University of Virginia Library

Shakspeare.

“I hasten, my dear brother, to furnish an antidote
to the melancholy which the writing of your
last must have occasioned.

“Another British frigate has been captured
and sunk by the staunch old Constitution; but—
our friend and cousin—the amiable Aylwin,
sleeps with

This will, of course, be a drawback on your pleasure;
but when you reflect (as I know you will)
that his short life was marked with every trait of
virtue and honor, that he fell in the service of his
country, covered with glory, and that to those
who have lived like Aylwin, death is only the
commencement of a more glorious life—I say
when you reflect on these things, you may with
me regret the loss of his society, but will not be
so selfish as to wish to recall him. His virtues
belonged to his immortal part, and can never die.
His friendship we shall still enjoy, and to his society
we shall one day be restored.

“The Constitution arrived at this port yesterday,
and lieutenant Ludlow has proceeded to the
seat of government with Bainbridge's official despatch
to the secretary of the navy, and the colors
of the vanquished enemy; which was his Britannic
majesty's frigate Java, of forty-nine guns and
four hundred and fifty men. I conversed a few
minutes with Ludlow, who gave me the following
account:

“The action took place on the twenty-ninth of
December, (the very day on which captain Hull,
the former Commander of the constitution, was a
guest at the dinner given by the corporation and
citizens of New-York, in honor of the exploits of
our naval heroes) in latitude thirteen, about ten
leagues from the coast of Brazil, and lasted one
hour and fifty-five minutes; in which time the Java
was made a complete wreck, having her bowsprit
and every mast and spar shot out of her.
The Constitution had nine killed and twenty-five
wounded. The Java had sixty killed and about
a hundred wounded. Among the latter was her
commander, Lambert, a very distinguished officer,

mortally. From a letter written by one of
her officers whilst on board the Constitution, it is
evident that the wounded must have been considerably
greater, and many must have died of their
wounds previous to removal. The letter states
sixty killed and a hundred and seventy wounded.”

“Aylwin commanded the forecastle division,
and Ludlow assured me that his bravery and
marked coolness throughout the contest, gained
him the admiration of his commander, and all who
had an opportunity of witnessing him. When
boarders were called to repel boarders, he mounted
the quarter-deck hammock cloths, and, in the
act of firing his pistols at the enemy, he received
a ball through the same shoulder in which he was
wounded before. Notwithstanding the serious
nature of his wound, he continued at his post until
the enemy had struck; and even then did not
make known to the surgeon his own situation, nor
until all the wounded had been dressed. His zeal
and courage did not forsake him in his last moments:
for a few days after the action, although
laboring under considerable debility, and the
most excruciating pain, he left his state-room, and
repaired to quarters, when an engagement was
expected with a ship, which afterwards proved
to be the Hornet. He bore his pain with great
and unusual fortitude, and expired, without a
groan, on the twenty-eighth of January.

“The Java was rated at thirty-eight guns, but
mounted forty-nine. She was just out of dock,
and fitted in the most complete manner to carry
out lieutenant-general Hislop, governor of Bombay,

and his staff; captain Marshal, a commander
in the British navy, and a number of naval
officers going to join the British ships of war in
the East Indies. Besides these, and having her
own complement of officers and men complete,
she had upwards of one hundred supernumeraries
of petty officers and seamen for the admiral's ship
and other vessels on the East India station. She
also had despatches from the British government
for St. Helena, the Cape of Good Hope, and every
British establishment in the East Indies and
China seas, and had copper on board for a seventy-four
gun ship and two sloops of war, building
at Bombay, and it is presumed many other valuables,
all of which were blown up in her on the
thirty-first of December, when she was set on fire.

“The Constitution was considerably cut in her
spars, rigging, and sails; but not so much injured
but that she could have commenced another action
immediately after the capture of the Java,
which latter vessel was made a perfectly unmanageable
wreck.

“A seaman on board the Constitution, named
John Cheeves, was mortally wounded, and whilst
lying on the deck apparently dying, the word was
passed that the enemy had struck. He raised
himself up with one hand, gave three cheers, fell
back, and expired! Heroic specimen of the
genuine patriotism of American tars! His brother
was also wounded, and has since died. They
have left an aged and helpless mother at Marblehead,
who depended entirely on the fruits of their
industry for a subsistence.

“The news of this third achievement of our
favorite Constitution was announced from the
stage by Mr. Powell, the manager, last evening,

and was received with repeated acclamations.
Rodgers and Hull, with their ladies, and several
other officers of the navy, were present, and received
congratulations on the event.

“Gentlemen who have been on board the Constitution,
which still lies in the lower harbor, mention
having learnt that Bainbridge received two
wounds in the action, one by a musket ball, the
other by langrage; that the Java was well fought
and bravely defended; and though the Constitution
could have been prepared for another battle
immediately, she was very considerably injured
in her spars, sails, bulwarks, &c.

“The Constitution has on board part of the
cargo of the schooner Helen, from London for St.
Salvador, captured by the Hornet, captain Lawrence,
off the latter port; the schooner was given
up.

“The Java touched at St. Jago, Cape de
Verds, and learned that the Essex, captain Porter,
had been there—and supposing the Constitution
to be that frigate, with carronades only, kept at
long shot, which prolonged the action. They
learned by the officers of the Java that the Essex
had captured a sloop of war, and four rich prizes.

“The Hornet was left off St. Salvador, watching
the British sloop of war Bonne Citoyenne,
said to have on board one million seven hundred
thousand dollars. Captain Lawrence had challenged
the British captain to come out and try the
fortune of war with him, but the wary Englishman
declined the combat. They begin to respect
“Yankee cock-boats.”

“All the officers and seamen taken in the Java,
were paroled by commodore Bainbridge, and

landed on the third of January at St. Salvador,
Brazils.

“Honors are now lavished on Decatur and
Jones similar to those which Hull has received.
Bainbridge's turn comes next—and who next?
Perhaps Rodgers; he strives hard to find the
enemy, and would no doubt give a good account
of them should he meet them. He arrived at this
port on New-Year's day, at the same hour the
Macedonian entered the harbor of New-York,
through the Sound. Admiral Warren has arrived
off that port, with a considerable squadron, and
has expressed his determination to lay the whole
coast, south of New-York, under a most strict and
rigorous blockade. Our privateers are doing
wonders.

“Your friends here are all enjoying good
health, and Amelia desires to be particularly remembered
to her dear brother. You have
been an uncle above six weeks, and Amelia insists
upon calling the infant Catharine. You
know how to appreciate this compliment. Adieu.