Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-02-10

ate, 10 the China Sea, with an assurance from
. her commander, O'Rrien, that should have
two months cruise for the benefit of my
health, after having been so long cooped Up
upon the fresh and turbd waters Of the river
at Whampoa. On board the frigate,-it hav-
ing been ascertained that Mr.. Copeland had
been taken out Of an American schooner bound
to Canton, and inferring that she was lowering
off the coast, waiting instructions from hel
consignees,-a sharp lookout was kept for
her.
One morning, few DAYS after our capture,
the lookout at the masthead deserted a sail
and announced It TO the officer of the deck in
the usual manner of ''Sail ho" {" Where
away :" 9 To the eastward. two points un-
der the lee bow about ten miles distant, stand
ing TO the eastward" Report was made to
the captain, all hands called, and sail made in
chase. The schooner apparently at the same
moment observed the frgate, as her spare can
vas was Immediately spread 10 the breeze
The wind at this time was moderate from about
SSE., the frigate heading up nearly east with
starboard lacks on board, and the schooner two
points under the lee. Now it is apparent even
tc andsmen that-the sailing qualities Of the
two being the same-they never could have
got any nearer each other and as schooners
are always the most wealherly vessels, she
soon must have been 70 the wndward of the
frigate, and out of immediate danger; but
without taking his position into view, and his
greater safety in continuing his course, the
schooner tackled for the purpose of obtaining
the weather gage at all hazards, and stood to-
wards the frigate. From that moment so GER
tain were they on board the ship that the
schooner must fall into their hands, that specu-
lation was busy upon the value of her cargo,
and the probable amount of each ones share of
the prize money, that it was really amusing to
US who had no pecuniary interest in the result.
The vessels rapidly approached each other,
sometimes the wind favoring the ship, and
1hen again the schooner-lke vibrating bal
lot, in Legislature attempting 10 elect U.
5. Senator-bringing the schooner sometimes
1
weather bow of the frigate. All hands were
at quarters, and The readiness Of the several d.
visions of the batteries reported TO the Captain.
The nearer approach of the vessels, made the
excitement on board extreme. In a few min
ules the schooner was judged 10 be within the
range Of shot, when the ship was lufed up, so
as TO shake the sails, and bring her upright,
the lee forward guns made to bear upon the
schooner, and the whole division was fired in
quick succession, but without effect, most of
the shot dropping astern of the schooner. The
sails were quickly filled again, and the ship
kept 10 her course. 'Well, the Yankee is
quite cOol,'' observed Capt. O'Brien, shut he
ought TO be whipped for being here within the
reach of my guns, when he might have been in
safety, quietly eating his breakfast" BY this
time the schooner had made her appearance on
the weather bow ofthe frigate, and as they
were passing each other, the frigate fired a
| double broadside at her before she was out of
her reach, one shot passing through the main
sail close TO the mainmast, and another cutting
away the jib halliards, close TO the front cf the
foremost, letting down the. main b few feet
A cheer on board the frigate was an assurance
to themselves that their prize was safe. Not
so, however. A boy at the lookout 0n the
cross-jack- yard, caught the end Of the cut hal
lizards, and took turn round the forestry, and
held on until it was knotted, and the sail hoist
i cd and Set in tic nlaca
The vessels on opposite courses, parted as
quick as they had met, when the schooner,
Judging herself in a position TO pass again to
the windward of the frigate in safety, tackled
again to the eastward. The frigate performed
the same evolution, and as they came within
range, again commenced her firing, the shot
passing over and around the schooner, none
striking her hull. One, however, cut the fore
top-sai sheet of the schooner, high up, which
was Immediately clewed up, bent and sheeted
home again, before the hurrah and cheers on
board had died away.
Having stood upon the opposite courses until
some three miles apart, both vessels tackled,
and passed each other again, at greater dis
lance, the shot this time from the ship mostly
dropping short. The Captain Of the schooner,
probably feeling hmselfquit safe, was resting
himself upon the schooner's tafrail, his legs
hanging over the stern, when shot struck the
water close TO the schoOner's rudder. know
them to have been good looking pair of legs,
and usually subject to the will of their owner
but il is certain that they were affected at that
moment, with violent spasm, which brought
the Captain of the schooner at once upon his
feet on the deck and if he reflected upon the
matter, as have no doubt he did, he unques-
tionably came to the conclusion that # he had
had a little knowledge of Trigonometry, SO
that.he might early in the morning have pro-
tracted his situation upon paper, or any other
that he might have been brought into by the
various positions in which the two vessels
might be placed, by different maneuvres, he
never would have exposed the lives Of some
thirty people, and cargo worth some hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars, within the
range of the enemy's guns; for the truth is, he
need not have done it. A school, such as is
contemplated by the petition Of R. B. Forbes,
Esq, to Congress, would have given him the
requisite knowledge. The schooner barely
made her escape, and arrived at Manila Unsafe
tv. VIAToR.