the "Hornet"
had fought her famous fight. Ill-luck pursued the hapless ship even to
her home port; for, as she was entering the port of Boston, a sudden
squall carried away the topmast, with several men who were aloft at
the time.

When the "Hornet" reached port, after her victory over the "Peacock,"
her gallant captain, James Lawrence, was appointed to the command of
the "Chesapeake." On reaching his ship, he found affairs in a
desperate condition. The sailors who had sailed on the long and
unproductive cruise were firmly convinced that the frigate's bad luck
was beyond remedy. The term of enlistment of many had expired, and
they were daily leaving the ship. Those who remained were sullen, and
smarting under fancied ill-treatment in the matter of the prize-money.
To get fresh seamen was no easy task. Great fleets of privateers were
being fitted out; and sailors generally preferred to sail in these
vessels, in which the discipline was light, and the gains usually
great. Some sailors from the "Constitution" were induced to join the
"Chesapeake;" and these, with the remnant of the frigate's old crew,
formed the nucleus of a crew which was filled up with merchant-sailors
and foreigners of all nations. Before the lists were fairly filled,
the ship put to sea, to give battle to an adversary that proved to be
her superior.

The events leading to the action were simple, and succeeded each other
hurriedly. The port of Boston was blockaded by two British frigates,
the "Tenedos" thirty-eight, and the "Shannon" thirty-eight. The latter
vessel was under the command of Capt. Philip Bowes Vere Broke, a naval
officer of courage, skill, and judgment. His crew was thoroughly
disciplined, and his ship a model of efficiency. No officer in the
service understood better than he the difference between the
discipline of a martinet and the discipline of a prudent and sagacious
commander. His ship might not, like the "Peacock," merit the title of
"the yacht;" but for active service she was always prepared. James, an
English naval historian, turns from his usual occupation of explaining
the American naval victories by belittling the British ships, and
enormously magnifying the power of the victors, to speak as follows of
the "Shannon:"--

"From the day on which he [Capt. Broke] joined her, the 14th of
September, 1806, the 'Shannon' began to feel the effect of her
captain's proficiency as a gunner, and zeal for the service. The
laying of th