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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Biddle, 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, and he is hereby, requested to
present to Captain James Biddle, of the sloop of war Hornet, a
gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver
medal,[107] with suitable emblems and devices, to each
commissioned officer of the said sloop of war, in testimony of
the high sense entertained by Congress, of the gallantry, good
conduct, and services of Captain Biddle, his officers and crew,
in capturing the British sloop of war Penguin, after a brave and
skilful combat.

[Footnote 107: The silver medals are copies of the
one in gold to Captain Biddle.]

Approved February 22, 1816.

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_Captain Biddle to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States sloop Hornet,
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, Off Tristan D'Acunha, March 25th, 1815.
Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you, that on the morning of the
23d instant, at half past ten, when about to anchor off the north
end of the island of Tristan d'Acunha, a sail was seen to the
southward and eastward, steering to the westward, the wind fresh
from the S. S. W. In a few minutes she had passed on to the
westward, so that we could not see her for the land. I
immediately made sail for the westward, and shortly after getting
in sight of her again, perceived her to bear up before the wind.
I hove to for him to come down to us. When she had approached
near, I filled the main-topsail, and continued to yaw the ship,
while she continued to come down, wearing occasionally to prevent
her passing under our stern. At 1.40 P.M. being within nearly
musket shot distance, she hauled her wind on the starboard tack,
hoisted English colours and fired a gun. We immediately luffed
to, hoisted our ensign and gave the enemy a broadside. The action
being thus commenced, a quick and well directed fire was (p. 251)
kept up from this ship, the enemy gradually driving near to
us, when at 1.05 minutes he bore up apparently to run us on
board