ew under my command) close it without
expressing to you the confidence I have in them, and assuring you
that their conduct whilst under the guns of the enemy was such as
might have been expected from American officers and seamen.

I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your obedient
humble servant,
Isaac HULL.

_____

_Captain Hull to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States Frigate Constitution,
Paul HAMILTON, Off Boston Light, August 30, 1812.
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you that on the 19th instant, at
2 P.M., being in latitude 41 deg. 42', longitude 55 deg. 48', with the
Constitution under my command, a sail was discovered from the
masthead bearing E. by S. or E. S. E., but at such a distance we
could not tell what she was. All sail was instantly made in
chase, and we soon found we came up with her. At 3 P.M. could
plainly see that she was a ship on the starboard tack, under easy
sail, close on a wind; at half past 3 P.M. made her out to be a
frigate; continued the chase until we were within about three
miles, when I ordered the light sails taken in, the courses
hauled up, and the ship cleared for action. At this time the
chase had backed his main top-sail, waiting for us to come down.
As soon as the Constitution was ready for action, I bore down
with an intention to bring him to close action immediately; but
on our coming within gunshot she gave us a broadside and filled
away, and wore, giving us a broadside on the other tack; but (p. 158)
without effect; her shot falling short. She continued wearing
and manoeuvering for about three-quarters of an hour, to get
a raking position, but finding she could not, bore up, and
run under topsails and gib, with the wind on the quarter.
Immediately made sail to bring the ship up with her, and five
minutes before 6 P.M. being alongside within half pistol shot,
we commenced a heavy fire from all our guns, double-shotted with
round and grape, and so well directed were they, and so warmly
kept up, that in fifteen minutes her mizzen-mast went by the
board, and her mainyard in the slings, and the hull, rigging and
sails were ve