One of the luckiest cruises of the war, so far as rich returns are concerned, was made by a little squadron of four vessels that sailed from Boston on October 8th under the command of Commodore Rogers. It consisted of the _President_, the _United States_, and the _Congress_ frigates, and the _Argus_ sloop of war. Five days after sailing the _United States_ and the _Argus_ became separated from the others in a gale of wind, and afterwards cruised on their own account. On the 15th, the _President_ captured the British packet _Swallow_, having on board two hundred thousand dollars in specie--a rich haul, indeed. On the 31st of the month, the _Congress_ captured a South Sea ship loaded with oil that was being convoyed by an English frigate, the _Galatea_; the latter made off and left her consort to her fate. The _President_, on the 25th of October, captured the fine English frigate _Macedonian_, and sent her safely into New London harbor. After taking one or two smaller prizes, the _President_ and _Congress_ sailed into Boston the last of December, having covered over eight thousand miles. The landing of the money taken from the _Swallow_ and the other prizes was made quite a function. It was loaded into several large drays, and escorted from the Navy Yard to the bank by the crews of the frigates and a detachment of marines, "drums beating and colors flying," as an old-time account has it. The gold dust and specie amounted to the value of three hundred thousand dollars, besides the value of the vessels taken. But the little _Argus_, under the command of Captain Sinclair, had some adventures worth the telling, before she returned to port laden with the fruits of war. After parting company with the squadron, she laid her course for the coast of Brazil, then one of the most profitable cruising grounds, although the waters swarmed with British war vessels. From Cape St. Roque to Surinam she sailed and there made two prizes; thence she cruised through the West Indies and hovered in the vicinity of the Bermudas; afterwards she went as far north as Halifax along the coast before she turned her head towards home.