Note 5 — BAINBRIDGE.

Some time after the peace of 1815, a distinguished officer of the English navy visited the Constitution, then just fitted anew at Boston, for a Mediterranean cruise. He went through the ship accompanied by Capt. ——, of our service. “Well, what do you think of her?” asked the latter, after the two had gone through the vessel and reached the quarter-deck again. “She is one of the finest, if not the very finest frigate I ever put my foot on board of,” returned the Englishman, “but, as I must find some fault, I’ll just say that your wheel is one of the clumsiest things I ever saw, and is unworthy of the vessel.” Capt. —— laughed, and then explained the appearance of the wheel to the other, as follows: “When the Constitution took the Java, the former’s wheel was shot out of her. The Java’s wheel was fitted in the Constitution to steer with, and, although we think it as ugly as you do, we keep it as a trophy!”