do major quam victoria:
Clemency greater than victory._) The action is over. The United States
sloop-of-war Hornet, of twenty guns, Captain Lawrence, is lying to and
sending her boats to the rescue of the crew of the British brig-of-war
Peacock, of twenty-two guns, Captain Peake, which has lost her
mainmast, and is going down head foremost. Exergue: INTER HORNET NAV
AMERI ET PEACOCK NAV ANG DIE XXIV FEB MDCCCXIII. (_Inter Hornet, navem
Americanam, et Peacock, navem Anglicanam, die 24 Februarii, 1813:
Between the American vessel Hornet and the English vessel Peacock,
February 24, 1813._) On the platform, FUeRST. F. (_fecit_).

JAMES LAWRENCE was born in Burlington, New Jersey, October 1, 1781. He
was appointed a midshipman in 1798, and became a lieutenant in 1802;
served against Tripoli, 1802-1804, and was second in command under
Decatur, in the Intrepid, when the Philadelphia was destroyed off (p. 186)
Tripoli. In 1810 he became master-commandant, and on February 24,
1813, with the Hornet, captured the British brig-of-war Peacock,
Captain William Peake. For this action, Congress awarded him a vote of
thanks and a gold medal. As captain he commanded the Chesapeake in
1813 and fell, mortally wounded, in the engagement with the British
ship Shannon, Captain Broke. His last words, when carried below, were,
"Don't give up the ship!" He died four days after the combat, on June
5, 1813, and was buried with military honors at Halifax, Nova Scotia.
His remains were afterward taken to the United States, and now lie in
Trinity church-yard, New York city.

_____

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Lawrence, etc._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the
President of the United States be requested to present to the
nearest male relative of Captain James Lawrence, a gold medal,
and a silver medal[89] to each of the commissioned officers who
served under him in the sloop-of-war Hornet, in her conflict with
the British vessel-of-war, the Peacock, in testimony of the high
sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct
of the officers and crew in the capture of that vessel; and the
President is also requested to communicate to the nearest male
relative of Captain Lawrence the sense which Congress entertains