A GENEROUS ENEMY.

In 1815 I was a “younker,” or midshipman, on board His Majesty’s ship “Swinger,” a twelve-gun brig.

I remember one day, soon after we left Surinam, our captain hobbled upon deck—for he had a wooden leg—and as his custom was, he stood up near one of the guns, and looked over the ship’s side.

“Beat to quarters,” shouted the captain; and sure enough ’twas no false alarm, for bearing right down upon us was a ship much larger than our own, which we soon made out to be an American. Nothing daunted by her size or her superior armament, and consequently larger ship’s company, we prepared for action, and soon gave the enemy a taste of our metal. Nothing could have been better than the manner in which our guns were served, for although we had but sixty men and boys, and twelve guns, whilst the enemy had 145 men and boys, and fifteen guns, we kept up a galling fire for two hours and a-half, until the American, finding she had had as much as she cared for, and not wanting a closer acquaintance, made off and left us.

We gave chase for the remainder of the day, but as she was a much faster ship than ours she made good her escape.

Soon after, we returned to Surinam; but on the way we painted our ports, so that we were not at first recognised.

I had better explain that when we left we were painted entirely black, but on our return we were black and white, something like a chess-board.

When we asked “what news,” we were told that a little black brig, that had recently left, had been licked by an American. We had a good laugh, of course, and we were able to give a much better account of the little black brig than that.

Well, six years after, in 1821, a friend of mine was in the West Indies, and was thrown into contact with the captain of the American vessel that encountered the “Swinger.” He often spoke of the engagement, and declared “he would give anything to see her captain, for he was the smartest man he’d ever came across.”

“Why,” said my friend, “the officer who commanded the ‘Swinger’ is now here, and is an old friend of mine. I shall be delighted to introduce you.”

Accordingly it was arranged, and a friendly meeting took place between the two former enemies. The American rushed up to his old opponent, and shook him by the hand in such a hearty manner, that it was some minutes before he relinquished his grasp. “I’m delighted to see you, sir,” he said; “you’re the cleverest man I ever saw, by a long chalk. Why, I expected to chaw you up in about half-an-hour, and instead of that, in about two you gave me such a walloping that I ran into port and didn’t venture out again. We had nine killed and fifteen wounded; how many had you?”

“Only five killed and wounded.”

“Well done! give us your hand again, captain!”