forty or fifty were destroyed by the explosion."

On July 2, 1776, the day the Resolution declared the Colonies free and
independent, John Hancock, President of the Congress so declaring,
notified Captain Barry that as "the frigate you are to command is not
yet launched, her guns and anchors not yet ready," it was but "a piece
of justice due to your merit to allow you to make a cruise in the
'Lexington' for one or two months, in hopes that fortune may favor your
industry and reward it with some good prizes." On this cruise Barry met
that "fortune" which his industry merited. He captured several prizes of
which record have been discovered.

[Illustration: SIGNATURES TO BARRY'S ORDERS]

On August 2d the "Lady Susan," "an armed vessel, was taken by Captain
Barry at sea," reported Caesar Rodney to his brother at Dover the next
day. This was "a privateer of eight four-pound carriage guns commanded
by another of those famous Goodriches of Virginia." She was loaded with
naval stores from Bermuda. After an "obstinate engagement" of an hour
and a half "she struck." Nearly all of her crew of twenty-five after
their capture took service under Barry.

The "Betsy," a sloop of fifty tons, commanded by Samuel Kerr, was also
at this time captured by the "Lexington" under Barry. Both prizes were
condemned to Captain Barry on September 26th by the Court of Admiralty,
but an appeal in the case of the "Betsy" was taken to Congress.

The newly built "Effingham" being ready, Captain Barry surrendered, on
October 18, 1776, the "Lexington" to Captain Henry Johnston and took
command of the "Effingham," named in honor of Lord Effingham, who had
resigned his commission in the British Army rather than take arms
against the Colonies, because of his "strict adherence to those
principles of the Revolution of 1688," which he declared the Colonies
were contending for and for so doing the merchants of Dublin, on July
17, 1775, approved of his conduct in "honestly and spiritedly
resigning," and for his "noble efforts in support of American Liberty."

CHAPTER IV.

BARRY APPOINTED TO THE "EFFINGHAM"--THE QUESTION OF RANK--BARRY
ENGAGES IN THE TRENTON CAMPAIGN--AN AIDE TO WASHINGTON AND TO
CADWALLADER--COMMANDER OF THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA--STRIKE OF THE
NAVY LIEUTENANTS--OPERATIONS OF BARRY ON THE DELAWARE.

A reorganization of the Navy of the United Colonies took place on
October 10, 1776, when assignments were made of the seve