In the series of distinguished exploits, which have marked the progress of the American navy, since the commencement of the present war, captain Porter, though overpowered at last, in a manner, which, according to the luminous and interesting statement of this active, persevering, and brave commander, reflects no honour on the navy of his Britannick majesty, has rendered his country essen❤ tial service, gained a lasting reputation on the waters of the western ocean, and added to the splendour of the American navy, by his able vindication of sailors' rights and the freedom of navigation and

Commerce.

Mr. Cowell, the principal subject of this article, while sailing master, distinguished himself by his ability, attention, and faithfulness in his department. For his good conduct, on a certain hazardous occasion, he was promoted by captain Porter to the office of acting lieutenant. Had his life been spared, he would no doubt in due time have risen to a proud eminence as a naval commander; but this enterprising man, fearless of danger and death in his country's cause, was called, in providence, to finish his days at Valparaiso, shortly after the action.

He was about the age of 28 years and has left a widow and two children.

This article cannot be better closed, than in the words of captain Porter to the hon. secretary of the navy. "I cannot speak in sufficiently high terms of the conduct of those engaged for such an unparallelled length of time, under such circumstances,

with me, in the arduous and unequal contest. Let it suffice to say, that more bravery, skill, patriotism, and zeal were never displayed on any occasion. Every one seemed determined to die in defence of their much loved country's cause, and nothing but views of humanity could ever have reconciled them to the surrender of the ship.

"The conduct of that brave and heroick officer, acting lieutenant John Glover Cowell, who lost his leg in the latter part of the action, excited the admiration of every man in the ship; and, after being wounded, would not consent to be taken below, until loss of blood rendered him insensible."

MARBLEHEAD, MASS.

522. Note.-ROBERT HOOPER, esquire, son of Nathaniel Hooper, was a native of Marblehead, where he spent his days. He was distinguished as an honest and enterprising man, and as an eminent, prosperous, and opulent merchant. He died at the age of 72 years, leaving a widow, four sons, and one daughter. Mrs. Mary Hooper, his first wife, by whom he had six children, departed this life, after suffering great bodily indisposition, for many years, on the 31 of July, 1807, in the 67 year of her age. Their son, Henry Hooper, died at sea, in 1801, about the age of 29 years.

MARBLEHEAD, MASS.

523. In this grave, on the same day.

were deposited the remains of capt. JOHN GRIST and his virtuous consort, ELIZABETH GRIST. They were nearly at the same time visited by the same disorder, which put a period to their christian course in the 63 year of their age, 2 March, 1794. The memory of the just is blessed and the rightcous shall be held in everlasting remembrance.

MARBLEHEAD, MASS.

524. Sacred to the memory of the honourable WILLIAM BOURNE, who died, 12 August, 1771, aged 47 years.

MARBLEHEAD, MASS.

525. Captain ROBERT WORMSTED, ætatis 28, was lost at sea, in October, 1782.

Note. This inscription, to the memory of one, who was much distinguished by his activity and bravery, was copied from a piece of family plate.

Captain Wormsted was born, at Marblehead, on the 19 of May, 1755. He was the oldest son and the second child of captain Michael Wormsted, who died, after a few hours' illness at the age of 42 years. His mother, whose original name was Mary Bull, a daughter of Robert Bull, an Englishman, who settled in Marblehead, departed this life, in the autumn of 1795, after entering on her 63 year. John

Wormsted, his grandfather, whose wife, his grandmother, was Sarah Stacey, lived to the age of 85 and died, on the 10 of May, 1788. The father of John Wormsted, from whom all of the name in this country are descended, was a native of some part of Wales, came to America in early life, and fixed his abode in Marblehead.

The children of captain Michael Wormsted were; 1. Sarah Wormsted, the late wife of Samuel Russell Trevett, esq. of Boston; 2. Robert Wormsted, the principal subject of this article; S. Michael Wormsted, who died, a few years since in one of the middle states; 4. Mary Wormsted, the wife of captain William Skinner of Marblehead.

In 1778, captain Robert Wormsted married miss Martha Shepherd, the second daughter and the fifth child of captain John Shepherd, of Marblehead, [see art. 72] by whom he had one daughter and one son, the former of whom still survives.

The subject of this article, while a lad, had a great inclination to enter on a seafaring life. His father, to gratify him and, as he hoped, to give him a distaste for such a fatiguing and hazardous mode of gaining a subsistence, took him on board his vessel, one voyage, and laid as many hardships upon him, as he consistently could, but without the desired effect. It was still, as much as ever, his ardent desire to persevere in encountering the dangers of the ocean. However, in obedience to the wishes of his parents, he became an apprentice to Thomas Grant, a silversmith, with whom he con

tinued till master of his trade. This was an employment by no means congenial with his active, enterprising, patriotick spirit; and, when the revolutionary contest came on, he was one of the foremost to enlist in his country's service.

Having attended to fencing, he was a perfect master of the broad sword. No one could gain the ascendancy over him. His instructer used to say, that Robert Wormsted was the only pupil he ever had, with whom he was afraid to encounter.

When the British went from Boston to Salem in order to get into their possession certain pieces of artillery, the subject of this article with others hastened over from Marblehead, and by removing the north bridge assisted in frustrating their object. He and others offered some irritating language to the disappointed and mortified regulars, so that several of them made a pass at him with their bayonets. He had no other weapon, than a cane; yet, with this, he disarmed six of them, one after another, to their great astonishment

In the Bunker-hill fight, 17 June, 1775, he was the first sergeant in the artillery company, of which Samuel Russell Trevett, esq. was commander. He acted well his part, as one of the intrepid heroes of that memorable day, till wounded in his shoulder by the bursting of a shell, thrown from the enemy posted on Copp's hill. n withdrawing from the scene of action, he with two others stopped at a well to drink, on Charlestown neck, being almost suffocated with thirst. Just as one of his companions was