That Britons were opposed to Britons, in the Macedonian’s action, is no less true than lamentable. Most of her gallant defenders recognised old shipmates in the British navy among those who had fought under the American flag. We have already stated, that a quarter-master discovered his first cousin in the person of a traitor. Two other seamen met with brothers from whom they had been long separated; and Mr. James, in his Naval History, informs us, that an officer’s servant, a young lad from London, named William Hearne, found his own brother among the United States’ crew; that the hardened wretch, after reviling the English, and applauding the American service, used the influence of seniority, in trying to persuade the lad to renounce his country; and that the loyal youth, with tears in his eyes, replied:– “If you are a d__d rascal, that’s no reason why I should be one.” It is also worthy of remark, that many of the guns on board the United States were named after British ships and some of our most celebrated naval commanders. Captain Garden observing “Victory” painted on the ship’s side over one port, and “Nelson” over another, asked Commodore Decatur the reason of so strange an anomaly – he answered, “the men belonging to those guns served many years with Lord Nelson, and in the Victory. The crew of the gun named Nelson were once bargemen to that great chief, and they claim the privilege of using his illustrious name in the way you have seen!” The Commodore also publicly declared to Captain Carden, that there was not a seaman in his ship who had not served from five to twelve years in a British man of war! These indisputable facts being duly considered, as also the disparity of force above stated, we feel assured that our readers will join with us in allowing that, although victory did not attend the exertions of Captain Carden and his brave companions, the Macedonian “did all that human nature could effect, and that the names of her defenders deserve to be handed down to posterity with love and admiration[1].”
Agent.– John Chippendale, Esq.
END OF VOL. II.
- ↑ See Lord Darnley’s Speech in the House of Peers, May 14, 1813.
