r they commended the commander of the "Wachuset"
for running down and capturing the Confederate ship "Florida," which
was relying upon the protection of a neutral port in Brazil. Yet in
1814, when two British frigates attacked and captured the "Essex" in
the harbor of Rio Janeiro, the good people of the United States were
loud in their denunciations of the treachery of a commander who would
so abuse the protection of a neutral nation. Such inconsistencies are
only too common in the history of nations. In the end, however, the
affair of the "Sandwich" terminated disastrously for the bold
adventurers; for the protests of Spain were too forcible to be
disregarded, and the prize-money of all concerned in the exploit was
confiscated to pay the damages awarded the injured party.

Not all the successes of the United States navy in the war with France
were, like those we have related, dependent upon the speed rather than
the fighting qualities of our ships. Not many months had passed, when
two representative ships of the warring nations met, and tried
conclusions at the mouths of their cannon. It was on the 9th of
February that the "Constellation," one of the new American frigates,
was cruising on her station in the West Indies, when her lookout
reported a large ship some miles to leeward. The frigate at once ran
down the stranger, which hoisted American colors. Among ships of the
same navy it is customary to have private signals of recognition; and
Commodore Truxton, who commanded the "Constellation," set his signal,
and awaited the answer. But no answer came; and the stranger,
evidently considering further disguise impossible, boldly set French
colors, and fired a gun to windward by way of a challenge.

On the "Constellation" the challenge aroused universal enthusiasm. For
the first time since the Revolution, the gallant defenders of the
stars and stripes were to have an opportunity to try their strength
with a hostile man-of-war. The enemy seemed no less ready for the
conflict, and waited gallantly for the "Constellation" to come down to
closer quarters. From both ships came the roll of the drums and the
shrill pipings of the bo's'n's whistle, as the men were called to
quarters. Then all became still, and the two frigates bore down upon
each other. Neither antagonist was hasty about opening fire, and the
report of the first gun came from the Yankee when she had come into
point-blank range. Then began the thunderous broadsid