The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-09-11
CON. ELLIOT's CONDUCT on
LAKE ERIE.

70 bN" III press IN tIls CITY, Lecture
delivered before the Rhode Island Historical
Society. in 1896. by the Hon. Tristan Burges.
giving a graphic and beautiful description Of
the Battle Of Lake Erie, with a review OF the
conduct Of Capt. Jesse d. Elliot, during the
engagement. The Lecture was one of SER
les prepared by the author upon the maratme
history of Rhode Island, and the reference 10
Elliot was called forth by the publication. at
that time, OF the famous autobiography OF the
Captain Of the Niagara, in which he laws a mo-
dest claim 10 the gratitude Of the country as
the hero 10 whom are indebted for the
most brilliant page in our Naval History.
The fleet upon Lake Erie having been COM
manded by Rhode Islander, aud offcered and
manned principally by volunteers from this
State; and having, in fact, by their labors been
created ont Of the green oaks and pines, which
they found growing upon the lake shore. the
author thought himself justified in chasing
this brilliant achievement of naval valor among
the maratirne enterprises of his fellow citizens
and regarding the fame of the gallant Perry
and his associates. as heritage Of glory TO be
cherished by our little state.
The recent publication Of Cooper's Naval
History. in which a most unworthy attempt is
made to depreciate the merits ofPerry, has A.
gain aroused public attention to the part which
Capt. Elliot took in the battle. Mr.. Burges
has. al the urgent solicitation of many Of our
citizens prepared preface and an appendix to
the Lecture and placed it in the hands of the
printer for publication. The preface contains
an account of early efforts made in Rhode Is
land to induce the Continental Congress to
build and equip national feet and to her be-
longs,-as he has shown,-the credit of having
first conceived the project and urged it upon
the attention of her sister colonies.
The graphic and eloquent description of the
battle will be remembered by AL who heard the
Lecture; and none can have forgotten the
complete aud mastery refutaon made by the
Lecturer OF the unblushiug pretensions Of Ell
lot He did him." as an auditor remarked.
all the justice that could be done, except by
the halter"
The appendix contains comments upon
Cooper's History and a collection of interest
ing documents which place seal upon the
character Of Com. Elliot, that will render it
vain for him TO attempt TO remove. Several
of these documents have never been presented
to the public; among them is the account Of
the action from the log book Of Lawrence,
which was copied by an officer of that ship in-
to his private diary, and was thereby preserved.
The log book itself disappeared soon after Per-
ry left the fleet and the command Of it was as
sumed by Elliot, and was never recovered. IL
also contains minute detail by our townsman.
DIR. Parsons, who rendered such efficient aid
to the wounded in that bloody conflict, of what
fell under his own observation.
The position Of the fleets at the commence
ment of the action-at the moment when Per-
ry left the Lawrence for the Niagara-and at
the close of the battle, are illustrated by three
new diagrams. representing the relative situa-
ton of each vessel engaged.-Pror. Courier.
Americcn Ingenuity in Grading the Ldr.-
The very first object of the Americans, after Il
law has been passed, is to find out how they
can eyade it. This exercises their ingenuity;
and it is very amusing to observe how cleverly
they sometimes manage it. At Baltimore, in
consequence of the prevalence of hydGophobia.
the civic authorities passed law, that all dogs
should he muzzled, or rather the terms were,
that all dogs should wear muzzle,' the
owner OF dog not wearing muzzle should be
brought up aud fined and the regulation fur
ther stated, that any body convicted of having
removed the muzzle from off dog should al
so be severely fined A man, therefore, tied
muzze to his dogs tail (the act not stating
where the muzzle was to be paced.) One Of
the city officers perceiving this dog with his
muzze at the wrong end, took possession of
the dog. and brought it to the town hall. Its
master, being well known, was summoned and
appeared. lie proved that he complied with
the act, in having fixed muzzle on the dog,
and farther the city officer, having taken the
muzzle off the dogs tail. he insisted that he
should be fined five dollars for so doing.
Capt. MaryaHs Diary in Americd.