The noted Commodore Percival, who died a few years ago, familiarly named "Mad Jack Percival," in the early part of his naval career was the hero of an adventure on our coast, which is thus described by a paper published in New York at the time:

"On Sunday morning, July 4, 1813, the fishing smack 'Yankee' was borrowed by Commodore Lewis, who had command of the American flotilla stationed at Sandy Hook, for the purpose of taking by stratagem the sloop 'Eagle,' tender to the Poictiers 74, cruising off and on Sandy Hook, which succeeded to a charm. A calf, a sheep and a goose were purchased and secured on deck. Thirty men, well armed, were secreted in the cabin and forepeak. Thus prepared, the 'Yankee' stood out of Mosquito Cove, as if going on a fishing trip to the Banks; three men only being on deck dressed in fishermen's apparel, with buff caps on. The 'Eagle,' on perceiving the smack, immediately gave chase, and after coming up with her and finding she had live stock on board, ordered her to go down to the Commodore, then five miles distant. The helmsman of the smack answered, 'Ay! ay, sir!' and apparently put up the helm for that purpose, which brought him alongside the 'Eagle,' not three yards distant. The watchword 'Lawrence' was then given, when the armed men rushed on deck from their hiding places and poured into her a volley of musketry which struck the crew with dismay, and drove them so precipitately into the hold that they had not time to strike the flag. Seeing the enemy's deck clear, Sailingmaster Percival, who commanded the expedition, ordered the men to cease from firing, upon which one of the men came out the hold and struck the 'Eagle's' colors. They had on board a thirty-two pound brass howitzer loaded with canister shot, but so sudden was the surprise they had not time to discharge it. The crew of the 'Eagle' consisted of H. Morris, master's mate of the Poictiers, W. Price, midshipman, and eleven seamen and marines. Mr. Morris was killed, Mr. Price mortally wounded, and one marine killed and one wounded. The 'Eagle,' with the prisoners, arrived off the Battery in the afternoon and landed the prisoners at Whitehall, amid the shouts and plaudits of thousands of spectators assembled at the Battery to celebrate the anniversary of independence. Mr. Morris was buried at Sandy Hook with military honors. Mr. Price was carried to New York, where on Thursday he died, and was buried with military ceremonies in St. Paul's churchyard."

A traditionary version of this affair, as related by the late Judge Job F. Randolph, of Barnegat, says that Percival wished to make his boat appear as a market boat; that he placed one of his men on a seat close to the bulwark disguised as an old Quakerish looking farmer, with broad-brimmed hat and long staff in hand, while he looked like an ignorant boor at the wheel, and by his answers made the British think he was half-witted. When ordered to drop alongside, under threat of being fired into, he made a silly reply to the effect, "You had better not try it, for dad's big molasses jug is on deck, and if you broke that, he would make you sorry for it."