The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1813-07-02
From the PHILADELPHIA Gazette.


From fhe PHILADELPHIA Gazette.
Capt. JAMES LAWRENCE, whose
untimely but glorious death, has spread
such deep and universal! gloom over the
community, was born in the city of Burlug.
ton, N. J At the period of his fate. ne
had reached his 32d year. He received q
liberal education in one of the best semi.
naries of his native state and afterwards
commenced the study of law, under the
guidance of his brother, who was at that
time respectable member of the profcs-
sion. The ardent and cnterprizing mind
of our young hero could not long brook
the seclusion and confinement incident to
musty books and black letter research.
He had from infancy fastened his affections
upon the periis and the honors Of the
ocean. Amidst the studies to which he
was reluctantly devoted. he ardently sigh
ed to be engaged in bold and hazardous
adventures; to which the equinimity of
his mind, and the vigor of his constitution
naturally adapted and directed him. II was
not without many struggles that he was
enablcdto unbosom his favorite desires to
few friends. Their opinions conceded
with his ardent wishes. In conformity to
their suggestions and to his own good sense
and reflection, he determined, as prcpara-
tory to his contemplated pursuit, to devote
himself to the study Of the elements of ma
vigation.
His native talent and application, stimu.
lated by thirst Of fame, soon accomplish
ed more even than his friends had reason
to expect. Ia the eighteenth year of his
age, he applied to the government for a
station In the navy /; and such were the re-
commentators which accompanied The APP
plication, that the mail which carried it re-
turned with his warrant as midshipman.
1t may be readily oDjectured, that our
young hero felt emotions of delight, and i'm
dulged in anticipations ofrapture, in press
ing this to him, darling document to his
bosom. From the moment Of his receiving
it, to his lamen,ed death, he felt and ac-
knowlcdged that his services and his life
belonged TO his beloved country. How
strong and true this conviction was let his
unfortunate and. untimely fate bear wit
ness!
Shortly after his entering the service,
his zeal and ability attracted the notice Of
the government. At this period the Unit
ed States were engaged In war with a
Barbary power. Lawrence, who had, per-
haps, never inhaled the breath of the briny
ocean, was selected for the command of
one of those perilous gun-boats which our
oldest sea-veterans would have hesitated TO
conduct cross the Atlantic He cheerful
ly accepted the appointment & by his skill
and prudence, arrived safely in the Medi-
terrancan.
Tn conjunction with the present commo,
dorc Decatur, and his lamented brother
who fell OH the shores Of Tripoli, and capt
Stewart, lieutenant Lawrence shed Ius.
ire On the American name in this short bu
vigorous war. After that period he had
the command Of the Vixen and subse-
quently that of the Wasp, in which he car
ried out messengers and dispatches tt
France and England.
In the year 1903; he was married to al
amiable and accomplished lady, the daugh
ter OF respectable merchant Of New-York
His death has bereaved her and two swee
infants Of an affectionate husband and ia
1her.
Since the present war, he sailed in the
Hornet, In company with commodore
Bainbridge, in the Constitution the cir
cunstances of whose cruize are too re
cent and glorious to require recapitulatior
in this brief article. 1t is, however, no
improper to observe, that in the opinion o
all naval characters, the capture and des
truction of the Peacock, by capt. Law
renee, is esteemed an instance Of superio
skill IN nautical msn@uvring and practiea