pers making up the American archives, as having sent in valuable
prizes. At one time we read of the capture of "a brigantine from
Scotland, worth fifteen thousand pounds sterling;" again, of six
gunboats, and of brigs laden with wine and fruit. During the year
1776, he took not less than thirty--and probably a few more--ships,
brigs, and smaller vessels. Nor were all these vessels taken without
some sharp fighting.

Of one battle Tucker himself speaks in one of his letters. First
telling how his wife made the colors for his ship, "the field of which
was white, and the union was green, made of cloth of her own
purchasing, and at her own expense," he goes on to write of one of his
battles:--

"Those colors I wore in honor of the country,--which has so nobly
rewarded me for my past services,--and the love of their maker, until
I fell in with Col. Archibald Campbell in the ship "George," and brig
"Arabella," transports with about two hundred and eighty Highland
troops on board, of Gen. Frazer's corps. About ten P.M. a severe
conflict ensued, which held about two hours and twenty minutes. I
conquered them with great carnage on their side, it being in the
night, and my small bark, about seventy tons burden, being very low in
the water, I received no damage in loss of men, but lost a complete
set of new by the passing of their balls; then the white field and
pine-tree union were riddled to atoms. I was then immediately supplied
with a new suit of sails, and a new suit of colors, made of canvas and
bunting of my own prize-goods."

Another time, during the same year, Tucker took two British ships near
Marblehead. So near was the scene of action to the house of Capt.
Tucker, that his wife and her sister, hearing the sound of
cannonading, ascended a high hill in the vicinity, and from that point
viewed the action through a spy-glass.

Capt. Tucker kept the sea in the "Franklin" until late in the winter.
When finally the cold weather and high winds forced him to put his
ship out of commission, he went to his home at Marblehead. He remained
there but a short time; for in March, 1777, he was put in command of
the "Boston," a frigate of twenty-four guns. In this vessel he cruised
during the year with varying success.

Feb. 10, 1778, Capt. Tucker was ordered to carry the Hon. John Adams
to France, as envoy from the United States. The voyage was full of
incidents. Feeling impressed with the gravity of the charge laid upon
him, Ca