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The Pirates Own Book

Charles Ellms

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Title: The Pirates Own Book

Author: Charles Ellms

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THE PIRATES OWN BOOK

Authentic Narratives of the Most Celebrated Sea Robbers.

Charles Ellms

1837

[Illustration: _A Piratical Scene--"Walking the Death Plank._"]

[Illustration]

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PREFACE.

In the mind of the mariner, there is a superstitious horror connected

with the name of Pirate; and there are few subjects that interest and

excite the curiosity of mankind generally, more than the desperate

exploits, foul doings, and diabolical career of these monsters in human

form. A piratical crew is generally formed of the desperadoes and

runagates of every clime and nation. The pirate, from the perilous

nature of his occupation, when not cruising on the ocean, the great

highway of nations, selects the most lonely isles of the sea for his

retreat, or secretes himself near the shores of rivers, bays and lagoons

of thickly wooded and uninhabited countries, so that if pursued he can

escape to the woods and mountain glens of the interior. The islands of

the Indian Ocean, and the east and west coasts of Africa, as well as

the West Indies, have been their haunts for centuries; and vessels

navigating the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, are often captured by them,

the passengers and crew murdered, the money and most valuable part of

the cargo plundered, the vessel destroyed, thus obliterating all trace

of their unhappy fate, and leaving friends and relatives to mourn their

loss from the inclemencies of the elements, when they were butchered in

cold blood by their fellow men, who by practically adopting the maxim

that "dead men tell no tales," enable themselves to pursue their

diabolical career with impunity. The pirate is truly fond of women and

wine, and when not engaged in robbing, keeps maddened with intoxicating

liquors, and passes his time in debauchery, singing old songs with

chorusses like

"Drain, drain the bowl, each fearless soul,

Let the world wag as it will:

Let the heavens growl, let the devil howl,

Drain, drain the deep bowl and fill."

Thus his hours of relaxation are passed in wild and extravagant frolics

amongst the lofty forests of palms and spicy groves of the Torrid Zone,

and amidst the aromatic and beautiful flowering vegetable productions of

that region. He has fruits delicious to taste, and as companions, the

unsophisticated daughters of Africa and the Indies. It would be supposed

that his wild career would be one of delight.

But the apprehension and foreboding of the mind, when under the

influence of remorse, are powerful, and every man, whether civilized or

savage, has interwoven in his constitution a moral sense, which

secretly condemns him when he has committed an atrocious action, even

when he is placed in situations which raise him above the fear of human

punishment, for

"Conscience, the torturer of the soul, unseen.

Does fiercely brandish a sharp scourge within;

Severe decrees may keep our tongues in awe,

But to our minds what edicts can give law?

Even you yourself to your own breast shall tell

Your crimes, and your own conscience be your hell."

With the name of pirate is also associated ideas of rich plunder,

caskets of buried jewels, chests of gold ingots, bags of outlandish

coins, secreted in lonely, out of the way places, or buried about the

ads:

wild shores of rivers, and unexplored sea coasts, near rocks and trees

bearing mysterious marks, indicating where the treasure was hid. And as

it is his invariable practice to secrete and bury his booty, and from

the perilous life he leads, being often killed or captured, he can never

re-visit the spot again; immense sums remain buried in those places, and

are irrecoverably lost. Search is often made by persons who labor in

anticipation of throwing up with their spade and pickaxe, gold bars,

diamond crosses sparkling amongst the dirt, bags of golden doubloons,

and chests, wedged close with moidores, ducats and pearls; but although

great treasures lie hid in this way, it seldom happens that any is so

recovered.

[Illustration]

INTRODUCTION.

By the universal law of nations, robbery or forcible depredation upon

the "high seas," _animo furandi_, is piracy. The meaning of the phrase

"high seas," embraces not only the waters of the ocean, which are out of

sight of land, but the waters on the sea coast below low water mark,

whether within the territorial boundaries of a foreign nation, or of a

domestic state. Blackstone says that the main sea or high sea begins at

low water mark. But between the high water mark and low water mark,

where the tide ebbs and flows, the common law and the Admiralty have

_divisum imperium_, an alternate jurisdiction, one upon the water when

it is full sea; the other upon the land when it is ebb. He doubtless

here refers to the waters of the ocean on the sea coast, and not in

creeks and inlets. Lord Hale says that the sea is either that which

lies within the body of a country or without. That which lies without

the body of a country is called the main sea or ocean. So far then as

regards the states of the American union, "high seas," may be taken to

mean that part of the ocean which washes the sea coast, and is without

the body of any country, according to the common law; and so far as

regards foreign nations, any waters on their sea coasts, below low water

mark.

Piracy is an offence against the universal law of society, a pirate

being according to Sir Edward Coke, _stis humani generis_. As,

therefore, he has renounced all the benefits of society and government,

and has reduced himself to the savage state of nature, by declaring war

against all mankind, all mankind must declare war against him; so that

every community has a right by the rule of self-defense, to inflict that

punishment upon him which every individual would in a state of nature

otherwise have been entitled to do, for any invasion of his person or

personal property. By various statutes in England and the United States,

other offences are made piracy. Thus, if a subject of either of these

nations commit any act of hostility against a fellow subject on the high

seas, under color of a commission from any foreign power, this act is

piracy. So if any captain of any vessel, or mariner, run away with the

vessel, or the goods, or yield them up to a pirate voluntarily, or if

any seaman lay violent hands on his commander, to hinder him from

fighting in defence of the ship or goods committed to his charge, or

make a revolt in the ship, these offences are acts of piracy, by the

laws of the United States and England. In England by the statute of 8

George I, c. 24, the trading or corresponding with known pirates, or the

forcibly boarding any merchant vessel, (though without seizing her or

carrying her off,) and destroying any of the goods on board, are

declared to be acts of piracy; and by the statute 18 George II. c. 30,

any natural born subject or denizen who in time of war, shall commit any

hostilities at sea, against any of his fellow subjects, or shall assist

an enemy, on that element, is liable to be punished as a pirate. By

statute of George II. c. 25, the ransoming of any neutral vessel, which

has been taken by the captain of a private ship of war, is declared

piracy. By the act of congress, April 30, 1790, if any person upon the

high seas, or in any river, haven, or bay, out of the jurisdiction of

any particular state, commit murder or robbery, or any other offence

which if committed within the body of a county, would by the laws of the

United States, be punishable by death, such offender is to be deemed a

pirate. By the act of congress, 1820, c. 113, if any citizen of the

United States, being of the crew of any foreign vessel, or any person

being of the crew of any vessel owned in whole or part by any citizen of

the United States, shall be engaged in the foreign slave trade, he shall

be adjudged a pirate. Notwithstanding the expression used in this

statute, the question, says Chancellor Kent, remains to be settled,

whether the act of being concerned in the slave trade would be adjudged

piracy, within the code of international law. In England by the act of

parliament passed March 31, 1824, the slave trade is also declared to be

piracy. An attempt has been made to effect a convention between the

United States and Great Britain, by which it should be agreed that both

nations should consider the slave trade as piratical; but this attempt

has hitherto been unsuccessful. In the time of Richard III, by the laws

of Oberon, all infidels were regarded as pirates, and their property

liable to seizure wherever found. By the law of nations, the taking of

goods by piracy does not divest the actual owner of them. By the civil

institutions of Spain and Venice, ships taken from pirates became the

property of those who retake them. Piracy is every where pursued and

punished with death, and pirates can gain no rights by conquest. It is

of no importance, for the purpose of giving jurisdiction in cases of

piracy, on whom or where a piratical offence is committed. A pirate who

is one by the law of nations, may be tried and punished in any country

where he may be found; for he is reputed to be out of the protection of

all laws. But if the statute of any government declares an offence,

committed on board one of their own vessels, to be piracy; such an

offence will be punished exclusively by the nation which passes the

statute. In England the offence was formerly cognizable only by the

Admiralty courts, which proceeded without a jury in a method founded on

the civil law. But by the statute of Henry VIII. c. 15, it was enacted

that piracy should be tried by commissioners nominated by the lord

chancellor, the indictment being first found by a grand jury, of twelve

men, and afterwards tried by another jury, as at common law. Among the

commissioners, there are always some of the common law judges. In the

United States, pirates are tried before the circuit court of the United

States. Piracy has been known from the remotest antiquity; for in the

early ages every small maritime state was addicted to piracy, and

navigation was perilous. This habit was so general, that it was regarded

with indifference, and, whether merchant, traveller, or pirate, the

stranger was received with the rights of hospitality. Thus Nestor,

having given Mentor and Telemachus a plenteous repast, remarks, that the

banquet being finished, it was time to ask his guests to their business.

"Are you," demands the aged prince, "merchants destined to any port, or

are you merely adventurers and pirates, who roam the seas without any

place of destination, and live by rapine and ruin."

[Illustration]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

PREFACE TO THIS EDITION

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE DANISH AND NORMAN PIRATES

ADVENTURES AND EXPLOITS OF CAPTAIN AVERY

HISTORY OF THE JOASSAMEE PIRATES

SKETCH OF THE JOASSAMEE CHIEF--RAHMAH-BEN-JABIR

LIFE OF LAFITTE, THE PIRATE OF THE GULF

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN ROBERTS

THE LIFE OF CHARLES GIBBS

HISTORY AND EXECUTION OF THE SPANISH PIRATES

THE LIFE OF BENITO DE SOTO

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPT. ROBERT KIDD

BLOODY CAREER AND EXECUTION OF VINCENT BENAVIDES

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN DAVIS

AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF THE MALAY PIRATES

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN CONDENT

THE LIFE OF CAPT. EDWARD LOW

LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF CAPT. EDWARD ENGLAND

ACCOUNT OF THE LYNN PIRATES

HISTORY OF THE LADRONE PIRATES

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN LEWIS

LIFE, CAREER, AND DEATH OF CAPT. THOMAS WHITE

LIFE, ATROCITIES, AND BLOODY DEATH OF BLACK BEARD

EXPLOITS, ARREST, AND EXECUTION OF CAPT. CHARLES VANE

THE WEST INDIA PIRATES

ADVENTURES AND EXECUTION OF CAPT. JOHN RACKAM

LIFE AND EXPLOITS OF ANNE BONNEY

ADVENTURES AND HEROISM OF MARY READ

HISTORY OF THE ALGERINE PIRATES

ADVENTURES, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN GOW

THE PIRATE'S SONG

THE DANISH AND NORMAN PIRATES

The Saxons, a people supposed to be derived from the Cimbri, uniting the

occupations of fishing and piracy, commenced at an early period their

ravages in the German Ocean; and the shores of Gaul and Britain were for

ages open to their depredations. About the middle of the fifth century,

the unwarlike Vortigern, then king of Britain, embraced the fatal

resolution of requesting these hardy warriors to deliver him from the

harassing inroads of the Picts and Scots; and the expedition of Hengist

and Horsa was the consequence. Our mention of this memorable epoch is

not for its political importance, great as that is, but for its effects

on piracy; for the success attending such enterprises seems to have

turned the whole of the northern nations towards sea warfare. The Danes,

Norwegians, and Swedes, from their superior knowledge of navigation,

gave into it most; and on whatever coast the winds carried them, they

made free with all that came in their way. Canute the Fourth endeavored

in vain to repress these lawless disorders among his subjects; but they

felt so galled by his restrictions, that they assassinated him. On the

king of Sweden being taken by the Danes, permission was given to such of

his subjects as chose, to arm themselves against the enemy, pillage his

possessions, and sell their prizes at Ribnitz and Golnitz. This proved a

fertile nursery of pirates, who became so formidable under the name of

"Victalien Broders," that several princes were obliged to arm against

them, and hang some of their chiefs.

Even the females of the North caught the epidemic spirit, and proudly

betook themselves to the dangers of sea-life. Saxo-Grammaticus relates

an interesting story of one of them. Alwilda, the daughter of Synardus,

a Gothic king, to deliver herself from the violence imposed on her

inclination, by a marriage with Alf, the son of Sygarus, king of

Denmark, embraced the life of a rover; and attired as a man, she

embarked in a vessel of which the crew was composed of other young women

of tried courage, dressed in the same manner. Among the first of her

cruises, she landed at a place where a company of pirates were bewailing

the loss of their commander; and the strangers were so captivated with

the air and agreeable manners of Alwilda, that they unanimously chose

her for their leader. By this reinforcement she became so formidable,

that Prince Alf was despatched to engage her. She sustained his attacks

with great courage and talent; but during a severe action in the gulf of

Finland, Alf boarded her vessel, and having killed the greatest part of

her crew, seized the captain, namely herself; whom nevertheless he knew

not, because she had a casque which covered her visage. The prince was

agreeably surprised, on removing the helmet, to recognize his beloved

Alwilda; and it seems that his valor had now recommended him to the fair

princess, for he persuaded her to accept his hand, married her on board,

and then led her to partake of his wealth, and share his throne.

Charlemagne, though represented as naturally generous and humane, had

been induced, in his extravagant zeal for the propagation of those

tenets which he had himself adopted, to enforce them throughout Germany

at the point of the sword; and his murders and decimations on that

account disgrace humanity. The more warlike of the Pagans flying into

Jutland, from whence the Saxons had issued forth, were received with

kindness, and furnished with the means of punishing their persecutor, by

harassing his coasts. The maritime towns of France were especially

ravaged by those pirates called "Normands," or men of the North; and it

was owing to their being joined by many malcontents, in the provinces

since called Normandy, that that district acquired its name.

Charlemagne, roused by this effrontery, besides fortifying the mouths of

the great rivers, determined on building himself a fleet, which he did,

consisting of 400 of the largest galleys then known, some having five or

six benches of oars. His people were, however, extremely ignorant of

maritime affairs, and in the progress of having them taught, he was

suddenly called to the south, by the invasion of the Saracens.

[Illustration: _Awilda, the Female Pirate._]

Another division of Normans, some years afterwards, in the same spirit

of emigration, and thirsting, perhaps, to avenge their injured

ancestors, burst into the provinces of France, which the degeneracy of

Charlemagne's posterity, and the dissensions which prevailed there,

rendered an affair of no great difficulty. Louis le Debonnaire had taken

every means of keeping on good terms with them; annually persuading some

to become Christians, and then sending them home so loaded with

presents, that it was discovered they came to be baptized over and over

again, merely for the sake of the gifts, as Du Chesne tells us. But on

the subsequent division of the empire among the undutiful sons of Louis,

the pirates did not fail to take advantage of the general confusion;

braving the sea almost every summer in their light coracles, sailing up

the Seine, the Somme, or the Loire, and devastating the best parts of

France, almost without resistance. In 845, they went up to Paris,

pillaged it, and were on the point of attacking the royal camp at St.

Dennis; but receiving a large sum of money from Charles the Bald, they

retreated from thence, and with the new means thus supplied them,

ravaged Bordeaux, and were there joined by Pepin, king of Aquitaine. A

few years afterwards, they returned in great numbers. Paris was again

sacked, and the magnificent abbey of St. Germain des Pres burnt. In

861, Wailand, a famous Norman pirate, returning from England, took up

his winter quarters on the banks of the Loire, devastated the country as

high as Tourraine, shared the women and girls among his crews, and even

carried off the male children, to be brought up in his own profession.

Charles the Bald, not having the power to expel him, engaged the

freebooter, for 500 pounds of silver, to dislodge his countrymen, who

were harassing the vicinity of Paris. In consequence of this subsidy,

Wailand, with a fleet of 260 sail, went up the Seine, and attacked the

Normans in the isle of Oiselle: after a long and obstinate resistance,

they were obliged to capitulate; and having paid 6000 pounds of gold and

silver, by way of ransom, had leave to join their victors. The riches

thus acquired rendered a predatory life so popular, that the pirates

were continually increasing in number, so that under a "sea-king" called

Eric, they made a descent in the Elbe and the Weser, pillaged Hamburg,

penetrated far into Germany, and after gaining two battles, retreated

with immense booty. The pirates, thus reinforced on all sides, long

continued to devastate Germany, France, and England; some penetrated

into Andalusia and Hetruria, where they destroyed the flourishing town

of Luni; whilst others, descending the Dnieper, penetrated even into

Russia.

[Illustration: _A Priest thrown from the Ramparts of an Abbey._]

Meanwhile the Danes had been making several attempts to effect a

_lodgment_ in England; and allured by its fertility, were induced to try

their fortune in various expeditions, which were occasionally completely

successful, and at other times most fatally disastrous. At length, after

a struggle of several years, their success was so decided, that king

Alfred was obliged for a time to abandon his kingdom, as we all know, to

their ravages. They immediately passed over to Ireland, and divided it

into three sovereignties; that of Dublin fell to the share of Olauf;

that of Waterford to Sitrih; and that of Limerick to Yivar. These

arrangements dispersed the forces of the enemy, and watching his

opportunity, Alfred issued from his retreat, fell on them like a

thunderbolt, and made a great carnage of them. This prince, too wise to

exterminate the pirates after he had conquered them, sent them to settle

Northumberland, which had been wasted by their countrymen, and by this

humane policy gained their attachment and services. He then retook

London, embellished it, equipped fleets, restrained the Danes in

England, and prevented others from landing. In the twelve years of peace

which followed his fifty-six battles, this great man composed his body

of laws; divided England into counties, hundreds, and tithings, and

founded the University of Oxford. But after Alfred's death, fresh swarms

of pirates visited the shores, among the most formidable of whom were

the Danes, who spread desolation and misery along the banks of the

Thames, the Medway, the Severn, the Tamar, and the Avon, for more than a

century, though repeatedly tempted to desist by weighty bribes, raised

by an oppressive and humiliating tax called _Danegelt_, from its object;

and which, like most others, were continued long after it had answered

its intent.

About the end of the 9th century, one of the sons of Rognwald, count of

the Orcades, named Horolf, or Rollo, having infested the coasts of

Norway with piratical descents, was at length defeated and banished by

Harold, king of Denmark. He fled for safety to the Scandinavian island

of Soderoe, where finding many outlaws and discontented fugitives, he

addressed their passions, and succeeded in placing himself at their

head. Instead of measuring his sword with his sovereign again, he

adopted the wiser policy of imitating his countrymen, in making his

fortune by plundering the more opulent places of southern Europe. The

first attempt of this powerful gang was upon England, where, finding

Alfred too powerful to be coped with, he stood over to the mouth of the

Seine, and availed himself of the state to which France was reduced.

Horolf, however, did not limit his ambition to the acquisition of booty;

he wished permanently to enjoy some of the fine countries he was

ravaging, and after many treaties made and broken, received the dutchy

of Normandy from the lands of Charles the Simple, as a fief, together

with Gisla, the daughter of the French monarch, in marriage. Thus did a

mere pirate found the family which in a few years gave sovereigns to

England, Naples, and Sicily, and spread the fame of their talents and

prowess throughout the world.

Nor was Europe open to the depredations of the northern pirates only.

Some Asiatic moslems, having seized on Syria, immediately invaded

Africa, and their subsequent conquests in Spain facilitated their

irruption into France, where they pillaged the devoted country, with but

few substantial checks. Masters of all the islands in the Mediterranean,

their corsairs insulted the coasts of Italy, and even threatened the

destruction of the Eastern empire. While Alexis was occupied in a war

with Patzinaces, on the banks of the Danube, Zachas, a Saracen pirate,

scoured the Archipelago, having, with the assistance of an able

Smyrniote, constructed a flotilla of forty brigantines, and some light

fast-rowing boats, manned by adventurers like himself. After taking

several of the surrounding islands, he established himself sovereign of

Smyrna, that place being about the centre of his newly-acquired

dominions. Here his fortunes prospered for a time, and Soliman, sultan

of Nicea, son of the grand Soliman, sought his alliance, and married his

daughter, about AD. 1093. But in the following year, young Soliman being

persuaded that his father-in-law had an eye to his possessions, with his

own hand stabbed Zachas to the heart. The success of this freebooter

shows that the Eastern emperors could no longer protect, or even assist,

their islands.

Maritime pursuits had now revived, the improvement of nautical science

was progressing rapidly, and the advantages of predatory expeditions,

especially when assisted and masked by commerce, led people of family

and acquirements to embrace the profession. The foremost of these were

the Venetians and Genoese, among whom the private adventurers,

stimulated by an enterprising spirit, fitted out armaments, and

volunteered themselves into the service of those nations who thought

proper to retain them; or they engaged in such schemes of plunder as

were likely to repay their pains and expense. About the same time, the

Roxolani or Russians, became known in history, making their debut in the

character of pirates, ravenous for booty, and hungry for the pillage of

Constantinople--a longing which 900 years have not yet satisfied.

Pouring hundreds of boats down the Borysthenes, the Russian marauders

made four desperate attempts to plunder the city of the Caesars, in less

than two centuries, and appear only to have been repulsed by the

dreadful effects of the celebrated Greek fire.

England, in the mean time, had little to do with piracy; nor had she any

thing worthy the name of a navy; yet Coeur de Lion had given maritime

laws to Europe; her seamen, in point of skill, were esteemed superior to

their contemporaries; and King John enacted that those foreign ships

which refused to lower their flags to that of Britain should, if taken,

be deemed lawful prizes. Under Henry III., though Hugh de Burgh, the

governor of Dover Castle, had defeated a French fleet by casting lime

into the eyes of his antagonists, the naval force was impaired to such a

degree that the Normans and Bretons were too powerful for the Cinque

Ports, and compelled them to seek relief from the other ports of the

kingdom. The taste for depredation had become so general and contagious,

that privateers were now allowed to be fitted out, which equipments

quickly degenerated to the most cruel of pirates. Nay more: on the

disputes which took place between Henry and his Barons, in 1244, the

Cinque Ports, who had shown much indifference to the royal requisitions,

openly espoused the cause of the revolted nobles; and, under the orders

of Simon de Montfort, burnt Portsmouth. From this, forgetful of their

motives for arming, they proceeded to commit various acts of piracy, and

considering nothing but their private interests, extended their violence

not only against the shipping of all countries unfortunate enough to

fall in their way, but even to perpetrate the most unwarrantable ravages

on the property of their own countrymen. Nor was this confined to the

Cinque Port vessels only; the example and the profits were too

stimulating to the restless; and one daring association on the coast of

Lincolnshire seized the Isle of Ely, and made it their receptacle for

the plunder of all the adjacent countries. One William Marshall

fortified the little island of Lundy, in the mouth of the Severn, and

did so much mischief by his piracies, that at length it became necessary

to fit out a squadron to reduce him, which was accordingly done, and he

was executed in London; yet the example did not deter other persons from

similar practices. The sovereign, however, did not possess sufficient

naval means to suppress the enormities of the great predatory squadrons,

and their ravages continued to disgrace the English name for upwards of

twenty years, when the valor and conciliation of the gallant Prince

Edward brought them to that submission which his royal parent had failed

in procuring.

