the writer expresses thanks for their courtesy to the editors of “lippincott’s magazine” and the editors of the “saturday evening post,” of philadelphia, in which periodicals several of these hero tales have been printed. he also acknowledges his indebtedness for many valuable historical facts to “cooper’s naval history;” “history of the navy,” by edgar s. maclay; “history of our navy,” by john r. spears; “twelve naval captains,” by molly elliot seawell; “american naval heroes,” by john howard brown; “naval actions of the war of 1812,” by james barnes; and to many valuable works and papers in the archives of the library of the navy department at washington. thanks are due the art department of the “saturday evening post” and the art department of “collier’s weekly” for their permission to reprint many of the drawings herein.

george gibbs.

august 15, 1899.