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When he returned to the United States, he received a captain's commission, and was appointed to the command of the frigate George Washington, in which he shortly after sailed for Algiers, with the presents which the United States were by treaty bound to make to that regency. He arrived in safety at Algiers, on the 17th September, 1800, and was received with every demonstration of good feeling. In a few days, however, these friendly appearances vanished, and the Dey made a most unexpected and extraordinary demand, that the George Washington should carry his ambassador with presents to the grand seignior at Constantinople.

Captain Bainbridge resisted this unexampled demand vigorously for some time, till at length, exasperated by opposition, the Dey sent for him, and peremptorily demanded, that the frigate should go to Constantinople, threatening, in case of refusal, to make slaves of all the Americans in Algiers, to detain the frigate, and send out his cruisers against the defenceless trade of the United States. Moved by the danger to which the persons and commerce of his countrymen were exposed by his refusal, Bainbridge at length consentted to receive the Algerine ambassador on board.

They sailed from Algiers on the 19th of October, and the frigate anchored at Constantinople in 23 days from her departure. The next day three officers were sent on board in succession, to know what ship that was, and what colours she had hoisted. They were told, it was an American frigate and an American flag. They said they did not know any such country. Captain Bainbridge then explained that America was the new world; by which name they had some idea of the country. After these inquiries the frigate came into the harbour, and Captain Bainbridge was received with unusual honours. The mission of the Dey of Algiers, however, failed in its objects, and after a month's delay, the George Washington sailed from Constantinople, carrying the Algerine ambassador's secretary back to Algiers, with an account of the unfortunate result of his embassy.

Bainbridge sailed from Algiers about the last of January, and arrived at Philadelphia in the month of April, 1801. Before his return, the cessation of hostilities with France had caused a reduction of the navy, and there were retained only nine captains, of which he had the satisfaction

of finding himself one. In the following June he received the command of the frigate Essex, which was built and presented to government by the merchants of Salem. About this time, the regency of Tripoli, emboldened by the success of the Algerines, commenced hostilities against the United States; to oppose which, a squadron of frigates, among which was the Essex, was sent to the Mediterranean. Here he continued for thirteen or fourteen months, but did not fall in with any of the Tripolitan cruisers.

He returned to New-York in July, 1802, and in May, 1803, was appointed to the command of the Philadelphia. In July he sailed in her to join the Mediterranean squadron, then under Commodore Preble. He was here employed in blockading the harbour of Tripoli, and, on the 31st of October, gave chase to a strange ship that was seen running for the harbour of Tripoli. The chase was unsuccessful, and the Philadelphia was returning, when, she she ran upon rocks about four miles and a half from the town. As soon as she had grounded, the gunboats came out to attack her; but while she continued upright, with the few guns that could be brought to bear, she kept the enemy at a distance; but she soon lay over so much on one side that she could not use her guns. At length, after sustaining the enemy's fire for five or six hours, a council of war of all the officers unanimously advised a surrender. The magazine was therefore drowned; the arms and every article of value thrown overboard; the ship scuttled, the pump choaked, and the colours were then hauled down.

The frigate was plundered of every thing that could be got at, when the Tripolitans went on board. They took from Capt. Bainbridge his watch and epaulets, and the cravat from his neck; but with much struggling and difficulty he saved the miniature of his wife. The officers and crew, however, were pretty well treated as prisoners of war, after they were landed in Tripoli. Several attempts were made to escape, but all were unsuccessful. The prisoners were often obstinate, uncomplying, and mischievous; yet the Tripolitans who had charge of them were rarely provoked to punish them. They used often to say, that the Americans were the most difficult to manage of any people they had ever seen.

A treaty of peace between the United States and Tripoli was concluded in 1805, and on the third of June the prisoners

were liberated, after a confinement of thirteen months, and soon after sailed for America. Capt. Bainbridge was received rather as a returning conqueror than as a vanquished prisoner, and was acquitted of all blame by a court of inquiry held at his request.

