and flying-jib in chase. At half-past 9
commenced firing on her from our starboard bow chaser; gave her
several shot, which cut her spars and rigging considerably. At 10
P.M. finding they could not escape, fired a gun, struck her
colours, and yielded. We immediately took possession of His
Britannic Majesty's ship Levant, Hon. Captain George Douglas,
mounting 21 guns. At 1 A.M. the damages of our rigging were
repaired, sails shifted, and the ship in fighting condition.

No. 48. (p. 249)
PLATE XLIX.

_March 23, 1815._

The Congress of the U. S. to Capt. James Biddle, etc. [Rx].
Capture of the British ship Penguin by the U. S. ship Hornet.

CAPTAIN JAMES BIDDLE.

[_Capture of the Penguin._]

THE CONGRESS OF THE U. S. (_United States_) TO CAPT. (_Captain_) JAMES
BIDDLE. FOR HIS GALLANTRY GOOD CONDUCT AND SERVICES. Bust of Captain
Biddle, in uniform, facing the right FUeRST. F. (_fecit_).

CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH SHIP PENGUIN BY THE U. S. (_United States_)
SHIP HORNET. Naval action between the United States sloop-of-war
Hornet, of eighteen guns, Captain Biddle, and the British sloop-of-war
Penguin, of nineteen guns, Captain Dickenson. The Hornet, to
windward, is raking the Penguin. The British vessel has lost her
main-top-gallant-mast In the distance the peak of Tristan d'Acunha.
Exergue: OFF TRISTAN D'ACUNHA MARCH XXIII MDCCCXV. On the platform,
FUeRST. F. (_fecit_).

JAMES BIDDLE was born in Philadelphia, February 28, 1783. He entered
the navy as a midshipman in 1800, and went to the Mediterranean with
Captain Bainbridge. He was wrecked in the Philadelphia, and was a
prisoner in Tripoli for nearly two years; was a lieutenant in 1807,
and first lieutenant of the Wasp in 1812, when she captured the
Frolic. For his conduct on this occasion he was promoted to the rank
of master-commandant. While in command of the sloop-of-war Hornet he
captured the British sloop-of-war Penguin, Captain Dickenson, March
23, 1815, receiving for this gallant deed the thanks of Congress and a
gold medal. He became a captain in the same year, and commanded (p. 250)
the Mediterranean squadron, 1830-1832. He was governor of the Naval
Asylum in Philadelphia, 1838-1842; commanded the East India squadron,
1845, and was on the west coast of Mexico during the Mexican war. He
died in Philadelphia, October 1, 1848.