and federalists, the latter would only scrutinize or call in question the statements of the former, when the deeds of the army were recounted; but that the most extravagant assertions, made by the government or democratic party on behalf of the navy, received the stanch support of the federal or, misnamed, English party. As far, therefore, as related to the exploits of the American navy, the whole press of the republic, from Maine to Florida, and from the Atlantic frontier to Louisiana, co-operated in furthering the views of the government. Had these exaggerated accounts deluded the people of the United States only, the consequences would have been comparatively trifling; but, as if Buonaparte was the only potentate who could issue false bulletins, or that an official document, simply because it was drawn up in the English language, must be received as a truism by the English people, the press of this country unsuspectingly lent its aid in degrading the character of its own navy, and in exalting that of the United States.

While residing in an enemy's country, I could do little else in the matter on which my mind was bent, than collect materials to be used at a future day. I did, however, manage to get inserted in some of the American journals, a few paragraphs setting right the comparative force in one or two of the actions, and had afterwards the pleasure to see those paragraphs copied into a London journal, as admissions extorted from the Americans themselves. At length my zeal nearly betrayed me; and I was on the eve of being sent to the interior, when I effected my escape, and arrived, in the latter end of the year 1813, at Halifax, Nova-Scotia.

I there became a gratuitous contributor to the only newspaper of the three, which could be called an English one, and pubblished [sic], from time to time, accounts of the different naval actions with the Americans; showing the exact force and dimensions of their ships, and communicating to the colonial public many novel and important facts. I also transmitted several letters on the subject to England; and they afterwards appeared in the Naval Chronicle. In March, 1816, I published a pamphlet, " An Inquiry into the merits of the principal naval

^ back to top ^