pressed on board a man-of-war. They died of disease in
pestilential climates, or fell in battle while warring in behalf
of a government they hated, and principles with which they had no
sympathy.

This gross violation of the laws of nations and the principles of
justice furnished one of the strongest motives for the war which
was declared in 1812.

Nor were these insults on the part of British cruisers confined
to American merchant ships. Our government vessels were, in more
than one instance, boarded with a view to examine the crews and
take the men, if any, who happened to be born under the British
flag. A successful attempt was made in the case of the
Chesapeake, which frigate, under the command of Commodore Barron,
made a feeble show of resistance, and was fired into in a time of
peace, several of her crew killed and wounded, and compelled to
strike her colors! The Chesapeake was then boarded, and the
Englishmen found on board were seized upon and transferred to the
British ship!

An attempt of a similar kind was made some years before, but
with a different result. When the heroic Tingey commanded the
Ganges, in 1799, being off Cape Nicola Mole, he was boarded by a
boat from the English frigate Surprise, and a demand was very
coolly made that all the Englishmen on board the Ganges should be
given up, as they were wanted for the service of His Majesty,
George III!

Captain Tingey returned the following noble reply: "Give my