privateers and merchant vessels. Through his exertions also, the U.S. sloop of war Frolic was captured by the Orpheus frigate. Captain Hugh Pigot; yet, strange to say, no mention whatever is made of his name in that officer’s official letter, as will be seen by the following copy:–
“Sir,– I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that on the 20th instant, after a chase of sixty miles, the point of Matanzas, in Cuba, bearing S.S.E. five leagues, we captured the United States’ ship Frolic, commanded by Master-Commandant Joseph Bainbridge; she had mounted twenty 32-pounder carronades, and two long eighteens, with 171 men; but a few minutes before striking her colours, threw all her lee guns overboard, and continued throwing also her shot, small arms, &c. until taken possession of. She is a remarkably fine ship, of 509 tons, and the first time of her going to sea: she has been out from Boston two months, and frequently chased by our cruisers; their only capture was the Little Fox, a brig laden with fish, which they destroyed. I have the honor to be, &c.
“To the Hon. Sir Alexander Cochrane,
&c. &c. &c.”
When the chase commenced, at day-light, the Orpheus and Shelburne were both to-leeward; but, after a joint pursuit of twelve hours, the very superior sailing of the schooner enabled Lieutenant Hope to gain the wind of the enemy, and effectually cut her off from the neutral port in view. She then tacked off shore, kept away free, and succeeded in crossing the British frigate, without sustaining any damage; – in fact, only two shot were fired at her, as they passed on opposite tacks, and both of them fell short. She was, however, closely pressed by Lieutenant Hope, who kept on her weather quarter until he observed her guns thrown overboard, then ran up alongside to leeward, and caused her to surrender, without the least opposition. At this period the Orpheus was two miles astern, and, from bad sailing, had no chance whatever of coming up with the chase.
We next find Lieutenant Hope employed, for about four months, in blockading New Orleans, and rendering assistance occasionally to our allies, the Creek Indians, on the Apalachicola river. During his long and solitary cruise off the mouths of the Mississipi, he was promoted, by
