Cruise of the Constitution -- Action with the Cyane and Levant -- Chased by a British fleet -- England's views of neutral rights and the law of nations -- Her honor and integrity at a discount -- Singular escape of the Constitution -- Recapture of the Levant under the guns of a neutral port -- Lampoons on the English squadron for its contemptible conduct -- Decatur -- Capture of the President -- The Hornet captures the Penguin -- Chased by a ship of the line -- Narrow escape -- Cruise of the Peacock -- Review of the American Navy -- Its future destiny. Naval warfare did not cease with the peace, for it was a long time before all our cruisers received notice of it. The old Constitution, when Bainbridge gave up the command of her in 1813, was put on the stocks to undergo repairs, and did not get to sea again till 1814, when, under the command of Captain Stewart, she cruised southward, without meeting any vessel of her own size. [Sidenote: 1814.] She took the Nector, a war schooner of fourteen guns, and a few merchantmen, and returned to Boston. On the 17th of December she again put to sea, and cruised off the coast of Portugal. [Sidenote: Feb. 20, 1815.] Not meeting with the enemy, Captain Stewart, on the 20th of February, 1815, stood off south-west towards Madeira, and in the afternoon made two strange sail. He immediately started in pursuit of the nearest, hoping to overtake her before she could join her consort. The moment, however, the stranger discovered the Constitution, he stood away under every stitch of canvass he could spread. The Constitution also "set studding sails alow and aloft," and under a perfect cloud of canvass, bowled along at a tremendous rate. At length the main royal mast of the latter gave way in the strain, which gave the stranger so much the advantage that he effected a junction with his consort. The two then hailed each other, "came by the wind, hauled up their courses," and cleared for action. They were the Cyane, carrying thirty-four guns, and the Levant, twenty-one--the crew of the former numbering one hundred and eighty men, the latter one hundred and fifty-six.