1812     CHASE OF THE CONSTITUTION     93

got out a kedge, and began warping ahead. At 7 h. 30 m. the Constitution hoisted her colours, and fired one shot at the Belvidera.

At 9 a.m. a light air sprang up from the south-south-east, and the ships all trimmed sails on the larboard tack. The Belvidera gaining, the Constitution started a portion of her water, and threw overboard some of her booms. At 10 h. 30 m. the breeze freshened ; but, in a few minutes, again subsided to nearly a calm. Observing the benefit that the Constitution had derived from warping, Captain Byron did the same ; " bending all his hawsers to one another, and working two kedge anchors at the same time, by paying the warp through one hawse-hole as it was run in through another opposite." * The effect of this was such, that the Belvidera, by 2 p.m., got near enough to exchange bow and stern chasers with the Constitution, but without effect on either side. At 3 p.m., a light breeze having sprung up, the Constitution rather gained, and the firing ceased. During the afternoon and night the chase continued, to the gradual advantage of the American frigate.

On the 18th, at daylight, the Constitution bore from the Belvidera south-west distant four miles, and the Shannon bore from the latter north-east distant six miles. At 4 h. A.M. the Belvidera tacked to the eastward, with a light air from the south by east ; and at 4 h. 20 m, the Constitution did the same. At 9 a.m. an American merchant ship was seen bearing down towards the squadron : upon which the Belvidera, by way of a decoy, hoisted American colours. To counteract the effect of this ruse, the Constitution hoisted English colours, and the merchant vessel hauled off and escaped capture. At 4 p.m., owing to the permanency of the breeze, the Constitution was seven miles ahead, and at daylight on the 19th had attained double that distance. The British squadron persevered until about 8 h. 30 m. a.m. ; then gave up the chase, and stood to the northward and eastward ; latitude at noon the same day 38° north, and longitude 71 ° 20' west.

On the 29th of July, in latitude 40° 44', longitude 62° 41', Captain Broke fell in with the expected homeward-bound Jamaica fleet, consisting of about 60 sail, under convoy of the 38-gun frigate Thetis, Captain William Henry Byam; and on the 6th of August, having escorted it over the banks of Newfoundland, to about latitude 43° 20', longitude 50°, he stood back towards the American coast. On this or the following day the Guerrière parted company for Halifax, to obtain that refit which could now no longer be postponed. Indeed, the ship was in a far less effective state than when she had joined the squadron, having sent away in prizes her third lieutenant (John Pullman), second lieutenant of marines, three midshipmen, and

* Marshall, vol. ii., p. 627

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