Those "harum-scarum" expeditions, the Crusades, were perhaps influential

in checking piracy, although the rabble that composed the majority of

them had as little principle as the worst of the freebooters. From the

time that Peter the Hermit set Europe in a blaze, all ranks, and all

nations, streamed to the East, so that few vessels were otherwise

employed than in conveying the motly groups who sought the shores of

Palestine; some from religious zeal; some from frantic fanaticism; some

from desire of distinction; some for the numberless privileges which the

crusaders acquired; and the rest and greater portion, for the spoil and

plunder of which they had a prospect. The armaments, fitted in no fewer

than nine successive efforts, were mostly equipped with such haste and

ignorance, and with so little choice, that ruinous delays, shipwrecks,

and final discomfiture, were naturally to be expected. Still, the effect

of such incredible numbers of people betaking themselves to foreign

countries, advanced civilization, although vast means of forwarding its

cause were buried in the East; and those who assert that no benefit

actually resulted, cannot deny that at least some evils were thereby

removed. Montesquieu says, that Europe then required a general shock, to

teach her, but the sight of contrasts, the theorems of public economy

most conducive to happiness. And it is evident, that notwithstanding

these follies wasted the population of Europe, squandered its treasures,

and infected us with new vices and diseases, still the crusades

diminished the bondage of the feudal system, by augmenting the power of

the King, and the strength of the Commons; while they also occasioned a

very increased activity in commerce: thus taming the ferocity of men's

spirits, increasing agriculture in value from the safety it enjoyed, and

establishing a base for permanent prosperity.

ADVENTURES AND EXPLOITS OF CAPTAIN AVERY.

_Containing an Account of his capturing one of the great Mogul's ship's

laden with treasure: and an interesting history of a Colony of Pirates

on the Island of Madagascar._

During his own time the adventures of Captain Avery were the subject of

general conversation in Europe. It was reported that he had married the

Great Mogul's daughter, who was taken in an Indian ship that fell into

his hands, and that he was about to be the founder of a new

monarchy--that he gave commissions in his own name to the captains of

his ships, and the commanders of his forces, and was acknowledged by

them as their prince. In consequence of these reports, it was at one

time resolved to fit out a strong squadron to go and take him and his

men; and at another time it was proposed to invite him home with all his

riches, by the offer of his Majesty's pardon. These reports, however,

were soon discovered to be groundless, and he was actually starving

without a shilling, while he was represented as in the possession of

millions. Not to exhaust the patience, or lessen the curiosity of the

reader, the facts in Avery's life shall be briefly related.

He was a native of Devonshire (Eng.), and at an early period sent to

sea; advanced to the station of a mate in a merchantman, he performed

several voyages. It happened previous to the peace of Ryswick, when

there existed an alliance between Spain, England, Holland, and other

powers, against France, that the French in Martinique carried on a

smuggling trade with the Spaniards on the continent of Peru. To prevent

their intrusion into the Spanish dominions, a few vessels were

commanded to cruise upon that coast, but the French ships were too

strong for them; the Spaniards, therefore, came to the resolution of

hiring foreigners to act against them. Accordingly, certain merchants of

Bristol fitted out two ships of thirty guns, well manned, and provided

with every necessary munition, and commanded them to sail for Corunna to

receive their orders.

Captain Gibson commanded one of these ships, and Avery appears to have

been his mate, in the year 1715. He was a fellow of more cunning than

courage, and insinuating himself into the confidence of some of the

boldest men in the ship, he represented the immense riches which were to

be acquired upon the Spanish coast, and proposed to run off with the

ship. The proposal was scarcely made when it was agreed upon, and put in

execution at ten o'clock the following evening. Captain Gibson was one

of those who mightily love their bottle, and spent much of his time on

shore; but he remained on board that night, which did not, however,

frustrate their design, because he had taken his usual dose, and so went

to bed. The men who were not in the confederacy went also to bed,

leaving none upon deck but the conspirators. At the time agreed upon,

the long boat of the other ship came, and Avery hailing her in the usual

manner, he was answered by the men in her, "Is your drunken boatswain on

board?" which was the watchword agreed between them. Avery replying in

the affirmative, the boat came alongside with sixteen stout fellows, who

joined in the adventure. They next secured the hatches, then softly

weighed anchor, and immediately put to sea without bustle or noise.

There were several vessels in the bay, besides a Dutchman of forty guns,

the captain of which was offered a considerable reward to go in pursuit

of Avery, but he declined. When the captain awoke, he rang his bell, and

Avery and another conspirator going into the cabin, found him yet half

asleep. He inquired, saying, "What is the matter with the ship? does

she drive? what weather is it?" supposing that it had been a storm, and

that the ship was driven from her anchors. "No, no," answered Avery,

"we're at sea, with a fair wind and a good weather." "At sea!" said the

captain: "how can that be?" "Come," answered Avery, "don't be in a

fright, but put on your clothes, and I'll let you into a secret. You

must know that I am captain of this ship now, and this is my cabin,

therefore you must walk out; I am bound to Madagascar, with a design of

making my own fortune, and that of all the brave fellows joined with

me."

The captain, having a little recovered his senses, began to understand

his meaning. However, his fright was as great as before, which Avery

perceiving, desired him to fear nothing; "for," said he, "if you have a

mind to make one of us, we will receive you; and if you turn sober, and

attend to business, perhaps in time I may make you one of my

lieutenants; if not, here's a boat, and you shall be set on shore."

Gibson accepted of the last proposal; and the whole crew being called up

to know who was willing to go on shore with the captain, there were only

about five or six who chose to accompany him.

Avery proceeded on his voyage to Madagascar, and it does not appear that

he captured any vessels upon his way. When arrived at the northeast part

of that island, he found two sloops at anchor, which, upon seeing him,

slipped their cables and ran themselves ashore, while the men all landed

and concealed themselves in the woods. These were two sloops which the

men had run off with from the East Indies, and seeing Avery's ship,

supposed that he had been sent out after them. Suspecting who they were,

he sent some of his men on shore to inform them that they were friends,

and to propose a union for their common safety. The sloops' men being

well armed, had posted themselves in a wood, and placed sentinels to

observe whether the ship's men were landing to pursue them. The

sentinels only observing two or three men coming towards them unarmed,

did not oppose them. Upon being informed that they were friends, the

sentinels conveyed them to the main body, where they delivered their

message. They were at first afraid that it was a stratagem to entrap

them, but when the messengers assured them that their captain had also

run away with his ship, and that a few of their men along with him would

meet them unarmed, to consult matters for their common advantage,

confidence was established, and they were mutually well pleased, as it

added to their strength.

Having consulted what was most proper to be attempted they endeavored to

get off the sloops, and hastened to prepare all things, in order to sail

for the Arabian coast. Near the river Indus, the man at the mast-head

espied a sail, upon which they gave chase; as they came nearer to her,

they discovered that she was a tall vessel, and might turn out to be an

East Indiaman. She, however, proved a better prize; for when they fired

at her she hoisted Mogul colors, and seemed to stand upon her defence.

Avery only cannonaded at a distance, when some of his men began to

suspect that he was not the hero they had supposed. The sloops, however

attacked, the one on the bow, and another upon the quarter of the ship,

and so boarded her. She then struck her colors. She was one of the Great

Mogul's own ships, and there were in her several of the greatest persons

in his court, among whom, it was said, was one of his daughters going

upon a pilgrimage to Mecca; and they were carrying with them rich

offerings to present at the shrine of Mahomet. It is a well known fact,

that the people of the east travel with great magnificence, so that

these had along with them all their slaves and attendants, with a large

quantity of vessels of gold and silver, and immense sums of money to

defray their expenses by land; the spoil therefore which they received

from that ship was almost incalculable.

[Illustration: _Captain Avery engaging the Great Mogul's Ship._]

Taking the treasure on board their own ships, and plundering their prize

of every thing valuable, they then allowed her to depart. As soon as the

Mogul received this intelligence, he threatened to send a mighty army to

extirpate the English from all their settlements upon the Indian coast.

The East India Company were greatly alarmed, but found means to calm his

resentment, by promising to search for the robbers, and deliver them

into his hands. The noise which this made over all Europe, gave birth to

the rumors that were circulated concerning Avery's greatness.

In the mean time, our adventurers made the best of their way back to

Madagascar, intending to make that place the deposit of all their

treasure, to build a small fort, and to keep always a few men there for

its protection. Avery, however, disconcerted this plan, and rendered it

altogether unnecessary.

[Illustration: _Captain Avery receiving the three chests of Treasure on

board of his Ship._]

While steering their course, Avery sent a boat to each of the sloops,

requesting that the chiefs would come on board his ship to hold a

conference. They obeyed, and being assembled, he suggested to them the

necessity of securing the property which they had acquired in some safe

place on shore, and observed, that the chief difficulty was to get it

safe on shore; adding that, if either of the sloops should be attacked

alone, they would not be able to make any great resistance, and thus she

must either be sunk or taken with all the property on board. That, for

his part, his ship was so strong, so well manned, and such a

swift-sailing vessel, that he did not think it was possible for any

other ship to take or overcome her. Accordingly, he proposed that all

their treasure should be sealed up in three chests;--that each of the

captains should have keys, and that they should not be opened until all

were present;--that the chests should be then put on board his ship, and

afterwards lodged in some safe place upon land.

This proposal seemed so reasonable, and so much for the common good,

that it was without hesitation agreed to, and all the treasure deposited

in three chests, and carried to Avery's ship. The weather being

favorable, they remained all three in company during that and the next

day; meanwhile Avery, tampering with his men, suggested, that they had

now on board what was sufficient to make them all happy; "and what,"

continued he, "should hinder us from going to some country where we are

not known, and living on shore all the rest of our days in plenty?" They

soon understood his hint, and all readily consented to deceive the men

of the sloops, and fly with all the booty; this they effected during the

darkness of the following night. The reader may easily conjecture what

were the feelings and indignation of the other two crews in the morning,

when they discovered that Avery had made off with all their property.

Avery and his men hastened towards America, and being strangers in that

country, agreed to divide the booty, to change their names, and each

separately to take up his residence, and live in affluence and honor.

The first land they approached was the Island of Providence, then newly

settled. It however occurred to them, that the largeness of their

vessel, and the report that one had been run off with from the Groine,

might create suspicion; they resolved therefore to dispose of their

vessel at Providence. Upon this resolution, Avery, pretending that his

vessel had been equipped for privateering, and having been unsuccessful,

he had orders from the owners to dispose of her to the best advantage,

soon found a merchant. Having thus sold his own ship, he immediately

purchased a small sloop.

In this he and his companions embarked, and landed at several places in

America, where, none suspecting them, they dispersed and settled in the

country. Avery, however, had been careful to conceal the greater part of

the jewels and other valuable articles, so that his riches were immense.

Arriving at Boston, he was almost resolved to settle there, but, as the

greater part of his wealth consisted of diamonds, he was apprehensive

that he could not dispose of them at that place, without being taken up

as a pirate. Upon reflection, therefore, he resolved to sail for

Ireland, and in a short time arrived in the northern part of that

kingdom, and his men dispersed into several places. Some of them

obtained the pardon of King William, and settled in that country.

The wealth of Avery, however, now proved of small service, and

occasioned him great uneasiness. He could not offer his diamonds for

sale in that country without being suspected. Considering, therefore,

what was best to be done, he thought there might be some person at

Bristol he could venture to trust. Upon this he resolved, and going into

Devonshire, sent to one of his friends to meet him at a town called

Bideford. When he had unbosomed himself to him and other pretended

friends, they agreed that the safest plan would be to put his effects

into the hands of some wealthy merchants, and no inquiry would be made

how they came by them. One of these friends told him, he was acquainted

with some who were very fit for the purpose, and if he would allow them

a handsome commission, they would do the business faithfully. Avery

liked the proposal, particularly as he could think of no other way of

managing this matter, since he could not appear to act for himself.

Accordingly, the merchants paid Avery a visit at Bideford, where, after

strong protestations of honor and integrity, he delivered them his

effects, consisting of diamonds and some vessels of gold. After giving

him a little money for his present subsistence, they departed.

He changed his name, and lived quietly at Bideford, so that no notice

was taken of him. In a short time his money was all spent, and he heard

nothing from his merchants though he wrote to them repeatedly; at last

they sent him a small supply, but it was not sufficient to pay his

debts. In short, the remittances they sent him were so trifling, that he

could with difficulty exist. He therefore determined to go privately to

Bristol, and have an interview with the merchants himself,--where,

instead of money, he met with a mortifying repulse; for, when he desired

them to come to an account with him, they silenced him by threatening to

disclose his character; the merchants thus proving themselves as good

pirates on land as he was at sea.

Whether he was frightened by these menaces, or had seen some other

person who recognised him, is not known; however, he went immediately to

Ireland, and from thence solicited his merchants very strongly for a

supply, but to no purpose; so that he was reduced to beggary. In this

extremity he was determined to return, and cast himself upon the mercy

of these honest Bristol merchants, let the consequence be what it would.

He went on board a trading-vessel, and worked his passage over to

Plymouth, from whence he travelled on foot to Bideford. He had been

there but a few days, when he fell sick and died; not being worth so

much as would buy him a coffin!

We shall now turn back and give our readers some account of the other

two sloops. Deceiving themselves in the supposition that Avery had

outsailed them during the night, they held on their course to the place

of rendezvouse; but, arriving there, to their sad disappointment no ship

appeared. It was now necessary for them to consult what was most proper

to do in their desperate circumstances. Their provisions were nearly

exhausted, and both fish and fowl were to be found on shore, yet they

were destitute of salt to cure them. As they could not subsist at sea

without salt provisions, they resolved to form an establishment upon

land. Accordingly making tents of the sails, and using the other

materials of the sloops for what purposes they could serve, they

encamped upon the shore. It was also a fortunate circumstance, that they

had plenty of ammunition and small arms. Here they met with some of

their countrymen; and as the digression is short, we will inform our

readers how they came to inhabit this place.

Captain George Dew, and Thomas Tew, had received a commission from the

Governor of Bermuda to sail for the river Gambia, in Africa, that, with

the assistance of the Royal African Company, they might seize the French

Factory situated upon that coast. Dew, in a violent storm, not only

sprang a mast, but lost sight of his companion. Upon this returned to

refit. Instead of proceeding in his voyage, Tew made towards the Cape of

Good Hope, doubled that cape, and sailed for the straits of

Babel-Mandeb. There he met with a large ship richly laden coming from

the Indies, and bound for Arabia. Though she had on board three hundred

soldiers, besides seamen, yet Tew had the courage to attack her, and

soon made her his prize. It is reported, that by this one prize every

man shared near three thousand pounds. Informed by the prisoners that

five other ships were to pass that way, Tew would have attacked them,

but was prevented by the remonstrances of his quarter-master and others.

This difference of opinion terminated in a resolution to abandon the

sea, and to settle on some convenient spot on shore; and the island of

Madagascar was chosen. Tew, however, and a few others, in a short time

went for Rhode Island, and obtained a pardon.

The natives of Madagascar are negroes, but differ from those of Guinea

in the length of their hair and in the blackness of their complexion.

They are divided into small nations, each governed by its own prince,

who carry on a continual war upon each other. The prisoners taken in war

are either rendered slaves to the conquerors, sold, or slain, according

to pleasure. When the pirates first settled among them, their alliance

was much courted by these princes, and those whom they joined were

always successful in their wars, the natives being ignorant of the use

of fire-arms. Such terror did they carry along with them, that the very

appearance of a few pirates in an army would have put the opposing force

to flight.

By these means they in a little time became very formidable, and the

prisoners whom they took in war they employed in cultivating the ground,

and the most beautiful of the women they married; nor were they

contented with one, but married as many as they could conveniently

maintain. The natural result was, that they separated, each choosing a

convenient place for himself, where he lived in a princely style,

surrounded by his wives, slaves and dependants. Nor was it long before

jarring interests excited them also to draw the sword against each

other, and they appeared at the head of their respective forces in the

field of battle. In these civil wars their numbers and strength were

greatly lessened.

The servant, exalted to the condition of a master, generally becomes a

tyrant. These pirates, unexpectedly elevated to the dignity of petty

princes, used their power with the most wanton barbarity. The punishment

of the very least offence was to be tied to a tree, and instantly shot

through the head. The negroes, at length, exasperated by continued

oppression, formed the determination of extirpating them in one night;

nor was it a difficult matter to accomplish this, since they were now so

much divided both in affection and residence. Fortunately, however, for

them, a negro woman, who was partial to them, ran twenty miles in three

hours, and warning them of their danger, they were united and in arms to

oppose the negroes before the latter had assembled. This narrow escape

made them more cautious, and induced them to adopt the following system

of policy:--

Convinced that fear was not a sufficient protection, and that the

bravest man might be murdered by a coward in his bed, they labored to

foment wars among the negro princes, while they themselves declined to

aid either party. It naturally followed, that those who were vanquished

fled to them for protection, and increased their strength. When there

was no war, they fomented private discords, and encouraged them to wreak

their vengeance against each other; nay, even taught them how to

surprise their opponents, and furnished them with fire-arms, with which

to dispatch them more effectually and expeditiously. The consequences

were, that the murderer was constrained to fly to them for protection,

with his wives, children, and kindred. These, from interest, became true

friends, as their own safety depended upon the lives of their

protectors. By this time the pirates were so formidable, that none of

the negro princes durst attack them in open war.

[Illustration: _Captain Tew attacks the ship from India._]

Pursuing this system of policy, in a short time each chief had his party

greatly increased, and they divided like so many tribes, in order to

find ground to cultivate, and to choose proper places to build places of

residence and erect garrisons of defence. The fears that agitated them

were always obvious in their general policy, for they vied with each

other in constructing places of safety, and using every precaution to

prevent the possibility of sudden danger, either from the negroes or

from one another.

A description of one of these dwellings will both show the fears that

agitated these tyrants, and prove entertaining to the reader. They

selected a spot overgrown with wood, near a river, and raised a rampart

or ditch round it, so straight and steep that it was impossible to climb

it, more particularly by those who had no scaling ladders. Over that

ditch there was one passage into the wood; the dwelling, which was a

hut, was built in that part of the wood which the prince thought most

secure, but so covered that it could not be discovered until you came

near it. But the greatest ingenuity was displayed in the construction of

the passage that led to the hut, which was so narrow, that no more than

one person could go abreast, and it was contrived in so intricate a

manner, that it was a perfect labyrinth; the way going round and round

with several small crossways, so that a person unacquainted with it,

might walk several hours without finding the hut. Along the sides of

these paths, certain large thorns, which grew on a tree in that country,

were stuck into the ground with their points outwards; and the path

itself being serpentine, as before mentioned, if a man should attempt to

approach the hut at night, he would certainly have struck upon these

thorns.

[Illustration: _A Pirate and his Madagascar wife._]

Thus like tyrants they lived, dreading, and dreaded by all, and in this

state they were found by Captain Woods Rogers, when he went to

Madagascar in the Delicia, a ship of forty guns, with the design of

purchasing slaves. He touched upon a part of the island at which no ship

had been seen for seven or eight years before, where he met with some

pirates who had been upon the island above twenty-five years. There were

only eleven of the original stock then alive, surrounded with a numerous

offspring of children and grandchildren.

They were struck with terror upon the sight of the vessel, supposing

that it was a man-of-war sent out to apprehend them; they, therefore,

retired to their secret habitations. But when they found some of the

ship's crew on shore, without any signs of hostility, and proposing to

treat with them for slaves, they ventured to come out of their dwellings

attended like princes. Having been so long upon the island, their cloaks

were so much worn, that their majesties were extremely out at elbows. It

cannot be said that they were ragged, but they had nothing to cover them

but the skins of beasts in their natural state, not even a shoe or

stocking; so that they resembled the pictures of Hercules in the lion's

skin; and being overgrown with beard, and hair upon their bodies, they

appeared the most savage figures that the human imagination could well

conceive.

The sale of the slaves in their possession soon provided them with more

suitable clothes, and all other necessaries, which they received in

exchange. Meanwhile, they became very familiar, went frequently on

board, and were very eager in examining the inside of the ship, talking

very familiarly with the men, and inviting them on shore. Their design

was to surprise the ship during the night. They had a sufficient number

of men and boats to effect their purpose, but the captain suspecting

them, kept so strong a watch upon deck, that they found it in vain to

hazard an attempt. When some of the men went on shore, they entered into

a plan to seize the ship, but the captain observing their familiarity,

prevented any one of his men from speaking to the pirates, and only

permitted a confidential person to purchase their slaves. Thus he

departed from the island, leaving these pirates to enjoy their savage

royalty. One of them had been a waterman upon the Thames, and having

committed a murder, fled to the West Indies. The rest had all been

foremastmen, nor was there one among them who could either read or

write.

[Illustration: _Captain Avery's Treasure._]

THE REMARKABLE HISTORY OF THE JOASSAMEE PIRATES OF

THE PERSIAN GULF.

_Containing a description of their chief town, Ras El Khyma, and an

account of the capture of several European vessels, and the barbarous

treatment of their crews.--With interesting details of the several

expeditions sent against them, and their final submission to the troops

of the English East India Company_.

The line of coast from Cape Mussenndom to Bahrain, on the Arabian side

of the Persian Gulf, had been from time immemorial occupied by a tribe

of Arabs called Joassamees. These, from local position, were all engaged

in maritime pursuits. Some traded in their own small vessels to

Bussorah, Bushire, Muscat, and even India; others annually fished in

their own boats on the pearl banks of Bahrain; and a still greater

number hired themselves out as sailors to navigate the coasting small

craft of the Persian Gulf.

