AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.--FOR THE PORT FOLIO.

LIFE OF COMMODORE MURRAY.

As the present war has turned the public attention almost exclusively towards our naval officers, we have occasionally endeavoured to enliven our pages with sketches of characters so brilliant. We have many officers who burn with an honourable ambition to distinguish themselves in their country's service; men of unquestionable skill and intrepidity, to whom wayward fortune has denied even an opportunity of trial. The situation of such men is peculiarly unpleasant: they behold their youthful comrades reaping the full harvest of glory, without being able themselves to thrust in the sickle. If we analyse the actions of such men, we shall find that they have, perhaps, worn away the flower of their existence in honourable duty; prompt and alert to vindicate the character of their flag, and buoyed up with the hope that their Country will have the magnanimity to do them signal justice. Dazzled by the effulgence of victory, we overlook these meritorious characters, who would have ranked amidst the proudest of their compeers, if malignant fortune had not been jealous of their glory.

Commodore ALEXANDER MURRAY was born in Chestertown, Maryland, on the twelfth day of July, 1755, of honest and respectable parents. From early life he was devoted to the watery element; and, at the age of eighteen, commanded a vessel in the European trade.

The revolution shortly after breaking out, zealously attached to the cause of his country, he forsook the mercantile life, and was appointed a lieutenant in the first Maryland regiment, commanded by colonel Smallwood. He had previously received an appointment to the same station in the navy, but as we had no frigate then in service, he entered the army. He took an early and conspicuous part in the hard fought battles that ensued at Whiteplains, Flatbush, York, &c.

His sense of hearing was much impaired by the explosion and bursting of sundry pieces of cannon, on the Newyork battery, while firing at the enemy's fleet, on their passage up the North river. This infirmity he labours under to the present day. At the close of this campaign he was severely afflicted by chronic

complaints, and was compelled to retire, soon after having been appointed to the rank of captain in the second regiment. At this time two hundred effective men only returned, out of nine hundred that marched from Annapolis; the rest having been either killed, or taken, or having fallen victims to the maladies of the camp.

On the reestablishment of his health, captain Murray resumed his rank in the navy. As there were no public ships ready for service, he was appointed, at various times, to command sundry letters of marque, repeatedly passing and repassing the enemy's fleet, and seldom escaping without a battle. One of these engagements is worthy of record: Having been appointed to the command of the Revenge, a letter of marque, carrying eighteen six pounders, with a complement of fifty men only, he sailed from Baltimore for Holland. He had the chief command of all the vessels then lying at that port, bound on foreign voyages, some of which were well armed. Meeting with the enemy's force much superior, he was compelled to return with his fleet, consisting of forty vessels, and to seek refuge in the river Patuxent. The number afterwards increased to about fifty sail; the commanders of which all agreed to fight their way through the opposing squadron. With this determination they put to sea, when a fleet of privateers hove in sight. A signal was made for all the unarmed vessels to return, and for the remainder to rally round their commander. The enemy's fleet, consisting of one ship of eighteen guns, one brig of sixteen, and three privateer schooners, stood for the body of the fleet. One brig and one schooner only obeyed captain Murray's signal to rally. He soon discovered himself lying between the ship and the brig, when a severe engagement ensued. Captain Murray kept up an incessant fire from both broad sides, and in an hour's time had the satisfaction to see his enemies haul off, after having sustained much damage. The brig and the schooner likewise behaved extremely well, and repelled the assaults of their adversaries. Captain Murray, after this action, returned to Hampton Roads to refit; his sails and rigging were much injured; but fortunately no lives were lost; few only were wounded, himself amongst the number. After captain Murray had repaired his vessel, he sailed for the banks of Newfoundland, and was unfortunately overtaken and surrounded by an English fleet of one hundred and fifty men of war and transports, bound

to Newyork. He was pursued and captured by a frigate. The captain and lieutenant were his intimate friends, from whom he received every kindness and attention. He at last arrived in Philadelphia, where he was regularly exchanged.

The United States' frigate Trumbull, of thirty-two guns, commanded by his gallant friend and relation, the late captain Nicholson, was then ready for service. This officer had before distinguished himself, in a very severe engagement off Newyork, with a British ship of war called the Wyatt. She was manned with a picked crew, and sent expressly to take the Trumbull. The action continued for two hours; both ships received much injury, and a dreadful carnage ensued. The British ship hauled off, and was towed into Newyork. The captain being asked the name of the Trumbull's commander, replied, that he must be either Paul Jones, or the Devil-for never was a ship fought before with such frantic desperation. Captain Nicholson likewise put into port to repair; and when he sailed on his second cruise, captain Murray volunteered his services as a lieutenant; and he had the pleasure of finding his gallant friend, the present commodore Dale, one of the lieutenants on board likewise. In the midst of a violent gale, accompanied by thunder and lightning, the Trumbull lost her foretopmast. When the storm abated, the crew discovered themselves to be close on board an English frigate. All hands were, nevertheless, called to their quarters, and a dreadful action ensued. At the time when the enemy's fire began to slacken, it was discovered that most of the battle lanterns were extinguished, and that the crew had fled from their stations. A second English ship was laid along the stern of the Trumbull, which poured in her raking broad sides, and put an end to the action. Two of the lieutenants, with lieutenant Murray, were severely wounded; and one-third of the crew were either killed or disabled. The Trumbull was the next day towed into Newyork, without a mast standing, and several of her gun-ports beat into one.

After captain Murray had recovered from his wounds, he repaired to Baltimore, where he was furnished with another fine brig, a letter of marque. As he was unable to procure a complement of men and guns, he took a cargo of tobacco, and went on an intended voyage to St. Croix. When he sailed from Hampton