Daniel C. Sim, Mr. West, Carpenter. Patrick Keogh, Sail-maker. Walter Boyd, George Mitchell, Samuel Slewellyn, 1st Lieutenant of marines. The very names of the vessels composing this little squadron, have become familiar with Americans, for their achievements in the Mediterranean under Com. PREBLE, in the war against Tripoli; and on the Atlantic, in the second war with Britain. The Constitution bore the broad pendant of PREBLE in all the victories of the squadron in the Mediterranean. In the Atlantic, commanded by HULL, she astonished British officers in escaping from a British squadron. Commanded by the same officer, she sent the boasting Guerriere to the bottom; commanded by BAINBRIDGE, she compelled the Java to submit to the same fate, and commanded by STEWART, in one action, added the Cyane and Levant, to the American navy. The Philadelphia, was conquered only by hidden rocks, and a foe, with hearts harder than rocks, who dared not point a gun at her while wafting. But her loss to America was retrieved by DECATUR, in destroying her under the tremendous batteries of Tripoli, in the midst of her marine. The Syren, commanded by the ever vigilant and intrepid STEWART, was constantly in the station of duty and of danger. She accompanied the Intrepid to the bay of Tripoli, and witnessed the destruction of the Philadelphia. Her language, unlike the fabled Syren, was more calculated to alarm than to allure.-While commanded by the accomplished NICHOLSON she fell before a "hell of England.” The Argus, commanded by HULL, acted well her part in the Mediterranean; and, commanded by ALLEN in the war with Britain, spread dismay upon her coast--swept her commerce from her very harbours; and when she fell before superior force, was deemed a trophy, and her commander who fell gloriously, was "By strangers honour'd and by strangers mourn'd." The Vixen, was a terror to Tripolitans, and in the war with Britain, fell a victim to the elements in company with a British Frigate, commanded by the modern pride of Britain, JAMES LUCAS YEO, who publickly thanked the gallant REED and his crew for their gallant courage as enemies, and magnanimity as friends. She me The Nautilus, was the favourite of the seas. naced Tangier, in Morocco-Tripoli on the Barbary coast -and her nautical skill extorted admiration, from a British Commodore when she fell into his hands, and who returned the gallant CRANE his sword for his masterly exertions to save this ship. In The Enterprise,* ("who can tell her deeds") has become the most renowned schooner upon the ocean. the hands of STERRETT she battered a Barbarian corsair to pieces--Commanded by DECATUR she captured the wonderful little Intrepid-Commanded by the lamented BUR * This fine craft was wrecked and lost in July, 1823; so that there is not now, in the American Navy, a single keel of this renowned squadron, but the CONSTITUTION ("Old Iron-Sides.") It is to be hoped that she may never be sent to sea again, lest the elements should destroy, what enemies never could catch or capture. ROWS, she captured the Boxer-and with the frigate Constitution, is still the pride of Americans. As if the whole of these vessels, possessed an "inanimate ardor," corresponding with the animated heroism of their commanders, they became renowned for conquests, and seemed to extort smiles from the genius of victory in the hour of disaster. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF ALEXANDER MURRAY, CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY AND IN THE NAVY IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION; POST CAPTAIN IN THE NAVAL WARFARE BETWEEN THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC AND FRANCE; COMMODORE OF AN AMERICAN SQUADRON IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI, AND COMMANDANT OF AN AMERICAN NAVY YARD. Biographical writers, and subjects of Biography....ALEXANDER MUR RAY's birth....a lineal descendant of the Highland chief, Murray of Elginshire, who espoused the cause of the Pretender in the Rebellion of 1715, who was banished to Barbadoes, and his estates confiscated....Houses of Tudor, Stuart, and Brunswick....The grandfather a Scotch Rebel, the grandson an American Revolutionist....Dr. Murray, Alexander's father....Alexander, the youngest son....His education....Commencement of his nautical life....His highminded sentiments.... William Murray. Earl of Mansfield....Alexander, appointed a Lieutenant in the Navy, by the Old Congress....for want of a ship, enters Col. Smallwood's regiment as Lieutenant in the army....As James Monroe did Col. Weedon's....Note....Battles in which he fought...Sufferings of the American army...Note....Lieut. Murray seriously affected by explosion of a battery..... Is promoted to a Captaincy....Becomes an invalid for a short time....Retires to his father's... Forlorn state of the poor and sick soldier...Extortioners... Murray recovers, and resumes his station in the Navy as Commander of a Letter of Marque.... Fidelity of American officers, but one exception, Benedict Arnold....Note....Incessant service of Lieut. Comdt. Murray....He is taken prisoner, paroled and exchanged.... He enters the continental frigate Trumbull, 32 guns....Note....She encounters a violent gale, and immediately enters into a most desperate engagement with the frigate Iris, 38 guns, and Monk, of 18 guns.... Description of the battle....Lieut. Murray is severely woun ded.... The wreck of the Trumbull is towed into New York by the enemy...He again recovers, is exchanged, and enters the frigate Alliance as 1st Lieutenant.... Peace with Britain, 1783.... The fame of Murray, and revolutionary veterans....He resumes the character of the private citizen....Annihilation of the navy....Meagre resour ces of the colonies at the close of the revolution.... Caution of American Statesmen. Spoliations upon American commerce, and indignity to American citizens....Commencement of a naval force....Lieut. Murray appointed Post Captain....Sails in corvette Montezuma against French....Immense service to commerce... Receives a vote of thanks... Appointed to frigate Insurgente....Soon after to the Constellation... Is encountered by the Razee Magnanimique....Returns the fire....Injures his supposed antagonist.... Finds him to be friendly.... Mutual explanation, and mutual satisfaction....Constellation and Magnanimique, (Murray and Taylor, President and Little Belt, (Rodgers and Bingham) Chesapeake and Leopard, (Barron and Humphrey).... Peace between America and France....Note. Turkish rapacity against American commerce, and infernal cruelty against American seamen.... Commodore Murray appointed to command American Squadron in the Mediterranean, as successor of his revolutionary comrade, Com. Dale....Restricted power....His flag ship, Constellation assailed by Tripolitan corsairs....He disperses them, and drives them under the Bashaw's batteries....He could not act offensively....In the midst of his defensive operations, is superseded by Com. Morris.... Secret intrigue and palpable injury. Com. Murray, though not degraded, feels himself injured, and remonstrates....Inexplicable "affairs of state"....Peace with Tripoli, and renown of modern Naval Heroes.... Affair of the Chesapeake.... Com. Murray solicits a command.... Is detained at home....Secret machinations. Second war between America and Britain....Com. Murray, senior Commodore and Post Captam in the Navy, again refused a command at sea, and detained at home to discharge duties in the home department....Peace with Britain....Com. Murray is appointed Commandant of an American Navy Yard....Efficiency of Naval defence.... Importance of Naval Architecture....Com. Murray's science, skill and judgment in his new capacity.... American and British Naval Architecture....Com. Murray's indefatigable exertions, and unparalleled economy in the service of the Republic....Increase of the Navy and decrease of expenditure...Com. Murray's closing years... His death.... His character....Original Ode....Death of Com. Murray's son. IT is the usual course with writers of Biography, to select for the subjects of their researches and lucubrations, those fortunate characters who have signalized themselves by one or more splendid achievements or literary productions, and have become the idols of "the people." The name of the hero is a passport for the volume, whether he is dressed out in the simple, artless, and beautiful attire of 33 |