me the names of over one thousand
ships. Of these, no less than two hundred and fifty-four were
ships-of-the-line, mounting over seventy-four guns each. Behind this
great navy were the memories of long years of conquests, of an almost
undisputed supremacy upon the ocean. Small wonder was it, then, that
the British laughed at the idea of the Americans giving battle to
their hitherto unconquered ships.

What, then, was the secret of the success which, as we shall see,
attended the American arms on the sea? The answer is, that men, not
ships, carried the day. Yet Great Britain had the more sailors on her
muster-rolls. True, but they were only too often unwilling slaves.
Instead of enlisting, like free men, they were hunted down like brutes
and forced to enter the service. No sailor was safe from the
press-gang, and even sober citizens were often kidnapped to serve the
'King' on the ocean. From the ships of other nations, from their homes
and from taverns, the unlucky sailors were dragged away. Even in the
streets of populous cities, they were not safe; and it was no uncommon
sight to see pitched battles being fought between the press-gangs and
sailors whom they were trying to capture. Generally, the inhabitants
and landsmen sided with the victims; and a sailor running through the
streets of the town would be given every assistance by people, who
filled with obstacles the path of his pursuers. Could he reach the
water-side, the fugitive would find every boat at his service; while
his pursuers, on coming up, found every water-man very busy and very
gruff. But the wonder is, that, with this unjust and repulsive system
of impressments, the British sailors were so loyal, and fought with
the dogged courage that they invariably showed.

In the American navy, on the contrary, the enlistments were voluntary.
The service was popular, and the seamen entered it without the feeling
of outraged liberty inspired by the British system. Officers were
readily obtained from the ranks of the adventurous American
navigators. Officers and men alike often brought into the service
personal memories of British oppression; and this, with their free and
independent spirit, enabled them to wage an unequal war with glorious
results for the supporters of the stars and stripes.

CHAPTER IV.

THE WAR ON THE OCEAN. -- COMMODORE RODGERS'S CRUISE. -- THE
LOSS OF THE "NAUTILUS." -- FIRST SUCCESS FOR THE BRITISH. --
THE ESCAPE OF THE