From 1806, to 1812, he occupied himself part of the time in the merchant service, and the remainder of the time was employed in various naval duties. In 1812, he was appointed to the command of the Navy Yard at Charlestown; and on the arrival at Boston of Capt. Hull, after his victory over the British frigate Guerriere, he having applied for a furlough, Commodore Bainbridge was permitted to take command of the Constitution.

"In a few weeks he sailed, in company with the sloop of war Hornet, Capt. Lawrence, on a cruise to the East Indies. After parting company with Capt. Lawrence, he was running down the coast of Brazil, when on Thursday, the 29th of December, he discovered, about nine in the morning, two sail, one of which was standing off shore towards him. He immediately made sail to meet the strange ship, and finding, as he approached her, that she did not answer his private signals, proceeded out to sea in order to separate her from her companion, and draw her off the neutral coast. About one o'clock, having reached what he considered a proper distance from the shore, he hoisted his ensign and pendant, which was answered by English colours, and perceiving that she was an English frigate, (the Java, Captain Lambert,) he took in the royals, tacked, and stood for the enemy. The Java immediately bore down, intending to rake, which the Constitution avoided by wearing. The enemy being now within half a mile to windward, and having hauled down his flag, the Constitution fired a gun ahead to make him show his colours, and immediately poured in her whole broadside, on which English colours were hoisted, and the fire returned. On this the action became general, within grape and canister distance. In a few minutes the wheel of the Constitution was shot away; and in about a half an hour, Commodore Bainbridge finding that his adversary still kept too far off, determined to close with him at the risk of being raked. He therefore luffed up so close to the Java, that, in pssing, her jibboom got foul of the Constitution's mizen rigging; and having now gained a nearer position, he poured in so well-directed a fire, that in ten minutes he shot away the

Java's jib-boom and part of the bowsprit; in five minutes more the foremast went by the board-the main topmast followedthen the gaft and spanker boom, and lastly, the mizenmast, went nearly by the board. At five minutes past four, one hour and fifty-five minutes from the commencement of the action, the Java's fire was completely silenced, and her colours be ing down, Commodore Bainbridge suppo sed that she had struck; he therefore shot ahead to repair his rigging; but while hove to for that purpose, discovered that her colours were still flying, although her mainmast had just gone by the board. He therefore bore down again upon her, and having got close athwart her bows, was on the point of raking her with a broadside, when she hauled down her colours, being a completely unmanageable wreck, entirely dismasted, without a spar of any kind standing. On boarding her, it was found that Captain Lambert had been mortally wounded, and that the Java was so much injured, that it would be impossible to bring her to the United States. All the prisoners and the baggage were therefore brought on board the Constitution, a service which it required two days to perform, there being but a single boat left between the two frigates. On the 31st she was blown up, and the Constitution put into St. Salvador. The Java carried forty-nine guns, and upwards of four hundred men she was bound to the East-Indies, and had, in addition to her own crew, upwards of one hundred supernumerary officers and seamen, for different ships on the East-India station.

"Her loss was sixty killed; and among those was Captain Lambert. Of the wounded, the accounts varied from one hundred and one (which were ascertained positively) to one hundred and seventy.

"On board the Constitution, nine were killed, and twenty-five wounded, among whom was the Commodore himself.

"This victory was scarcely less honorable to Commodore Bainbridge, than the generosity with which he exercised the right of a conqueror. While on board, the prisoners were treated with the most respectful attention. Immediately on their landing at St. Salvador, they were set at liberty on parole, and received every article of their baggage; and particularly a service of plate belonging to General Hislop, was carefully preserved and restored to him. These proofs of honorable courtesy were not lost on the prisoners, who expressed their gratitude in a manner as cre

ditable to themselves as to the victors." The decayed state of the Constitution, and other circumstances, combining to interfere with the original plan of the cruise, Commodore Bainbridge now left the Hornet to blockade a superior British force at St. Salvador, and returned to the United States.

