ded to damage naval
stores and arsenals. He was a kind of legalized pirate, who darted in
to a harbour, bay, or port, doing every imaginable kind of mischief and
running off.

About this time there were cruising off Boston two ships of equal
strength, the _Shannon_ and the _Tenedos_. Captain Broke, the commander
of the _Shannon_, was the senior officer, and having determined upon a
combat, if it were possible to effect it, between the American frigate
_Chesapeake_, then in Boston harbour, where she had passed the winter,
and his own vessel, he sent the _Tenedos_ to sea, with instructions not
to return for three weeks. Captain Broke had laboriously and anxiously
drilled his men. He had sighted his guns and used them often. In a
word, he had by long continued training brought his crew to the highest
state of discipline and subordination. They could fire ball to a
nicety. At sea and in harbour he had kept his men at great gun
practice. He was in a position to cope with any forty-four gun frigate,
belonging to the United States, for, though the _Shannon_ was only
pierced for 38 guns, she carried 52. When the _Tenedos_ had put to sea,
Captain Broke sent in a challenge to Captain Lawrence, of the
_Chesapeake_, entreating him to try the fortunes of their respective
flags in _even combat_. The _Chesapeake_ had 49 guns. Captain Broke
immediately lay close into Boston Light House, and the _Chesapeake_ was
quickly under weigh. It is said that Captain Lawrence had not received
the challenge of his opponent when he stood out of the harbour, but,
however that may be, the _Chesapeake_ was escorted to sea by a flotilla
of barges and pleasure boats. Victory, indeed, was considered certain
by the Americans. Nay, so very certain were the inhabitants of Boston
that the _Shannon_ would either be sunk or towed into port that,
counting their chickens before they were hatched, they prepared a
public supper to greet the victors on their return to the harbour, with
their prisoners. It was otherwise. Captain Broke saw with delight, from
the masthead of the _Shannon_, that his challenge was to be satisfactorily
replied to. The _Shannon_ was cleared for action, and waited for the
_Chesapeake_. She had not long to wait. The _Chesapeake_ came bowling
along with three flags flying, on which were inscribed--"Sailors,
rights and free trade." The _Shannon_ had her union jack at the
foremast, and a somewhat faded blue ensign at the mizen peak. There
were