"His Majesty's frigate _Macedonian_," replied her commander.

This victory produced a profound sensation in England and the United
States. In the former it created astonishment and gloomy forebodings,
for it appeared as if the Republic of the West was about to snatch the
sceptre from the acknowledged "Mistress of the Seas," and that they
might no longer sing, as they had for a century,

"Rule, Britannia! Britannia rules the waves."

Hull generously retired from the _Constitution_, after his victory, to
give some brother officer a chance to win fame on the "lucky" vessel.
Bainbridge succeeded him in command, and was put in charge of a small
squadron. With the _Constitution_ and _Hornet_ he sailed from Boston
late in October, 1812, and at the close of December encountered the
British frigate _Java_ off the coast of South America, not far from
Bahia. They had a most desperate battle, which lasted about two hours,
when the _Java_, which had lost her three masts and her bowsprit in the
fight, and was leaking badly, was surrendered to Bainbridge. She was one
of the finest frigates in the Royal Navy, and was conveying the
Governor-General of Bombay and his staff, with more than a hundred
officers and soldiers, to the East Indies. Like Hull, Jones, and
Decatur, Bainbridge received unstinted honors from his countrymen.

The hulk of the _Java_ was not worth saving; and after transferring the
passengers and surviving crew to the _Constitution_, she was fired and
blown up. From that time the _Constitution_ was called "Old Ironsides."

This fourth brilliant naval victory in the course of a few months caused
much exultation in the United States. Meanwhile there had been minor
victories, and some defeats. Privateers were numerous, and very active.
During six months the American public and private cruisers had captured
about three hundred prizes from the British. These successes dispelled
the gloom occasioned by misfortunes to the land forces; the friends of
the navy were justified and strengthened, and thenceforward no one
ventured to speak in disparagement of it. Congress, perceiving the
necessity of an increase in the force of the navy, authorized the
President to have four 74-gun ships, six frigates, and six sloops of war
built.

Bainbridge had left the _Hornet_, Captain Lawrence, blockading the
harbor of Bahia, in which was sheltered a British treasure ship. A
British 74 came up from the Brazilian capital, and drove the _Ho