"Never give up the ship!"
The Chesapeake had been captured by the Shannon, and brave Lawrence's dead body reposed in Canadian soil.
Then came the news of disasters on land, and the prospects were dark for the young Republic.
The patriotic soul of Harry Vernon was chafing at idleness, and he had almost resolved to fit out another privateer, but was persuaded to wait a little longer for news of the Lively Bee.
Then came news of the Essex, and all the country was filled with the praises of Captain Porter, who had captured so many British vessels.
But while according so much praise to Porter, they did not fail to mete out their approbation of the courage of the young midshipman, Farragut, who, though a boy in years, had been given the command of the captured ship, Barclay.
All Washington was reading Farragut's letter home.
"I was sent as prize-master to the Barclay," he wrote. "This was an important event in my life; and when it was decided that I was to take the ship to Valparaiso, I felt no little pride at finding myself in command, at twelve years of age. The Barclay had been recaptured from a Spanish guarda costa. The captain and his mate were on board; and I was to control the men sent from our frigate, while the captain was to navigate the vessel. When Captain Porter ordered us to proceed to Valparaiso, the captain of the Barclay, a violent-tempered old fellow, was furious.
"He told me that he should take the Barclay where he pleased, but never to Valparaiso.
"I considered that my day of trial had come, for I was a little afraid of the old fellow, as every one else was. But the time had come for me at least to play the man, so I mustered up courage and informed the captain that I desired the topsail filled away.