This was the only action in which Commodore Bainbridge was engaged during the war. After the peace of 1815, having superintended the building of the Independence 74, he had the honour of waving his flag on board the first line of battle ship belonging to the United States, that ever floated. He was ordered to form a junction with Commodore Decatur, to cruise against the Barbary powers, who had shown a disposition to plunder our commerce. In company with his own squadron, he arrived before the harbour of Carthagena, where he learned that Commodore Decatur had concluded a peace with the regency of Algiers. He now, accord ing to his instructions, presented himself before Tripoli, where also be learned that Commodore Decatur had anticipated him by a previous visit. He returned to the United States on the 15th November, 1815; was afterward appointed one of the navy commissioners; and resumed the command at the Navy Yard in Charleston. His health had been declining some time before his removal to Philadelphia; and little or no hope of his recovery was entertained at that time.

COL. NICHOLAS FISH,
June 20th, 1833.-At New-York, Col.
NICHOLAS FISH, aged 75 years.

Nicholas Fish was the only son of Jonathan Fish, whose grandfather removed to this country from Wales in the latter part of the 17th century. His mother was Elizabeth Sackett, of English parentage. Nicholas Fish was born in the city of New-York, 28th August, 1758. Having pursued his studies, preparatory to admission into college, under the late Bishop Moore, he entered Princeton College at the age of 16. He soon, however, left college, and commenced the study of the law in New-York, in the office of Gen. John Morin Scott, between whom and his pupil a strong and abiding friendship soon arose. At this time, Col. Fish joined a small debating society in Columbia College, of which Gen. Hamilton, Col. Troup, and Governor Lewis, were members, and there commenced an intimacy and friend

ship with those individuals which were interrupted only by death.

in the spring of 1776, he joined a volunAt the commencement of the revolution, teer corps raised in the city of New-York, by whom he was appointed his aid-deunder the command of Brig. Gen. Scott, camp, and on the 21st of June, 1776, he Colony of New-York," major of brigade was appointed by the "Congress of the in the New-York militia, under Gen. Scott's command. On the 21st of November following, he was appointed by Congress major of the second New-York regiby Colonel (afterwards Gen.) Pierre Van ment of the continental army, commanded ing the revolutionary war, and was at the Cortlandt, and served with that rank durelose, by a resolution of Congress, commissioned as lieutenant colonel. He was in October, 1777, at Bemis' Heights, in Newthe battles of the 19th September, and 7th York, which preceded the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne's army, on the 17th day of October of the same year. Early in 1778, he was appointed by Gen. Washington a division inspector of the army under Gen. the Baron Steuben, who was then inspector-general of the continental army; and on the 28th June, 1778, Col. Fish comcelebrated battle of Monmouth, New-Jermanded a corps of light infantry in the sey. In 1779 his regiment and himself were in Sullivan's expedition against the Six Nations of Indians, in which, after enduring every privation, they succeeded in destroying the Indian power. In 1780 he was attached to a corps of light infantry under the command of Gen. Lafayette. Virginia, and took a very active part in In 1781 he went with his regiment into der of the British army commanded by the battles which eventuated in the surrenLord Cornwallis, on the 19th of October, in that year.

He was a major of the (afterwards General) Hamilton, which so corps of infantry, commanded by Colonel gallantly stormed one of the British redoubts at Yorktown. In 1782, Col. Fish Washington, at Verplanck's Point, in was with the main army under Gen. New-York, and continued there, at West Point, and at the cantonment at Newburgh, until the close of the revolutionary

war.

Col. Fish's character in the army was that of an excellent disciplinarian and a very gallant soldier; and he possessed Washington, Lafayette, and Hamilton. in a very high degree the confidence of After the war he returned to his native city, which he entered with the American army, on the 25th November, 1783. Here,

at the age of 25, finding his sword and good name his only inheritance, his first resolution was to continue in the army; but a soldier's life in time of peace little suited the feelings of a youthful, ardent temperament, flushed with recent triumph, and ambitious of future advancement. He therefore resigned his commission in the army of the United States, and received the appointment of Adjutant General of the State of New-York in April, 1786, which office he held for many years, and the duties of which allowed an attention to his other callings.

