th set them in a
better light before the people of the country. This was the encounter
of the "Lexington," Capt. Barry, with the British vessel "Edward," off
the capes of Virginia. The two vessels were laid yard-arm to yard-arm;
and a hot battle ensued, in which the Americans came off the victors.
The career of this little American brig was a rather remarkable one.
The year following her capture of the "Edward," she was again off the
capes of the Delaware, and again fell in with a British ship. This
time, however, the Englishman was a frigate, and the luckless
"Lexington" was forced to surrender. Her captor left the Americans
aboard their own craft, and, putting a prize crew aboard, ordered them
to follow in the wake of the frigate. That night the Americans plotted
the recapture of their vessel. By a concerted movement, they
overpowered their captors; and the "Lexington" was taken into
Baltimore, where she was soon recommissioned, and ordered to cruise in
European waters.

Shortly after the battle between the "Lexington" and the "Edward,"
there was fought in Massachusetts Bay an action in which the Americans
showed the most determined bravery, and which for the courage shown,
and losses suffered on either side, may well be regarded as the most
important of the naval battles of that year. Early in May, a merchant
seaman named Mugford had succeeded, after great importunity, in
securing the command of the armed vessel "Franklin," a small cruiser
mounting only four guns. The naval authorities had been unwilling to
give him the command, though he showed great zeal in pressing his
suit. Indeed, after the appointment had been made, certain damaging
rumors concerning the newly appointed captain reached the ears of the
marine committee, and caused them to send an express messenger to
Boston to cancel Mugford's commission. But the order arrived too late.
Mugford had already fitted out his ship, and sailed. He had been but a
few days at sea, when the British ship "Hope," of four hundred tons
and mounting six guns, hove in sight. More than this, the lookout
reported that the fleet of the British commodore Banks lay but a few
miles away, and in plain sight. Many a man would have been daunted by
such odds. Not so Capt. Mugford. Mustering his men, he showed them the
British ship, told them that she carried heavier metal than the
"Franklin," told them that the British fleet lay near at hand, and
would doubtless try to take a hand in t