Dent and Gordon joined her, the former doing duty as acting captain. Midshipman Baldwin resigned, and Midshipmen Wadsworth, Alexis, Gadsden, Lewis, Israel, Ridgley, Carey, Robert Henly, and McDonough joined. With these alterations and additions the ship had five lieutenants and no less than twenty-three midshipmen. But changes soon occurred, which will be noticed in their places, the results of promotions and other causes.2

The Constitution sailed from Boston, on this new service, August 14th, 1803, and anchored at Gibraltar, Sept. 12th succeeding, making her passage in twenty-nine days. This was the first time our craft had ever shown herself in the European waters, her previous cruisings being confined to the West Indies and our own coast. It may as well be said here, that wherever she went, her mould and the fine order in which she was kept attracted general admiration.

The first service in which the gallant ship was employed in the other hemisphere, was to go off Tangiers, in a squadron composed of the Constitution 44, New-York 36. John Adams 28, and Nautilus 12, in order to make a new treaty with the Emperor of Morocco. This important service successfully effected, Preble remained in and about the Straits, until the middle of November, employed in duties connected with his command. On the 23d October the ship sailed from Gibraltar for Cadiz, the Enterprise in company, and returned in a few days. While on this service and when near the Straits, a large strange sail was made in the night, when the Constitution cleared, went to quarters and ran alongside of her. Preble hailed, and got no answer, but a hail in return. After some sharp hailing on both sides, Preble took a trumpet himself and gave the name of his ship, asking that of the stranger, with an intimation that he would give him a shot unless he replied. “If you give me a shot, 1'll give you a broadside,” returned the stranger, in English. Preble now jumped into the mizzen-rigging, and called out distinctly, “This is the United States frigate Constitution, a 44, Edward Preble, commodore; I am now about to hail you for the last time—what ship is that?—Blow your matches, boys.” “This is His Britannic Majesty's ship, Donnegal, a razee of 60 guns,” was the answer. Preble told the stranger, in pretty plain terms, he doubted his statement, and that he should lie by him, until daylight, in order to ascertain his true character. Before things could be carried any further, however, a boat arrived from the stranger, who, as it now appeared, was the Maidstone 36, Captain Burdett, The delay in answering arose from a wish to gain time to clear for action, and get to quarters, Old Ironsides having got alongside so quietly that she had been taken by surprise.

After passing the time mentioned, in the vicinity of the Straits, the Constitution sailed in quest of declared enemies. She left Gibraltar on the 13th November 1803,2a and proceeded first to Algiers, where she landed Colonel Lear, who had come out as Consul General. On the 20th she left Algiers, and on the 24th, while standing up the Mediterranean, on her way to Malta, she spoke an English frigate, which communicated a rumor, that the Philadelphia had run ashore, off Tripoli, and had fallen into the hands of the enemy. On reaching Malta, the 27th, while lying off the port, the unpleasant rumor was confirmed. The ship stood on without anchoring, and arrived at Syracuse the next day.

Here then, was Old Ironsides, for the first time, in the centre of the Mediterranean, and with something serious to do; more, indeed, than could easily be accomplished in a single ship. Her commander was as active a seaman as ever undertook an enterprise, and the career of the good ship, for the next seven months. though she did not fire a shot in anger during the whole time, was probably as remarkable as that of any vessel which ever floated,and which encountered neither enemies, shipwreck, nor accident of any sort.

The Constitution lay until the 17th December at Syracuse, when she sailed for Tripoli to look at her enemy, and to communicate with the unfortunate commander of the Philadelphia. On the 23d the Enterprise, Lieutenant Decatur, which was in company, captured a Tripolitan ketch, celled the Mastico, or Mistico, with seventy Turks of one sort and another on board her, the prize being sent in. While lying off Tripoli on the 26th, it came on to blow fiercely, and the stout ship had need off her excellent qualities to claw off shore. Her escape was somewhat narrow, but she went clear, and returned to Syracuse.

February 3d, 1804, Preble sent the Mastico, now named the Intrepid, to Tripoli, on the well-known expedition to cut out the Philadelphia. All the connection our ship had with this successful and brilliant exploit, arose from the fact that her commander ordered it, and four of her midshipmen were of the party. These young gentlemen were Messrs, Izard, Morris, Laws, and Davis, all of whom returned safely, after their victory, to the steerage of Old Ironsides. Mr. Morris was shortly after promoted for being the first; man on the Philadelphia's decks, as was Mr.