At the time of the formation of the federal constitution, he attached himself warmly to the party which advocated its adoption, and which subsequently gave its cordial support to the administration of him who was "first in war, and first in peace." In 1794, he was appointed by President Washington, supervisor of the revenue for the district of New-York, which office he held until the change of parties brought Mr. Jefferson into power, and Col. Fish was selected as one of those who were to make room for the appoint ment of some partisan of the new administration.

In the year 1806, Col. Fish was elected an alderman of the city of New-York, and was annually returned for ten successive years, and previous to and during the late war, he held the station of chairman of the committee of defence, under whose direction the fortification of the harbour and adjacent country was conducted.

In 1817 he retired to private life, with a determination never again to mix in the active scenes of public employment, nor to take any active part in the political strifes of the day; a resolution which, to the end of his life, he rigidly observed, with the single exception that at the time of the alteration of our state constitution, he opposed the calling of the convention, and with his own consent was a candidate for a seat in that body. His subsequent years were passed in a quiet and pleasant retirement, surrounded by a circle of devoted friends. To the close of his life, he continued an active member of many of the benevolent, literary, and religious institutions of his native city, and on the 20th of June, 1833, quietly terminated an useful, honourable, and unimpeachable

course.

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq. July 29,1833-At the house of Mr. Smith, in Cadogan place, aged 73, William Wilberforce, Esq., M. A., the venerable opponent of slavery.

He was the son of Robert Wilberforce, Esq., a merchant of Hull, and grandson of William Wilberforce, Esq., who twice served the office of mayor of that town.

Mr. Wilberforce was born August 24, 1759. He was educated at the free school of Pocklington; and afterwards at St. John's college, Cambridge, where he graduated B. A. 1781, M. A. 1788. Having become of age only a few weeks before the election of 1780, he was almost unanimously returned as one of the representatives of his native town; and at the election of 1784, he was not only re-elected for Hull, but also chosen for the county of York, for which he made his election.

It was at the particular solicitation of the celebrated Mr. Clarkson that Mr. Wilberforce was first induced to interest himself on the subject of slavery. Having also undertaken to bring the matter before the house of commons, he gave notice of that intention soon after the meeting of parliament in 1787. In 1788 he was for some time very ill, and in consequence of petitions on the subject from all parts of the country, Mr. Pitt brought forward a motion in his name, hoping that by the next session Mr. Wilberforce would himself be able to take the conduct of it. The business was not, however, proceeded with until nearly twelve months afterwards, when Mr. Wilberforce's first motion respecting the trade in slaves was carried without a division; in the next, however, he was less successful, for in 1791 his motion to bring in a bill to prevent the further importation of African negroes into the British colonies, was lost by a majority of 75. In 1792, having doubled his efforts, and been greatly assisted in them by Mr. Fox and Mr. Pitt, they were crowned with success, and the question for a gradual abolition of the trade was carried, only 85 having voted against it. In 1807 an act for the total abolition of the trade by British merchants, completed all that the legislature could accomplish on that branch of the question.

In 1797 Mr. Wilberforce published "An Apology for the Christian Sabbath;" and also a work entitled A Practical View of the prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes of this Country contrasted with real Christianity," which has had a very extensive circulation, having passed into three editions within twelve months of its publication, and twelve or fifteen since.

Mr Wilberforce was re-elected for the county of York, at the elections of 1790,

1796, 1802, and 1806; but at the election of 1807 had to encounter a powerful com

petition from the two great families of Fitzwilliam and Lascelles, who were each supposed to have spent upwards of 100,000. upon the contest. Mr. Wilberforce, however, was supported by a public subscription collected throughout the county, and was again successful.

