ces of an able and active officer in Captain
Chauncey, serving on the quarter-deck of the Constitution. At
sunrise I made the signal for the squadron to prepare for action.
The carpenters were sent on board the bombs to repair damages,
and our boats employed in supplying the bombs and gunboats with
ammunition, and to replace the expenditures.

Desirous of annoying the enemy by all the means in my power, I
directed to be put into execution a long contemplated plan of
sending a fire ship, or _infernal_, into the harbour of Tripoli,
in the night, for the purpose of endeavouring to destroy the
enemy's shipping, and shatter the Bashaw's castle and town.
Captain Somers, of the Nautilus, having volunteered his services,
had, for several days before this period, been directing the
preparation of the ketch Intrepid, assisted by Lieutenants
Wadsworth and Israel. About one hundred barrels of powder, and
one hundred and fifty fixed shells, were apparently judiciously
disposed of on board her. The fusees leading to the magazine,
where all the powder was deposited, were calculated to burn for a
quarter of an hour.

_September 4th._ The Intrepid being prepared for the intended
service, Captain Somers and Lieutenant Wadsworth made choice of
two of the fastest rowing boats in the squadron, for bringing
them out, after reaching their destination, and firing the
combustible materials which were to communicate with the fusees.
Captain Somers' boat was manned with four seamen from the
Nautilus, and Lieutenant Wadsworth's with six from the
Constitution. Lieutenant Israel accompanied them. At eight in the
evening, the Intrepid was under sail, and standing for the port,
with a leading breeze from the eastward. The Argus, Vixen, and
Nautilus, convoyed her as far as the rocks. On entering the (p. 148)
harbour, several shot were fired at her from the batteries.
In a few minutes after, when she had apparently nearly gained the
intended place of destination, she suddenly exploded, without
their having previously fired a room filled with splinters and
other combustibles, which were intended to create a blaze in
order to deter the enemy from boarding while the fire was
communicating to the fusees which led to the magazine. The effect
of the explosion awed their bat