company with the prize,
and five re-captured vessels. Arrangements are making with the
governor, with the concurrence of the commander of the Spanish
Brig of war Marte, [of whose conduct the officers of the
Alligator speak in the highest terms,] to inter him with the
honors of war to-morrow morning. It is certain that the pirates
are but little weakened by this contest, and there is reason to
fear that our commerce with this Island and New Orleans will be
almost annihilated, unless an effectual force is stationed here
to prevent it. But the best comment I can make is to add a list
of vessels re-taken, and to state that many of the men are
missing, and probably have been murdered. Should any of our
vessels of war arrive, please state these facts, and leave no
efforts untried to procure some additional force to come
immediately here.

"In great haste, your's very truly,
"Francis Adams.

"Loss in Alligator's two boats--Captain Allen and two oarsmen
killed; two men mortally wounded; three severely.

"[By an arrival at Philadelphia we learn that the United States
Schooner Alligator had arrived at Matanzas with the pirate
schooner and the vessels re-taken from the pirates, (the Ship
William & Henry, of New-York, Brig Iris, of Boston, and Brig
Sarah Marael, of New-York, bound to New Orleans; Schooner
Sarah, of Boston, for Mobile, Schooner Mary Ann, of Salem, for
Matanzas,) are all ordered for Charleston. The pirate schooner
has arrived, it is said, at Norfolk.]"

After the arrival of the piratical schooner at Norfolk she was condemned
and sold to a citizen of that place, who gave her the name of Allen, in
remembrance of the brave but unfortunate commander who lost his life in
capturing her. Some time after she was purchased by Messrs. H. & D.
Cotheal and A. D. Hallett, the former owners of the Price, and I was
employed to take the command of her, and proceed to the Island of St.
Andreas, and from thence to Chagres.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Schooner Allen.

About the twenty-seventh of December, 1823, I took charge of the Allen.
She was a small sharp-built schooner, armed with a long six-pound
cannon, mounted on a circle, with a patent slide, and was well fitted
for sea. My crew were three seamen, a mate and cook. We sailed from
New