In 1812 Mr. Wilberforce retired from the representation of Yorkshire; and was elected for Bramber, for which borough he also sat in the two subsequent parliaments, until he finally retired from his senatorial duties, by accepting the Chiltern Hundreds, in 1825. He had then sat in parliament for forty-five years.

Mr. Wilberforce possessed in perfection two most essential attributes of popular declamation—the choicest flow of pure and glowing English, and the finest modulation of a sweet and powerful voice. The exclusive and limited system of opinions which he adopted, not only with sincerity but with passion, rendered him earnest, vehement, affecting, where a philosopher would be indifferent and frigid. In the course of his parliamentary career, he supported Catholic emancipation and parliamentary reform; reprobated the lotteries as injurious to public morals; insisted that the employment of boys of a tender age in the sweeping of chimnies was a most intolerable cruelty; and, shortly after the hostile meeting took place between Tierny and Pitt, attempted, although in vain, to procure a legislative enactment against duelling. By the present lord chancellor he has been described as the "venerable patriarch of the cause of the slaves; whose days were to be numbered by acts of benevolence and piety; whose whole life had been devoted to the highest interests of religion and charity."

"

In 1823 Mr. Wilberforce published an Appeal to the Religion, Justice, and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire, on behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West-Indies." He was the writer of an introductory essay to Wetherspoon's Treatises on Justification and Regeneration, in a series of Christain Authors, published at Glasgow; and he also made many communications to the Christain Observer.

Mr. Wilberforce married, at Walcot Church, near Bath, May 30, 1797, Barbara, the eldest daughter of Isaac Spooner, Esq. of Eldon House, in Warwickshire, by whom he has left four sons.

The spot selected for Mr. Wilberforce's last resting-place is within about three yards of the tombs of Canning, Pitt, and Fox, nearly equi-distant from each. Mr. Wilberforce was in person below the mid

dle size, of a spare habit, and of rather weakly constitution; nor were his great oratorical exertions unattended by subsequent suffering. But his main characteristic was philanthropy, and that philanthropy took its origin in love to God; it was kindled at the sacred fire of Divine love, and burned with a bright and steady lustre, because it was daily replenished from its hallowed source.

MRS. HANNAH MORE.

Sept. 7, 1833.-At Windsor-terrace, Clifton, in her 88th year, Mrs. Hannah More.

This deservedly celebrated lady was born in 1744, at Stapleton, Gloucestershire. She was one of the five daughters of a school-master, who at the time of her birth, kept the charity school at the Fishponds, Stapleton. His means were not sufficient to give his children many of the advantages of education; but this deficiency was supplied by their own talents and perseverance; and the literary abilities of Hannah having been made known to some of the neighbouring gentry, a subscription was formed for establishing her and her sisters, in a school of their own.

Her first publication, "The Search after Happiness, a pastoral drama," was written when the authoress was eighteen years of age, although not published until 1773, when it was dedicated to Mrs. Gwatkin, of Cornwall, through whose means the Misses More, had obtained many pupils from that county and Devonshire. Another of their warmest friends was the Rev. Sir James Stonehouse, Bart., who was a very popular preacher at Bath Abbey Church. The establishment proved eminently successful, and for a long series of years stood foremost among the female schools in the west of England.

Miss More's next production, was "The Inflexible Captive, a Tragedy," printed in 8vo., 1764. It was founded on the story of Regulus, and was acted one night at Bath. In the same year, she published "Sir Eldred of the Bower, and the Bleeding rock, two Poetical Tales."

Through the means of Sir James Stonehouse, she was now introduced to Mr. Garrack, and her intimacy is marked by an " Ode to Dragon, Mr. Garrick's housedog," which was printed in 4to., 1777. Her tragedy of Percy, which was her next and best approved dramatic work, was brought forward at Covent Garden.

Her last tragedy, The Fatal Falsehood," was produced in 1779, but acted for only three nights, at Covent Garden.

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