1812	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	124

Commodore Decatur, and the other American accounts of this action, are equally brief and unsatisfactory. Thus limited in means, we drew up and published our first account nearly nine years ago. It now appears, for the first time, that we overrated the Macedonian's force by giving her 18 carronades, 32-pounders, instead of 16, with two long twelves ; making a difference in the broadside-force of just 21 lbs. This very important oversight, and the strictures we were induced to pass upon what we supposed to be the unskilfulness of the Macedonian's crew, have given rise to a very intemperate letter. The mistake about the guns is too trivial to notice; but we readily acknowledge, that we were wrong in supposing that the crew of the Macedonian were unpractised or inexpert gunners : we have shown, we trust pretty clearly, what it was that occasioned their powder and shot to be so wastefully employed. The very first clause in the sentence of the court-martial fortunately bear us out in our statement ; and we certainly feel much indebted to Captain Carden, as well for the opportunity he has afforded us of amending our former account in that important particular, as for the stimulus he has given us to seek and obtain some additional facts connected with the action between the Macedonian and United-States.

We have, as will be seen, borrowed a few paragraphs relating to this action from each of our two contemporaries, the post-captain and the lieutenant. The latter, whether he intends to bestow his praise or his censure, always alludes to us in a becoming manner, by name ; but the former usually prefers the indirect and, he will excuse us for adding, American fashion, of leaving his meaning to be " guessed " by the epithet he applies. Accordingly, Captain Brenton says: " It need scarcely be noticed, that Captain Carden has been accused by a very incompetent judge of running down to bring his enemy to action, in a heedless and confident manner. He ran into action as his brother officers had done, and will do again, to fight his enemy and decide the day as quickly as possible : how could Captain Carden have closed sooner, &c." " His conduct has therefore been most cruelly misrepresented." "A court-martial acquitted him, his officers and crew, of all blame for the loss of the ship. " * If we add a very fine compliment to Commodore Decatur, and an account of his death, which took place 10 or 12 years afterwards, we have nearly all that is comprised in Captain Brenton's account of the Macedonian's capture. Not a word is there to show on which tack the ships fought; when they began, or when they ended, the action, or how long it continued.

Commodore Rodgers and his two frigates and brig-sloop now demand our attention. The Argus parted company on the same day as the United-States. On the 15th, when near the great

* Brenton, vol. v., p, 60.

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