BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF

NICHOLAS BIDDLE,

COMMODORE AND POST-CAPTAIN

IN THE

CONTINENTAL NAVY,

IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

Place and time of his birth-his early propensities and pursuits-his shipwreck and sufferings upon a desolate island-returns to America, and continues in the merchant service-aspires to the service of a warrior under Geo. III.-Falkland Islands-Junius and Johnson. -Expedition to the North Pole-Biddle becomes a coxswain, with Horatio, afterwards Lord Nelson, in that voyage.-Hazard and peril of the voyage.-After Biddle's return to England, he finds that power on the verge of a war with America-Returns to America in 1775-is appointed to a small vessel, the Camden, to defend the Delaware river-is ordered to the Andrew Doria, attached to Com. Hopkins' squadron, destined against New-Providence-Regains two deserters by his consummate courage-Distress of the squadron by the small-pox--Capt. Biddle's humane exertions-he returns to America-Sails alone under orders of Congress-Compels Lord Howe to exchange one of his Lieutenants-Captures many prizes -returns and takes command of the Continental ship Randolph-he suppresses a mutiny-loses all his masts-enters a port, refits and puts to sea-captures the Free Briton and three other vessels, and returns into Charleston, (S. C.) seven days after his departure.-Commodore Biddle is appointed to the command of a squadron, the Randolph, Gen Moultrie, Fair American, and the Polly-The officers and soldiers of Gen. C. C. Pinckney volunteer on board his squadron-He sails in pursuit of the enemy-Falls in with the Yarmouth British ship of 64 guns, which attacks the Randolph of 32 guns, in the night-Com. Biddle is wounded, and remains upon the deck, until his ship explodes-Reflection-Character of Com. Bid

dle.

UPON commencing a brief sketch of the life of NICHOLAS BIDDLE, a solicitude is sensibly felt which can be but feebly described. To portray the life and character of an ardent hero, who entered early into the service of a monarch, who swayed the sceptre of dominion over his native coun

try, and who died a Commodore in fighting against the same monarch, to secure the Independence of the land of his birth, at the early age of twenty-seven, requires a volume instead of a sketch,-the hand of a Plutarch, instead of "such an honest chronicler as Griffith."

This gallant and fearless ocean hero was born in the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1750. His ancestry cannot be traced far back by the writer, for the want of materials. Indeed, were materials for such an attempt ever so copiously strewed around, it would be an useless waste of time to trace the genealogy of NICHOLAS BIDdle. If he did not derive a great name from his ancestors, he made the name of BIDDLE dear to Americans. He was the sixth son of William Biddle of New Jersey, and who removed to Philadelphia to prosecute commercial business.

He discovered his propensity for a nautical life in the early period of his existence. However much his parents might have wished to retain him in their domestic circle, until more mature age, and greater literary and scientific acquirements rendered him better qualified for a bold adventurer into a dangerous and pityless world, they found it wholly impossible to restrain his juvenile ardour, or prevent him from accomplishing his darling object.

At the age of thirteen, he made a voyage to Quebec, in Canada. It was a pleasant and prosperous voyage; and he became fascinated with the charms of the ocean, and the exhilarating scenes of a sailor's life.

Having explored a portion of the American coast, he became anxious to penetrate farther into an element with which he had become enamoured.

This adventurous youth little anticipated the disastrous scenes he was about to encounter. Indeed, if it were only

partially revealed to men, what their future destiny should be, it would produce inconsiderate rashness in some, and in others,

"The native hue of resolution, would

Be sicklied o'er by the pale cast of thought."

The second voyage the ardent Biddle made, was from his native city to the Island of Jamaica, from thence to the Bay of Honduras. After having accomplished the object. of the voyage to this bay, the master of the vessel sailed for Antigua, at near the close of the year 1765.

Upon the night of the 2nd of January '66 in a violent gale of wind, the vessel was wrecked upon a fatal and impassable shoal. The crew remained upon the deck, through the night of the 3d, and until late in the morning of the 4th. Finding it impossible to sustain themselves upon the wreck, they resorted to the forlorn hope of wrecked mariners-the boat. After enduring the imminent hazard of an agitated ocean, in a feeble boat, crowded with a crew, whom it was scarcely able to keep above water, they landed upon a desolate and unpeopled island, ten miles from the shoal where they were wrecked. After remaining a number of days upon the island-famishing with hunger, and making what repairs the scanty means in their power afforded, a part of the crew ventured off to the wreck, and procured a small supply of ruined provisions; which, like the fœtus of a camel, or a putrified wen, to Robbins, was to them a delicious repast!

Soon after, one of the most appalling and distressing scenes, which the destitute, forlorn and miserable sons of Adam have to pass through in this "vale of tears," was to be acted by this hard-fated crew.

They could not sustain themselves upon the island; and

the damaged boat could not carry them all from it. Four were to be left, and to suffer what Providence should decree, or had decreed. Who should remain upon this region of barrenness, and who should enter the boat, (both desperate chances,) was to be determined by the usual, uncertain, and capricious mode-by lot. This mode, according to sacred history, decided the fate of a prophet; and it has often determined the dark and gloomy prospect of life when "shadows clouds and darkness rest

upon it." Young Biddle at this time was a boy of fourteen years of age. He was in that period of life, when most boys continue to hang upon the arms of their mothers, for effeminate indulgences, and who look to their fathers for protection. When the lots were cast, it fell upon Biddle to remain upon the island; to perish or escape as the dark future should determine. With his three companions in calamity, he endured all the privations and anguish which man can endure, and yet survive. Inheriting from his ancestors a constitution which possessed the real stamina of the European emigrants to America, and an original strength of mind which was not to be daunted by adversity nor effeminated by prosperity, he passed through scenes of sufferings, and privations, which might well have appalled the heart of matured manhood. I do not mean those sufferings inflicted by a barbarous and relentless foe, who pursues an enemy" with a step steady as time, and with an appetite keen as death," nor those dangers which surround an ardent and adventurous youth, who would glory to die on the field of battle, or on the deck of a vessel, in fighting the battles of his country; but those sufferings and dangers are meant which are occasioned by a diminution of the wonted supplies which nature demands, and the gloomy

and distressing consideration that a total destitution of them is near at hand.

For sixty days, young Biddle, and his three associates. (who were advanced far into manhood,) endured those distresses and privations, which, to those who have always lived in the midst of temporal enjoyments, would seem to be absolutely beyond the endurance of human nature. It is in such situations, that the native energy and fortitude of men develope themselves. To retain firmness of soul, in a state of hopeless destitution and solitude, where there is "no eye to pity nor arm to save," but those of Omnipotence to wear away life with fortitude upon a desolate island like Selkirk, or to wander, in slavery, over an outspread desert like Robbins, where no sympathizing mortal can witness or alleviate suffering, surely evinces the original greatness of the sufferer's soul. Such was the soul of Biddle in the days of his youth. But he was created for a different destiny than to perish by famine, or the hand of slaves.

1

At the expiration of two months, he was taken from the island, and returned to his native city, in an American ves. sel, and immediately again resorted to his adopted element

the ocean.

As it regards Americans, the remark may safely be made, that disasters, storms, shipwrecks, and "hair breadth 'scapes," instead of driving them to the dull and perpetually recurring scenes of domestic life, rather stimulates them to press forward to new encounters, to enable them to enjoy the exultation of success.-Life may be called a lottery-the prize-holder still hopes to gain, and the loser to retrieve his losses.

Young Biddle continued in the merchant service, and