Boston, the latter officer directed the Shannon and Tenedos to watch the harbour, while la Hogue, with the other ships under his orders, cruised in the offing. Under this judicious arrangement, the squadron was kept sufficiently active by the enemy’s privateers and traders, several of which were captured[1]; but notwithstanding the exertions and vigilance of Captains Broke and Parker, the President and Congress succeeded in making their escape.
Having ascertained that the Chesapeake would soon be ready for sea again, Captain Broke, on the 25th May, took a supply of provisions and water from the Tenedos, and detached her, with orders not to rejoin him before the 14th June, the earliest date at which, it was considered, the Constitution could be got ready to accompany the Chesapeake, should the latter wait in port for that purpose. Seven days afterwards he addressed the following letter to the commanding officer of the Chesapeake
“Sir,– As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favor to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags. To an officer of your character it requires some apology for proceeding to further particulars. Be assured, Sir, that it is not from any doubt I can entertain of your wishing to close with my proposal, but merely to provide an answer to any objection which might be made, and very reasonably, upon the chance of our receiving unfair support.
“After the diligent attention which we had paid to Commodore Rodgers; the pains I took to detach all force but the Shannon and Tenedos to such a distance that they could not possibly join in any action fought in sight of the Capes, and the various verbal messages which had been sent into Boston to that effect, we were much disappointed to find the Commodore had eluded us by sailing on the first change, after the prevailing easterly winds had obliged us to keep an offing from the coast. He, perhaps, wished for some stronger assurance of a fair meeting. I am- ↑ On the 16th May, 1813, the Shannon and Tenedos drove a large ship on shore near Cape Ann Town, from whence she was brought off by the boats under Lieutenant George T. L. Watt, of the former frigate. She proved to be l’Invincible a French privateer of 16 guns, which had lately been captured by a British sloop of war, and retaken by an American cruiser. Several other armed vessels were taken by the Nymphe, Tenedos, and Rattler. See Captains F. P. Epworth, Hyde Parker, and Alex. Gordon.
