12     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1811

" Nevertheless," says the commodore, " her appearance indicated that she was a frigate." Had the Little-Belt been a deep-waisted or frigate-built ship, such a mistake might have happened ; but she was a low flush vessel, similar in size, number of ports, and general appearance, to the American sloop Hornet. The ships mutually approach within hailing distance. Captain Bingham hails, let us admit, without being heard. Commodore Rodgers hail, and is hailed back. " Having, " he says, " asked the first question, I of course considered myself entitled, by the common rules of politeness, to the first answer : after a pause of 15 or 20 seconds, I reiterated my first inquiry of ' What ship is that ? ' "

Let us also pause ; and, leaving " the rules of politeness" to serve the commodore on some other occasion, examine upon what more stable ground he claims the privilege of being first answered. The President was a neutral, the Little-Belt a belligerent ship : one was at peace with all the world, the other at war with the greater part of it. The belligerent vessel has an unquestionable right to conceal her condition, to wear false colours, give a false answer, or no answer at all ; in short, to practise every artifice to deceive or mislead her supposed enemy ; and she is to take every ship she meets as an enemy, until the contrary be shown. A neutral vessel, on the other hand, armed or unarmed, has no motive, and therefore no right, to practise deception : she is bound to observe common civility, if not " politeness," to every ship she meets ; and, when questioned as to her name or national character, is bound to give it with frankness, because she has nothing to dread from the most ample disclosure of her situation. Hence Commodore Rodgers, waving the law of politeness, should have conformed to the law of nations, and have answered Captain Bingham's hail, although under the impression that he himself had asked the first question. But, in truth, the American frigate at this moment was, to all intents and purposes, a ship of war : she was not only armed, but prepared, for battle, and was resolved to have a battle with the ship, the little ship, that now so opportunely lay under her guns.

From the numerous contradictions and cross swearings that have grown out of this case, it has hitherto been a disputed point who fired the first shot. Having, however, learnt by experience, not to place implicit reliance in all that an American says or swears, we shall not let the subject pass without such a scrutiny, as may satisfy the minds of some, although it may not remove the doubts of all. The principal officers examined upon oath, at the court of inquiry held upon Commodore Rodgers, were the acting captain, three out of the five lieutenants, two officers of marines, the master, and the chaplain. Captain Ludlow is " uncertain which fired the first gun, but the second gun was from the President." The first lieutenant believes the first

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