Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-12-02

sing the wrongs of his country, and ofdpaying the
prowess Of her arms.
Soon after the commencement Of the war, he was
promoted to the rank of Master Commandant, with
the command Of the fotilla Of gum boats, stationed
at New-York; but being disgus;ed with the inac-
tvy ofthe service, he applied to the Navy Depart.
ment for permission to join Com. CHAyNcEY,
who then had command Of the forces ON the Lakes.
The request being granted, he repaired to the sta
tion assigned him--and so warmly attached to him
were the seamen who had served under him, that
they unanimously applied to accompany him to the
scene Of action which laid the foundation of his f
ture greatness. On his arrival at the Lakes, he
ordered to repair to Lake Erie, TO assume the
mand Of the fleet that was there stationed aud il
was at this juncture that the fruitful energies of his
mind developed themselves, and were put in active
operation.
The fleet ON Lake Erie consisted Of few small
vessels scarcely worthy whilst that of the ene
my, was large, effective, and fully manned, and com.
manded by that venerable British naval hero, Com
modore BARCLAY, an officer who had been long in
ured toscenes of danger and to ali the exgences Of
naval warfare. Commodore PERRY finding that
he had to contend with unequal foe resolved 10
alignment his forces, and prepare himself to meet his
antagonist, if possible, equal ground. To et-
feet this purpose he threw aside the officer and the
sailor, and assuming the character Of shipwright
soon succeeded in possessing feet adequate to meet
his future emergencies, and to gain a most trium-
phant victory the forces of his Britannia Ma
jcstic, and teach the veteran BARCLAY, that youth
ft.l heroism, when engaged in God-like cause, can
quell the vauntings ofaged arrogance, grown over
bearing by success, aud naughty by successful for
tune.
The history Of Commodore PERRY need not
however, be told in this pace-for it is familiar to
almost every Rhode Islander and we are used to
speak ofhim, as Of one, who sustained the reputa-
ton gained for us by our GREENE, our OLNEx,
our BARTON, and our WHIPPLE. Sufficient is it
for us 10 say that on the tenth Of September, 1873
this gallant son of Rhode Island, mingled in the sf,
fray" he met the eAemy"-he couquered-and he
triumphed. victory more signal and complete.
was never won--and although the forces engaged
were but small, when compared with those whics
came in collision at Trafalgar, and at Cape St. Vim
cent it spread panic through the Government Of
England, and told them, that they had men to con-
tend with. who knew not how to quail and who
fought for victory or death.
Previous to this period, settled gloom lowereaf
upon the continent, and the dsgraceful scenes at
Maiden, where the North Western Army had in
sloriously surrendered without the firing of gun,
to an inferior force. had nearly prostratcd the fond.
est hopes Of the people, and they were prepared to
accede to terms of pacifcation with their enenies
almost upon any conditions, if they were not posi-
lively disgraceful. But the battle of Erie filled
each heart with joy and exultstiop, and ray Of
hope and confidence beamed from the northern to
the southern sections ofthe nation; and whilst the
gallant PERRY had the happiness of indulgins in
the assurance that he had done his duty, and noby
fought for his countrymen, he was hailed wherever
he went, as the noblest Of American Chieitains.
But whilst he knew he had done his duty, he mo.
destly attributed the victory IL other causes ;har
his own galantry and nautical forecast, "A. the an.
nexed unassumng letter, addressed by him to the
head Of the Navy Department, written Immediate
ly after the close Of the battle will inform the req.
der
United STATES brig Niagara, of the Wtstern,
Sister, head Of Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1913. !
"SIR-It has pleased the Almighty to give to the
of the United States a signal victory their enc
mics this Lake The British squadron, consisting Of
two ships, two briggs, schooner, and soop have
this moment surrendered to the force under my command
after short conflict.
have the honor to be- very respectfully, your obedeb,
servant o. ii. PERRY
Hon. WILLIAM JoNEs, SecretaryI
Of the U. S. Navy
That Commodore PERRY was faultess. we are
not disposed to assert. His passions were warm
ardent, and quickly excited but they as soou
appeased; and it was rule with him, to make am
pie reparation, where reparation was demanded, if
he was assured that he had been the aggressor.
Whilst in the Mediterranean service, few years
previous to his demise, in a moment Of excitement,
he offered violence to officer whom he highly es-
teemed, and who was worthy of his friendship aud
attachment. Willingly would he have made the
concessions, becoming the gentleman, the officer and
the superior, but he who received the indignant
blow, sought redress in a manner, which however
justly it may be condemned by the civil citizen. s
sanctioned by all the laws Of arms aud ch;valry.-
Nor did he seek in vain, for the gallant PERRY