sented crowning this hero with a wreath of laurel; at the base, COMITIA AMERICANA; VICTORIA LIBERTATIS VINDEX; a display of the engagement, then, FUGATIS, CAPTIS, AUT CESIS, AD COWPENS, HOSTIBUS, XVII JAN. MDCCLXXXI. JOHN BARRY. THE father of the Commodore, was a respectable farmer in Wexford county, Ireland, where his son, the subject of this memoir, was born in the year 1745. After having received the first elements of an English education, to gratify his particular inclination for the sea, his father entered him in the merchant service. When about fifteen years old, he arrived in Pennsylvania, and selected it as the country of his future residence. In reviewing the causes, which led to hostilities between Great Britain and her colonies, Barry was satisfied that justice was on the side of the latter. He therefore engaged under the banners of freedom, and resolved to devote his best exertions to the emancipation of the colonies from the thraldom of the mother country. Confiding in his patriotism, Congress, in February, 1776, a few months prior to the declaration of Independence, appointed him commander of the brig Lexington, of sixteen guns, and his was the first continental vessel, which sailed from Philadelphia. His cruises were successful. Congress had caused to be built three large frigates, one of which was called the Effingham, to the command of which he was appointed, immediately after that memorable era, which gave to the United States a name among the nations of the world. During the following winter, as his naval employment became nugatory, in consequence f the inclemency of the weather, he, from an aversion to nactivity, became a volunteer aid, in that season of peril, ▷ the intrepid General Cadwallader., Philadelphia and the forts on the Delaware fell into the hands of the British, in the following year, 1777, and Commodore Barry, with several vessels of war, made good is retreat up the river, as far as Whitehill, where, however, they were afterwards destroyed by the enemy. Prior to the destruction of these vessels, he successfully employed those under his command in annoying the enemy and cutting off their supplies. After the destruction of the American squadron, and soon after the capture of Philadelphia, he was appointed to command the Raleigh, of thirty-two guns, which, on a cruise, was run on shore by a British squadron on Fox Island, in Penobscot bay. Subsequent to the above disasters, he commanded a vessel commissioned with letters of marque and reprisal, and engaged in the West India trade for some time. When Congress concluded to build a seventy-four gun ship in New Hampshire, he was ordered to command her. It was, however, afterwards determined to make a present of this vessel to his most Christian Majesty, when that august body gave him the command of the Alliance frigate. The situation of American affairs becoming important, in a foreign point of view, Colonel John Laurens, of South Carolina, son of Henry Laurens, then a prisoner in the tower of London, was ordered to France on a special mission. Commodore Barry sailed in the Alliance from Boston for L'Orient in February, 1781, having the minister extraordinary and suite on board. After landing the ambassador and suite at L'Orient, in the early part of the same year, the Alliance sailed on a cruise. On the 29th of May following, at day-light, Commodore Barry discovered a ship and a brig on his weather bow, appearing afterwards to wear the British flag. He consequently prepared for immediate action. The British ship proved to be the Atalanta, Captain Edwards, of between twenty and thirty guns, and the brig Treposa, Captain Smith. An action shortly commenced, and by th both vessels struck. Barry was wounded early gagement; but notwithstanding his sufferings, quence of this casualty, he still remained on de was owing to his intrepidity and presence of 1 the Alliance was the victor. On December 25th, 1781, he sailed in the A France, from Boston, having on board the Ma Fayette and Count De Noailles, who were desi ing to their native country on business of the h portance. He had scarcely arrived at his dest when he sailed in February, 1782, on a crui: which he fell in with an enemy's ship of equa had a severe engagement. The enemy would captured, but for two consorts, which, however, at a distance during the action by a French ship, which hove in sight. The continental zerne, of twenty guns, had her guns thrown before the battle began, in order to facilitate h as she had a quantity of specie on board from for the use of the United States. The captain o tish frigate, who was soon after advanced to be miral of the red, acknowledged, that he had nev ed a more severe flagellation than on this though it seemed to have had the appearance of battle. During the time that General Lord Howe was tish Commander-in-chief, he attempted to alie Commodore from the cause which he had so ard poused, by an offer of twenty thousand guineas, command of the best frigate in the British navy rejected the offer with scorn. The return of pea ever, in the year 1783, put an end to all such dish ble propositions, and our Commodore returned to life. In 1797, it was deemed proper by the Ameri vernment to annul the consular convention with I the pretext for which was French aggression on An commerce. During the maritime disturbance thu ted between the two countries, Mr. Barry was activ gaged in protecting the commerce of his adopted country, and was held in the highest estimation by his nautical brethren. When this dispute was at last satisfactorily adjusted, a law was passed, during the last year of Mr. Adams' administration, for reducing the navy, in consequence of which the vessel he commanded was laid up in ordinary, and he once more returned to private life. Bold, brave, and enterprising, he was, at the same time, humane and generous. He was a good citizen, and greatly esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. His person was above the ordinary size, graceful and commanding, his deportment dignified, and his countenance expressive. He died in Philadelphia, on the 30th of September, 1803, and a vast concourse of his fellow citizens testified their respect to his memory, by attending his remains to the silent grave. JOHN MANLY. JOHN MANLY was born in Massachusetts, in the year 1733. After having received the first rudiments of education, he embraced a maritime life. From the eminent reputation which he had acquired for his professional merit, and his attachment to the cause of the colonies against the unjust aggressions of the mother country, the new government, on the recommendation of the illustrious Washington, commissioned him as a Captain in their navy, on the 24th of October, 1775. In the schooner Lee, he made many captures, of the greatest importance, and notwithstanding his hazardous situation, he did not skulk into port; but continued to cruise within the limits assigned him, during the whole winter. One of his captures led to the evacuation of Boston by General Gage. This was a large brig, which was laden with ordnance and other munitions of war, of which the colonists were much in want: but from what was taken in this one vessel they were supplied with heavy ordnance, mortars, and the working utensils, necessary for offensive or defensive operations. In consequence of his acknowledged services, he was promoted to command the frigate Hancock, of thirty-two guns. On a cruise with this vessel, he met a frigate belonging to the enemy, and engaged her. After a short contest, he boarded and succeeded in taking her. She proved to be his Britannic Majesty's vessel of war, called The Fox. On the 8th of July, 1777, he was captured with his prize, by the British frigate Rainbow, of forty guns, and sent into Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he endured a rigorous confinement on board of that ship, and in Mill prison, until he was exchanged in the early part of the autumn of 1782. In September of that year, he was intrusted with the command of the Hague frigate, with which he sailed for the West Indies. A few days after leaving Martinique, he was descried by a British seventy-four, and to avoid capture he run his ship on a sand bank, in the rear of Guadaloupe. The chasing ship was joined by three line of battle ships. These four advanced within point blank shot distance, and having springs on their cables, opened on the Hague a most furious cannonade, which was supported with the most undaunted firmness, for three days; on the fourth, Manly succeeded in getting his vessel off the bank, fired thirteen guns in token of defiance, and made his escape. Having arrived at Boston, one of his officers preferred a variety of charges against him, in consequence of which he was arrested, and underwent the ordeal of a court-martial. Of the nature of the charges, the public have not been made acquainted; but the report of the court conveyed in part a justification of some of the allegations. It does not appear, that he was ever in command after the peace, which now succeeded. A vindication of his conduct was promised, in the publication of his memoirs. Whether they were prepared for publication is unknown; but they never appeared. He resided in Boston, in the pursuits of private life, until February 12, 1793, when he deceased, in the 60th year of his age. His remains were |