COMMAND OF THE "BOSTON." -- ANECDOTES OF CAPT. TUCKER.

In the career of Paul Jones is to be found the record of the most
stirring events of the Revolution; but there were other commanders in
the young American navy no less daring than he. As the chief naval
representative of the Colonies who cruised in European waters, Jones
achieved a notoriety somewhat out of proportion to his actual
achievements. But other brave seamen did gallant service along the
Atlantic coast for the cause of the struggling nation, and, by their
daring and nautical skill, did much to bring the war of the Revolution
to its happy conclusion.

We abandoned our consideration of the general naval events of the war,
to turn to a recountal of the exploits of Paul Jones at the close of
the year 1776. Hostilities on the water during that year were confined
to sharp, but short, actions between small men-of-war or privateers.
The Americans lacked the discipline and experience necessary to win
for themselves any great reputation on the water. Though they showed
themselves full of dash and spirit, they were deficient in discipline
and staying qualities. Nevertheless, the record of the year was by no
means discreditable to so young a naval organization.

Aside from the naval operations on the ocean, the year 1776 had seen
the thick clouds of gunpowder-smoke floating across the placid surface
of Lake Champlain, while the wooded hills that surrounded that lake
and Lake George more than once resounded with thunderous tones of
cannon. The hostile meetings of the English and Americans on the
interior lakes are hardly to be classed as naval engagements. The
vessels were chiefly gondolas and galleys, and many of their crews had
never seen salt water. On the British side the forces were more
considerable. In October, 1776, the British had on Lake Champlain at
least one full-rigged ship; and their schooners and galleys were all
manned by trained sailors, drafted from men-of-war laid up in the St.
Lawrence. This force was under the command of Capt. Douglass of the
frigate "Isis." The Americans, on the contrary, had manned their fleet
with recruits from the army; and the forces were under the command of
an army-officer, Gen. Benedict Arnold, the story of whose later
treachery is familiar to every American. It was late in October that
the two hostile fleets met in deadly conflict, and a few short hours
were enough to prove to the Americans that they were greatly
ov