The Joassamees at length perceiving that their local position enabled

them to reap a rich harvest by plundering vessels in passing this great

highway of nations, commenced their piratical career. The small coasting

vessels of the gulf, from their defenceless state, were the first object

of their pursuit, and these soon fell an easy prey; until, emboldened by

success, they directed their views to more arduous enterprises, and

having tasted the sweets of plunder in the increase of their wealth, had

determined to attempt more promising victories.

About the year 1797, one of the East India Company's vessels of war, the

Viper, of ten guns, was lying at anchor in the inner roads of Bushire.

Some dows of the Joassamees were at the same moment anchored in the

harbor; but as their warfare had hitherto been waged only against what

are called native vessels, and they had either feared or respected the

British flag, no hostile measures were ever pursued against them by the

British ships. The commanders of these dows had applied to the Persian

agent of the East India Company there, for a supply of gunpowder and

cannon shot for their cruise: and as this man had no suspicions of their

intentions, he furnished them with an order to the commanding officer on

board for the quantity required. The captain of the Viper was on shore

at the time, in the agent's house, but the order being produced to the

officer on board, the powder and shot were delivered, and the dows

weighed and made sail. The crew of the Viper were at this moment taking

their breakfast on deck, and the officers below; when on a sudden, a

cannonading was opened on them by two of the dows, who attempted also to

board.

[Illustration: _A Joassamee Dow in full chase._]

The officers, leaping on deck, called the crew to quarters, and cutting

their cable, got sail upon the ship, so as to have the advantage of

manoeuvring. A regular engagement now took place between this small

cruiser and four dows, all armed with great guns, and full of men. In

the contest Lieut. Carruthers, the commanding officer, was once wounded

by a ball in the loins; but after girding a handkerchief round his

waist, he still kept the deck, till a ball entering his forehead, he

fell. Mr. Salter, the midshipman on whom the command devolved, continued

the fight with determined bravery, and after a stout resistance, beat

them off, chased them some distance out to sea, and subsequently

regained the anchorage in safety.

Several years elapsed before the wounds of the first defeat were

sufficiently healed to induce a second attempt on vessels under the

British flag, though a constant state of warfare was still kept up

against the small craft of the gulf. In 1804, the East India Company's

cruiser, Fly, was taken by a French privateer, off the Island of Kenn,

in the Persian Gulf; but before the enemy boarded her, she ran into

shoal water, near that island, and sunk the government dispatches, and

some treasure with which they were charged, in about two and a half

fathoms of water, taking marks for the recovery of them, if possible, at

some future period. The passengers and crew were taken to Bushire where

they were set at liberty, and having purchased a country dow by

subscription, they fitted her out and commenced their voyage down the

gulf, bound for Bombay. On their passage down, as they thought it would

be practicable to recover the government packet and treasure sunk off

Kenn, they repaired to that island, and were successful, after much

exertion, in recovering the former, which being in their estimation of

the first importance, as the dispatches were from England to Bombay,

they sailed with them on their way thither, without loss of time.

Near the mouth of the gulf, they were captured by a fleet of Joassamee

boats, after some resistance, in which several were wounded and taken

into their chief port at Ras-el-Khyma. Here they were detained in hope

of ransome, and during their stay were shown to the people of the town

as curiosities, no similar beings having been before seen there within

the memory of man. The Joassamee ladies were so minute in their

enquiries, indeed, that they were not satisfied without determining in

what respect an uncircumcised infidel differed from a true believer.

When these unfortunate Englishmen had remained for several months in the

possession of the Arabs, and no hope of their ransom appeared, it was

determined to put them to death, and thus rid themselves of unprofitable

enemies. An anxiety to preserve life, however, induced the suggestion,

on their parts, of a plan for the temporary prolongation of it, at

least. With this view they communicated to the chief of the pirates the

fact of their having sunk a quantity of treasure near the island of

Kenn, and of their knowing the marks of the spot, by the bearings of

objects on shore, with sufficient accuracy to recover it, if furnished

with good divers. They offered, therefore, to purchase their own

liberty, by a recovery of this money for their captors; and on the

fulfillment of their engagement it was solemnly promised to be granted

to them.

They soon sailed for the spot, accompanied by divers accustomed to that

occupation on the pearl banks of Bahrain; and, on their anchoring at the

precise points of bearing taken, they commenced their labors. The first

divers who went down were so successful, that all the crew followed in

their turns, so that the vessel was at one time almost entirely

abandoned at anchor. As the men, too, were all so busily occupied in

their golden harvest, the moment appeared favorable for escape; and the

still captive Englishmen were already at their stations to overpower the

few on board, cut the cable, and make sail. Their motions were either

seen or suspected, as the divers repaired on board in haste, and the

scheme was thus frustrated. They were now given their liberty as

promised, by being landed on the island of Kenn, where, however, no

means offered for their immediate escape. The pirates, having at the

same time landed themselves on the island, commenced a general massacre

of the inhabitants, in which their released prisoners, fearing they

might be included, fled for shelter to clefts and hiding places in the

rocks. During their refuge here, they lived on such food as chance threw

in their way; going out under cover of the night to steal a goat and

drag it to their haunts. When the pirates had at length completed their

work of blood, and either murdered or driven off every former inhabitant

of the island, they quitted it themselves, with the treasure which they

had thus collected from the sea and shore. The Englishmen now ventured

to come out from their hiding places, and to think of devising some

means of escape. Their good fortune in a moment of despair, threw them

on the wreck of a boat, near the beach, which was still capable of

repair. In searching about the now deserted town, other materials were

found, which were of use to them, and sufficient plank and logs of wood

for the construction of a raft. These were both completed in a few days,

and the party embarked on them in two divisions, to effect a passage to

the Persian shore. One of these rafts was lost in the attempt, and all

on board her perished; while the raft, with the remainder of the party

reached land.

Having gained the main land they now set out on foot towards Bushire,

following the line of the coast for the sake of the villages and water.

In this they are said to have suffered incredible hardships and

privations of every kind. No one knew the language of the country

perfectly, and the roads and places of refreshment still less; they were

in general destitute of clothes and money, and constantly subject to

plunder and imposition, poor as they were. Their food was therefore

often scanty, and always of the worst kind; and they had neither shelter

from the burning sun of the day, nor from the chilling dews of night.

The Indian sailors, sipakees, and servants, of whom a few were still

remaining when they set out, had all dropped off by turns; and even

Europeans had been abandoned on the road, in the most affecting way,

taking a last adieu of their comrades, who had little else to expect but

soon to follow their fate. One instance is mentioned of their having

left one who could march no further, at the distance of only a mile from

a village; and on returning to the spot on the morrow, to bring him in,

nothing was found but his mangled bones, as he had been devoured in the

night by jackals. The packet being light was still, however, carried by

turns, and preserved through all obstacles and difficulties; and with it

they reached at length the island of Busheap, to which they crossed over

in a boat from the main. Here they were detained by the Sheikh, but at

length he provided them with a boat for the conveyance of themselves and

dispatches to Bushire. From this place they proceeded to Bombay, but of

all the company only two survived. A Mr. Jowl, an officer of a merchant

ship, and an English sailor named Penmel together with the bag of

letters and dispatches.

In the following year, two English brigs, the Shannon, Capt. Babcock,

and the Trimmer, Capt. Cummings, were on their voyage from Bombay to

Bussorah. These were both attacked, near the Islands of Polior and

Kenn, by several boats, and after a slight resistance on the part of the

Shannon only, were taken possession of, and a part of the crew of each,

cruelly put to the sword. Capt. Babcock, having been seen by one of the

Arabs to discharge a musket during the contest, was taken by them on

shore; and after a consultation on his fate, it was determined that he

should forfeit the arm by which this act of resistance was committed. It

was accordingly severed from his body by one stroke of a sabre, and no

steps were taken either to bind up the wound, or to prevent his bleeding

to death. The captain, himself, had yet sufficient presence of mind

left, however, to think of his own safety, and there being near him some

clarified butter, he procured this to be heated, and while yet warm,

thrust the bleeding stump of his arm into it. It had the effect of

lessening the effusion of blood, and ultimately of saving a life that

would otherwise most probably have been lost. The crew were then all

made prisoners, and taken to a port of Arabia, from whence they

gradually dispersed and escaped. The vessels themselves were

additionally armed, one of them mounting twenty guns, manned with Arab

crews, and sent from Ras-el-Khyma to cruise in the gulf, where they

committed many piracies.

In the year 1808, the force of the Joassamees having gradually

increased, and becoming flushed with the pride of victory, their

insulting attacks on the British flag were more numerous and more

desperate than ever. The first of these was on the ship Minerva, of

Bombay, on her voyage to Bussorah. The attack was commenced by several

boats, (for they never cruize singly,) and a spirited resistance in a

running fight was kept up at intervals for several days in succession. A

favorable moment offered, however, for boarding; the ship was

overpowered by numbers, and carried amidst a general massacre. The

captain was said to have been cut up into separate pieces, and thrown

overboard by fragments; the second mate and carpenter alone were spared,

probably to make use of their services; and an Armenian lady, the wife

of Lieut. Taylor, then at Bushire, was reserved perhaps for still

greater sufferings. But was subsequently ransomed for a large sum.

[Illustration: _The Pirates striking off the arm of Capt. Babcock._]

A few weeks after this, the Sylph, one of the East India Company's

cruisers, of sixty tons and mounting eight guns, was accompanying the

mission under Sir Hartford Jones, from Bombay, to Persia; when being

separated from the rest of the squadron, she was attacked in the gulf by

a fleet of dows. These bore down with all the menacing attitude of

hostility; but as the commander, Lieut. Graham had received orders from

the Bombay government, not to open his fire on any of these vessels

until he had been first fired on himself, the ship was hardly prepared

for battle, and the colors were not even hoisted to apprise them to what

nation she belonged. The dows approached, threw their long overhanging

prows across the Sylph's beam, and pouring in a shower of stones on her

deck, beat down and wounded almost every one who stood on it. They then

boarded, and made the ship an easy prize, before more than a single shot

had been fired, and in their usual way, put every one whom they found

alive to the sword. Lieut. Graham fell, covered with wounds, down the

fore hatchway of his own vessel, where he was dragged by some of the

crew into a store room, in which they had secreted themselves, and

barricaded the door with a crow-bar from within. The cruiser was thus

completely in the possession of the enemy, who made sail on her, and

were bearing her off in triumph to their own port, in company with their

boats. Soon after, however, the commodore of the squadron in the Neried

frigate hove in sight, and perceiving this vessel in company with the

dows, judged her to be a prize to the pirates. She accordingly gave them

all chase, and coming up with the brig, the Arabs took to their boats

and abandoned her. The chase was continued after the dows, but without

success.

[Illustration: _The Neried Frigate chasing a Fleet of Joassamee Dows._]

These repeated aggressions at length opened the eyes of the East India

Government, and an expedition was accordingly assembled at Bombay. The

naval force consisted of La Chiffone, frigate, Capt. Wainwright, as

commodore. The Caroline of thirty-eight guns; and eight of the East

India Company's cruisers, namely, the Mornington, Ternate, Aurora,

Prince of Wales, Ariel, Nautilus, Vestal and Fury, with four large

transports, and the Stromboli bomb-ketch. The fleet sailed from Bombay

in September, and after a long passage they reached Muscat, where it

remained for many days to refresh and arrange their future plans; they

sailed and soon reached Ras-el-Khyma, the chief port of the pirates

within the gulf. Here the squadron anchored abreast of the town, and the

troops were landed under cover of the ships and boats. The inhabitants

of the town assembled in crowds to repel the invaders; but the firm

line, the regular volleys, and the steady charge of the troops at the

point of the bayonet, overcame every obstacle, and multiplied the heaps

of the slain. A general conflagration was then ordered, and a general

plunder to the troops was permitted. The town was set on fire in all

parts, and about sixty sail of boats and dows, with the Minerva, a ship

which they had taken, then lying in the roads were all burnt and

destroyed.

The complete conquest of the place was thus effected with very trifling

loss on the part of the besiegers, and some plunder collected; though it

was thought that most of the treasure and valuables had been removed

into the interior. This career of victory was suddenly damped by the

report of the approach of a large body of troops from the interior, and

although none of these were seen, this ideal reinforcement induced the

besiegers to withdraw. The embarkation took place at daylight in the

morning; and while the fleet remained at anchor during the whole of the

day, parties were still seen assembling on the shore, displaying their

colors, brandishing their spears, and firing muskets from all points; so

that the conquest was scarcely as complete as could be wished, since no

formal act of submission had yet been shown. The expedition now sailed

to Linga, a small port of the Joassamees, and burnt it to the ground.

The force had now become separated, the greater portion of the troops

being sent to Muscat for supplies, or being deemed unnecessary, and some

of the vessels sent on separate services of blockading passages, &c. The

remaining portion of the blockading squadron consisting of La Chiffone,

frigate, and four of the cruisers, the Mornington, Ternate, Nautilus,

and Fury, and two transports, with five hundred troops from Linga, then

proceeded to Luft, another port of the Joassamees. As the channel here

was narrow and difficult of approach, the ships were warped into their

stations of anchorage, and a summons sent on shore, as the people had

not here abandoned their town, but were found at their posts of defence,

in a large and strong castle with many batteries, redoubts, &c. The

summons being treated with disdain, the troops were landed with Col.

Smith at their head; and while forming on the beach a slight skirmish

took place with such of the inhabitants of the town, as fled for shelter

to the castle. The troops then advanced towards the fortress, which is

described to have had walls fourteen feet thick, pierced with loop

holes, and only one entrance through a small gate, well cased with iron

bars and bolts, in the strongest manner. With a howitzer taken for the

occasion, it was intended to have blown this gate open, and to have

taken the place by storm; but on reaching it while the ranks opened, and

the men sought to surround the castle to seek for some other entrance at

the same time, they were picked off so rapidly and unexpectedly from the

loop holes above, that a general flight took place, the howitzer was

abandoned, even before it had been fired, and both the officers and the

troops sought shelter by lying down behind the ridges of sand and little

hillocks immediately underneath the castle walls. An Irish officer,

jumping up from his hiding place, and calling on some of his comrades to

follow him in an attempt to rescue the howitzer, was killed in the

enterprise. Such others as even raised their heads to look around them,

were picked off by the musketry from above; and the whole of the troops

lay therefore hidden in this way, until the darkness of the night

favored their escape to the beach, where they embarked after sunset, the

enemy having made no sally on them from the fort. A second summons was

sent to the chief in the castle, threatening to bombard the town from a

nearer anchorage if he did not submit, and no quarter afterwards shown.

With the dawn of morning, all eyes were directed to the fortress, when,

to the surprise of the whole squadron, a man was seen waving the British

Union flag on the summit of its walls. It was lieutenant Hall, who

commanded the Fury which was one of the vessels nearest the shore.

During the night he had gone on shore alone, taking an union-jack in his

hand, and advanced singly to the castle gate. The fortress had already

been abandoned by the greater number of the inhabitants, but some few

still remained there. These fled at the approach of an individual

supposing him to be the herald of those who were to follow. Be this as

it may, the castle was entirely abandoned, and the British flag waived

on its walls by this daring officer, to the surprise and admiration of

all the fleet. The town and fortifications were then taken possession

of. After sweeping round the bottom of the gulf, the expedition returned

to Muscat.

On the sailing of the fleet from hence, the forces were augmented by a

body of troops belonging to the Imaun of Muscat, destined to assist in

the recovery of a place called Shenaz, on the coast, taken by the

Joassamees. On their arrival at this place, a summons was sent,

commanding the fort to surrender, which being refused, a bombardment was

opened from the ships and boats, but without producing much effect. On

the following morning, the whole of the troops were landed, and a

regular encampment formed on the shore, with sand batteries, and other

necessary works for a siege. After several days bombardment, in which

about four thousand shot and shells were discharged against the

fortress, to which the people had fled for refuge after burning down the

town, a breach was reported to be practicable, and the castle was

accordingly stormed. The resistance still made was desperate; the Arabs

fighting as long as they could wield the sword, and even thrusting

their spears up through the fragments of towers, in whose ruins they

remained irrevocably buried. The loss in killed and wounded was upwards

of a thousand men. Notwithstanding that the object of this expedition

might be said to be incomplete, inasmuch as nothing less than a _total_

extirpation of their race could secure the tranquility of these seas,

yet the effect produced by this expedition was such, as to make them

reverence or dread the British flag for several years afterwards.

[Illustration: _The daring Intrepidity of Lieut. Hall._]

At length in 1815, their boats began to infest the entrance to the Red

Sea; and in 1816, their numbers had so increased on that coast, that a

squadron of them commanded by a chief called Ameer Ibrahim, captured

within sight of Mocha, four vessels bound from Surat to that port,

richly laden and navigating under the British flag, and the crews were

massacred.

A squadron consisting of His Majesty's ship Challenger, Captain Brydges,

and the East India Company's cruisers, Mercury, Ariel, and Vestal, were

despatched to the chief port of the Joassamees, Ras-el-Khyma. Mr.

Buckingham the Great Oriental traveller, accompanied the expedition from

Bushire. Upon their arrival at Ras-el-Khyma, a demand was made for the

restoration of the four Surat vessels and their cargoes; or in lieu

thereof twelve lacks of rupees. Also that the commander of the piratical

squadron, Ameer Ibrahim, should be delivered up for punishment. The

demand was made by letter, and answer being received, Captain Brydges

determined to go on shore and have an interview with the Pirate

Chieftain. Mr. Buckingham (says,) He requested me to accompany him on

shore as an interpreter. I readily assented. We quitted the ship

together about 9 o'clock, and pulled straight to the shore, sounding all

the way as we went, and gradually shoaling our water from six to two

fathoms, within a quarter of a mile of the beach, where four large dows

lay at anchor, ranged in a line, with their heads seaward, each of them

mounting several pieces of cannon, and being full of men. On landing on

the beach, we found its whole length guarded by a line of armed men,

some bearing muskets, but the greater part armed with swords, shields,

and spears; most of them were negroes, whom the Joassamees spare in

their wars, looking on them rather as property and merchandise, than in

the light of enemies. We were permitted to pass this line, and upon our

communicating our wish to see the chief, we were conducted to the gate

of the principal building, nearly in the centre of the town, and were

met by the Pirate Chieftain attended by fifty armed men. I offered him

the Mahometan salutation of peace, which he returned without hesitation.

The chief, Hassan ben Rahma, whom we had seen, was a small man,

apparently about forty years of age, with an expression of cunning in

his looks, and something particularly sarcastic in his smile. He was

dressed in the usual Arab garments, with a cashmeer shawl, turban, and a

scarlet benish, of the Persian form, to distinguish him from his

followers. There were habited in the plainest garments. One of his eyes

had been wounded, but his other features were good, his teeth

beautifully white and regular, and his complexion very dark.

The town of Ras-el-Khyma stands on a narrow tongue of sandy land,

pointing to the northeastward, presenting its northwest edge to the open

sea, and its southeast one to a creek, which runs up within it to the

southwestward, and affords a safe harbor for boats. There appeared to be

no continued wall of defence around it, though round towers and portions

of walls were seen in several parts, probably once connected in line,

but not yet repaired since their destruction. The strongest points of

defence appear to be in a fortress at the northeast angle, and a double

round tower, near the centre of the town; in each of which, guns are

mounted; but all the other towers appear to afford only shelter for

musketeers. The rest of the town is composed of ordinary buildings of

unhewn stone, and huts of rushes and long grass, with narrow avenues

winding between them. The present number of inhabitants may be computed

at ten thousand at least. They are thought to have at present (1816),

sixty large boats out from their own port, manned with crews of from

eighty, to three hundred men each, and forty other boats that belong to

other ports. Their force concentrated, would probably amount to at

least one hundred boats and eight thousand fighting men. After several

fruitless negociations, the signal was now made to weigh, and stand

closer in towards the town. It was then followed by the signal to engage

the enemy. The squadron bore down nearly in line, under easy sail, and

with the wind right aft, or on shore; the Mercury being on the starboard

bow, the Challenger next in order, in the centre, the Vestal following

in the same line, and the Ariel completing the division.

A large fleet of small boats were seen standing in from Cape Mussundum,

at the same time; but these escaped by keeping closer along shore, and

at length passing over the bar and getting into the back water behind

the town. The squadron continued to stand on in a direct line towards

the four anchored dows, gradually shoaling from the depth of our

anchorage to two and a half fathoms, where stream anchors were dropped

under foot, with springs on the cables, so that each vessel lay with her

broadside to the shore. A fire was now opened by the whole squadron,

directed to the four dows. These boats were full of men, brandishing

their weapons in the air, their whole number exceeding, probably, six

hundred. Some of the shot from the few long guns of the squadron reached

the shore, and were buried in the sand; others fell across the bows and

near the hulls of the dows to which they were directed; but the

cannonades all fell short, as we were then fully a mile from the beach.

The Arab colors were displayed on all the forts; crowds of armed men

were assembled on the beach, bearing large banners on poles, and dancing

around them with their arms, as if rallying around a sacred standard, so

that no sign of submission or conquest was witnessed throughout. The

Ariel continued to discharge about fifty shot after all the others had

desisted, but with as little avail as before, and thus ended this wordy

negociation, and the bloodless battle to which it eventually led.

In 1818, these pirates grew so daring that they made an irruption into

the Indian Ocean, and plundered vessels and towns on the islands and

coasts. A fleet was sent against them, and intercepted them off Ashlola

Island, proceeding to the westward in three divisions; and drove them

back into the gulf. The Eden and Psyche fell in with two trankies, and

these were so closely pursued that they were obliged to drop a small

captured boat they had in tow. The Thetes one day kept in close chase of

seventeen vessels, but they were enabled to get away owing to their

superior sailing. The cruisers met with the Joassamees seventeen times

and were constantly employed in hunting them from place to place.

At length, in 1819, they became such a scourge to commerce that a

formidable expedition under the command of Major General Sir W. Grant

Keir, sailed against them. It arrived before the chief town in December,

and commenced operations. In his despatches Gen. Keir says--

I have the satisfaction to report the town of Ras-el Khyma, after a

resistance of six days, was taken possession of this morning by the

force under my command.

On the 18th, after completing my arrangements at Muscat, the Liverpool

sailed for the rendezvous at Kishme; on the 21st, we fell in with the

fleet of the Persian Gulf and anchored off the island of Larrack on the

24th November.

