hed himself greatly in the naval war with France, and in the
war with Tripoli, especially at the capture of Derne, in Africa.

[Illustration: COMMODORE HULL.]

At the commencement of the war of 1812, Hull having been advanced in the
meantime to the rank of captain, was placed in command of the frigate
Constitution, in which he was destined to perform those brilliant
actions which have rendered him one of the most celebrated heroes of our
navy. His first exploit was the escape of the Constitution from a
British squadron, which is justly regarded as one of the most remarkable
recorded in naval history. The account of it contained in the official
letter of Captain Hull has all the interest of a romance. It is as
follows:

"SIR:--In pursuance of your orders of the 3d instant, I left
Annapolis on the 5th instant, and the capes on the 12th, of which I
advised you by the pilot who brought the ship to sea.

For several days after we got out, the wind was light and ahead,
which, with a strong southerly current, prevented our making much
way to the northward. On the 17th, at two P.M., being in twenty-two
fathoms water off Egg Harbor, four sail of ships were discovered
from the masthead, to the northward and in shore of us, apparently
ships of war. The wind being very light all sail was made in chase
of them, to ascertain whether they were the enemy's ships, or our
squadron having got out of New York, waiting the arrival of the
Constitution, the latter of which I had reason to believe was the
case.

At four in the afternoon, a ship was seen from the masthead,
bearing about north-east, standing in for us under all sail, which
she continued so to do until sundown, at which time she was too far
off to distinguish signals, and the ships in shore only to be seen
from the tops; they were standing off to the southward and
eastward. As we could not ascertain before dark what the ship in
the offing was, I determined to stand for her, and get near enough
to make the night signal.

At ten in the evening, being within six or eight miles of the
strange sail, the private signal was made, and kept up nearly one
hour, but finding she could not answer it, I concluded she and the
ships in shore were enemy.

I immediately hauled off to the southward and eastward, and made
all sail, having determined to lie