I don't think that Aubrey would have been so stupid as to attempt to take on Constitution, but he was to be appointed to the (ficitious) frigate Blackwater at the time. This I take to be a 24pdr frigate of the 'revived Endymion class', three of which were named after rivers (Blackwater is an Irish river). That would have been interesting.

When Endymion fought USS President it was an interesting battle. Enydmion was the leading ship of a strong British squadron that President (Commodore Decatur) was trying to escape from.
The fire directed at President's hull killed and wounded over 100 of the 450 crew, dismounting several guns. The President fired mainly at the Endymion's rigging doing little damage to her hull, but requiring much repair to her sails. It being dark when the President hoisted a lantern, Endymion thought she had surrendered and stopped firing, although she was in a raking position on President's stern. Decatur claimed that he had beaten Endymion, although the relative damage to each ship shows that he had decidedly not! As Endymion repaired the damage to her rigging President attempted to escape, but was caught by the rest of the squadron.

I would be interested in your source for the damage at Porto Praya, Charley, but if it's Captain Stewart of the Constitution, you'd better include a virtual pinch of salt, as he and the truth don't even seem to have been on nodding terms. According to an American source, the Portuguese fired at the Americans, and as far I know the British never fired at anyone.

Les