The blockades of Toulon and the Scheldt were continued, but nothing of much naval interest took place. A small French squadron broke out of Lorient, but after cruising about for three weeks and making a few prizes, returned to Brest and was blockaded there. In the Baltic, peace was made with Sweden, and war definitely broke out between France and Russia, this being the war which culminated in Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia. In the Channel and in the Mediterranean a number of single ship actions took place, and one ship, the _Rivoli_ (seventy-four), built at Venice for the French Navy, was captured. This particular ship held out for 4½ hours, and at the time of her surrender had only two guns left available and fifty per cent. of her crew were out of action. She was captured by the _Victorious_ (seventy-four). The most important naval event of the year was the American declaration of war against England. The war had been prepared for some time, and the American Navy, such as there was of it, was in a very efficient and up-to-date state. It contained no ships of the line, but a number of very heavily-armed frigates, manned by well-trained crews. In the single ship actions that ensued the Americans were almost invariably victorious. For the year 1813, the _personnel_ was 14,000; the Estimates £20,096,709. Ships in commission, 102 of the line and 468 inferior vessels. The problem of meeting the American frigates was very seriously considered and a certain number of large ships were razeed with a view to meeting the American frigates on more even terms. The most famous event of the year was the fight between the _Shannon_ (British) and the _Chesapeake_ (American). The former was rated at thirty-eight, but actually carried fifty-two guns. The latter was rated at thirty-six, but carried fifty. She had done well, but at the time of the fight had just been re-commissioned with a new crew, of whom a number were British deserters and some forty were Portuguese. The _Shannon_, on the other hand, had been in commission for some years; and Captain Broke had assiduously trained his men in gunnery, having anticipated the “dotter” of to-day. Being in this state of efficiency he came off Boston and sent in a challenge to the captain of the _Chesapeake_. Whether the challenge was actually received or not, the _Chesapeake_ came out accompanied by yachts crowded with sightseers and a cargo of handcuffs for the anticipated British prisoners. Firing was not opened until the two frigates were only fifty yards apart. It lasted only about ten minutes, when the _Chesapeake_ being almost blown to pieces, the _Shannon_ fell aboard her and carried her by boarding in another five.