136     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1812

certainty ! Here was a scene of bustle and confusion. The swearing and blustering of officers, and the free-and-easy nonchalance of the men, almost made the British officers smile notwithstanding their recent misfortunes. At length the Hornet approached near enough to be recognised, and some degree of order was restored.

The manner in which the Java's men were treated by the American officers reflects upon the latter the highest disgrace. The moment the prisoners were brought on board the Constitution, they were handcuffed. Admitting that to have been justifiable as a measure of precaution, what right had the poor fellows to be pillaged of almost every thing they possessed ? True, Lieutenant-general Hislop got back his valuable service of plate, and the other British officers were treated civilly. Who would not rather that the governor's plate, at this very time, was spread out upon Commodore Bainbridge's sideboard, than that British seamen, fighting bravely in their country's cause, should be put in fetters, and robbed of their little all ? What is all this mighty generosity but a political juggle, a tub thrown to the whale ? Mr. Madison says to his officers, " Never mind making a display of your generosity, where you know it will be proclaimed to the world. If you lose any thing by it, I'll take care Congress shall recompense you twofold. Such conduct, on the part of an American officer of rank, will greatly tend to discredit the British statements as to any other acts of yours not so proper to be made public, and will serve, besides, as an imperishable record of the national magnanimity and honour. " One object the Constitution's officers missed by their cruelty. Three only of the Java's men would enter with them : the remainder treated with contempt their reiterated promises of high pay, rich land, and liberty. Partly as a compliment for restoring his plate, and partly to induce Commodore Bainbridge not to put into effect his threatened intention of retaining Lieutenant Chads as a hostage for the due observance of the terms on which the other officers and men were paroled, Lieutenant-general Hislop presented the former with an elegant sword.

On the 3d of January, in the morning, the Constitution and Hornet arrived at St.-Salvador; where lay the William, recaptured by the latter. On that same day the commodore disembarked the prisoners received out of the Java, 355 in number, and Captain Lawrence landed the 20 officers and men whom he had found on board the William; making a total, out of the original crew of the Java, of 375, or with the 22 killed, of 397, men and boys. The death of Captain Lambert and of one seaman, and the delivery up, to the governor of St.-Salvador, of nine Portuguese seamen, reduced the number of prisoners out of the two prizes to 364. But the number paroled by Commodore Bainbridge is officially reported by himself at 361. How is this ? Why the commodore states that he allowed " three passengers,

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