for the protection of American property. On the 9th of February, 1799, he fell in with the French frigate, L'Insurgente, Captain Barreau, off the island of St. Nevis. With this vessel, he commenced a severe engagement, which lasted for an hour and a quarter, when the Frenchman struck; but not until his ship had become a mere wreck. The Constellation, mounting thirty-six guns and a proportionate crew, lost in this engagement, only one man killed and two wounded, while the loss on board the Insurgente, mounting forty-four guns with four hundred and seventeen men, was twenty killed and forty-four wounded. With his prize, he put into Basse Terre, St. Christopher's, where he refitted and returned to America.This was the first action, which had taken place since the commencement of the disturbance beThe fame tween the United States and France. of the achievement was blazoned abroad, both in Europe and America, and produced the Commodore, the most flattering marks of distinction.The merchants at Lloyd's Coffee House, London, sent him a present of a service of silver plate with a suitable device, valued at upwards of six hundred guineas. The captive Commander, in a let ter to the Commodore, while he lamented the unhappy posture of affairs between the two countries, expressed himself as being well pleased, that the chances of war had thrown him into such gallant and brave hands, and thanked the Commodore for his generous conduct towards himself and his crew.

During his cruise he captured many private armed and other vessels, and completely cleared those seas, of the French cruisers, by which so many depredations had been committed on the American and English commerce in that quarter.

While our other vessels of war were busily engaged in convoying the American commerce, the Commodore, (a title acquired by courtesy, as the laws of the United States know of no such officer) heard in January 1800, that the French ship of war La Vengeance, mounting 54 guns with a complement of 500 men, was lying at Guadaloupe with troops and several general officers on board, intending to put to sea. He immediately changed his cruising ground, and endeavoured to fall in with her, and, if possible, to bring her to action. The superiority of her force was, in a great measure, counterbalanced, by a complement of too many men and a number of troops.

On the first of February, his wishes were gratified, as he descried her on the morning of that day, and after twelve hour's chase brought her to action. In consequence of having too many troops and a great number of officers on board, the French Commander was unwilling to risk a combat, but the intentions of his gallant antagonist were very different. An engagement took place, and after a close action of nearly five hours, the Frenchman was silenced. During a squall, while the Americans were busily engaged in clearing their ship, the French Captain effected his escape.This he was enabled to do by the darkness of the night, although prior to this circumstance, he had struck his colours, as he afterwards acknowledged, but was induced to renew the contest, believing it to be the intention of his antagonist to sink. The Vengeance now arrived at Curracoa in a very shattered condition, having, lost in the engagement, one hundred killed and wounded, and all her masts and rigging being nearly shot away.

Congress, on this occasion, voted Truxtun an emblematic medal, for his gallantry and good conduct.

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After Mr. Jefferson entered on the duties of the Presidential office, the Commodore was ordered to the Mediterranean. From some cause or other he declined the service, and his resignation was accepted, and an other officer succeeded him. Considering his resignation as temporary, he some time afterwards wished to resume his naval command, but was informed, that as his resignation had been final, his wishes could not be gratified. He retired to Philadelphia, to enjoy the pleasing scenes of domestic life, until 1816, when the citizens of the city and county of Philadelphia evinced their respect for his various services rendered them in the most perilous times, by electing him to fill the important office of Sheriff, the duties of which he has discharged so far with general satisfaction, notwithstanding that his elevation was opposed by party clamour and prejudice.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL

HUGH MERCER.

This gentleman was a native of Scotland; but the of his birth is unknown to us. Having year received a liberal education, he studied medicine, and it is highly probable that he came to America with the unfortunate General Braddock, in the capacity of a surgeon, as he was with him in the disastrous campaign of 1755; and in the action wherein the General was slain, near Fort, du Quesne, now Pittsburg, was wounded in the shoulder. Thus early was he the companion in arms of the illustrious Washington. As Dr. Mer

cer found himself unable to retreat, he sought concealment under a fallen tree, on which, directly over where he lay, an Indian jumped up to descry, if possible, the fugitive combatants, and in a few moments departed without discovering

him.

After the Indians, having satiated themselves with blood and plunder, had retired from the sanguinary field, the Doctor reached a neighbouring brook, and, almost fainting with the loss of blood, slaked his thirst, which so far refreshed him as to enable him to walk. He then endeavoured to return by the route, in which the army had advanced. Incredible as it may appear, he reached Fort Cumberland, on the Potowmac, a distance of more than a hundred miles, through a trackless wild, with no other nutriment than a rattle snake, which he adventitiously killed and threw over his shoulder. After the peace of 1763, the Doctor settled and married in America, but in what year we are not informed. In him were united in a very uncommon manner the qualities of the gentleman, the scholar, the soldier, the statesman, the husband, the father and the friend. His worth, was so generally known and admired that at the commencement of the American Revolution, he was honoured with a Brigadier-General's commission, and thus he exchanged the peaceful scenes of private life for the tumultous field of slaughter and carnage. His brigade formed a part of the left column of Washington's army, at the capture of the Hessians in Trenton, New-Jersey, in December 1776. In this adventure of brilliant achievement, he accompanied the Commander-in-chief, who conducted the left wing in person. Finding the hazardous situation of his army in its position, and the advance of the British, to save Philadel

phia, Washington determined to throw himself in the rear of the enemy and withdraw his attention to other objects. To deceive the enemy, who meditated an attack the next morning, he left his fires burning and withdrew his forces towards Princeton, before day-light on the morning of the 2d of January, 1777. The enemy did not discover that the Americans had decamped, till they had prepared to execute the contemplated attack.

On the morning of the 3d was the memorable engagement, which terminated General Mercer's life in a few days thereafter. He commenced the engagement with his column, consisting of not more than three hundred and fifty men, near Stoney-brook. Upon hearing the firing, General Washington, in person led on the Pennsylvania militia to the support of Mercer, with two pieces of artillery. The force engaged against him was the British 17th regiment commanded by Colonel Mawhood. After the third fire in consequence of a charge made by the British, Mercer's corps fled in disorder. He himself, who was dismounted, exerted himself in endeavouring to rally them, but while he was thus engaged, he was thrown into the rear, and being unable to escape he turned about and surrendered. He was, however, forthwith knocked down by the sanguinary foe, and received thirteen thrusts of the bayonet. Feigning himself dead, the enemy left him, the fortune of the day being against them. He was then borne off to a neighbouring house, where he expired on the 12th. His body was conveyed to Philadelphia and interred with military honours. The American loss, in this action, did not exceed thirty, fourteen of whom were buried in the field of battle.