Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-07-01

'idIh NOW " HaSf1nS, as lie SenuS his SdI'
aloii to ascertain if all there is right. See
he is addressing the young man with the glass
who is his first lieutenant and at present
officer of the deck. He smiles did you eve
see mans countenance undergo SO com
plete a change? All that sternness has van
ished, and his features arc beautifully ami
mated.
DO we leave them, Mr. Trcnncl Thos,
rearmost ships appear to be hull down.
yes, sir, they are poor sailors answer
ed the lieutenant but there's brig among
'em that has been overhauliug us since sun
rise. Tho fellow moves along like witch
I've been watching him for the last hour, AM
have seen him pass every vessel in the squad
ron. Another hour, and the varmint will bt
pitching his cold iron into u.s.
Let him come on i rejoined the com.
mander, cycling the object of this colloqny
through the telescope, we could match will
two of them; but you are correct; the vii.
lain IS coming down, wing-and-wing, anc
gaining each moment upon us. lie mus
be hungry for fight
Yes replied the other; / expect hcl
skipper has been reading the Life of Nell
son. and feels an inclination to immortalize
himself. He'll be less eager, however, be.
fore we ret through with him.
Il did not think that there was any thing
in his majcsty's service that could show the
Rover her stern BEFORE remarked Captain
Buniine.
'Our copper wants cleaning rcjoined the
lieutenant, and our sails are old, and hold
no moro wind than so much bobbinct; be-
sides, sir, | think that fellow is Baltimore
Ihuilt-some SLAYER they've caught on the
coast of Gnnca-or, perhaps, some unfor-
tunae devil of privateer: those ten-gun
channel grOpcrs don't run the line off the
reel at that rate, in such cal's-paw as this.
Here, Bobstay,' said the commander tn
an old quartrr-mastcr, take the glass and
see what you Can make of that fellow The
veteran Invested his mouth of huge chew
of tobacco, ard htching up his trowscrs
commenced scanning the English with an eye
provrrblal for its acutenc and experience
That ARE is a mob towner, sir, as tn,
levtenant says, and coming down with biz
bone in her mouth, too
'Why, are You positive about her being d
Ballimore-buil, Bobs,ay!' asked the com.
mandrr.
Because, sir answered the tar, there.
no end to the sticks thcm old fellows put it
their crafts; ard besides, if yen oLsarve
she liant bali the beam Of them ten gun tubs
her yards are squarcr, too, and she's no ROACH
to her sails
your observations are conclusive, Bob
stay said the commander; but can we serve
her out, think voul'
The old tar smiled at the question, and
rep!enishing his mouth with foot or two OF
pieta, Replied:
'Ay, sir, two such fellows, and two more
in thirty minutes afterwards
SC. TO your Duty said the commander
good humoredIy; you've turned boastcr in
your old days.
At meridian, the English brig was some
six or seven miles in advance Of the head
most ship of the squadron, and not more
than two in the rear of the chase. Although
Captain Buntlinc had determined on fighting
her, he still continued under press of sail
for the purpose Of drawing his adversary at
such distance from the main body as to pre-
clnde the possibility of their interference in
| the engagement. Another hour, however,
brougl, the Enelishmon within gunshot; and.
determined 10 secure every advantage of cir
cumslances, he put his helm down, and bring
ing his battery to bear, fired broadsiIc into
the still rctrcating Rover.
1T was not until tina, moment, that Bunt-
line could ascertain the force of lis an,agn-
ni,t: but a single glance, previous to her fill
ing away, convinced him of her superiority.
Take in the light sails. and haul up the
courses ! said the commander of the prlva-
,ecr; and another moment brheld the gallant
brig moving along under her two top-sas.
Beat to quarters, and open the maeazinc!
'Av, ay, SIT was the reply; and the loud
roll Of the drum was heard summonino every
man from the depths and heights Of the YES
sci tn their respective stations. In a few
moments the order to cast loose the guns fol-
lowed, and every man commenced getting
the iron machines ready for the work OF
death, with an alacriry and good humor Pc
culiar to IA sailor, and with an expedition and
regularity that was the result of much pre-
vious experience in like matters. The tom.
pions were taken out-the train and side
tackles cut adriii-lhe pumps rugged, and
the decks sanded, tore and aft, to prevent
them from becoming slippery with blood
cutlasses, pistols, and boarding pixies wer,
placed in convenient situations about tli.
decks; the ports were triced up, the hatchc,
closed, viii, the exception of a small open
ing, left for the purpose Of passing powde
from below; the loggerheads were heated
matches burned beside every gun, and il
short, every preparation was made that sucl
cases render expedieut.
The Englishman had not yet taken in an
Of hls canvass, and was co sequenily randi
+ nearing the River. 1t was the mutual de
f sire of the commanders, that their vessel
should be brought INTO close aciion-the Eng
liSlman, from wish to decide the conte,
! before the squadron could be close enoue
r to assist, and thereby rob him of his antc
. pated glory, and the American, from a know
I edge that his escape depended upon his sue
cess in disabling the only vessel in the flee
r that was his superior in sailing. At lengl
n but quarter of a mile interviewed between ii
IS ships and the Briton commenced handir
r. his light sails /; studdng-sails, royals, ar
"a csurses, were successively taken in, and II
purslpr apnparpd undcr no rlv tho came 70.