d States, aroused a storm of
indignation. The merchants of New York held meetings at the old
Tontine Coffee-House, and denounced not only the action of the British
cruiser, but even impeached the Government of the United States;
declaring that an administration which suffered foreign armed ships to
"impress, wound, and murder citizens was not entitled to the
confidence of a brave and free people." The fact that the captain of
the offending cruiser, on being brought to trial in England, was
honorably acquitted, did not tend to soothe the irritation of the
Americans.

Occurrences such as this kept alive the American dislike for the
English, and a year later an event happened which even the most ardent
peace-lover could not but condemn and resent with spirit.

In 1807 the United States frigate "Chesapeake," then lying at the
navy-yard at Washington, was put in commission, and ordered to the
Mediterranean, to relieve the "Constitution." Nearly a month was
consumed in making necessary repairs to hull and cordage, taking in
stores, shipping a crew, and attending to the thousand and one details
of preparation for sea that a long time out of commission makes
necessary to a man-of-war. While the preparations for service were
actively proceeding, the British minister informed the naval
authorities that three deserters from His British Majesty's ship
"Melampus" had joined the crew of the "Chesapeake;" and it was
requested that they should be given up. The request was made with due
courtesy; and, although there is no principle of international law
which directs the surrender of deserters, yet the United States, as a
friendly nation, was inclined to grant the request, and an inquiry was
made into the case. The facts elicited put the surrender of the men
out of the question; for though they frankly confessed to have
deserted from the "Melampus," yet they claimed to have been impressed
into the British service, and proved conclusively that they were free
Americans. This was reported to the British minister; and, as he made
no further protests, it was assumed that he was satisfied.

Some weeks later the vessel left the navy-yard, and dropped down the
river to Hampton Roads. Even with the long period occupied in
preparation for sea, the armament of the ship was far from being in
order; a fact first discovered as she passed Mount Vernon, as she was
unable to fire the salute with which at that time all passing
war-vessels did honor to