which he took, with this distinguished commander, in a series of exploits, which for prowess and intrepidity surpass the fictions of poetry, and distance the marvels of romance.

In 1781, Dale was most usefully employed with two public schooners in Delaware Bay, in successfully convoying the public stores to Philadelphia, and dispersing the marauding refugees who aimed at intercepting those supplies.

In July of this year, Dale sailed from the capes of Delaware as lieutenant of the Trumbull frigate, Captain James Nicholson. When at sea but a few hours, they fell in with a British frigate and sloopof-war. After a severe engagement in a dark and stormy night, the Trumbull, having been crippled by the gale, was compelled to strike her flag to a force vastly superior. Lieutenant Dale was severely wounded in this encounter. In a short time he was put on Long Island a prisoner on parole; he was soon afterwards exchanged, and, in November, 1781, returned to Philadelphia.

Commodore Dale married, in 1791, a Philadelphia lady by the name of Crathorne, became a rigid member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was a manager of several religious societies.

The government had now no occasion for his services. He accordingly obtained the command of a large merchant ship, "The Queen of France," mounting twelve six-pounders, and sailed for L'Orient in the spring of 1782. On the passage he had a spirited conflict with a British privateer of fourteen guns, and succeeded in beating her off, both vessels sustaining very heavy damage. Captain Dale returned to Philadelphia in February, 1783.

In 1794, he was selected by President Washington to be one of the six captains of the naval establishment, for which provision had just been made. He was the fourth in rank. He was appointed to superintend the construction of a large frigate at Norfolk. The government, however, having deferred building her, he obtained a furlough, and continued industriously engaged in the Canton trade till 1798. At this period, war with France was generally expected, and the government purchased several large vessels to be converted into ships of war. One of them, the Ganges, was assigned to Captain Dale, who had recently commanded her as a merchant ship. After she was equipped for service, some misunderstanding arose with respect to rank. Dale obtained a furlough until the matter

could be adjusted. On his return to Philadelphia in April, 1800, from a Canton voyage, he was happy to find the point of rank settled to his entire satisfaction. He now received orders to hold himself ready for important service, and in May, 1801, was appointed to command the squadron of observation about to sail from Hampton Roads to the Mediterranean.

Having hoisted his broad pendant on board the President, he sailed on the 1st of June, with the squadron, consisting of the President frigate, Captain James Barron; the Philadelphia frigate, Captain Samuel Barron; the Essex frigate, Captain William Bainbridge; and the schooner Enterprise, Lieutenant Andrew Sterrett. He found lying at Gibraltar the High Admiral of Tripoli, with a ship of twenty-six guns and two hundred and sixty men, and a brig of sixteen guns and one hundred and sixty men. These vessels had arrived only the day before. Although the Admiral disclaimed any knowledge of hostile views on the part of the Bey, his master, yet Commodore Dale formed and acted upon the opinion that he designed to cruise against American vessels in the Western Ocean. The Philadelphia was accordingly ordered to lie on and off Gibraltar, to watch the Tripolitan, and if he ventured out to capture him. In despair of eluding this vigilance, the Admiral soon dismantled his ships and discharged his crews. Authentic information obtained in the Mediterranean, placed beyond doubt the hostile intentions of the Bey, and confirmed the propriety and value of the determination of the American commander.

In the summer of 1802, Commodore Dale arrived in Hampton Roads. In this squadron, and under the sailor-like accomplishments of Commodore Dale, several of our gallant naval officers received their earliest instruction, and the noble stamp of seamanship which proved so true in the war of 1812.

During the war of 1812, he was one day accosted by the celebrated punster, Judge Richard Peters, who said that "he had just heard that the British General Hill was about landing some where below on the Delaware. If such be the case," said the Judge, “I suppose it will be up hill and down dale;” a pun rather at the expense of the Americans.

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There is one trait of Commodore Dale's character which must not be omitted. He himself deemed it of far more importance

than all of regard and reverence which the world could confer. He was eminently a pious man. Deeply impressed with the solemn truths of religion, he, many years before his death, as stated previously, made an open profession of his holy faith, and entered into full communion with the Episcopal Church. This was the result of no sudden and transient impulse. When in full health, and surrounded by all of earth's advantages which could contribute to render his life one of happiness and pleasure, he reviewed for himself the evidences of Christianity, pondered upon its truths, felt its sacred influences, and deliberately made his decision. Such examples deserve commemoration. By their freedom from the suspicion of insincerity or impurity, they silence the prejudices of mere worldlings, and by their peculiar force and beauty they attract to the contemplation of the things which belong to our eternal peace.