As it appeared probable that a considerable period would elapse before

the junction of the ships which were detained at Bombay, I conceived it

would prove highly advantageous to avail myself of all the information

that could be procured respecting the strength and resources of the

pirates we had to deal with.

No time was lost in making the necessary preparations for landing, which

was effected the following morning without opposition, at a spot which

had been previously selected for that purpose, about two miles to the

westward of the town. The troops were formed across the isthmus

connecting the peninsula on which the town is situated with the

neighboring country, and the whole of the day was occupied in getting

the tents on shore, to shelter the men from rain, landing engineers,

tools, sand bags, &c., and making arrangements preparatory to commencing

our approaches the next day. On the morning of the 4th, our light troops

were ordered in advance, supported by the pickets, to dislodge the

enemy from a bank within nine hundred yards of the outer fort, which was

expected to afford good cover for the men. The whole of the light

companies of the force under Capt. Backhouse, moved forward, and drove

the Arabs with great gallantry from a date grove, and over the bank

close under the walls of the fort, followed by the pickets under Major

Molesworth, who took post at the sand banks, whilst the European light

troops were skirmishing in front. The enemy kept up a sharp fire of

musketry and cannon; during these movements, Major Molesworth, a gallant

officer was here killed. The troops kept their position during the day,

and in the night effected a lodgment within three hundred yards of the

southernmost tower, and erected a battery of four guns, together with a

mortar battery.

The weather having become rather unfavorable for the disembarkation of

the stores required for the siege, but this important object being

effected on the morning of the 6th, we were enabled to open three

eighteen pounders on the fort, a couple of howitzers, and six pounders

were also placed in the battery on the right, which played on the

defences of the towers and nearly silenced the enemy's fire, who, during

the whole of our progress exhibited a considerable degree of resolution

in withstanding, and ingenuity in counteracting our attacks, sallied out

at 8 o'clock this evening along the whole front of our entrenchments,

crept close up to the mortar battery without being perceived, and

entered it over the parapet, after spearing the advance sentries. The

party which occupied it were obliged to retire, but being immediately

reinforced charged the assailants, who were driven out of the battery

with great loss. The enemy repeated his attacks towards morning but was

vigorously repulsed. During the seventh every exertion was made to land

and bring up the remaining guns and mortars, which was accomplished

during the night. They were immediately placed in the battery, together

with two twenty-four pounders which were landed from the Liverpool, and

in the morning the whole of the ordnance opened on the fort and fired

with scarcely any intermission till sunset, when the breach on the

curtain was reported nearly practicable and the towers almost untenable.

Immediate arrangements were made for the assault, and the troops ordered

to move down to the entrenchments by daylight the next morning. The

party moved forward about 8 o'clock, and entered the fort through the

breaches without firing a shot, and it soon appeared the enemy had

evacuated the place. The town was taken possession of and found almost

entirely deserted, only eighteen or twenty men, and a few women

remaining in their houses.

The expedition next proceeded against Rumps, a piratical town, eight

miles north of Ras-el-Khyma, but the inhabitants abandoned the town and

took refuge in the hill fort of Zyah, which is situated at the head of a

navigable creek nearly two miles from the sea coast. This place was the

residence of Hussein Bin Alley, a sheikh of considerable importance

among the Joassamee tribes, and a person who from his talents and

lawless habits, as well as from the strength and advantageous situation

of the fort, was likely to attempt the revival of the piratical system

upon the first occasion. It became a desirable object to reduce the

power of this chieftain.

On the 18th December, the troops embarked at Ras-el-Khyma, at day break

in the boats of the fleet under command of Major Warren, with the 65th

regiment and the flank companies of the first and second regiment, and

at noon arrived within four miles of their destination. This operation

was attended with considerable difficulty and risk, owing to the heavy

surf that beat on the shore; and which was the occasion of some loss of

ammunition, and of a few boats being upset and stove in.

[Illustration: _The Sheikh of Rumps._]

At half past three P.M., having refreshed the men, (says Major Warren)

we commenced our march, and fording the creek or back water, took up our

position at sunset, to the northeastward of the fort, the enemy firing

at us as we passed, notwithstanding that our messenger, whom we had

previously sent in to summon the Sheikh, was still in the place; and I

lost no time in pushing our riflemen and pickets as far forward as I

could without exposing them too much to the firing of the enemy, whom I

found strongly posted under secure cover in the date tree groves in

front of the town. Captain Cocke, with the light company of his

battalion, was at the same time sent to the westward, to cut off the

retreat of the enemy on that side.

At day break the next morning, finding it necessary to drive the enemy

still further in, to get a nearer view of his defences, I moved forward

the rifle company of the 65th regiment, and after a considerable

opposition from the enemy, I succeeded in forcing him to retire some

distance; but not without disputing every inch of ground, which was well

calculated for resistance, being intersected at every few yards, by

banks and water courses raised for the purpose of irrigation, and

covered with date trees. The next morning the riflemen, supported by the

pickets, were again called into play, and soon established their

position within three and four hundred yards of the town, which with the

base of the hill, was so completely surrounded, as to render the escape

of any of the garrison now almost impossible. This advantage was gained

by a severe loss. Two twenty-four pounders and the two twelves, the

landing of which had been retarded by the difficulty of communication

with the fleet from which we derived all our supplies, having been now

brought on shore, we broke ground in the evening, and notwithstanding

the rocky soil, had them to play next morning at daylight.

Aware, however, that the families of the enemy were still in the town,

and humanity dictating that some effort should be made to save the

innocent from the fate that awaited the guilty; an opportunity was

afforded for that purpose by an offer to the garrison of security to

their women and children, should they be sent out within the hour; but

the infatuated chief, either from an idea that his fort on the hill was

not to be reached by our shot, or with the vain hope to gain time by

procrastination, returning no answer to our communication, while he

detained our messenger; we opened our fire at half past eight in the

morning, and such was the precision of the practice, that in two hours

we perceived the breach would soon be practicable. I was in the act of

ordering the assault, when a white flag was displayed; and the enemy,

after some little delay in assembling from the different quarters of the

place, marched out without their arms, with Hussein Bin Alley at their

head, to the number of three hundred and ninety-eight; and at half past

one P.M., the British flags were hoisted on the hill fort and at the

Sheikh's house. The women and children to the number of four hundred,

were at the same time collected together in a place of security, and

sent on board the fleet, together with the men. The service has been

short but arduous; the enemy defended themselves with great obstinacy

and ability worthy of a better cause.

From two prisoners retaken from the Joassamees, they learnt that the

plunder is made a general stock, and distributed by the chief, but in

what proportions the deponents cannot say; water is generally very

scarce. There is a quantity of fish caught on the bank, upon which and

dates they live. There were a few horses, camels, cows, sheep, and

goats; the greatest part of which they took with them; they were in

general lean, as the sandy plain produces little or no vegetation,

except a few dates and cocoa-nut trees. The pirates who abandoned

Ras-el-Khyma, encamped about three miles in the interior, ready to

retreat into the desert at a moment's warning. The Sheikh of Rumps is an

old man, but looks intelligent, and is said to be the man who advises

upon all occasions the movements of the different tribes of pirates on

the coast, and when he was told that it was the wish of the Company to

put a stop to their piracy, and make an honest people of them by

encouraging them to trade, seemed to regret much that those intentions

were not made known, as they would have been most readily embraced.

Rumps is the key to Ras-el-Khyma, and by its strength is defended from a

strong banditti infesting the mountains, as also the Bedouin Arabs who

are their enemies. A British garrison of twelve hundred men was

stationed at Ras-el-Khyma, and a guard-ship. The other places sent in

tokens of submission, as driven out of their fortresses on the margin of

the sea, they had to contend within with the interior hostile tribes.

[Illustration: _The Pirate Stronghold._]

THE BARBAROUS CONDUCT AND ROMANTIC DEATH OF THE

JOASSAMEE CHIEF, RAHMAH-BEN-JABIR.

The town of Bushire, on the Persian Gulf is seated in a low peninsula of

sand, extending out of the general line of the coast, so as to form a

bay on both sides. One of these bays was in 1816, occupied by the fleet

of a certain Arab, named Rahmah-ben-Jabir, who has been for more than

twenty years the terror of the gulf, and who was the most successful and

the most generally tolerated pirate, perhaps, that ever infested any

sea. This man by birth was a native of Grain, on the opposite coast, and

nephew of the governor of that place. His fellow citizens had all the

honesty, however, to declare him an outlaw, from abhorrence of his

profession; but he found that aid and protection at Bushire, which his

own townsmen denied him. With five or six vessels, most of which were

very large, and manned with crews of from two to three hundred each, he

sallied forth, and captured whatever he thought himself strong enough to

carry off as a prize. His followers, to the number of two thousand, were

maintained by the plunder of his prizes; and as the most of these were

his own bought African slaves, and the remainder equally subject to his

authority, he was sometimes as prodigal of their lives in a fit of anger

as he was of his enemies, whom he was not content to slay in battle

only, but basely murdered in cold blood, after they had submitted. An

instance is related of his having put a great number of his own crew,

who used mutinous expressions, into a tank on board, in which they

usually kept their water, and this being shut close at the top, the poor

wretches were all suffocated, and afterwards thrown overboard. This

butcher chief, like the celebrated Djezzar of Acre, affecting great

simplicity of dress, manners, and living; and whenever he went out,

could not be distinguished by a stranger from the crowd of his

attendants. He carried this simplicity to a degree of filthiness, which

was disgusting, as his usual dress was a shirt, which was never taken

off to be washed, from the time it was first put on till worn out; no

drawers or coverings for the legs of any kind, and a large black goat's

hair cloak, wrapped over all with a greasy and dirty handkerchief,

called the keffeea, thrown loosely over his head. Infamous as was this

man's life and character, he was not only cherished and courted by the

people of Bushire, who dreaded him, but was courteously received and

respectfully entertained whenever he visited the British Factory. On one

occasion (says Mr. Buckingham), at which I was present, he was sent for

to give some medical gentlemen of the navy and company's cruisers an

opportunity of inspecting his arm, which had been severely wounded. The

wound was at first made by grape-shot and splinters, and the arm was one

mass of blood about the part for several days, while the man himself was

with difficulty known to be alive. He gradually recovered, however,

without surgical aid, and the bone of the arm between the shoulder and

elbow being completely shivered to pieces, the fragments progressively

worked out, and the singular appearance was left of the fore arm and

elbow connected to the shoulder by flesh and skin, and tendons, without

the least vestige of bone. This man when invited to the factory for the

purpose of making an exhibition of his arm, was himself admitted to sit

at the table and take some tea, as it was breakfast time, and some of

his followers took chairs around him. They were all as disgustingly

filthy in appearance as could well be imagined; and some of them did not

scruple to hunt for vermin on their skins, of which there was an

abundance, and throw them on the floor. Rahmah-ben-Jabir's figure

presented a meagre trunk, with four lank members, all of them cut and

hacked, and pierced with wounds of sabres, spears and bullets, in every

part, to the number, perhaps of more than twenty different wounds. He

had, besides, a face naturally ferocious and ugly, and now rendered

still more so by several scars there, and by the loss of one eye. When

asked by one of the English gentlemen present, with a tone of

encouragement and familiarity, whether he could not still dispatch an

enemy with his boneless arm, he drew a crooked dagger, or yambeah, from

the girdle round his shirt, and placing his left hand, which was sound,

to support the elbow of the right, which was the one that was wounded,

he grasped the dagger firmly with his clenched fist, and drew it back

ward and forward, twirling it at the same time, and saying that he

desired nothing better than to have the cutting of as many throats as he

could effectually open with his lame hand. Instead of being shocked at

the uttering of such a brutal wish, and such a savage triumph at still

possessing the power to murder unoffending victims, I knew not how to

describe my feelings of shame and sorrow when a loud roar of laughter

burst from the whole assembly, when I ventured to express my dissent

from the general feeling of admiration for such a man.

[Illustration: _Rahmah-ben-Jabir, a Joassamee Chief._]

This barbarous pirate in the year 1827, at last experienced a fate

characteristic of the whole course of his life. His violent aggressions

having united the Arabs of Bahrene and Ratiffe against him they

blockaded his port of Daman from which Rahmah-ben-Jabir, having left a

garrison in the fort under his son, had sailed in a well appointed

bungalow, for the purpose of endeavoring to raise a confederacy of his

friends in his support. Having failed in this object he returned to

Daman, and in spite of the boats blockading the port, succeeded in

visiting his garrison, and immediately re-embarked, taking with him his

youngest son. On arriving on board his bungalow, he was received by his

followers with a salute, which decisive indication of his presence

immediately attracted the attention of his opponents, one of whose

boats, commanded by the nephew of the Sheikh of Bahrene, proceeded to

attack him. A desperate struggle ensued, and the Sheikh finding after

some time that he had lost nearly the whole of his crew by the firing of

Rahmah's boat, retired for reinforcements. These being obtained, he

immediately returned singly to the contest. The fight was renewed with

redoubled fury; when at last, Rahmah, being informed (for he had been

long blind) that his men were falling fast around him, mustered the

remainder of the crew, and issued orders to close and grapple with his

opponent. When this was effected, and after embracing his son, he was

led with a lighted torch to the magazine, which instantly exploded,

blowing his own boat to atoms and setting fire to the Sheikh's, which

immediately afterwards shared the same fate. Sheikh Ahmed and few of his

followers escaped to the other boats; but only one of Rahmah's brave

crew was saved; and it is supposed that upwards of three hundred men

were killed in this heroic contest.

[Illustration]

THE LIFE OF LAFITTE, THE FAMOUS PIRATE OF THE GULF OF MEXICO.

_With a History of the Pirates of Barrataria--and an account of their

volunteering for the defence of New Orleans; and their daring

intrepidity under General Jackson, during the battle of the 8th of

January, 1815. For which important service they were pardoned by

President Madison._

Jean Lafitte, was born at St. Maloes in France, in 1781, and went to sea

at the age of thirteen; after several voyages in Europe, and to the

coast of Africa, he was appointed mate of a French East Indiaman, bound

to Madras. On the outward passage they encountered a heavy gale off the

Cape of Good Hope, which sprung the mainmast and otherwise injured the

ship, which determined the captain to bear up for the Mauritius, where

he arrived in safety; a quarrel having taken place on the passage out

between Lafitte and the captain, he abandoned the ship and refused to

continue the voyage. Several privateers were at this time fitting out at

this island, and Lafitte was appointed captain of one of these vessels;

after a cruise during which he robbed the vessels of other nations,

besides those of England, and thus committing piracy, he stopped at the

Seychelles, and took in a load of slaves for the Mauritius; but being

chased by an English frigate as far north as the equator, he found

himself in a very awkward condition; not having provisions enough on

board his ship to carry him back to the French Colony. He therefore

conceived the bold project of proceeding to the Bay of Bengal, in order

to get provisions from on board some English ships. In his ship of two

hundred tons, with only two guns and twenty-six men, he attacked and

took an English armed schooner with a numerous crew. After putting

nineteen of his own crew on board the schooner, he took the command of

her and proceeded to cruise upon the coast of Bengal. He there fell in

with the Pagoda, a vessel belonging to the English East India Company,

armed with twenty-six twelve pounders and manned with one hundred and

fifty men. Expecting that the enemy would take him for a pilot of the

Ganges, he manoeuvred accordingly. The Pagoda manifested no suspicions,

whereupon he suddenly darted with his brave followers upon her decks,

overturned all who opposed them, and speedily took the ship. After a

very successful cruise he arrived safe at the Mauritius, and took the

command of La Confiance of twenty-six guns and two hundred and fifty

men, and sailed for the coast of British India. Off the Sand Heads in

October, 1807, Lafitte fell in with the Queen East Indiaman, with a crew

of near four hundred men, and carrying forty guns; he conceived the bold

project of getting possession of her. Never was there beheld a more

unequal conflict; even the height of the vessel compared to the feeble

privateer augmented the chances against Lafitte; but the difficulty and

danger far from discouraging this intrepid sailor, acted as an

additional spur to his brilliant valor. After electrifying his crew with

a few words of hope and ardor, he manoeuvred and ran on board of the

enemy. In this position he received a broadside when close too; but he

expected this, and made his men lay flat upon the deck. After the first

fire they all rose, and from the yards and tops, threw bombs and

grenades into the forecastle of the Indiaman. This sudden and unforeseen

attack caused a great havoc. In an instant, death and terror made them

abandon a part of the vessel near the mizen-mast. Lafitte, who

observed every thing, seized the decisive moment, beat to arms, and

forty of his crew prepared to board, with pistols in their hands and

daggers held between their teeth. As soon as they got on deck, they

rushed upon the affrighted crowd, who retreated to the steerage, and

endeavored to defend themselves there. Lafitte thereupon ordered a

second division to board, which he headed himself; the captain of the

Indiaman was killed, and all were swept away in a moment. Lafitte caused

a gun to be loaded with grape, which he pointed towards the place where

the crowd was assembled, threatening to exterminate them. The English

deeming resistance fruitless, surrendered, and Lafitte hastened to put a

stop to the slaughter. This exploit, hitherto unparalleled, resounded

through India, and the name of Lafitte became the terror of English

commerce in these latitudes.

[Illustration: _Lafitte boarding the Queen East Indiaman._]

As British vessels now traversed the Indian Ocean under strong convoys,

game became scarce, and Lafitte determined to visit France; and after

doubling the Cape of Good Hope, he coasted up to the Gulf of Guinea, and

in the Bight of Benin, took two valuable prizes loaded with gold dust,

ivory, and Palm Oil; with this booty he reached St. Maloes in safety.

After a short stay at his native place he fitted out a brigantine,

mounting twenty guns and one hundred and fifty men, and sailed for

Gaudaloupe; amongst the West India Islands, he made several valuable

prizes; but during his absence on a cruise the island having been taken

by the British, he proceeded to Carthagena, and from thence to

Barrataria. After this period, the conduct of Lafitte at Barrataria does

not appear to be characterized by the audacity and boldness of his

former career; but he had amassed immense sums of booty, and as he was

obliged to have dealings with the merchants of the United States, and

the West Indies, who frequently owed him large sums, and the cautious

dealings necessary to found and conduct a colony of Pirates and

Smugglers in the very teeth of a civilized nation, obliged Lafitte to

cloak as much as possible his real character.

[Illustration: _Lafitte and his crew clearing the decks of the

Indiaman._]

As we have said before, at the period of the taking of Gaudaloupe by the

British, most of the privateers commissioned by the government of that

island, and which were then on a cruise, not being able to return to any

of the West India Islands, made for Barrataria, there to take in a

supply of water and provisions, recruit the health of their crews, and

dispose of their prizes, which could not be admitted into any of the

ports of the United States, we being at that time in peace with Great

Britain. Most of the commissions granted to privateers by the French

government at Gaudaloupe, having expired sometime after the declaration

of the independence of Carthagena, many of the privateers repaired to

that port, for the purpose of obtaining from the new government

commissions for cruising against Spanish vessels. Having duly obtained

their commissions, they in a manner blockaded for a long time all the

ports belonging to the royalists, and made numerous captives, which they

carried into Barrataria. Under this denomination is comprised part of

the coast of Louisiana to the west of the mouths of the Mississippi,

comprehended between Bastien bay on the east, and the mouths of the

river or bayou la Fourche on the west. Not far from the sea are lakes

called the great and little lakes of Barrataria, communicating with one

another by several large bayous with a great number of branches. There

is also the island of Barrataria, at the extremity of which is a place

called the Temple, which denomination it owes to several mounds of

shells thrown up there by the Indians. The name of Barrataria is also

given to a large basin which extends the whole length of the cypress

swamps, from the Gulf of Mexico to three miles above New Orleans. These

waters disembogue into the gulf by two entrances of the bayou

Barrataria, between which lies an island called Grand Terre, six miles

in length, and from two to three miles in breadth, running parallel

with the coast. In the western entrance is the great pass of Barrataria,

which has from nine to ten feet of water. Within this pass about two

leagues from the open sea, lies the only secure harbor on the coast, and

accordingly this was the harbor frequented by the _Pirates_, so well

known by the name of Barratarians.

At Grand Jerre, the privateers publicly made sale by auction, of the

cargoes of their prizes. From all parts of Lower Louisiana, people

resorted to Barrataria, without being at all solicitous to conceal the

object of their journey. The most respectable inhabitants of the state,

especially those living in the country, were in the habit of purchasing

smuggled goods coming from Barrataria.

The government of the United States sent an expedition under Commodore

Patterson, to disperse the settlement of marauders at Barrataria; the

following is an extract of his letter to the secretary of war.

Sir--I have the honor to inform you that I departed from this city on

the 11th June, accompanied by Col. Ross, with a detachment of seventy of

the 44th regiment of infantry. On the 12th, reached the schooner

Carolina, of Plaquemine, and formed a junction with the gun vessels at

the Balize on the 13th, sailed from the southwest pass on the evening of

the 15th, and at half past 8 o'clock, A.M. on the 16th, made the Island

of Barrataria, and discovered a number of vessels in the harbor, some of

which shewed Carthagenian colors. At 2 o'clock, perceived the pirates

forming their vessels, ten in number, including prizes, into a line of

battle near the entrance of the harbor, and making every preparation to

offer me battle. At 10 o'clock, wind light and variable, formed the

order of battle with six gun boats and the Sea Horse tender, mounting

one six pounder and fifteen men, and a launch mounting one twelve pound

carronade; the schooner Carolina, drawing too much water to cross the

bar. At half past 10 o'clock, perceived several smokes along the coasts

as signals, and at the same time a white flag hoisted on board a

schooner at the fort, an American flag at the mainmast head and a

Carthagenian flag (under which the pirates cruise) at her topping lift;

replied with a white flag at my main; at 11 o'clock, discovered that the

pirates had fired two of their best schooners; hauled down my white flag

and made the _signal for battle_; hoisting with a large white flag

bearing the words "Pardon for Deserters"; having heard there was a

number on shore from the army and navy. At a quarter past 11 o'clock,

two gun boats grounded and were passed agreeably to my previous orders,

by the other four which entered the harbor, manned by my barge and the

boats belonging to the grounded vessels, and proceeded in to my great

disappointment. I perceived that the pirates abandoned their vessels,

and were flying in all directions. I immediately sent the launch and two

barges with small boats in pursuit of them. At meridian, took possession

of all their vessels in the harbor consisting of six schooners and one

felucca, cruisers, and prizes of the pirates, one brig, a prize, and two

armed schooners under the Carthagenian flag, both in the line of battle,

with the armed vessels of the pirates, and apparently with an intention

to aid them in any resistance they might make against me, as their crews

were at quarters, tompions out of their guns, and matches lighted. Col.

