a
suspicious brig near the mouth of the Demarara River, a second
stranger was sighted in the offing. Giving no heed to the newly
sighted vessel, the "Hornet" continued her chase until the rapidly
approaching vessel was clearly made out to be a brig, flying the
British flag, and evidently a man-of-war. The "Hornet" was immediately
cleared for action; and the two hostile vessels began manoeuvring for
the weather-gage, as two scientific pugilists spar cautiously for an
opening. In this contest of seamanship, Capt. Lawrence of the "Hornet"
proved the victor; and a little after five o'clock in the afternoon,
the two enemies stood for each other upon the wind, the "Hornet"
having the weather-gage. As they rapidly neared each other, no sound
was heard save the creaking of the cordage, and the dashing of the
waves against the vessels' hulls. Not a shot was fired until the
enemies were dashing past each other, going in opposite directions.
The first broadsides were exchanged at half pistol-shot, with very
unequal effects. The shot of the "Hornet" penetrated the hull of her
antagonist, doing terrible execution; while the broadside let fly by
the "Peacock" whistled through the rigging of the American ship,
cutting away the pennant, and killing a topman, who was struck by a
round shot, and dashed from his station in the mizzen-top, to fall
mangled and lifeless into the sea.

Hardly were the ships clear, when the British captain put his helm
hard up,--a manoeuvre executed with the intention of securing a raking
position. But the plan was balked by the cool seamanship of Capt.
Lawrence, who quickly followed up the British vessel, and, getting a
position on his quarter, poured in so rapid and accurate a fire that
the enemy was fain to haul down his colors and confess defeat. The
British ensign had hardly touched the deck, when it was run up again,
with the union down, as a token of distress. At this sight, the Yankee
tars, who had been cheering lustily over their quickly won victory,
stopped their rejoicings, and set about giving assistance to the
injured Britons with as hearty good-will as they had lately shown in
their vigorous cannonade.

With all possible despatch, a boat was lowered, and Lieut. Shubrick
proceeded on board the prize. He found the "Peacock" a complete wreck.
Shortly after the surrender her main-mast had gone by the board, and
her hull was fairly honeycombed with shot-holes. Returning to his
ship, Shubrick repor