each case the assertion of the man himself was all the testimony as to nationality, while Hull could show his deserter had shipped voluntarily, whereas Burns had been impressed.

The occurrence of such a transaction, in the roads of Spithead, in the height of a war, and among forty English cruisers, could not but produce a great excitement at Portsmouth. Every boat that came off to the Constitution brought rumors of a hostile character from the shore. "It was impossible," these rumors said, "that a foreign man-of-war could be permitted to quit the roads under such circumstances, carrying off an English deserter in her." Hull meant to do it, nevertheless, and Old Ironsides manifested every disposition to do her duty. A frigate anchored near her, and Hull took his ship outside of the fleet, where he was followed by the heaviest frigate in the roads. "This will do well enough," said Hull, to one of his lieutenants; "if they don't send any more I think I can manage that chap, and 'twill be a pretty fair fight." The Constitution went to quarters and lighted up her batteries, exercising guns for a quarter of an hour. The frigate came close to her, but no hostilities were offered, and the Constitution carried off her man unmolested.

Off Cherbourg the Constitution again fell in with the English blockading force. After communicating with one of the vessels she began to beat in towards the harbor. It was raining a little, and the day was clouded, though clear enough for all the purposes of war. The English vessels formed in a line ahead, and beat up a short distance to leeward of the American frigate, tacking as she tacked, while one of their light cruisers kept close under her lee. Hull, on quitting Cherbourg, had agreed on a signal, by which his ship might be known on her return; but some peculiar circumstances prevented the signal being shown just at that moment, and the batteries mistaking her for an enemy, began to fire. This was a most critical situation for Old Ironsides, as she was now near enough to be torn to pieces if she bore up, and the French commenced in earnest on her. As it was, every, or nearly every shot fired, hit her. Hull was standing in one of her gangways with

Read near him, just as a gun was fired. Read was looking towards the battery that was firing, and Hull was looking inboard at that moment. As soon as the shot was clear of the smoke Read saw it, and he spoke to his captain, requesting him to move. Hull did not move, however, or even look round, and the shot passed through the hammocks, within two or three feet of the place where he stood, knocked the stern of the launch into pieces, and damaged another boat that was stowed alongside her. Another shot struck in the bend, just below the gangway, but did not pass through. Notwithstanding all this, Old Ironsides stood steadily on, and the signal was soon after shown, though not from the part of the ship agreed on. It was the nerve manifested on board that caused the French to cease firing, and the ship shortly after passed inside. This was the only occasion on which our gallant frigate ever received a French shot in her ribs, although she had been used in a French war.

He

After lying some time at Cherbourg, the Constitution sailed for home, reaching Hampton Roads late in the winter of 1812, or early in the spring. The ship was soon after carried up to Washington, and most of her people were discharged. Morris and Page left her, but some of her lieutenants continued attached to her -it being intended to fit her out again. Hull also continued his command. told the Secretary of the bad sailing of the ship, and advised that she should be hove out that her copper might be examined. Harraden, her old master, under Preble, was then master of the Washington Yard, and he offered to put the ship in sailing trim, if Hull would give her up to him for that purpose. The arrangement was made, and Jumping Billy* went to work, like a true seaman as he was. After repairing the ship's copper, she was restowed with about two-thirds of her former ballast, and the effect was magical. Her old officers, when they came to try her, scarce knew the ship, she proved to be so much lighter and livelier than before. There is little question that Jumping Billy's precaution served Old Ironsides in the arduous trial she was now so soon to undergo.

[To be concluded in our next.]