Ross at the same time landed, and with his command took possession of

their establishment on shore, consisting of about forty houses of

different sizes, badly constructed, and thatched with palmetto leaves.

When I perceived the enemy forming their vessels into a line of battle I

felt confident from their number and very advantageous position, and

their number of men, that they would have fought me; their not doing so

I regret; for had they, I should have been enabled more effectually to

destroy or make prisoners of them and their leaders; but it is a

subject of great satisfaction to me, to have effected the object of my

enterprise, without the loss of a man.

The enemy had mounted on their vessels twenty pieces of cannon of

different calibre; and as I have since learnt, from eight hundred, to

one thousand men of all nations and colors.

Early in the morning of the 20th, the Carolina at anchor, about five

miles distant, made the signal of a "strange sail in sight to eastward";

immediately after she weighed anchor, and gave chase the strange sail,

standing for Grand Terre, with all sail; at half past 8 o'clock, the

chase hauled her wind off shore to escape; sent acting Lieut. Spedding

with four boats manned and armed to prevent her passing the harbor; at 9

o'clock A.M., the chase fired upon the Carolina, which was returned;

each vessel continued firing during the chase, when their long guns

could reach. At 10 o'clock, the chase grounded outside of the bar, at

which time the Carolina was from the shoalness of the water obliged to

haul her wind off shore and give up the chase; opened a fire upon the

chase across the island from the gun vessels. At half past 10 o'clock,

she hauled down her colors and was taken possession of. She proved to be

the armed schooner Gen. Boliver; by grounding she broke both her rudder

pintles and made water; took from her her armament, consisting of one

long brass eighteen pounder, one long brass six pounder, two twelve

pounders, small arms, &c., and twenty-one packages of dry goods. On the

afternoon of the 23d, got underway with the whole squadron, in all

seventeen vessels, but during the night one escaped, and the next day

arrived at New Orleans with my whole squadron.

At different times the English had sought to attack the pirates at

Barrataria, in hopes of taking their prizes, and even their armed

vessels. Of these attempts of the British, suffice it to instance that

of June 23d, 1813, when two privateers being at anchor off Cat Island, a

British sloop of war anchored at the entrance of the pass, and sent her

boats to endeavor to take the privateers; but they were repulsed with

considerable loss.

Such was the state of affairs, when on the 2d Sept., 1814, there

appeared an armed brig on the coast opposite the pass. She fired a gun

at a vessel about to enter, and forced her to run aground; she then

tacked and shortly after came to an anchor at the entrance of the pass.

It was not easy to understand the intentions of this vessel, who, having

commenced with hostilities on her first appearance now seemed to

announce an amicable disposition. Mr. Lafitte then went off in a boat to

examine her, venturing so far that he could not escape from the pinnace

sent from the brig, and making towards the shore, bearing British colors

and a flag of truce. In this pinnace were two naval officers. One was

Capt. Lockyer, commander of the brig. The first question they asked was,

where was Mr. Lafitte? he not choosing to make himself known to them,

replied that the person they inquired for was on shore. They then

delivered to him a packet directed to Mr. Lafitte, Barrataria,

requesting him to take particular care of it, and to deliver it into Mr.

Lafitte's hands. He prevailed on them to make for the shore, and as soon

as they got near enough to be in his power, he made himself known,

recommending to them at the same time to conceal the business on which

they had come. Upwards of two hundred persons lined the shore, and it

was a general cry amongst the crews of the privateers at Grand Terre,

that those British officers should be made prisoners and sent to New

Orleans as spies. It was with much difficulty that Lafitte dissuaded the

multitude from this intent, and led the officers in safety to his

dwelling. He thought very prudently that the papers contained in the

packet might be of importance towards the safety of the country and that

the officers if well watched could obtain no intelligence that might

turn to the detriment of Louisiana. He now examined the contents of the

packet, in which he found a proclamation addressed by Col. Edward

Nichalls, in the service of his Brittanic Majesty, and commander of the

land forces on the coast of Florida, to the inhabitants of Louisiana. A

letter from the same to Mr. Lafitte, the commander of Barrataria; an

official letter from the honorable W.H. Percy, captain of the sloop of

war Hermes, directed to Lafitte. When he had perused these letters,

Capt. Lockyer enlarged on the subject of them and proposed to him to

enter into the service of his Brittanic Majesty with the rank of post

captain and to receive the command of a 44 gun frigate. Also all those

under his command, or over whom he had sufficient influence. He was also

offered thirty thousand dollars, payable at Pensacola, and urged him not

to let slip this opportunity of acquiring fortune and consideration. On

Lafitte's requiring a few days to reflect upon these proposals, Capt.

Lockyer observed to him that no reflection could be necessary,

respecting proposals that obviously precluded hesitation, as he was a

Frenchman and proscribed by the American government. But to all his

splendid promises and daring insinuations, Lafitte replied that in a few

days he would give a final answer; his object in this procrastination

being to gain time to inform the officers of the state government of

this nefarious project. Having occasion to go to some distance for a

short time, the persons who had proposed to send the British officers

prisoners to New Orleans, went and seized them in his absence, and

confined both them and the crew of the pinnace, in a secure place,

leaving a guard at the door. The British officers sent for Lafitte; but

he, fearing an insurrection of the crews of the privateers, thought it

advisable not to see them until he had first persuaded their captains

and officers to desist from the measures on which they seemed bent. With

this view he represented to the latter that, besides the infamy that

would attach to them if they treated as prisoners people who had come

with a flag of truce, they would lose the opportunity of discovering the

projects of the British against Louisiana.

Early the next morning Lafitte caused them to be released from their

confinement and saw them safe on board their pinnace, apologizing the

detention. He now wrote to Capt. Lockyer the following letter.

To CAPTAIN LOCKYER.

_Barrataria, 4th Sept_. 1814.

Sir--The confusion which prevailed in our camp yesterday and this

morning, and of which you have a complete knowledge, has prevented me

from answering in a precise manner to the object of your mission; nor

even at this moment can I give you all the satisfaction that you desire;

however, if you could grant me a fortnight, I would be entirely at your

disposal at the end of that time. This delay is indispensable to enable

me to put my affairs in order. You may communicate with me by sending a

boat to the eastern point of the pass, where I will be found. You have

inspired me with more confidence than the admiral, your superior

officer, could have done himself; with you alone, I wish to deal, and

from you also I will claim, in due time the reward of the services,

which I may render to you. Yours, &c.

J. LAFITTE.

His object in writing that letter was, by appearing disposed to accede

to their proposals, to give time to communicate the affair to the

officers of the state government, and to receive from them instructions

how to act, under circumstances so critical and important to the

country. He accordingly wrote on the 4th September to Mr. Blanque, one

of the representatives of the state, sending him all the papers

delivered to him by the British officers with a letter addressed to his

excellency, Gov. Claiborne of the state of Louisiana.

To Gov. CLAIBORNE.

_Barrataria, Sept_. 4_th_, 1814.

Sir--In the firm persuasion that the choice made of you to fill the

office of first magistrate of this state, was dictated by the esteem of

your fellow citizens, and was conferred on merit, I confidently address

you on an affair on which may depend the safety of this country. I offer

to you to restore to this state several citizens, who perhaps in your

eyes have lost that sacred title. I offer you them, however, such as you

could wish to find them, ready to exert their utmost efforts in defence

of the country. This point of Louisiana, which I occupy, is of great

importance in the present crisis. I tender my services to defend it; and

the only reward I ask is that a stop be put to the proscription against

me and my adherents, by an act of oblivion, for all that has been done

hitherto. I am the stray sheep wishing to return to the fold. If you are

thoroughly acquainted with the nature of my offences, I should appear to

you much less guilty, and still worthy to discharge the duties of a good

citizen. I have never sailed under any flag but that of the republic of

Carthagena, and my vessels are perfectly regular in that respect. If I

could have brought my lawful prizes into the ports of this state, I

should not have employed the illicit means that have caused me to be

proscribed. I decline saying more on the subject, until I have the honor

of your excellency's answer, which I am persuaded can be dictated only

by wisdom. Should your answer not be favorable to my ardent desires, I

declare to you that I will instantly leave the country, to avoid the

imputation of having cooperated towards an invasion on this point, which

cannot fail to take place, and to rest secure in the acquittal of my

conscience.

I have the honor to be

your excellency's, &c.

J. LAFITTE.

The contents of these letters do honor to Lafitte's judgment, and

evince his sincere attachment to the American cause. On the receipt of

this packet from Lafitte, Mr. Blanque immediately laid its contents

before the governor, who convened the committee of defence lately formed

of which he was president; and Mr. Rancher the bearer of Lafitte's

packet, was sent back with a verbal answer to desire Lafitte to take no

steps until it should be determined what was expedient to be done; the

message also contained an assurance that, in the meantime no steps

should be taken against him for his past offences against the laws of

the United States.

At the expiration of the time agreed on with Captain Lockyer, his ship

appeared again on the coast with two others, and continued standing off

and on before the pass for several days. But he pretended not to

perceive the return of the sloop of war, who tired of waiting to no

purpose put out to sea and disappeared.

Lafitte having received a guarantee from General Jackson for his safe

passage from Barrataria to New Orleans and back, he proceeded forthwith

to the city where he had an interview with Gov. Claiborne and the

General. After the usual formalities and courtesies had taken place

between these gentlemen, Lafitte addressed the Governor of Louisiana

nearly as follows. I have offered to defend for you that part of

Louisiana I now hold. But not as an outlaw, would I be its defender. In

that confidence, with which you have inspired me, I offer to restore to

the state many citizens, now under my command. As I have remarked

before, the point I occupy is of great importance in the present crisis.

I tender not only my own services to defend it, but those of all I

command; and the only reward I ask, is, that a stop be put to the

proscription against me and my adherents, by an act of oblivion for all

that has been done hitherto.

"My dear sir," said the Governor, who together with General Jackson, was

impressed with admiration of his sentiments, "your praiseworthy wishes

shall be laid before the council of the state, and I will confer with my

August friend here present, upon this important affair, and send you an

answer to-morrow." At Lafitte withdrew, the General said farewell; when

we meet again, I trust it will be in the ranks of the American army. The

result of the conference was the issuing the following order.

[Illustration: _Interview between Lafitte, General Jackson, and Governor

Claiborne._]

The Governor of Louisiana, informed that many individuals implicated in

the offences heretofore committed against the United States at

Barrataria, express a willingness at the present crisis to enroll

themselves and march against the enemy.

He does hereby invite them to join the standard of the United States and

is authorised to say, should their conduct in the field meet the

approbation of the Major General, that that officer will unite with the

governor in a request to the president of the United States, to extend

to each and every individual, so marching and acting, a free and full

pardon. These general orders were placed in the hands of Lafitte, who

circulated them among his dispersed followers, most of whom readily

embraced the conditions of pardon they held out. In a few days many

brave men and skillful artillerists, whose services contributed greatly

to the safety of the invaded state, flocked to the standard of the

United States, and by their conduct, received the highest approbation of

General Jackson.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

"Among the many evils produced by the wars, which, with little

intermission, have afflicted Europe, and extended their ravages into

other quarters of the globe, for a period exceeding twenty years, the

dispersion of a considerable portion of the inhabitants of different

countries, in sorrow and in want, has not been the least injurious to

human happiness, nor the least severe in the trial of human virtue.

"It had been long ascertained that many foreigners, flying from the

dangers of their own home, and that some citizens, forgetful of their

duty, had co-operated in forming an establishment on the island of

Barrataria, near the mouth of the river Mississippi, for the purpose of

a clandestine and lawless trade. The government of the United States

caused the establishment to be broken up and destroyed; and, having

obtained the means of designating the offenders of every description, it

only remained to answer the demands of justice by inflicting an

exemplary punishment.

"But it has since been represented that the offenders have manifested a

sincere penitence; that they have abandoned the prosecution of the worst

cause for the support of the best, and, particularly, that they have

exhibited, in the defence of New Orleans, unequivocal traits of courage

and fidelity. Offenders, who have refused to become the associates of

the enemy in the war, upon the most seducing terms of invitation; and

who have aided to repel his hostile invasion of the territory of the

United States, can no longer be considered as objects of punishment, but

as objects of a generous forgiveness.

"It has therefore been seen, with great satisfaction, that the General

Assembly of the State of Louisiana earnestly recommend those offenders

to the benefit of a full pardon; And in compliance with that

recommendation, as well as in consideration of all the other

extraordinary circumstances in the case, I, _James Madison_, President

of the United States of America, do issue this proclamation, hereby

granting, publishing and declaring, a free and full pardon of all

offences committed in violation of any act or acts of the Congress of

the said United States, touching the revenue, trade and navigation

thereof, or touching the intercourse and commerce of the United States

with foreign nations, at any time before the eighth day of January, in

the present year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, by any person

or persons whatsoever, being inhabitants of New Orleans and the adjacent

country, or being inhabitants of the said island of Barrataria, and the

places adjacent; _Provided_, that every person, claiming the benefit of

this full pardon, in order to entitle himself thereto, shall produce a

certificate in writing from the governor of the State of Louisiana,

stating that such person has aided in the defence of New Orleans and

the adjacent country, during the invasion thereof as aforesaid.

"And I do hereby further authorize and direct all suits, indictments, and

prosecutions, for fines, penalties, and forfeitures, against any person

or persons, who shall be entitled to the benefit of this full pardon,

forthwith to be stayed, discontinued and released: All civil officers

are hereby required, according to the duties of their respective

stations, to carry this proclamation into immediate and faithful

execution.

"Done at the City of Washington, the sixth day of February, in the year

one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, and of the independence of the

United States the thirty-ninth.

"By the President,

"JAMES MADISON

"JAMES MONROE,

"_Acting Secretary of State_."

The morning of the eighth of January, was ushered in with the discharge

of rockets, the sound of cannon, and the cheers of the British soldiers

advancing to the attack. The Americans, behind the breastwork, awaited

in calm intrepidity their approach. The enemy advanced in close column

of sixty men in front, shouldering their muskets and carrying fascines

and ladders. A storm of rockets preceded them, and an incessant fire

opened from the battery, which commanded the advanced column. The

musketry and rifles from the Kentuckians and Tennesseans, joined the

fire of the artillery, and in a few moments was heard along the line a

ceaseless, rolling fire, whose tremendous noise resembled the continued

reverberation of thunder. One of these guns, a twenty-four pounder,

placed upon the breastwork in the third embrasure from the river, drew,

from the fatal skill and activity with which it was managed, even in

the heat of battle, the admiration of both Americans and British; and

became one of the points most dreaded by the advancing foe.

Here was stationed Lafitte and his lieutenant Dominique and a large band

of his men, who during the continuance of the battle, fought with

unparalleled bravery. The British already had been twice driven back in

the utmost confusion, with the loss of their commander-in-chief, and two

general officers.

Two other batteries were manned by the Barratarians, who served their

pieces with the steadiness and precision of veteran gunners. In the

first attack of the enemy, a column pushed forward between the levee and

river; and so precipitate was their charge that the outposts were forced

to retire, closely pressed by the enemy. Before the batteries could meet

the charge, clearing the ditch, they gained the redoubt through the

embrasures, leaping over the parapet, and overwhelming by their superior

force the small party stationed there.

Lafitte, who was commanding in conjunction with his officers, at one of

the guns, no sooner saw the bold movement of the enemy, than calling a

few of his best men by his side, he sprung forward to the point of

danger, and clearing the breastwork of the entrenchments, leaped,

cutlass in hand, into the midst of the enemy, followed by a score of his

men, who in many a hard fought battle upon his own deck, had been well

tried.

Astonished at the intrepidity which could lead men to leave their

entrenchments and meet them hand to hand, and pressed by the suddenness

of the charge, which was made with the recklessness, skill and rapidity

of practised boarders bounding upon the deck of an enemy's vessel, they

began to give way, while one after another, two British officers fell

before the cutlass of the pirate, as they were bravely encouraging their

men. All the energies of the British were now concentrated to scale the

breastwork, which one daring officer had already mounted. While Lafitte

and his followers, seconding a gallant band of volunteer riflemen,

formed a phalanx which they in vain assayed to penetrate.

The British finding it impossible to take the city and the havoc in

their ranks being dreadful, made a precipitate retreat, leaving the

field covered with their dead and wounded.

General Jackson, in his correspondence with the secretary of war did not

fail to notice the conduct of the "Corsairs of Barrataria," who were, as

we have already seen, employed in the artillery service. In the course

of the campaign they proved, in an unequivocal manner, that they had

been misjudged by the enemy, who a short time previous to the invasion

of Louisiana, had hoped to enlist them in his cause. Many of them were

killed or wounded in the defence of the country. Their zeal, their

courage, and their skill, were remarked by the whole army, who could no

longer consider such brave men as criminals. In a few days peace was

declared between Great Britain and the United States.

The piratical establishment of Barrataria having been broken up and

Lafitte not being content with leading an honest, peaceful life,

procured some fast sailing vessels, and with a great number of his

followers, proceeded to Galvezton Bay, in Texas, during the year 1819;

where he received a commission from General Long; and had five vessels

generally cruising and about 300 men. Two open boats bearing commissions

from General Humbert, of Galvezton, having robbed a plantation on the

Marmento river, of negroes, money, &c., were captured in the Sabine

river, by the boats of the United States schooner Lynx. One of the men

was hung by Lafitte, who dreaded the vengeance of the American

government. The Lynx also captured one of his schooners, and her prize

that had been for a length of time smuggling in the Carmento. One of

his cruisers, named the Jupiter, returned safe to Galvezton after a

short cruise with a valuable cargo, principally specie; she was the

first vessel that sailed under the authority of Texas. The American

government well knowing that where Lafitte was, piracy and smuggling

would be the order of the day, sent a vessel of war to cruise in the

Gulf of Mexico, and scour the coasts of Texas. Lafitte having been

appointed governor of Galvezton and one of the cruisers being stationed

off the port to watch his motions, it so annoyed him that he wrote the

following letter to her commander, Lieutenant Madison.

_To the commandant of the American cruiser, off the port of Galvezton_.

Sir--I am convinced that you are a cruiser of the navy, ordered by your

government. I have therefore deemed it proper to inquire into the cause

of your living before this port without communicating your intention. I

shall by this message inform you, that the port of Galvezton belongs to

and is in the possession of the republic of Texas, and was made a port

of entry the 9th October last. And whereas the supreme congress of said

republic have thought proper to appoint me as governor of this place, in

consequence of which, if you have any demands on said government, or

persons belonging to or residing in the same, you will please to send an

officer with such demands, whom you may be assured will be treated with

the greatest politeness, and receive every satisfaction required. But if

you are ordered, or should attempt to enter this port in a hostile

manner, my oath and duty to the government compels me to rebut your

intentions at the expense of my life.

To prove to you my intentions towards the welfare and harmony of your

government I send enclosed the declaration of several prisoners, who

were taken in custody yesterday, and by a court of inquiry appointed

for that purpose, were found guilty of robbing the inhabitants of the

United States of a number of slaves and specie. The gentlemen bearing

this message will give you any reasonable information relating to this

place, that may be required.

Yours, &c.

J. LAFITTE.

About this time one Mitchell, who had formerly belonged to Lafitte's

gang, collected upwards of one hundred and fifty desperadoes and

fortified himself on an island near Barrataria, with several pieces of

cannon; and swore that he and all his comrades would perish within their

trenches before they would surrender to any man. Four of this gang

having gone to New Orleans on a frolic, information was given to the

city watch, and the house surrounded, when the whole four with cocked

pistols in both hands sallied out and marched through the crowd which

made way for them and no person dared to make an attempt to arrest them.

The United States cutter, Alabama, on her way to the station off the

mouth of the Mississippi, captured a piratical schooner belonging to

Lafitte; she carried two guns and twenty-five men, and was fitted out at

New Orleans, and commanded by one of Lafitte's lieutenants, named Le

Fage; the schooner had a prize in company and being hailed by the

cutter, poured into her a volley of musketry; the cutter then opened

upon the privateer and a smart action ensued which terminated in favor

of the cutter, which had four men wounded and two of them dangerously;

but the pirate had six men killed; both vessels were captured and

brought into the bayou St. John. An expedition was now sent to dislodge

Mitchell and his comrades from the island he had taken possession of;

after coming to anchor, a summons was sent for him to surrender, which

was answered by a brisk cannonade from his breastwork. The vessels were

warped close in shore; and the boats manned and sent on shore whilst the

vessels opened upon the pirates; the boat's crews landed under a galling

fire of grape shot and formed in the most undaunted manner; and although

a severe loss was sustained they entered the breastwork at the point of

the bayonet; after a desperate fight the pirates gave way, many were

taken prisoners but Mitchell and the greatest part escaped to the

cypress swamps where it was impossible to arrest them. A large quantity

of dry goods and specie together with other booty was taken. Twenty of

the pirates were taken and brought to New Orleans, and tried before

Judge Hall, of the Circuit Court of the United States, sixteen were

brought in guilty; and after the Judge had finished pronouncing sentence

of death upon the hardened wretches, several of them cried out in open

court, _Murder--by God_.

Accounts of these transactions having reached Lafitte, he plainly

perceived there was a determination to sweep all his cruisers from the

sea; and a war of extermination appeared to be waged against him.

