understand what you say. " Yet these words were distinctly heard by the hailing ship, and she was to windward. Resolved no longer to be trifled with, and observing on board the American frigate indications of intended resistance, the Leopard discharged a shot across the Chesapeake's fore-foot. In a minute's time a second shot was fired ; and in two minutes more, or at 4 h. 30 m. P.M., nothing but evasive answers being returned to the hails of Captain Humphreys, the Leopard poured in her broadside. Commodore Barron then hailed. Upon this orders were given to cease firing ; but, as the purport of the hail was only to intimate that he would send a boat on board the Leopard, and as the Chesapeake was now clearly seen making preparations to return the fire, the thing was considered to be an artifice to gain time, and the Leopard renewed her fire. The Chesapeake returned a few straggling shot, not one of which struck her opponent ; and, at 4 h. 45 m. P.M., just as the Leopard had fired her third broadside, the American frigate hauled down her colours. As a proof that we have not under-rated the Chesapeake's resistance, Commodore Barron, in his official letter, says: " Our resistance was but feeble. " The log of the Chesapeake also says: " Having one gun ready, fired and hauled down her colours. " And, in further confirmation, the Leopard's log states, that her fire was returned by only a few guns. Almost immediately after the surrender of the American frigate, her fifth lieutenant, Mr. Sidney Smith ; came on board the Leopard, with a verbal message from Commodore Barron, signifying, that he considered the Chesapeake to be the Leopard's prize.

At 5 P.M., lieutenants Gordon Thomas Falcon, George Martin Guise, and John Meade, with several petty-officers and men, went on board the Chesapeake, to fulfil the object of Vice-admiral Berkeley's orders. The books of the Chesapeake were produced, and the crew mustered. One only of the five men that had deserted from the Halifax was found, Jenkin Ratford. He was dragged out of the coal-hole, and, on being brought to the quarterdeck, declared that he was an American, his name Wilson, and that he had never belonged to the Halifax. Unfortunately for him, the Leopard's purser, Mr. Abraham Preston, who had discharged Ratford into the Halifax, was present, and fully identified him. Three deserters from the Melampus frigate were also seized : William Ware, and Daniel Martin (a black man), the one born in Maryland, the other in Massachusetts, United States, and both pressed by the Melampus from an American brig in the bay of Biscay ; also John Strachan, stated to have been born in Maryland, but of which there was some doubt. He had been pressed by the Melampus out of an English Guineaman, off Cape Finisterre, but had entered almost immediately afterwards.

Although about 12 other British subjects were mustered on board the Chesapeake, all known to be deserters from British

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