Being excessively crank, the greater number foundered, and gained for the class the unenviable title of "sea-coffins." They and frigates carrying 28 guns, generally known in the service by the name of "jackass-frigates," were the worst class of vessels belonging of late years to the British Navy. They existed, however, till steam power and the screw propeller caused those that had escaped destruction to be broken up or sold out of the service. For some years previously, however, the 10-gun brigs were commanded by lieutenants, with, of course, reduced crews. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. WAR WITH UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO WAR IN SYRIA--FROM A.D. 1811 TO A.D. 1840. Much indignation had long been felt by the people of the United States in consequence of Great Britain claiming the right of searching neutral vessels for deserters from our ships. There existed, also, among them another cause of annoyance. It was this, that while the rest of the world were at war, the Americans had enjoyed the advantage of being the carriers for other powers, and that Napoleon, in the hope of crippling England, had declared all neutral vessels that had touched at any of her home or colonial ports liable to confiscation, thus virtually putting a stop to the commerce of the United States. Instead of complaining of France, the Americans put the blame on England, and hoped by going to war with her to regain the carrying trade they had lost. England had, besides, given great provocation as far back as the year 1807, when a small squadron of British ships was stationed off the American coast. Several men having deserted from the different ships, some of them were received on board the United States frigate _Chesapeake_. Hearing of the occurrence, the admiral at Halifax despatched the 50-gun frigate _Leopard_, commanded by Captain Humphries, with orders to the captains of any of the ships should they fall in with the _Chesapeake_ without the limits of the United States to insist on searching her for deserters. Having delivered her despatches, the _Leopard_ was lying with the rest of the squadron, when the _Chesapeake_, which was at anchor in Hampton Roads, put to sea on her way to the Mediterranean. On this, the _Leopard_ received orders from the British commodore, to make sail in chase of her. Captain Humphries, shortly afterwards, falling in with the _Chesapeake_, hailed to say that he had a message from the British commander-in-chief. To this the American commodore, Barron, replied, "Send it on board--I will heave to." On the arrival of the _Leopard's_ lieutenant on board the _Chesapeake_, Commodore Barron declared that he had no such men on board as were described. On the lieutenant's return, Captain Humphries again hailed the _Chesapeake_, and receiving unsatisfactory answers, observing also indications of intended resistance on board the American frigate, he ordered a shot to be fired across her forefoot. At intervals of two minutes he fired