o small, swift-sailing
squadrons, of strength sufficient to repel his cruisers. And I would
carry the war straight into his unprotected ports of trade. I can name
a score of such defenceless places, and I know every shoal of their
harbours. For example, Whitehaven might be entered. That is a town of
fifty thousand inhabitants. The fleet of merchantmen might with the
greatest ease be destroyed, a contribution levied, and Ireland's coal
cut off for a winter. The whole of the shipping might be swept out of
the Clyde. Newcastle is another likely place, and in almost any of the
Irish ports valuable vessels may be found. The Baltic and West Indian
fleets are to be intercepted. I have reflected upon these matters for
years, gentlemen. They are perfectly feasible. And I'll warrant you
cannot conceive the havoc and consternation their fulfilment would
spread in England."

If the divine power of genius ever made itself felt, 'twas on that May
evening, at candle-light, in the Annapolis Coffee House. With my own
eyes I witnessed two able and cautious statesmen of a cautious province
thrilled to the pitch of enthusiasm by this strange young man of eight
and twenty. As for good Captain Daniel, enthusiasm is but a poor word to
express his feelings. A map was sent for and spread out upon the
table. And it was a late hour when Mr. Chase and Mr. Carroll went
home, profoundly impressed. Mr. Chase charged John Paul look him up in
Congress.

The next morning I bade Captain Daniel a solemn good-by, and rode away
with John Paul to Baltimore. Thence we took stage to New Castle on
the Delaware, and were eventually landed by Mr. Tatlow's stage-boat at
Crooked Billet wharf, Philadelphia.

A BRIEF SUMMARY, WHICH BRINGS THIS BIOGRAPHY TO THE FAMOUS
FIGHT OF THE BON HOMME RICHARD AND THE SERAPIS

BY DANIEL CLAPSADDLE CARVEL

Mr. Richard Carvel refers here to the narrative of his experiences in
the War of the Revolution, which he had written in the year 1805 or
1806. The insertion of that account would swell this book, already
too long, out of all proportion. Hence I take it upon myself, with
apologies, to compress it.

Not until October of that year, 1775, was the infant navy born. Mr.
Carvel was occupied in the interval in the acquirement of practical
seamanship and the theory of maritime warfare under the most competent
of instructors, John Paul Jones. An interesting side light is thrown
upon the character of that hero by t