A fortnight of monotony was ended by a strange sail which proved to be the British thirty-eight-gun frigate _Macedonian_, newly built.

Her commander, Captain Carden, had the highest opinion of his ship and crew, and one of his officers testified that "the state of discipline on board was excellent; in no British ship was more attention paid to gunnery.

Before this cruise the ship had been engaged almost every day with the enemy; and in time of peace the crew were constantly exercised at the great guns." The _United States_ was a sister frigate of the _Constitution_, built from the same designs and therefore more formidable than her British opponent as three is to two.

Captain Carden had no misgivings, however, and instantly set out in chase of the American frigate.

But he was unfortunate enough to pit himself against one of the ablest officers afloat, and his own talent was mediocre.