consisted of only sixty men, and those chiefly the bad characters of the fleet, who had been drafted from different ships by order of Sir John B. Warren. When ready for sea, he was directed to escort twelve valuable merchant vessels from Halifax to the West Indies; and while performing this service, he appears to have had a rencontre with two large American privateers, one of which struck after losing her jib-boom and fore-top-mast, but escaped in consequence of his passing on in pursuit of the largest, by whose fire his own fore-top-mast was unfortunately brought down just at the close of day, when to have continued the chase any longer would have subjected his important charge to great danger. On the 10th May, 1814, Rear-Admiral Cockburn, then in the Chesapeake, addressed him as follows:
“Dear Westphal, – I have just received your letter of the 4th March, and assure you I was very sincerely disappointed when I learnt some time ago from Sir John Warren, that he had transferred Anaconda to the Jamaica station, for I had expected, and indeed had received a kind of promise, that you were to come to me, and it is such as you that I want in these waters to keep up Jonathan’s kind disposition towards me, as he is beginning to change his note, to write civilly, and to talk of peace: I am nevertheless as anxiously as ever working him annoyance. * * * *. I learn with satisfaction that the Admiralty have approved of the purchase of the Anaconda, and of your appointment; you are therefore so far secure in employment. * * * * * *. Adieu. Accept my best wishes for your health and success, and believe me always most faithfully and truly yours.
On the same day, the Rear-Admiral wrote to his protégé’s new commander-in-chief, in the following terms:–
