot from the "Gen. Greene," which so
narrowly missed the boat that the crew thought it well to run
alongside the American man-o'-war, and arrange the matter peaceably.
As the boat came alongside the "Gen. Greene," the gangway was manned,
and the British officer escorted with the greatest formality to
Perry's presence.

He at once stated his purpose in attempting to board the merchantman;
claiming that, by virtue of the right of search, he was entitled to
visit the brig, and examine into the nationality of her crew.

"I deny the existence of any right, on the part of British vessels, to
search any American vessel, except with the consent of the American
co