at the very moment when they were so joyfully
celebrating the glories already won, Capt. Bainbridge in the good ship
"Constitution" was valiantly giving battle to a British frigate far
south of the equator.

Before considering the details of this last action of the year 1812,
let us recount briefly the movements of some American vessels in
commission at this time. After sending the "Guerriere" to the bottom
of the sea, and bringing her officers and crew in triumph into Boston,
Capt. Hull had voluntarily relinquished the command of the
"Constitution," in order that some other officer might win laurels
with the noble frigate. In his place was appointed Capt. Bainbridge,
who had served in the wars with France and Tripoli. After a short time
spent in refitting, Bainbridge sailed from Boston, accompanied by the
"Hornet," eighteen guns. The "Essex," thirty-two, Capt. Porter, was
lying in the Delaware at the time Bainbridge left Boston, and her
captain was ordered to cruise in the track of British West-Indiamen.
After spending some time in this service, he was to turn southward and
visit several South American ports, with a view to joining Bainbridge.
Should he fail to find the "Constitution," he was free to act at his
own discretion. This permission gave Porter an opportunity to make a
cruise seldom equalled in naval annals, and which will form the
subject of a subsequent chapter.

The "Constitution" and "Hornet" left Boston on the 26th of October,
and shaped their course at once for the south. They put in at two or
three ports which had been named to Capt. Porter as meeting-places,
but, finding no trace of the "Essex," continued their cruise. At Port
Praya in the island of St. Jago, and at Fernando Noronha, the two
ships assumed the character of British men-of-war. Officers from whose
uniform every trace of the American eagle had been carefully removed
went ashore, and, after paying formal visits to the governors of the
two islands, requested permission to leave letters for Sir James Yeo
of His Majesty's service. Though directed to this prominent British
naval officer, the letters were intended for Capt. Porter, and
contained directions for his cruise, written in sympathetic ink. After
the letters were deposited, the two vessels left; and we may be sure
that the British colors came down from the masthead as soon as the
ships were out of sight.

The next point at which the American ships stopped was San Salvador,
on the