the tomb of Washington. After some days stay
at Hampton Roads, during which time additional guns and stores were
taken on, and the crew increased to three hundred and seventy-five
men, the ship got under way, and started on her voyage.

It was on a breezy morning of June that the "Chesapeake" left the
broad harbor of Hampton Roads, the scene of so many of our naval
glories. From the masthead of the frigate floated the broad pennant of
Commodore Barron, who went out in command of the ship. The decks were
littered with ropes, lumber, and stores, which had arrived too late to
be properly stowed away. Some confusion is but natural on a ship
starting on a cruise which may continue for years, but the condition
of the "Chesapeake" was beyond all excuse; a fact for which the
fitting-out officers, not her commander, were responsible.

As the American ship passed out into the open ocean, there was a great
stir on the decks of four English cruisers that lay quietly at anchor
in Lynn Haven Bay; and almost immediately one of these vessels hoisted
her anchor, set her sails, and started out in the track of the
frigate. A stiff head-wind blowing, the American was forced to tack
frequently, in order to get ahead; and her officers noticed that the
British ship (the "Leopard," of fifty guns) tacked at the same time,
and was evidently following doggedly in the wake of the "Chesapeake."
No suspicion that the pursuer had other than peaceful motives in view
entered the minds of the American officers; and the ship kept on her
course, while the sailors set about putting the decks in order, and
getting the vessel in trim for her long voyage. While all hands were
thus busily engaged, the "Leopard" bore down rapidly, and soon hailed,
saying that she had a despatch for Commodore Barron. The "Chesapeake"
accordingly hove to, and waited for a boat to be sent aboard.

The two ships now lay broadside to broadside, and only about a half
pistol-shot apart. No idea that the Englishman had any hostile designs
seems to have occurred to Commodore Barren; but some of the younger
officers noticed that the ports of the "Leopard" were triced up, and
the tompions taken out of the muzzles of the cannon. The latter fact
was of the gravest import, and should have been reported at once to
the commander; but it appears that this was not done.

In a few moments a boat put off from the "Leopard," and pulled to the
American ship, where an officer stood waiting at the