the invalid soldiers as could be had, and with the seamen began to
heave. And he too "worked with as much ardor as possible."

"Captain Barry, doth she rise," called Hopkinson.

"No, sir! How can she rise when you keep the people back," replied
Barry. This was an allusion to Hopkinson's order that only invalids,
well attired, should be sent to assist the seamen.

"Puh! You are always grumbling," retorted Hopkinson.

"What do you say?" quickly cried Barry.

"Go along and mind your own business, you scoundrel," roared Hopkinson.

"It is a lie," said Barry.

"What! Do you tell me I lie?" said Hopkinson.

"It was a lie in them that said so," was Barry's rejoinder.

Hopkinson replied that he would bring Barry to an account for this.

"My answer was," Barry told Congress, "Damn you! I don't value you more
than my duty requires."

"Sir! You never minded your duty," retorted Hopkinson.

"I immediately told him he was a liar and that the Continental Congress
knew I had minded my duty, and added that had he minded his duty as well
the ship would not be in its present condition."

The Navy Board, on December 11, 1777, complained to Congress of the
"disrespect and ill treatment which Hopkinson had received from John
Barry, commander of the frigate 'Effingham.'"

Barry was summoned to York, Pa., where Congress was in session. On
January 10th he attended and made defense, concluding by saying that he
considered himself "unworthy the commission of Congress if he tamely put
up with treatment other than that due to all Captains of the Navy as
gentlemen."

On February 27th the Marine Committee reported to Congress that "Captain
Barry ought, within twenty days, make full acknowledgment to the Navy
Board of having treated Mr. Hopkinson with indecency and disrespect."
Nothing further appears on record, so it is presumed Captain Barry
complied and the case closed. At this time Barry was, by order of the
same Committee, actively at work destroying British supplies in the
lower Delaware from Mantua Creek to Port Penn and Bombay Hook.

Congress was equally divided on a resolution that Captain Barry be not,
in consequence of his conduct towards Hopkinson, "employed on the
expedition assigned to his conduct by the Marine Committee with the
approbation of Congress until the further order of Congress." Had he not
been employed, Washington might not, later, have been cheered by the
results which Captain Barry achieved in "the exped