The ketch Intrepid was fitted out as a fire-ship, filled to the decks with barrels of gunpowder, shells, pitch, and other combustible materials ; and Capt. Somers, with a volunteer crew, undertook the hazardous, almost desperate, task of navigating her in the darkness of the night into the middle of the Turkish flotilla, when the train was to be fired and they were to make their escape as they best could in her boats. Lieutenants Wads worth and Israel were the only officers allowed to join the expedition, which was composed of a small

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crew of picked men. The Intrepid was escorted as far as prudent by three vessels of the squadron, who hove to, to avoid suspicion, and to be ready to pick up the boats upon their return ; the Constitution under easy sail in the ofling.

Many a brave heart could almost hear its own pulsations in those vessels, as she became more and more indistinct and gradually disappeared in the distance. They watched for some time with intense anxiety, when a heavy cannonade was opened from the Turkish batteries, which, by its flashes, discovered the ketch determinedly progressing on her deadly errand. She was slowly and surely making for the entrance of the mole, when the whole atmosphere suijdenly blazed as if into open day. The mast with all its sails shot high up in the air; shells whizzed, rocket-like, exploding in every direction ; a deafening roar followed, and all sunk again into the deepest pitchy darkness. The Americans waited -- waited -- in anxious -- at last sickening suspense. Their cotnpanions came not -- the hours rolled on-- no boat hailed -- no oar splashed in the surrounding darkness. The east grew gray with the dawn -- the sun shone brightly above the horizon, nought but a few shattered vessels lying near the shore -- the flotilla -- the batteries -- and the minarets of Tripoli gilded by the morning sunbeams, met their gaze.