Even in the worst View of them they are Worth Consideration--The Best of them Described--The Hopes of those who, like Jefferson, Believed in them--Reasons for their General Worthlessness that should have been Manifest before they were Built--Promoted Drunkenness and Debauchery--They Protected Yankee Commerce in Long Island Sound--A Fight with a Squadron in Chesapeake Bay--When the Braggart Captain Pechell Met the Yankees--Sailing-master Sheed’s Brave Defence of “No. 121”--Commodore Barney in the Patuxent River--When Sailing-master Travis of the _Surveyor_ made a good Fight--A Wounded Yankee Midshipman Murdered--Men who made Fame in Shoal Water below Charleston. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND _GUERRIÈRE_. (From a French water-color drawing in the possession of Mr. W. C. Crane), _Frontispiece._ ENGLISH VESSEL OF ONE HUNDRED GUNS. (From an engraving by Verico), 3 A FRIGATE WITH HER SAILS LOOSE TO DRY. (From a wood-cut in the “Kedge Anchor”), 5 JOHN RODGERS. (From the portrait by Jarvis at the Naval Academy), 9 THE _LITTLE BELT_ BREAKING UP AT BATTERSEA. (From an engraving by Cooke of a drawing by Francia), 12 THE SECTION OF A FIRST-RATE SHIP. (From an old engraving), 17 A BRIGANTINE OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AT ANCHOR. (From a picture drawn and engraved by Baugean), 22 AN ENGLISH ADMIRAL OF 1809. (From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), 24 REPRESENTATION OF A SHIP-OF-WAR, DRESSED WITH FLAGS, AND YARDS MANNED. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 27 THE INTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS AND STOWAGE OF AN AMERICAN SLOOP-OF-WAR. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 28 GUNS SECURED FOR A GALE. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 30 DAVID PORTER. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by Wood), 35 FIGHT OF THE _ESSEX_ AND THE _ALERT_. (From an old wood-cut), 41 AN ENGLISH THIRTY-GUN CORVETTE. (From an engraving by Merlo in 1794), 45 SIR JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH. (From an English engraving), 48 ISAAC HULL. (From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington, of the painting by Stuart), 54 THE _CONSTITUTION’S_ ESCAPE FROM THE BRITISH SQUADRON AFTER A CHASE OF SIXTY HOURS. (From an engraving by Hoogland of the picture by Corné), 57