ree-quarters past one, the brig passed us, after giving
us two fires; we reserved our fire for the ship, then fast
coming up; we received very little damage from the brig, who
stood after our convoy; she mounted sixteen guns, and was
formerly the American privateer 'Fair American', commanded by
Captain Decatur, and equal to us in force.

"At 2 P.M. the ship ranged up on our starboard quarter, and
fired two guns at us; we were then at good pistol-shot; we then
attempted to run her on board, by laying her across the
starboard bow, but our yard-arms locked, which kept us too far
off to board; at the same time poured in our broadside from
great guns and small arms.

"Our fire was briskly kept up for twenty-six minutes, when she
struck her colors. Immediately sent our first lieutenant on
board, and stood up the bay, the frigate at this time under a
press of sail in chase after us, and the brig ahead in chase of
our convoy; again prepared for action, and stood after the
brig, but on her perceiving that the ship had struck, she stood
for the frigate, and got aground; we were obliged to pass her,
as the frigate gained on us.

"At 4 P.M. the frigate came to anchor in the bay, (supposed for
want of a pilot.) We then spoke the prize for the first time,
and learned she was his Majesty's ship the General Monk,
Captain Rodgers, of nineteen nine-pounders, but fighting twenty
guns, and had on board, when the action began, one hundred and
thirty-six men, of whom thirty were killed, and fifty-three
wounded. Of sixteen officers on board, fifteen were killed or
wounded. The captain received three wounds.

"We had on board the Hyder Ally four killed and eleven wounded.
The Hyder Ally mounted twelve six-pounders, and four
nine-pounders, with a complement of one hundred and fifteen
men. During the action we fired thirteen broadsides from our
cannon, and from sixty to seventy rounds from our muskets.

"Proportion of metal: The General Monk ten nine-pounders, fired
ninety weight of shot at one broadside. The Hyder Ally, six
sixes and two nines, fired fifty-four weight of shot at one
broadside. Proportion--fifty to ninety."

"That all came from the log-book, an' you'll find Captain Barney
didn't try to blow his own horn," Darius said as I ceased reading.
"But I