His latter days were marked with tranquil cheerfulness. In the bosom of a family that was most dear to him, he was blessed with

"All that should accompany old age,
As honor, love, obedience;"

and on the 24th day of February, 1826, having reached his seventieth year, in the humble hope of a joyful resurrection through the atoning merits of his Redeemer, he resigned his purified spirit into the hands of that God, who, through so many perils and temptations, had mercifully protected and preserved him.

ALEXANDER JAMES DALLAS.

ALEXANDER JAMES DALLAS, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States (1814), was of Scotch descent, and born in the island of Jamaica, in 1759. His father, Robert Dallas, was an eminent physician. After receiving an early education at Edinburgh and Westminster, he came to this country, after the death of his father, in 1783, and studied law at Philadelphia. He also engaged in

various literary enterprises, writing much for periodicals, and being at one time the editor of the Columbian Magazine. In 1801, he was appointed, by President Jefferson, Attorney of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. About this time he recovered against Fenno, an editor, $2500 for a libel. In October, 1814, he was appointed by Mr. Madison, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, as successor of G. W. Campbell; and in March, 1815, he undertook the additional trust of Secretary at War, and performed the task, on the return of peace, of reducing the army. He resigned his honorable office, and returned to the practice of the law at Philadelphia, in November, 1816; but in a few weeks his earthly career was closed. While at Trenton, New Jersey, he was attacked with the gout in the stomach, of which he died, soon after he reached home, January 16th, 1817, aged fiftyseven years. His wife, whom he married in 1780, was of Devonshire, England. Mr. Dallas had great decision and energy, and was very eminent as a lawyer. He excelled in conversation, and his manners were highly polished. While in office he promoted the establishment of a tariff, and of the last national bank. He published Features of Jay's Treaty, 1795; Speeches on the Trial of Blount and the Impeachment of the Judges; the Laws of Pennsylvania, with Notes; Address to the Society of Constitutional Republicans, 1805; Reports of Cases in the Courts of the United States and Pennsylvania, 4 vols., 1806-7; Treasury Reports; Exposition of the Causes and Character of the War of 1812, 1815. He left, unfinished, Sketches of a History of Pennsylvania. His son, the Honorable George M. Dallas, proposed, in 1817, to publish his works in three volumes; but they have not been forthcoming to this date,-1859.

JAMES ALEXANDER DALLAS.

JAMES ALEXANDER DALLAS, son of Alexander James Dallas, was born in the year 1791. He entered the American navy in 1805, when only fourteen years of age; but his liberal education and talents, and, above all, his laudable ambition to attain eminence in his profession, enabled him to become a distinguished commander. He served with Commodore Rogers, on board the President, in 1812; and afterwards, with Commodore Chauncey, on Lake Ontario. He also accompanied Commodore Porter in his cruise for the extermination of the West India pirates. He was a brother of the Hon. George M. Dallas. He died in 1844, at the age of fiftythree years.

JACOB A. DALLAS.

JACOB A. DALLAS, the well-known popular artist, died in New York City, September 9th, A.D. 1857.

Mr. Dallas was born in Philadelphia, in the year 1825. He was the son of an eminent merchant, and the cousin of Hon. George M. Dallas, Minister to England. At the age of eight years he moved with his parents to Missouri, where he studied at Ames College, and, after a due course of instruction, graduated at the age of eighteen. He then returned to Philadelphia, and attended the Life and Antique School, under Professor Otis, the celebrated portrait painter. About eleven years ago he went to New York, where he has since resided.

His talents, which were of the highest order, were employed upon all the principal illustrated works that have been produced in New York for many years. He was one of the chief illustrators of “Harper's,” “Putnam's," "Mrs. Stephens'," "Frank Leslie's,” and other popular periodicals; while many of the larger volumes, issued by the best publishers of New York, were wholly indebted to his