In a fit of desperation he procured a large and fast sailing brigantine

mounting sixteen guns and having selected a crew of one hundred and

sixty men he started without any commission as a regular pirate

determined to rob all nations and neither to give or receive quarter. A

British sloop of war which was cruising in the Gulf of Mexico, having

heard that Lafitte himself was at sea, kept a sharp look out from the

mast head; when one morning as an officer was sweeping the horizon with

his glass he discovered a long dark looking vessel, low in the water,

but having very tall masts, with sails white as the driven snow. As the

sloop of war had the weather gage of the pirate and could outsail her

before the wind, she set her studding sails and crowded every inch of

canvass in chase; as soon as Lafitte ascertained the character of his

opponent, he ordered the awnings to be furled and set his big

square-sail and shot rapidly through the water; but as the breeze

freshened the sloop of war came up rapidly with the pirate, who, finding

no chance of escaping, determined to sell his life as dearly as

possible; the guns were cast loose and the shot handed up; and a fire

opened upon the ship which killed a number of men and carried away her

foretopmast, but she reserved her fire until within cable's distance of

the pirate; when she fired a general discharge from her broadside, and a

volley of small arms; the broadside was too much elevated to hit the low

hull of the brigantine, but was not without effect; the foretopmast

fell, the jaws of the main gaff were severed and a large proportion of

the rigging came rattling down on deck; ten of the pirates were killed,

but Lafitte remained unhurt. The sloop of war entered her men over the

starboard bow and a terrific contest with pistols and cutlasses ensued;

Lafitte received two wounds at this time which disabled him, a grape

shot broke the bone of his right leg and he received a cut in the

abdomen, but his crew fought like tigers and the deck was ankle deep

with blood and gore; the captain of the boarders received such a

tremendous blow on the head from the butt end of a musket, as stretched

him senseless on the deck near Lafitte, who raised his dagger to stab

him to the heart. But the tide of his existence was ebbing like a

torrent, his brain was giddy, his aim faltered and the point descended

in the Captain's right thigh; dragging away the blade with the last

convulsive energy of a death struggle, he lacerated the wound. Again the

reeking steel was upheld, and Lafitte placed his left hand near the

Captain's heart, to make his aim more sure; again the dizziness of

dissolution spread over his sight, down came the dagger into the

captain's left thigh and Lafitte was a corpse.

The upper deck was cleared, and the boarders rushed below on the main

deck to complete their conquest. Here the slaughter was dreadful, till

the pirates called out for quarter, and the carnage ceased; all the

pirates that surrendered were taken to Jamaica and tried before the

Admiralty court where sixteen were condemned to die, six were

subsequently pardoned and ten executed.

[Illustration: _Death of Lafitte, the Pirate._]

Thus perished Lafitte, a man superior in talent, in knowledge of his

profession, in courage, and moreover in physical strength; but

unfortunately his reckless career was marked with crimes of the darkest

dye.

[Illustration]

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN ROBERTS.

Bartholomew Roberts was trained to a sea-faring life. Among other

voyages which he made during the time that he lawfully procured his

maintenance, he sailed for the Guinea cost, in November, 1719, where he

was taken by the pirate Davis. He was at first very averse to that mode

of life, and would certainly have deserted, had an opportunity occurred.

It happened to him, however, as to many upon another element, that

preferment calmed his conscience, and reconciled him to that which he

formerly hated.

Davis having fallen in the manner related, those who had assumed the

title of Lords assembled to deliberate concerning the choice of a new

commander. There were several candidates, who, by their services, had

risen to eminence among their breathren, and each of them thought

themselves qualified to bear rule. One addressed the assembled lords,

saying, "that the good of the whole, and the maintenance of order,

demanded a head, but that the proper authority was deposited in the

community at large; so that if one should be elected who did not act and

govern for the general good, he could be deposed, and another be

substituted in his place."

"We are the original," said he, "of this claim, and should a captain be

so saucy as to exceed prescription at any time, why, down with him! It

will be a caution, after he is dead, to his successors, to what fatal

results any undue assumption may lead; however, it is my advice, while

be are sober, to pitch upon a man of courage, and one skilled in

navigation,--one who, by his prudence and bravery, seems best able to

defend this commonwealth, and ward us from the dangers and tempests of

an unstable element, and the fatal consequences of anarchy; and such a

one I take Roberts to be: a fellow in all respects worthy of your esteem

and favor."

This speech was applauded by all but Lord Simpson, who had himself

strong expectations of obtaining the highest command. He at last, in a

surly tone, said, he did not regard whom they chose as a commander,

provided he was not a papist, for he had conceived a mortal hatred to

papists, because his father had been a sufferer in Monmouth's rebellion.

Thus, though Roberts had only been a few weeks among them, his election

was confirmed by the Lords and Commons. He, with the best face he could,

accepted of the dignity, saying, "that since he had dipped his hands in

muddy water, and must be a pirate, it was better being a commander than

a private man."

The governor being settled, and other officers chosen in the room of

those who had fallen with Davis, it was resolved not to leave this place

without revenging his death. Accordingly, thirty men, under the command

of one Kennedy, a bold and profligate fellow, landed, and under cover of

the fire of the ship, ascended the hill upon which the fort stood. They

were no sooner discovered by the Portuguese, than they abandoned the

fort, and took shelter in the town. The pirates then entered without

opposition, set fire to the fort, and tumbled the guns into the sea.

Not satisfied with this injury, some proposed to land and set the town

in flames. Roberts however, reminded them of the great danger to which

this would inevitably expose them; that there was a thick wood at the

back of the town, where the inhabitants could hide themselves, and that,

when their all was at stake, they would make a bolder resistance: and

that the burning or destroying of a few houses, would be a small return

for their labor, and the loss that they might sustain. This prudent

advice had the desired effect, and they contented themselves with

lightening the French vessel, and battering down several houses of the

town, to show their high displeasure.

Roberts sailed southward, captured a Dutch Guineaman, and, having

emptied her of everything they thought proper, returned her to the

commander. Two days after, he captured an English ship, and, as the men

joined in pirating, emptied and burned the vessel, and then sailed for

St. Thomas. Meeting with no prize, he sailed for Anamaboa, and there

watered and repaired. Having again put to sea, a vote was taken whether

they should sail for the East Indies or for Brazil. The latter place was

decided upon, and they arrived there in twenty-eight days.

Upon this coast our rovers cruised for about nine weeks, keeping

generally out of sight of land, but without seeing a sail; which

discouraged them so, that they determined to leave the station, and

steer for the West Indies; and, in order thereto, they stood in to make

the land for the taking of their departure, by which means they fell in,

unexpectedly, with a fleet of forty-two sail of Portuguese ships, off

the Bay of Los Todos Santos, with all their lading in for Lisbon;

several of them of good force, who lay there waiting for two men of war

of seventy guns each for their convoy. However, Roberts thought it

should go hard with him but he would make up his market among them, and

thereupon he mixed with the fleet, and kept his men concealed till

proper resolutions could be formed; that done, they came close up to one

of the deepest, and ordered her to send the master on board quietly,

threatening to give them no quarter, if any resistance or signal of

distress was made. The Portuguese, being surprised at these threats, and

the sudden flourish of cutlasses from the pirates, submitted without a

word, and the captain came on board. Roberts saluted him in a friendly

manner, telling him that they were gentlemen of fortune, and that their

business with him was only to be informed which was the richest ship in

that fleet; and if he directed them right, he should be restored to his

ship without molestation, otherwise he must expect instant death.

He then pointed to a vessel of forty guns, and a hundred and fifty men;

and though her strength was greatly superior to Roberts', yet he made

towards her, taking the master of the captured vessel along with him.

Coming alongside of her, Roberts ordered the prisoner to ask, "How

Seignior Captain did?" and to invite him on board, as he had a matter of

importance to impart to him. He was answered, "That he would wait upon

him presently." Roberts, however, observing more than ordinary bustle on

board, at once concluded they were discovered, and pouring a broadside

into her, they immediately boarded, grappled, and took her. She was a

very rich prize, laden with sugar, skins, and tobacco, with four

thousand moidores of gold, besides other valuable articles.

In possession of so much riches, they now became solicitous to find a

safe retreat in which to spend their time in mirth and wantonness. They

determined upon a place called the Devil's Island upon the river

Surinam, where they arrived in safety, and met with a kind reception

from the governor and the inhabitants.

In this river they seized a sloop, which informed them that she had

sailed in company with a brigantine loaded with provisions. This was

welcome intelligence, as their provisions were nearly exhausted. Deeming

this too important a business to trust to foreign hands, Roberts, with

forty men in the sloop, gave chase to that sail. In the keenness of the

moment, and trusting in his usual good fortune, Roberts supposed that he

had only to take a short sail in order to bring in the vessel with her

cargo; but to his sad disappointment, he pursued her during eight days,

and instead of gaining, was losing way. Under these circumstances, he

came to anchor, and sent off the boat to give intelligence of their

distress to their companions.

In their extremity of want, they took up part of the floor of the cabin,

and patched up a sort of tray with rope-yarns, to paddle on shore to get

a little water to preserve their lives. When their patience was almost

exhausted, the boat returned, but instead of provisions, brought the

unpleasing information, that the lieutenant, one Kennedy, had run off

with both the ships.

The misfortune and misery of Roberts were greatly aggravated by

reflecting upon his own imprudence and want of foresight, as well as

from the baseness of Kennedy and his crew. Impelled by the necessity of

his situation, he now began to reflect upon the means he should employ

for future support. Under the foolish supposition that any laws, oaths

or regulations, could bind those who had bidden open defiance to all

divine and human laws, he proceeded to form a code of regulations for

the maintenance of order and unity in his little commonwealth.

But present necessity compelled them to action, and with their small

sloop they sailed for the West Indies. They were not long before they

captured two sloops, which supplied them with provisions, and a few days

after, a brigantine, and then proceeded to Barbadoes. When off that

island they met a vessel of ten guns, richly laden from Bristol; after

plundering, and detaining her three days, they allowed her to prosecute

her voyage. This vessel, however, informed the governor of what had

befallen them, who sent a vessel of twenty guns and eighty men in quest

of the pirates.

That vessel was commanded by one Rogers, who, on the second day of his

cruise, discovered Roberts. Ignorant of any vessel being sent after

them, they made towards each other. Roberts gave him a gun but instead

of striking, the other returned a broadside, with three huzzas. A

severe engagement ensued, and Roberts being hard put to it, lightened

his vessel and ran off.

Roberts then sailed for the Island of Dominica, where he watered, and

was supplied by the inhabitants with provisions, for which he gave them

goods in return. Here he met with fifteen Englishmen left upon the

island by a Frenchman who had made a prize of their vessel; and they,

entering into his service, proved a seasonable addition to his strength.

Though he did not think this a proper place for cleaning, yet as it was

absolutely necessary that it should be done, he directed his course to

the Granada islands for that purpose. This, however, had well nigh

proved fatal to him; for the Governor of Martinique fitted out two

sloops to go in quest of the pirates. They, however, sailed to the

above-mentioned place, cleaned with unusual despatch, and just left that

place the night before the sloops in pursuit of them arrived.

They next sailed for Newfoundland, arriving upon the banks in June,

1720, and entered the harbor of Trepassi, with their black colors

flying, drums beating, and trumpets sounding. In that harbor there were

no less than twenty-two ships, which the men abandoned upon the sight of

the pirates. It is impossible to describe the injury which they did at

this place, by burning or sinking the ships, destroying the plantations,

and pillaging the houses. Power in the hands of mean and ignorant men

renders them wanton, insolent and cruel. They are literally like madmen,

who cast firebrands, arrows and death, and say, "Are not we in sport?"

Roberts reserved a Bristol galley from his depredations in the harbor,

which he fitted and manned for his own service. Upon the banks he met

ten sail of French ships, and destroyed them all, except one of

twenty-six guns, which he seized and carried off, and called her the

Fortune. Then giving the Bristol galley to the Frenchman, they sailed

in quest of new adventures, and soon took several prizes, and out of

them increased the number of their own hands. The Samuel, one of these,

was a very rich vessel, having some respectable passengers on board, who

were roughly used, and threatened with death if they did not deliver up

their money and their goods. They stripped the vessel of every article,

either necessary for their vessel or themselves, to the amount of eight

or nine thousand pounds. They then deliberated whether to sink or burn

the Samuel, but in the mean time they discovered a sail, so they left

the empty Samuel, and gave the other chase. At midnight they overtook

her, and she proved to be the Snow from Bristol; and, because he was an

Englishman, they used the master in a cruel and barbarous manner. Two

days after, they took the Little York of Virginia, and the Love of

Liverpool, both of which they plundered and sent off. In three days they

captured three other vessels, removing the goods out of them, sinking

one, and sending off the other two.

They next sailed for the West Indies, but provisions growing short,

proceeded to St. Christopher's, where, being denied provisions by the

governor, they fired on the town, and burnt two ships in the roads. They

then repaired to the island of St. Bartholomew, where the governor

supplied them with every necessary, and caressed them in the kindest

manner. Satiated with indulgence, and having taken in a large stock of

everything necessary, they unanimously voted to hasten to the coast of

Guinea. In their way they took a Frenchman, and as she was fitter for

the pirate service than their own, they informed the captain, that, as

"a fair exchange was no robbery," they would exchange sloops with him;

accordingly, having shifted their men, they set sail. However, going by

mistake out of the track of the trade winds, they were under the

necessity of returning to the West Indies.

They now directed their course to Surinam but not having sufficient

water for the voyage they were soon reduced to a mouthful of water in

the day; their numbers daily diminished by thirst and famine and the few

who survived were reduced to the greatest weakness. They at last had not

one drop of water or any other liquid, when, to their inexpressible joy,

they anchored in seven fathoms of water. This tended to revive exhausted

nature and inspire them with new vigour, though as yet they had received

no relief. In the morning they discovered land, but at such a distance

that their hopes were greatly dampened. The boat was however sent off,

and at night returned with plenty of that necessary element. But this

remarkable deliverance produced no reformation in the manners of these

unfeeling and obdurate men.

Steering their course from that place to Barbadoes, in their way they

met with a vessel which supplied them with all necessaries. Not long

after, they captured a brigantine, the mate of which joined their

association. Having from these two obtained a large supply, they changed

their course and watered at Tobago. Informed, however, that there were

two vessels sent in pursuit of them, they went to return their

compliments to the Governor of Martinique for this kindness.

It was the custom of the Dutch interlopers, when they approached this

island to trade with the inhabitants, to hoist their jacks. Roberts knew

the signal, and did so likewise. They, supposing that a good market was

near, strove who could first reach Roberts. Determined to do them all

possible mischief he destroyed them one by one as they came into his

power. He only reserved one ship to send the men on shore, and burnt the

remainder, to the number of twenty.

Roberts and his crew were so fortunate as to capture several vessels and

to render their liquor so plentiful, that it was esteemed a crime

against Providence not to be continually drunk. One man, remarkable

for his sobriety, along with two others, found an opportunity to set off

without taking leave of their friends. But a despatch being sent after

them, they were brought back, and in a formal manner tried and

sentenced, but one of them was saved by the humorous interference of one

of the judges, whose speech was truly worthy of a pirate--while the

other two suffered the punishment of death.

[Illustration: _Captain Roberts' Crew carousing at Old Calabar River._]

When necessity again compelled them, they renewed their cruising; and,

dissatisfied with capturing vessels which only afforded them a temporary

supply, directed their course to the Guinea coast to forage for gold.

Intoxication rendered them unruly, and the brigantine at last embraced

the cover of night to abandon the commodore. Unconcerned at the loss of

his companion, Roberts pursued his voyage. He fell in with two French

ships, the one of ten guns and sixty-five men, and the other of sixteen

guns and seventy-five men. These dastards no sooner beheld the black

flag than they surrendered. With these they went to Sierra Leone,

constituting one of them a consort, by the name of the Ranger, and the

other a store-ship. This port being frequented by the greater part of

the traders to that quarter, they remained here six weeks, enjoying

themselves in all the splendor and luxury of a piratical life.

After this they renewed their voyage, and having captured a vessel, the

greater part of the men united their fortunes with the pirates. On board

of one of the ships was a clergyman, whom some of them proposed taking

along with them, for no other reason than that they had not a chaplain

on board. They endeavored to gain his consent, and assured him that he

should want for nothing, and his only work would be, to make punch and

say prayers. Depraved, however, as these men were, they did not choose

to constrain him to go, but displayed their civility further, by

permitting him to carry along with him whatever he called his own.

After several cruises, they now went into a convenient harbor at Old

Calabar, where they cleaned, refitted, divided their booty, and for a

considerable time caroused, to banish care and sober reflection.

According to their usual custom, the time of festivity and mirth was

prolonged until the want of means recalled them to reason and exertion.

Leaving this port, they cruised from place to place with varied success;

but in all their captures, either burning, sinking, or devoting their

prizes to their own use, according to the whim of the moment. The

Swallow and another man-of-war being sent out expressly to pursue and

take Roberts and his fleet, he had frequent and certain intelligence of

their destination; but having so often escaped their vigilance, he

became rather too secure and fearless. It happened, however, that while

he lay off Cape Lopez, the Swallow had information of his being in that

place, and made towards him. Upon the appearance of a sail, one of

Roberts' ships was sent to chase and take her. The pilot of the Swallow

seeing her coming, manoeouvred his vessel so well, that though he fled

at her approach, in order to draw her out of the reach of her

associates, yet he at his own time allowed her to overtake the

man-of-war.

Upon her coming up to the Swallow, the pirate hoisted the black flag,

and fired upon her; but how greatly were her crew astonished, when they

saw that they had to contend with a man-of-war, and seeing that all

resistance was vain, they cried out for quarter, which was granted, and

they were made prisoners, having ten men killed and twenty wounded,

without the loss or hurt of one of the king's men.

On the 10th, in the morning, the man-of-war bore away to round the cape.

Roberts' crew, discerning their masts over the land, went down into the

cabin to acquaint him of it, he being then at breakfast with his new

guest, captain Hill, on a savoury dish of salmagundy and some of his

own beer. He took no notice of it, and his men almost as little, some

saying she was a Portuguese ship, others a French slave ship, but the

major part swore it was the French Ranger returning; and they were

merrily debating for some time on the manner of reception, whether they

should salute her or not; but as the Swallow approached nearer, things

appeared plainer; and though they who showed any apprehension of danger

were stigmatized with the name of cowards, yet some of them, now

undeceived, declared it to Roberts, especially one Armstrong, who had

deserted from that ship, and knew her well. These Roberts swore at as

cowards, who meant to dishearten the men, asking them, if it were so,

whether they were afraid to fight or not? In short, he hardly refrained

from blows. What his own apprehensions were, till she hauled up her

ports and hoisted her proper colors, is uncertain; but then, being

perfectly convinced, he slipped his cable, got under sail, ordered his

men to arms without any show of timidity, dropping a first-rate oath,

that it was a bite, but at the same time resolved, like a gallant rogue,

to get clear or die.

There was one Armstrong, as was just mentioned, a deserter from the

Swallow, of whom they enquired concerning the trim and sailing of that

ship; he told them she sailed best upon the wind, and therefore, if they

designed to leave her, they should go before it.

The danger was imminent, and the time very short, to consult about means

to extricate himself; his resolution in this strait was as follows: to

pass close to the Swallow with all their sails, and receive her

broadside before they returned a shot; if disabled by this, or if they

could not depend on sailing, then to run on shore at the point, and

every one to shift for himself among the negroes; or failing these, to

board, and blow up together, for he saw that the greatest part of his

men were drunk, passively courageous, and unfit for service.

Roberts, himself, made a gallant figure at the time of the engagement,

being dressed in a rich crimson damask waistcoat and breeches, a red

feather in his hat, a gold chain round his neck, with a diamond cross

hanging to it, a sword in his hand, and two pair of pistols hanging at

the end of a silk sling flung over his shoulders, according to the

custom of the pirates. He is said to have given his orders with boldness

and spirit. Coming, according to what he had purposed, close to the

man-of-war, he received her fire, and then hoisted his black flag and

returned it, shooting away from her with all the sail he could pack; and

had he taken Armstrong's advice to have gone before the wind, he had

probably escaped; but keeping his tacks down, either by the wind's

shifting, or ill steerage, or both, he was taken aback with his sails,

and the Swallow came a second time very nigh to him. He had now,

perhaps, finished the fight very desperately, if death, who took a swift

passage in a grape shot, had not interposed, and struck him directly on

the throat. He settled himself on the tackles of a gun; which one

Stephenson, from the helm, observing, ran to his assistance, and not

perceiving him wounded, swore at him, and bade him stand up and fight

like a man; but when he found his mistake, and that his captain was

certainly dead, he burst into tears, and wished the next shot might be

his portion. They presently threw him overboard, with his arms and

ornaments on, according to his repeated request in his life-time.

This extraordinary man and daring pirate was tall, of a dark complexion,

about 40 years of age, and born in Pembrokeshire. His parents were

honest and respectable, and his natural activity, courage, and

invention, were superior to his education. At a very early period, he,

in drinking, would imprecate vengeance upon "the head of him who ever

lived to wear a halter." He went willingly into the pirate service, and

served three years as a second man. It was not for want of employment,

but from a roving, wild, and boisterous turn of mind. It was his usual

declaration, that, "In an honest service, there are commonly low wages

and hard labor; in this,--plenty, satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty,

and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the

hazard that is run for it at worst, is only a sour look or two at

choking? No,--a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto!" But it

was one favorable trait in his character, that he never forced any man

into the pirate service.

The prisoners were strictly guarded while on board, and being conveyed

to Cape Coast castle, they underwent a long and solemn trial. The

generality of them remained daring and impenitent for some time, but

when they found themselves confined within a castle, and their fate

drawing near, they changed their course, and became serious, penitent,

and fervent in their devotions. Though the judges found no small

difficulty in explaining the law, and different acts of parliament, yet

the facts were so numerous and flagrant which were proved against them,

that there was no difficulty in bringing in a verdict of guilty.

THE LIFE OF CHARLES GIBBS.

_Containing an Account of his Atrocities committed in the West Indies_.

This atrocious and cruel pirate, when very young became addicted to

vices uncommon in youths of his age, and so far from the gentle reproof

and friendly admonition, or the more severe chastisement of a fond

parent, having its intended effect, it seemed to render him still worse,

and to incline him to repay those whom he ought to have esteemed as his

best friends and who had manifested so much regard for his welfare, with

ingratitude and neglect. His infamous career and ignominious death on

the gallows; brought down the "grey hairs of his parents in sorrow to

the grave." The poignant affliction which the infamous crimes of

children bring upon their relatives ought to be one of the most

effective persuasions for them to refrain from vice.

