he number of guns went, both vessels were
equal. Each had eighteen guns, nine to a broadside, but while the sloop
had only 92 men and measured only 384 tons, the brig had 135 men and
measured 434 tons. The _Frolic_, on the night of the 17th of October,
had been overtaken by a most violent gale of wind, in which she carried
away her mainyard, lost her topsails, and sprung her maintopmast. It
was, while repairing damages, on the morning of the 18th, that Captain
Whinyates, of the _Frolic_, was made aware of the presence of a
suspicious looking vessel, in chase of the convoy, which the _Frolic_
had in charge. The merchant ships continued their voyage with all sails
set, and the _Frolic_, dropping astern, hoisted Spanish colours to
decoy the stranger under her guns and give time for the convoy to
escape. The vessels soon approached sufficiently to exchange
broadsides, and the firing of the _Frolic_ was admirable. But the
vessel could not be worked easily, and the gaff braces being shot away,
while no sail could be or was placed upon the mainmast, her opponent
easily got the advantage of position. To be brief, the storm of the
night before had given the _Wasp_ an advantage which, neither nautical
skill, nor undaunted resolution could counteract, and the _Frolic_, an
unmanageable log upon the ocean, was compelled to strike. Undoubtedly
this was another triumph to the United States, although, materially
considered, the gain was not much. In only a few hours after this
action, both the _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_ were surrendered to H.M.S.
_Poictiers_, of seventy-four guns.

Seven days afterwards, another naval engagement occurred, more
tellingly disastrous to Great Britain. The _United States_, a frigate
of fifteen hundred tons burthen, carrying 30 long 24-pounders, on her
main deck, and 22 42-pounders, with two long 24-pounders, on quarter
deck and forecastle, howitzer guns in her tops, and a travelling
carronade on her deck, with a complement of 478 picked men,[19] was
perceived by H.M. frigate _Macedonian_, of 1081 tons, carrying 49 guns,
and manned by 254 men and 35 boys. The _Macedonian_ approached the
enemy and the enemy backed her sails, awaiting the attack, after the
firing had continued for about an hour, at long range. When in close
battle, Captain Carden perceived that he had no chance of success, but
he was determined to fight his ship while she floated and was
manageable, hoping for, rather than expecting, some lucky