1909; "Published May 1909" stated; Houghton Mifflin Company publishers, Boston, New York; hardbound in Navy blue boards and gilt ship on cover; gilt lettering on spine; very nice book in good condition; very minor foxing/aging of pages; no dust jacket.
 
Description -
The spoliation of American commerce by the French, and the resulting hostilities during the last years of the eighteenth century, form the earliest episode of importance in our history under the Federal Constitution.  It is, perhaps, natural that they should have been to a great extent over-shadowed by the tremendous convulsions of the French Revolution.  Yet these hostilities between the United States and France continued in an acute form nearly three years, and amounted to actual war, although war was declared on neither side.  Important frigate actions and very many minor contests furnish some of the most stirring exploits in the early history of the navy...