Charles Gibbs was born in the state of Rhode Island, in 1794; his

parents and connexions were of the first respectability. When at school,

he was very apt to learn, but so refractory and sulky, that neither the

birch nor good counsel made any impression on him, and he was expelled

from the school.

He was now made to labor on a farm; but having a great antipathy to

work, when about fifteen years of age, feeling a great inclination to

roam, and like too many unreflecting youths of that age, a great

fondness for the sea, he in opposition to the friendly counsel of his

parents, privately left them and entered on board the United States

sloop-of-war, Hornet, and was in the action when she captured the

British sloop-of-war Peacock, off the coast of Pernambuco. Upon the

return of the Hornet to the United States, her brave commander, Capt.

Lawrence, was promoted for his gallantry to the command of the

unfortunate Chesapeake, and to which he was followed by young Gibbs, who

took a very distinguished part in the engagement with the Shannon, which

resulted in the death of Lawrence and the capture of the Chesapeake.

Gibbs states that while on board the Chesapeake the crew previous to the

action, were almost in a state of mutiny, growing out of the non payment

of the prize money, and that the address of Capt. Lawrence was received

by them with coldness and murmurs.

After the engagement, Gibbs became with the survivors of the crew a

prisoner of war, and as such was confined in Dartmoor prison until

exchanged.

After his exchange, he returned to Boston, where having determined to

abandon the sea, he applied to his friends in Rhode Island, to assist

him in commencing business; they accordingly lent him one thousand

dollars as a capital to begin with. He opened a grocery in Ann Street,

near what was then called the _Tin Pot_, a place full of abandoned women

and dissolute fellows. As he dealt chiefly in liquor, and had a

"_License to retail Spirits_," his drunkery was thronged with customers.

But he sold his groceries chiefly to loose girls who paid him in their

coin, which, although it answered his purpose, would neither buy him

goods or pay his rent, and he found his stock rapidly dwindling away

without his receiving any cash to replenish it. By dissipation and

inattention his new business proved unsuccessful to him. He resolved to

abandon it and again try the sea for a subsistence. With a hundred

dollars in his pocket, the remnant of his property, he embarked in the

ship John, for Buenos Ayres, and his means being exhausted soon after

his arrival there, he entered on board a Buenos Ayrean privateer and

sailed on a cruise. A quarrel between the officers and crew in regard to

the division of prize money, led eventually to a mutiny; and the

mutineers gained the ascendancy, took possession of the vessel, landed

the crew on the coast of Florida, and steered for the West Indies, with

hearts resolved to make their fortunes at all hazards, and where in a

short time, more than twenty vessels were captured by them and nearly

_Four Hundred Human Beings Murdered_!

Havana was the resort of these pirates to dispose of their plunder; and

Gibbs sauntered about this place with impunity and was acquainted in all

the out of the way and bye places of that hot bed of pirates the Regla.

He and his comrades even lodged in the very houses with many of the

American officers who were sent out to take them. He was acquainted with

many of the officers and was apprised of all their intended movements

before they left the harbor. On one occasion, the American ship

Caroline, was captured by two of their piratical vessels off Cape

Antonio. They were busily engaged in landing the cargo, when the British

sloop-of-war, Jearus, hove in sight and sent her barges to attack them.

The pirates defended themselves for some time behind a small four gun

battery which they had erected, but in the end were forced to abandon

their own vessel and the prize and fly to the mountains for safety. The

Jearus found here twelve vessels burnt to the water's edge, and it was

satisfactorily ascertained that their crews, amounting to _one hundred

and fifty persons had been murdered_. The crews, if it was thought not

necessary otherways to dispose of them were sent adrift in their boats,

and frequently without any thing on which they could subsist a single

day; nor were all so fortunate thus to escape. "Dead men can tell no

tales," was a common saying among them; and as soon as a ship's crew

were taken, a short consultation was held; and if it was the opinion of

a majority that it would be better to take life than to spare it, a

single nod or wink from the captain was sufficient; regardless of age or

sex, all entreaties for mercy were then made in vain; they possessed not

the tender feelings, to be operated upon by the shrieks and expiring

groans of the devoted victims! there was a strife among them, who with

his own hands could despatch the greatest number, and in the shortest

period of time.

Without any other motives than to gratify their hellish propensities (in

their intoxicated moments), blood was not unfrequently and unnecessarily

shed, and many widows and orphans probably made, when the lives of the

unfortunate victims might have been spared, and without the most distant

prospect of any evil consequences (as regarded themselves), resulting

therefrom.

Gibbs states that sometime in the course of the year 1819, he left

Havana and came to the United States, bringing with him about $30,000.

He passed several weeks in the city of New York, and then went to

Boston, whence he took passage for Liverpool in the ship Emerald. Before

he sailed, however, he has squandered a large part of his money by

dissipation and gambling. He remained in Liverpool a few months, and

then returned to Boston. His residence in Liverpool at that time is

satisfactorily ascertained from another source besides his own

confession. A female now in New York was well acquainted with him there,

where, she says, he lived like a gentleman, with apparently abundant

means of support. In speaking of his acquaintance with this female he

says, "I fell in with a woman, who I thought was all virtue, but she

deceived me, and I am sorry to say that a heart that never felt abashed

at scenes of carnage and blood, was made a child of for a time by her,

and I gave way to dissipation to drown the torment. How often when the

fumes of liquor have subsided, have I thought of my good and

affectionate parents, and of their Godlike advice! But when the little

monitor began to move within me, I immediately seized the cup to hide

myself from myself, and drank until the sense of intoxication was

renewed. My friends advised me to behave myself like a man, and promised

me their assistance, but the demon still haunted me, and I spurned their

advice."

In 1826, he revisited the United States, and hearing of the war between

Brazil and the Republic of Buenos Ayres, sailed from Boston in the brig

Hitty, of Portsmouth, with a determination, as he states, of trying his

fortune in defence of a republican government. Upon his arrival he made

himself known to Admiral Brown, and communicated his desire to join

their navy. The admiral accompanied him to the Governor, and a

Lieutenant's commission being given him, he joined a ship of 34 guns,

called the 'Twenty Fifth of May.' "Here," says Gibbs, "I found

Lieutenant Dodge, an old acquaintance, and a number of other persons

with whom I had sailed. When the Governor gave me the commission he told

me they wanted no cowards in their navy, to which I replied that I

thought he would have no apprehension of my cowardice or skill when he

became acquainted with me. He thanked me, and said he hoped he should

not be deceived; upon which we drank to his health and to the success of

the Republic. He then presented me with a sword, and told me to wear

that as my companion through the doubtful struggle in which the republic

was engaged. I told him I never would disgrace it, so long as I had a

nerve in my arm. I remained on board the ship in the capacity of 5th

Lieutenant, for about four months, during which time we had a number of

skirmishes with the enemy. Having succeeded in gaining the confidence of

Admiral Brown, he put me in command of a privateer schooner, mounting

two long 24 pounders and 46 men. I sailed from Buenos Ayres, made two

good cruises, and returned safely to port. I then bought one half of a

new Baltimore schooner, and sailed again, but was captured seven days

out, and carried into Rio Janeiro, where the Brazilians paid me my

change. I remained there until peace took place, then returned to Buenos

Ayres, and thence to New York.

"After the lapse of about a year, which I passed in travelling from place

to place, the war between France and Algiers attracted my attention.

Knowing that the French commerce presented a fine opportunity for

plunder, I determined to embark for Algiers and offer my services to the

Dey. I accordingly took passage from New York, in the Sally Ann,

belonging to Bath, landed at Barcelona, crossed to Port Mahon, and

endeavored to make my way to Algiers. The vigilance of the French fleet

prevented the accomplishment of my design, and I proceeded to Tunis.

There finding it unsafe to attempt a journey to Algiers across the

desert, I amused myself with contemplating the ruins of Carthage, and

reviving my recollections of her war with the Romans. I afterwards took

passage to Marseilles, and thence to Boston."

An instance of the most barbarous and cold blooded murder of which the

wretched Gibbs gives an account in the course of his confessions, is

that of an innocent and beautiful female of about 17 or 18 years of age!

she was with her parents a passenger on board a Dutch ship, bound from

Curracoa to Holland; there were a number of other passengers, male and

female, on board, all of whom except the young lady above-mentioned were

put to death; her unfortunate parents were inhumanly butchered before

her eyes, and she was doomed to witness the agonies and to hear the

expiring, heart-piercing groans of those whom she held most dear, and on

whom she depended for protection! The life of their wretched daughter

was spared for the most nefarious purposes--she was taken by the pirates

to the west end of Cuba, where they had a rendezvous, with a small fort

that mounted four guns--here she was confined about two months, and

where, as has been said by the murderer Gibbs, "she received such

treatment, the bare recollection of which causes me to shudder!" At the

expiration of the two months she was taken by the pirates on board of

one of their vessels, and among whom a consultation was soon after held,

which resulted in the conclusion that it would be necessary for their

own personal safety, to put her to death! and to her a fatal dose of

poison was accordingly administered, which soon proved fatal! when her

pure and immortal spirit took its flight to that God, whom, we believe,

will avenge her wrongs! her lifeless body was then committed to the deep

by two of the merciless wretches with as much unconcern, as if it had

been that of the meanest brute! Gibbs persists in the declaration that

in this horrid transaction he took no part, that such was his pity for

this poor ill-fated female, that he interceded for her life so long as

he could do it with safety to his own!

[Illustration: _Gibbs carrying the Dutch Girl on board his Vessel._]

Gibbs in his last visit to Boston remained there but a few days, when he

took passage to New Orleans, and there entered as one of the crew on

board the brig Vineyard; and for assisting in the murder of the

unfortunate captain and mate of which, he was justly condemned, and the

awful sentence of death passed upon him! The particulars of the bloody

transaction (agreeable to the testimony of Dawes and Brownrigg, the two

principal witnesses,) are as follows: The brig Vineyard, Capt. William

Thornby, sailed from New Orleans about the 9th of November, for

Philadelphia, with a cargo of 112 bales of cotton, 113 hhds. sugar, 54

casks of molasses and 54,000 dollars in specie. Besides the captain

there were on board the brig, William Roberts, mate, six seamen shipped

at New Orleans, and the cook. Robert Dawes, one of the crew, states on

examination, that when, about five days out, he was told that there was

money on board, Charles Gibbs, E. Church and the steward then determined

to take possession of the brig. They asked James Talbot, another of the

crew, to join them. He said no, as he did not believe there was money in

the vessel. They concluded to kill the captain and mate, and if Talbot

and John Brownrigg would not join them, to kill them also. The next

night they talked of doing it, and got their clubs ready. Dawes dared

not say a word, as they declared they would kill him if he did; as they

did not agree about killing Talbot and Brownrigg, two shipmates, it was

put off. They next concluded to kill the captain and mate on the night

of November 22, but did not get ready; but, on the night of the 23d,

between twelve and one o'clock, as Dawes was at the helm, saw the

steward come up with a light and a knife in his hand; he dropt the light

and seizing the pump break, struck the captain with it over the head

or back of the neck; the captain was sent forward by the blow, and

halloed, oh! and murder! once; he was then seized by Gibbs and the cook,

one by the head and the other by the heels, and thrown overboard. Atwell

and Church stood at the companion way, to strike down the mate when he

should come up. As he came up and enquired what was the matter they

struck him over the head--he ran back into the cabin, and Charles Gibbs

followed him down; but as it was dark, he could not find him--Gibbs came

on deck for the light, with which he returned. Dawes' light being taken

from him, he could not see to steer, and he in consequence left the

helm, to see what was going on below. Gibbs found the mate and seized

him, while Atwell and Church came down and struck him with a pump break

and a club; he was then dragged upon deck; they called for Dawes to come

to them, and as he came up the mate seized his hand, and gave him a

death gripe! three of them then hove him overboard, but which three

Dawes does not know; the mate when cast overboard was not dead, but

called after them twice while in the water! Dawes says he was so

frightened that he hardly knew what to do. They then requested him to

call Talbot, who was in the forecastle, saying his prayers; he came up

and said it would be his turn next! but they gave him some grog, and

told him not to be afraid, as they would not hurt him; if he was true to

them, he should fare as well as they did. One of those who had been

engaged in the bloody deed got drunk, and another became crazy!

[Illustration: _Gibbs shooting a comrade._]

After killing the captain and mate, they set about overhauling the

vessel, and got up one keg of Mexican dollars. They then divided the

captain's clothes, and money--about 40 dollars, and a gold watch. Dawes,

Talbot and Brownrigg, (who were all innocent of the murder,) were

obliged to do as they were commanded--the former, who was placed at the

helm, was ordered to steer for Long Island. On the day following, they

divided several kegs of the specie, amounting to five thousand dollars

each--they made bags and sewed the money up. After this division, they

divided the remainder of the money without counting it. On Sunday, when

about 15 miles S.S.E. of Southampton Light, they got the boats out and

put half the money in each--they then scuttled the vessel and set fire

to it in the cabin, and took to the boats. Gibbs, after the murder, took

charge of the vessel as captain. From the papers they learnt that the

money belonged to Stephen Girard. With the boats they made the land

about daylight. Dawes and his three companions were in the long boat;

the others, with Atwell, were in the jolly boat--on coming to the bar

the boats struck--in the long boat, they threw overboard a trunk of

clothes and a great deal of money, in all about 5000 dollars--the jolly

boat foundered; they saw the boat fill, and heard them cry out, and saw

them clinging to the masts--they went ashore on Barron Island, and

buried the money in the sand, but very lightly. Soon after they met with

a gunner, whom they requested to conduct them where they could get some

refreshments. They were by him conducted to Johnson's (the only man

living on the island,) where they staid all night--Dawes went to bed at

about 10 o'clock--Jack Brownrigg set up with Johnson, and in the morning

told Dawes that he had told Johnson all about the murder. Johnson went

in the morning with the steward for the clothes, which were left on the

top of the place where they buried the money, but does not believe they

took away the money.

[Illustration: _Captain Thornby murdered and thrown overboard by Gibbs

and the steward._]

The prisoners, (Gibbs and Wansley,) were brought to trial at the

February term of the United States Court, holden in the city of New

York; when the foregoing facts being satisfactorily proved, they were

pronounced guilty, and on the 11th March last, the awful sentence of the

law was passed upon them in the following affecting and impressive

manner:--The Court opened at 11 o'clock, Judge Betts presiding. A few

minutes after that hour, Mr. Hamilton, District Attorney, rose and

said--May it please the Court, Thomas J. Wansley, the prisoner at the

bar, having been tried by a jury of his country, and found guilty of the

murder of Captain Thornby, I now move that the sentence of the Court be

pronounced upon that verdict.

[Illustration: _Gibbs and Wansley burying the Money._]

_By the Court_. Thomas J. Wansley, you have heard what has been said by

the District Attorney--by the Grand Jury of the South District of New

York, you have been arraigned for the wilful murder of Captain Thornby,

of the brig Vineyard; you have been put upon your trial, and after a

patient and impartial hearing, you have been found Guilty. The public

prosecutor now moves for judgment on that verdict; have you any thing to

say, why the sentence of the law should not be passed upon you?

_Thomas J. Wansley_. I will say a few words, but it is perhaps of no

use. I have often understood that there is a great deal of difference in

respect of color, and I have seen it in this Court. Dawes and Brownrigg

were as guilty as I am, and these witnesses have tried to fasten upon me

greater guilt than is just, for their life has been given to them. You

have taken the blacks from their own country, to bring them here to

treat them ill. I have seen this. The witnesses, the jury, and the

prosecuting Attorney consider me more guilty than Dawes, to condemn

me--for otherwise the law must have punished him; he should have had the

same verdict, for he was a perpetrator in the conspiracy.

Notwithstanding my participating, they have sworn falsely for the

purpose of taking my life; they would not even inform the Court, how I

gave information of money being on board; they had the biggest part of

the money, and have sworn falsely. I have said enough. I will say no

more.

_By the Court_. The Court will wait patiently and hear all you have to

say; if you have any thing further to add, proceed.

_Wansley_ then proceeded. In the first place, I was the first to ship on

board the Vineyard at New Orleans, I knew nobody; I saw the money come

on board. The judge that first examined me, did not take my deposition

down correctly. When talking with the crew on board, said the brig was

an old craft, and when we arrived at Philadelphia, we all agreed to

leave her. It was mentioned to me that there was plenty of money on

board. Henry Atwell said "let's have it." I knew no more of this for

some days. Atwell came to me again and asked "what think you of taking

the money." I thought it was a joke, and paid no attention to it. The

next day he said they had determined to take the brig and money, and

that they were the strongest party, and would murder the officers, and

he that informed should suffer with them. I knew Church in Boston, and

in a joke asked him how it was made up in the ship's company; his reply,

that it was he and Dawes. There was no arms on board as was ascertained;

the conspiracy was known to the whole company, and had I informed, my

life would have been taken, and though I knew if I was found out my life

would be taken by law, which is the same thing, so I did not inform. I

have committed murder and I know I must die for it.

_By the Court_. If you wish to add any thing further you will still be

heard.

_Wansley_. No sir, I believe I have said enough.

The District Attorney rose and moved for judgment on Gibbs, in the same

manner as in the case of Wansley, and the Court having addressed Gibbs,

in similar terms, concluded by asking what he had to say why the

sentence of the law should not now be passed upon him.

_Charles Gibbs_ said, I wish to state to the Court, how far I am guilty

and how far I am innocent in this transaction. When I left New Orleans,

I was a stranger to all on board, except Dawes and Church. It was off

Tortugas that Atwell first told me there was money on board, and

proposed to me to take possession of the brig. I refused at that time.

The conspiracy was talked of for some days, and at last I agreed that I

would join. Brownrigg, Dawes, Church, and the whole agreed that they

would. A few days after, however, having thought of the affair, I

mentioned to Atwell, what a dreadful thing it was to take a man's life,

and commit piracy, and recommended him to "abolish," their plan. Atwell

and Dawes remonstrated with me; I told Atwell that if ever he would

speak of the subject again, I would break his nose. Had I kept to my

resolution I would not have been brought here to receive my sentence. It

was three days afterwards that the murder was committed. Brownrigg

agreed to call up the captain from the cabin, and this man, (pointing to

Wansley,) agreed to strike the first blow. The captain was struck and I

suppose killed, and I lent a hand to throw him overboard. But for the

murder of the mate, of which I have been found guilty, I am innocent--I

had nothing to do with that. The mate was murdered by Dawes and Church;

that I am innocent of this I commit my soul to that God who will judge

all flesh--who will judge all murderers and false swearers, and the

wicked who deprive the innocent of his right. I have nothing more to

say.

_By the Court_. Thomas J. Wansley and Charles Gibbs, the Court has

listened to you patiently and attentively; and although you have said

something in your own behalf, yet the Court has heard nothing to affect

the deepest and most painful duty that he who presides over a public

tribunal has to perform.

You, Thomas J. Wansley, conceive that a different measure of justice has

been meted out to you, because of your color. Look back upon your whole

course of life; think of the laws under which you have lived, and you

will find that to white or black, to free or bond, there is no ground

for your allegations; that they are not supported by truth or justice.

Admit that Brownrigg and Dawes have sworn falsely; admit that Dawes was

concerned with you; admit that Brownrigg is not innocent; admit, in

relation to both, that they are guilty, the whole evidence has proved

beyond a doubt that you are guilty; and your own words admit that you

were an active agent in perpetrating this horrid crime. Two fellow

beings who confided in you, and in their perilous voyage called in your

assistance, yet you, without reason or provocation, have maliciously

taken their lives.

If, peradventure, there was the slightest foundation for a doubt of your

guilt, in the mind of the Court, judgment would be arrested, but there

is none; and it now remains to the Court to pronounce the most painful

duty that devolves upon a civil magistrate. The Court is persuaded of

your guilt; it can form no other opinion. Testimony has been heard

before the Court and Jury--from that we must form our opinion. We must

proceed upon testimony, ascertain facts by evidence of witnesses, on

which we must inquire, judge and determine as to guilt or innocence, by

that evidence alone. You have been found guilty. You now stand for the

last time before an earthly tribunal, and by your own acknowledgments,

the sentence of the law falls just on your heads. When men in ordinary

cases come under the penalty of the law there is generally some

palliative--something to warm the sympathy of the Court and Jury. Men

may be led astray, and under the influence of passion have acted under

some long smothered resentment, suddenly awakened by the force of

circumstances, depriving him of reason, and then they may take the life

of a fellow being. Killing, under that kind of excitement, might

possibly awaken some sympathy, but that was not your case; you had no

provocation. What offence had Thornby or Roberts committed against you?

They entrusted themselves with you, as able and trustworthy citizens;

confiding implicitly in you; no one act of theirs, after a full

examination, appears to have been offensive to you; yet for the purpose

of securing the money you coolly determined to take their lives--you

slept and deliberated over the act; you were tempted on, and yielded;

you entered into the conspiracy, with cool and determined calculation to

deprive two human beings of their lives, and it was done.

You, Charles Gibbs, have said that you are not guilty of the murder of

Roberts; but were you not there, strongly instigating the murderers on,

and without stretching out a hand to save him?--It is murder as much to

stand by and encourage the deed, as to stab with a knife, strike with a

hatchet, or shoot with a pistol. It is not only murder in law, but in

your own feelings and in your own conscience. Notwithstanding all this,

I cannot believe that your feelings are so callous, so wholly callous,

that your own minds do not melt when you look back upon the unprovoked

deeds of yourselves, and those confederated with you.

You are American citizens--this country affords means of instruction to

all: your appearance and your remarks have added evidence that you are

more than ordinarily intelligent; that your education has enabled you to

participate in the advantages of information open to all classes. The

Court will believe that when you were young you looked with strong

aversion on the course of life of the wicked. In early life, in boyhood,

when you heard of the conduct of men, who engaged in robbery--nay more,

when you heard of cold blooded murder--how you must have shrunk from the

recital. Yet now, after having participated in the advantages of

education, after having arrived at full maturity, you stand here as

robbers and murderers.

