while the "Hornet" fled, hotly pursued by the enemy. For a time it
seemed as if the little craft must fall a prey to her huge pursuer,
which had come up within a mile, and was firing great shot at the
scudding sloop-of-war. Overboard went cables, guns, spars, shot, every
thing that would lighten the "Hornet." The sails were wet down, and
every thing that would draw was set. By consummate skill Biddle at
last succeeded in evading his pursuer; and on the 9th of June the
"Hornet" entered New York Bay, without a boat or anchor, and with but
one gun left. But she brought the report that the last naval battle of
the war had ended in victory for the Americans.

[Illustration: Foundered at Sea.]

Meanwhile the "Peacock" was returning from a cruise not altogether
void of interest. On parting with the "Hornet," she had struck off to
the southward, and in the Straits of Sundra, between Borneo and
Sumatra, had fallen in with the East India Company's cruiser
"Nautilus," of fourteen guns. Between these two vessels an unfortunate
and silly rencounter followed. The captain of the "Nautilus" knew of
the declaration of peace; and, as the "Peacock" bore down upon his
vessel, he shouted through a speaking-trumpet that peace had been
declared. To this Capt. Warrington of the "Peacock" paid no attention,
considering it a mere ruse on the part of the enemy, and responded by
simply ordering the British to haul down their flag. This the
Englishman very properly refused to do, and gallantly prepared for the
unequal combat. Two broadsides were then interchanged, by which the
"Nautilus" was severely cut up, and eight of her crew killed. She then
struck her colors. Capt. Warrington, on sending a boat aboard his
adversary, found that the declaration of peace was no ruse, but a
truthful statement of facts. His conduct had been almost criminally
headstrong; and, though he was profuse in formal apologies, the wrong
done could never be righted. The "Peacock" then continued her homeward
voyage.

When this vessel reached port, the last of the cruisers had returned;
and the war was over in fact, as it had long been over technically. It
has become the fashion to say that it was a useless war, that served
no purpose, because the treaty by which it was ended contained no
reference to the hateful doctrine of the right of search, which, more
than any thing else, had brought on the conflict. Yet, though the
conduct of the war had not led the British to forma