1814	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	338

in the possession of the Americans, for the purpose of flanking the British army in their approach against it, Captain Dobbs, of the Charwell, with a detachment of 75 seamen and marines from his vessel and from the Netley, Lieutenant Coples Radcliffe, lying opposite to Fort George, resolved to attempt their capture or destruction. For this purpose, the seamen carried the captain's gig upon their shoulders from Queenstown to Frenchman's creek, a distance of 20 miles. From this spot, by the aid of Lieutenant-colonel Nichol, the quarter-master general of the militia, five batteaux, as well as the Charwell's gig, were got across through the woods to Lake Erie, a distance of eight miles. Two of the American schooners, the Somers and Ohio, were presently carried, sword in hand; " and the third, " says Captain Dobbs, " would certainly have fallen, had not the cables been cut ; which made us drift to leeward of her among the rapids." It is almost impossible, without having been on the spot, to form an adequate idea of the rapidity, and of course the danger, of the Niagara stream, as it approaches the cataract.

The British loss was Lieutenant Radcliffe and one seaman killed, and four seamen wounded ; the loss on the part of the Americans one seaman killed, three officers and four seamen wounded. When it is considered that, with the Porcupine, the Americans had a force of 92 lbs. weight of metal and 105 men, to oppose to 75 men, without any artillery whatever, the exploit of Captain Dobbs and his brave followers deserves every commendation. It proved that British seamen could find expedients to capture two out of three fine American armed schooners, in waters, where the gig and five batteaux of the conquerors were the only British vessels afloat.

About the middle of October, when the season for cruising on Lake Ontario was almost over, the British succeeded in getting ready their large ship the St.-Lawrence, of 2305 tons, and intended to mount 102 guns. A " peep into Kingston," by one of the American light vessels, gave Commodore Chauncey timely notice of this, and he retired to Sackett's-Harbour to stir out no more. The Americans now commenced building two " 74-gun ship, " each of whose broadsides would have about equalled that of the St.-Lawrence. To meet this on the part of the British, a 74 was commenced, and a frigate, like the Princess-Charlotte, constructed ; but, before the lakes were open in the ensuing spring, peace came, otherwise, there is no saying whether the building mania would not have continued, until there was scarcely room on. the lake for working the ships.

During the months of June and July, the Quebec papers were continually announcing the arrival of transports from the Garonne with troops ; and those troops, too, such as, under the Marquess of Wellington, had hitherto carried all before them. So satisfied now were the Americans, that Sackett's-Harbour would be the first point of attack, even if Sir George had to cross the St.

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