Bainbridge showed no inferiority to the other officers of the service, and no one grumbled at the retirement of Hull. The “Constitution” sailed from Boston, October 25, with the “Hornet.” The “Essex,” then in the Delaware, was ordered to join the squadron at certain specified ports in the south Atlantic, and sailed October 28, expecting a very long cruise. December 13 Bainbridge arrived at San Salvador, on the coast of Brazil, where he left the “Hornet” to blockade the “Bonne Citoyenne,” a British 18-gun sloop-of-war bound to England with specie. Cruising southward, within sight of the Brazilian coast, in latitude 13° 6´ south, Bainbridge sighted the British frigate “Java,” a ship of the same tonnage as the “Guerriere,” throwing a slightly heavier broadside and carrying a large crew of four hundred and twenty-six men, if the American account was correct. Bainbridge tacked and made sail off shore, to draw the stranger away from a neutral coast; the British frigate followed him, until at half-past one o’clock in the afternoon Bainbridge shortened sail, tacked again, and stood for his enemy. Soon after two o’clock the action began, the two ships being on the same tack, the “Java” to windward and the better sailer, and both fighting their long-range guns. The British frigate insisted upon keeping at a distance, obliging Bainbridge after half an hour to risk the danger of being raked; and at twenty minutes before three o’clock the “Constitution” closed within pistol-shot.[337] At ten minutes before three the ships were foul, the “Java’s” jibboom in the “Constitution’s” mizzen rigging; and from that point the battle became slaughter. In fifteen minutes the “Java’s” bowsprit, fore-mast, and main top-mast were cut away, and a few minutes after four o’clock she ceased firing. Her captain, Lambert, was mortally wounded; the first lieutenant was wounded; forty-eight of her officers and crew were dead or dying; one hundred and two were wounded; little more than a hulk filled with wreck and with dead or wounded men floated on the water. The “Constitution” had but twelve men killed and twenty-two wounded, and repaired damages in an hour. Owing perhaps to the death of Captain Lambert the reports of the battle were more contradictory than usual, but no one disputed that although the “Java” was to windward and outsailed the American frigate, and although her broadside counted as nearly nine against her enemy’s ten,--for the “Constitution” on this cruise carried two guns less than in her fight with the “Guerriere,”--yet the “Java” inflicted no more damage than she ought to have done had she been only one fourth the size of the American frigate, although she was defended more desperately than either the “Guerriere” or the “Macedonian.”