In a few minutes over an hour the new-comer hoisted English colors also, and was seen to be a large man-o’-war brig. The _Hornet_ cleared for action. As was usual in all naval actions when the wind was the sole motive power, both vessels manoeuvred for a time, the _Hornet_ trying to win the advantage of the weather-gage from her antagonist. But do his best Lawrence could not get it until another hour had passed; then finding that the _Hornet_ was a better sailer than the English brig, he came about. The two vessels passed each other on different tacks at the distance of a few hundred feet--half pistol-shot. Up to this time not a gun had been fired in the affair. But as they came abreast they exchanged broadsides, the Englishman going high, but the _Hornet’s_ round and grape playing havoc with the enemy’s lower rigging. The brig held on for a few minutes, and then Lawrence discovered her to be in the act of wearing. He seized his opportunity, bore up, and receiving the starboard broadside, which did him little damage, he took a position close under the brig’s starboard quarter. So well directed was the vicious fire that was now poured into the English vessel that in less than fifteen minutes down came her flag. No sooner had it reached the deck, however, when another crawled up in the fore-rigging. It was an ensign, union down; the brig was sinking. The sea was heavy, and before a boat could be lowered down came the Englishman’s main-mast. Lieutenant Shubrick, who had been on the _Constitution_ when she captured the _Guerrière_ and the _Java_, put out in one of the _Hornet’s_ boats, and soon reached the captured vessel’s side, and found that she was H.B.M. brig _Peacock_, 22 guns, commanded by Captain William Peake, who had been killed by the last broadside from the _Hornet_. There was not one moment to lose; six feet of water were in the hold, and the _Peacock’s_ decks were crowded with dead and wounded. She was settling fast. Her anchor was let go, and the _Hornet_ coming up, let go hers also close alongside. Every endeavor was now made to save life; the men who a few minutes before had been fighting one another pulled on the same rope together and manned the same boats. The _Peacock’s_ guns were thrown overboard; such shot-holes as could be got at were plugged; but the water gained despite the furious men at the pumps and the bailing at the hatchways. The _Peacock_ was doomed. The body of Captain Peake was carried into his cabin and covered with the flag he had died so bravely defending, to sink with her--“a shroud and sepulchre worthy so brave a sailor.” All but some of the slightly wounded had been removed, and there remained but a boat-load more to take off the lurching wreck, when she suddenly pitched forward and sank in five and a half fathoms, carrying down with her thirteen of her own crew and three American seamen--John Hart, Joseph Williams, and Hannibal Boyd. Fine old down-east names, mark you.