It is a perilous employment of life that you have followed; in this way

of life the most enormous crimes that man can commit, are MURDER AND

PIRACY. With what detestation would you in early life have looked upon

the man who would have raised his hand against his officer, or have

committed piracy! yet now you both stand here murderers and pirates,

tried and found guilty--you Wansley of the murder of your Captain, and

you, Gibbs, of the murder of your Mate. The evidence has convicted you

of rising in mutiny against the master of the vessel, for that alone,

the law is DEATH!--of murder and robbery on the high seas, for that

crime, the law adjudges DEATH--of destroying the vessel and embezzling

the cargo, even for scuttling and burning the vessel alone the law is

DEATH; yet of all these the evidence has convicted you, and it only

remains now for the Court to pass the sentence of the law. It is, that

you, Thomas J. Wansley and Charles Gibbs be taken hence to the place of

confinement, there to remain in close custody, that thence you be taken

to the place of execution, and on the 22d April next, between the hours

of 10 and 4 o'clock, you be both publicly hanged by the neck until you

are DEAD--and that your bodies be given to the College of Physicians and

Surgeons for dissection.

The Court added, that the only thing discretionary with it, was the time

of execution; it might have ordered that you should instantly have been

taken from the stand to the scaffold, but the sentence has been deferred

to as distant a period as prudent--six weeks. But this time has not been

granted for the purpose of giving you any hope for pardon or commutation

of the sentence;--just as sure as you live till the twenty-second of

April, as surely you will suffer death--therefore indulge not a hope

that this sentence will be changed!

The Court then spoke of the terror in all men of death!--how they cling

to life whether in youth, manhood or old age. What an awful thing it is

to die! how in the perils of the sea, when rocks or storms threaten the

loss of the vessel, and the lives of all on board, how the crew will

labor, night and day, in the hope of escaping shipwreck and death!

alluded to the tumult, bustle and confusion of battle--yet even there

the hero clings to life. The Court adverted not only to the certainty of

their coming doom on earth, but to THINK OF HEREAFTER--that they should

seriously think and reflect of their FUTURE STATE! that they would be

assisted in their devotions no doubt, by many pious men.

When the Court closed, Charles Gibbs asked, if during his imprisonment,

his friends would be permitted to see him. The Court answered that that

lay with the Marshal, who then said that no difficulty would exist on

that score. The remarks of the Prisoners were delivered in a strong,

full-toned and unwavering voice, and they both seemed perfectly resigned

to the fate which inevitably awaited them. While Judge Betts was

delivering his address to them, Wansley was deeply affected and shed

tears--but Gibbs gazed with a steady and unwavering eye, and no sign

betrayed the least emotion of his heart. After his condemnation, and

during his confinement, his frame became somewhat enfeebled, his face

paler, and his eyes more sunken; but the air of his bold, enterprising

and desperate mind still remained. In his narrow cell, he seemed more

like an object of pity than vengeance--was affable and communicative,

and when he smiled, exhibited so mild and gentle a countenance, that no

one would take him to be a villain. His conversation was concise and

pertinent, and his style of illustration quite original.

Gibbs was married in Buenos Ayres, where he has a child now living. His

wife is dead. By a singular concurrence of circumstances, the woman with

whom he became acquainted in Liverpool, and who is said at that time to

have borne a decent character, was lodged in the same prison with

himself. During his confinement he wrote her two letters--one of them is

subjoined, to gratify the perhaps innocent curiosity which is naturally

felt to know the peculiarities of a man's mind and feelings under such

circumstances, and not for the purpose of intimating a belief that he

was truly penitent. The reader will be surprised with the apparent

readiness with which he made quotations from Scripture.

"BELLEVUE PRISON, March 20, 1831.

"It is with regret that I take my pen in hand to address you with these

few lines, under the great embarrassment of my feelings placed within

these gloomy walls, my body bound with chains, and under the awful

sentence of death! It is enough to throw the strongest mind into gloomy

prospects! but I find that Jesus Christ is sufficient to give

consolation to the most despairing soul. For he saith, that he that

cometh to me I will in no ways cast out. But it is impossible to

describe unto you the horror of my feelings. My breast is like the

tempestuous ocean, raging in its own shame, harrowing up the bottom of

my soul! But I look forward to that serene calm when I shall sleep with

Kings and Counsellors of the earth. There the wicked cease from

troubling, and there the weary are at rest!--There the prisoners rest

together--they hear not the voice of the oppressor; and I trust that

there my breast will not be ruffled by the storm of sin--for the thing

which I greatly feared has come upon me. I was not in safety, neither

had I rest; yet trouble came. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth to

him good. When I saw you in Liverpool, and a peaceful calm wafted across

both our breasts, and justice no claim upon us, little did I think to

meet you in the gloomy walls of a strong prison, and the arm of justice

stretched out with the sword of law, awaiting the appointed period to

execute the dreadful sentence. I have had a fair prospect in the world,

at last it budded, and brought forth the gallows. I am shortly to mount

that scaffold, and to bid adieu to this world, and all that was ever

dear to my breast. But I trust when my body is mounted on the gallows

high, the heavens above will smile and pity me. I hope that you will

reflect on your past, and fly to that Jesus who stands with open arms to

receive you. Your character is lost, it is true. When the wicked turneth

from the wickedness that they have committed, they shall save their soul

alive.

"Let us imagine for a moment that we see the souls standing before the

awful tribunal, and we hear its dreadful sentence, depart ye cursed into

everlasting fire. Imagine you hear the awful lamentations of a soul in

hell. It would be enough to melt your heart, if it was as hard as

adamant. You would fall upon your knees and plead for God's mercy, as a

famished person would for food, or as a dying criminal would for a

pardon. We soon, very soon, must go the way whence we shall ne'er

return. Our names will be struck off the records of the living, and

enrolled in the vast catalogues of the dead. But may it ne'er be

numbered with the damned.--I hope it will please God to set you at your

liberty, and that you may see the sins and follies of your life past. I

shall now close my letter with a few words which I hope you will receive

as from a dying man; and I hope that every important truth of this

letter may sink deep in your heart, and be a lesson to you through life.

"Rising griefs distress my soul,

And tears on tears successive roll--

For many an evil voice is near,

To chide my woes and mock my fear--

And silent memory weeps alone,

O'er hours of peace and gladness known.

"I still remain your sincere friend, CHARLES GIBBS."

In another letter which the wretched Gibbs wrote after his condemnation

to one who had been his early friend, he writes as follows:--"Alas! it

is now, and not until now, that I have become sensible of my wicked

life, from my childhood, and the enormity of the crime, for which I must

shortly suffer an ignominious death!--I would to God that I never had

been born, or that I had died in my infancy!--the hour of reflection has

indeed come, but come too late to prevent justice from cutting me

off--my mind recoils with horror at the thoughts of the unnatural deeds

of which I have been guilty!--my repose rather prevents than affords me

relief, as my mind, while I slumber, is constantly disturbed by

frightful dreams of my approaching awful dissolution!"

On Friday, April twenty-second, Gibbs and Wansley paid the penalty of

their crimes. Both prisoners arrived at the gallows about twelve

o'clock, accompanied by the marshal, his aids, and some twenty or thirty

United States' marines. Two clergymen attended them to the fatal spot,

where everything being in readiness, and the ropes adjusted about their

necks, the Throne of Mercy was fervently addressed in their behalf.

Wansley then prayed earnestly himself, and afterwards joined in singing

a hymn. These exercises concluded, Gibbs addressed the spectators nearly

as follows:

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

My crimes have been heinous--and although I am now about to suffer for

the murder of Mr. Roberts, I solemnly declare my innocence of the

transaction. It is true, I stood by and saw the fatal deed done, and

stretched not forth my arm to save him; the technicalities of the law

believe me guilty of the charge--but in the presence of my God--before

whom I shall be in a few minutes--I declare I did not murder him.

I have made a full and frank confession to Mr. Hopson, which probably

most of my hearers present have already read; and should any of the

friends of those whom I have been accessary to, or engaged in the murder

of, be now present, before my Maker I beg their forgiveness--it is the

only boon I ask--and as I hope for pardon through the blood of Christ,

surely this request will not be withheld by man, to a worm like myself,

standing as I do, on the very verge of eternity! Another moment, and I

cease to exist--and could I find in my bosom room to imagine that the

spectators now assembled had forgiven me, the scaffold would have no

terrors, nor could the precept which my much respected friend, the

marshal of the district, is about to execute. Let me then, in this

public manner, return my sincere thanks to him, for his kind and

gentlemanly deportment during my confinement. He was to me like a

father, and his humanity to a dying man I hope will be duly appreciated

by an enlightened community.

My first crime was _piracy_, for which my _life_ would pay for forfeit

on conviction; no punishment could be inflicted on me further than that,

and therefore I had nothing to fear but detection, for had my offences

been millions of times more aggravated than they are now, _death_ must

have satisfied all.

Gibbs having concluded, Wansley began. He said he might be called a

pirate, a robber, and a murderer, and he was all of these, but he hoped

and trusted God would, through Christ, wash away his aggravated crimes

and offences, and not cast him entirely out. His feelings, he said, were

so overpowered that he hardly knew how to address those about him, but

he frankly admitted the justness of the sentence, and concluded by

declaring that he had no hope of pardon except through the atoning blood

of his Redeemer, and wished that his sad fate might teach others to shun

the broad road to ruin, and travel in that of virtue, which would lead

to honor and happiness in this world, and an immortal crown of glory in

that to come.

He then shook hands with Gibbs, the officers, and clergymen--their caps

were drawn over their faces, a handkerchief dropped by Gibbs as a signal

to the executioner caused the cord to be severed, and in an instant they

were suspended in air. Wansley folded his hands before him, soon died

with very trifling struggles. Gibbs died hard; before he was run up, and

did not again remove them, but after being near two minutes suspended,

he raised his right hand and partially removed his cap, and in the

course of another minute, raised the same hand to his mouth. His dress

was a blue round-about jacket and trousers, with a foul anchor in white

on his right arm. Wansley wore a white frock coat, trimmed with black,

with trousers of the same color.

After the bodies had remained on the gallows the usual time, they were

taken down and given to the surgeons for dissection.

Gibbs was rather below the middle stature, thick set and powerful. The

form of Wansley was a perfect model of manly beauty.

[Illustration]

HISTORY OF THE ADVENTURES, CAPTURE AND EXECUTION OF THE SPANISH

PIRATES.

In the Autumn of 1832, there was anchored in the "Man of War Grounds,"

off the Havana, a clipper-built vessel of the fairest proportions; she

had great length and breadth of beam, furnishing stability to bear a

large surface of sail, and great depth to take hold of the water and

prevent drifting; long, low in the waist, with lofty raking masts, which

tapered away till they were almost too fine to be distinguished, the

beautiful arrowy sharpness of her bow, and the fineness of her gradually

receding quarters, showed a model capable of the greatest speed in

sailing. Her low sides were painted black, with one small, narrow

ribband of white. Her raking masts were clean scraped, her ropes were

hauled taught, and in every point she wore the appearance of being under

the control of seamanship and strict discipline. Upon going on board,

one would be struck with surprise at the deception relative to the

tonnage of the schooner, when viewed at a distance. Instead of a small

vessel of about ninety tons, we discover that she is upwards of two

hundred; that her breadth of beam is enormous; and that those spars

which appeared so light and elegant, are of unexpected dimensions. In

the centre of the vessel, between the fore and main masts, there is a

long brass thirty-two pounder, fixed upon a carriage revolving in a

circle, and so arranged that in bad weather it can be lowered down and

housed; while on each side of the deck were mounted guns of smaller

calibre.

This vessel was fashioned, at the will of avarice, for the aid of

cruelty and injustice; it was an African slaver--the schooner Panda. She

was commanded by Don Pedro Gilbert, a native of Catalonia, in Spain, and

son of a grandee; a man thirty-six years of age, and exceeding handsome,

having a round face, pearly teeth, round forehead, and full black eyes,

with beautiful raven hair, and a great favorite with the ladies. He

united great energy, coolness and decision, with superior knowledge in

mercantile transactions, and the Guinea trade; having made several

voyages after slaves. The mate and owner of the Panda was Don Bernardo

De Soto, a native of Corunna, Spain, and son, of Isidore De Soto,

manager of the royal revenue in said city; he was now twenty-five years

of age, and from the time he was fourteen had cultivated the art of

navigation, and at the age of twenty-two had obtained the degree of

captain in the India service. After a regular examination the

correspondent diploma was awarded him. He was married to Donna Petrona

Pereyra, daughter of Don Benito Pereyra, a merchant of Corunna. She was

at this time just fifteen, and ripening into that slight fullness of

form, and roundness of limb, which in that climate mark the early

passing from girl into woman. Her complexion was the dark olive tinge of

Spain; her eyes jet black, large and lustrous. She had great sweetness

of disposition and ingenuousness.

To the strictest discipline De Soto united the practical knowledge of a

thorough seaman. But "the master spirit of the whole," was Francisco

Ruiz, the carpenter of the Panda. This individual was of the middle

size, but muscular, with a short neck. His hair was black and abundant,

and projected from his forehead, so that he appeared to look out from

under it, like a bonnet. His eyes were dark chestnut, but always

restless; his features were well defined; his eye-lashes, jet black. He

was familiar with all the out-of-the-way places of the Havana, and

entered into any of the dark abodes without ceremony. From report his

had been a wild and lawless career. The crew were chiefly Spaniards,

with a few Portuguese, South Americans, and half castes. The cook was a

young Guinea negro, with a pleasant countenance, and good humored, with

a sleek glossy skin, and tatooed on the face; and although entered in

the schooner's books as free, yet was a slave. In all there were about

forty men. Her cargo was an assorted one, consisting in part of barrels

of rum, and gunpowder, muskets, cloth, and numerous articles, with which

to purchase slaves.

The Panda sailed from the Havana on the night of the 20th of August; and

upon passing the Moro Castle, she was hailed, and asked, "where bound?"

She replied, St. Thomas. The schooner now steered through the Bahama

channel, on the usual route towards the coast of Guinea; a man was

constantly kept at the mast head, on the lookout; they spoke a corvette,

and on the morning of the 20th Sept., before light, and during the

second mate's watch, a brig was discovered heading to the southward.

Capt. Gilbert was asleep at the time, but got up shortly after she was

seen, and ordered the Panda to go about and stand for the brig. A

consultation was held between the captain, mate and carpenter, when the

latter proposed to board her, and if she had any specie to rob her,

confine the men below, and burn her. This proposition was instantly

acceded to, and a musket was fired to make her heave to.

This vessel was the American brig Mexican, Capt. Butman. She had left

the pleasant harbor of Salem, Mass., on the last Wednesday of August,

and was quietly pursuing her voyage towards Rio Janeiro. Nothing

remarkable had happened on board, says Captain B., until half past two

o'clock, in the morning of September 20th, in lat. 38, 0, N., lon. 24,

30, W. The attention of the watch on deck was forcibly arrested by the

appearance of a vessel which passed across our stern about half a mile

from us. At 4 A.M. saw her again passing across our bow, so near that

we could perceive that it was a schooner with a fore top sail and top

gallant sail. As it was somewhat dark she was soon out of sight. At

daylight saw her about five miles off the weather quarter standing on

the wind on the same tack we were on, the wind was light at SSW and we

were standing about S.E. At 8 A.M. she was about two miles right to

windward of us; could perceive a large number of men upon her deck, and

one man on the fore top gallant yard looking out; was very suspicious of

her, but knew not how to avoid her. Soon after saw a brig on our weather

bow steering to the N.E. By this time the schooner was about three miles

from us and four points forward of the beam. Expecting that she would

keep on for the brig ahead of us, we tacked to the westward, keeping a

little off from the wind to make good way through the water, to get

clear of her if possible. She kept on to the eastward about ten or

fifteen minutes after we had tacked, then wore round, set square sail,

steering directly for us, came down upon us very fast, and was soon

within gun shot of us, fired a gun and hoisted patriot colors and backed

main topsail. She ran along to windward of us, hailed us to know where

we were from, where bound, &c. then ordered me to come on board in my

boat. Seeing that she was too powerful for us to resist, I accordingly

went, and soon as I got along-side of the schooner, five ruffians

instantly jumped into my boat, each of them being armed with a large

knife, and told me to go on board the brig again; when they got on board

they insisted that we had got money, and drew their knives, threatening

us with instant death and demanding to know where it was. As soon as

they found out where it was they obliged my crew to get it up out of the

run upon deck, beating and threatening them at the same time because

they did not do it quicker. When they had got it all upon deck, and

hailed the schooner, they got out their launch and came and took it on

board the schooner, viz: ten boxes containing twenty thousand dollars;

then returned to the brig again, drove all the crew into the forecastle,

ransacked the cabin, overhauling all the chests, trunks, &c. and rifled

my pockets, taking my watch, and three doubloons which I had previously

put there for safety; robbed the mate of his watch and two hundred

dollars in specie, still insisting that there was more money in the

hold. Being answered in the negative, they beat me severely over the

back, said they knew that there was more, that they should search for

it, and if they found any they would cut all our throats. They continued

searching about in every part of the vessel for some time longer, but

not finding any more specie, they took two coils of rigging, a side of

leather, and some other articles, and went on board the schooner,

probably to consult what to do with us; for, in eight or ten minutes

they came back, apparently in great haste, shut us all below, fastened

up the companion way, fore-scuttle and after hatchway, stove our

compasses to pieces in the binnacles, cut away tiller-ropes, halliards,

braces, and most of our running rigging, cut our sails to pieces badly;

took a tub of tarred rope-yarn and what combustibles they could find

about deck, put them in the caboose house and set them on fire; then

left us, taking with them our boat and colors. When they got alongside

of the schooner they scuttled our boat, took in their own, and made

sail, steering to the eastward.

As soon as they left us, we got up out of the cabin scuttle, which they

had neglected to secure, and extinguished the fire, which if it had been

left a few minutes, would have caught the mainsail and set our masts on

fire. Soon after we saw a ship to leeward of us steering to the S.E. the

schooner being in pursuit of her did not overtake her whilst she was in

sight of us.

It was doubtless their intention to burn us up altogether, but seeing

the ship, and being eager for more plunder they did not stop fully to

accomplish their design. She was a low strait schooner of about one

hundred and fifty tons, painted black with a narrow white streak, a

large head with the horn of plenty painted white, large maintopmast but

no yards or sail on it. Mast raked very much, mainsail very square at

the head, sails made with split cloth and all new; had two long brass

twelve pounders and a large gun on a pivot amidships, and about seventy

men, who appeared to be chiefly Spaniards and mulattoes.

[Illustration: _Pirates robbing the brig Mexican of Salem, Mass._]

The object of the voyage being frustrated by the loss of the specie,

nothing now remained but for the Mexican to make the best of her way

back to Salem, which she reached in safety. The government of the United

States struck with the audacity of this piracy, despatched a cruiser in

pursuit of them. After a fruitless voyage in which every exertion was

made, and many places visited on the coast of Africa, where it was

supposed the rascals might be lurking, the chase was abandoned as

hopeless, no clue being found to their "whereabouts."

The Panda after robbing the Mexican, pursued her course across the

Atlantic, and made Cape Monte; from this she coasted south, and after

passing Cape Palmas entered the Gulf of Guinea, and steered for Cape

Lopez which she reached in the first part of November. Cape Lopez de

Gonzalves, in lat. 0 deg. 36' 2" south, long. 80 deg. 40' 4" east, is

so called from its first discoverer. It is covered with wood but low

and swampy, as is also the neighboring country. The extensive bay formed

by this cape is fourteen miles in depth, and has several small creeks

and rivers running into it. The largest is the river Nazareth on the left

point of which is situated King Gula's town the only assemblage of huts

in the bay. Here the cargo of the Panda was unloaded, the greater part was

entrusted to the king, and with the rest Capt. Gilbert opened a factory

and commenced buying various articles of commerce, as tortoise shell,

gum, ivory, palm oil, fine straw carpeting, and slaves. After remaining

here a short time the crew became sickly and Capt. Gilbert sailed for

Prince's Island to recover the health of his crew. Whilst at Prince's

Island news arrived of the robbery of the Mexican. And the pirate left

with the utmost precipitation for Cape Lopez, and the better to evade

pursuit, a pilot was procured; and the vessel carried several miles up

the river Nazareth. Soon after the Panda left Prince's Island, the

British brig of war, Curlew, Capt. Trotter arrived, and from the

description given of the vessel then said to be lying in the Nazareth,

Capt. Trotter knew she must be the one, that robbed the Mexican; and he

instantly sailed in pursuit. On nearing the coast, she was discovered

lying up the river; three boats containing forty men and commanded by

Capt. Trotter, started up the river with the sea breeze and flood tide,

and colors flying to take the desperadoes; the boats kept in near the

shore until rounding a point they were seen from the Panda. The pirates

immediately took to their boats, except Francisco Ruiz who seizing a

fire brand from the camboose went into the magazine and set some

combustibles on fire with the laudable purpose of blowing up the

assailants, and then paddled ashore in a canoe. Capt. Trotter chased

them with his boats, but could not come up with them, and then boarded

the schooner which he found on fire. The first thing he did was to put

out the fire which was in the magazine, below the cabin floor; here was

found a quantity of cotton and brimstone burning and a slow match

ignited and communicating with the magazine, which contained sixteen

casks of powder.

The Panda was now warped out of the river and anchored off the negro

town of Cape Lopez. Negociations were now entered into for the surrender

of the pirates. An officer was accordingly sent on shore to have an

interview with the king. He was met on the beach by an ebony chief

calling himself duke. "We followed the duke through the extensive and

straggling place, frequently buried up to the ankles in sand, from which

the vegetation was worn by the constant passing and repassing of the

inhabitants. We arrived at a large folding door placed in a high bamboo

and palm tree fence, which inclosed the king's establishment, ornamented

on our right by two old honeycombed guns, which, although dismounted,

were probably, according to the practice of the coast, occasionally

fired to attract the attention of passing vessels, and to imply that

slaves were to be procured. On the left of the enclosure was a shed,

with a large ship's bell suspended beneath, serving as an alarum bell in

case of danger, while the remainder was occupied with neatly built huts,

inhabited by the numerous wives of the king.

"We sent in to notify him of our arrival; he sent word out that we might

remain outside until it suited his convenience. But as such an

arrangement did not suit ours, we immediately entered, and found sitting

at a table the king. He was a tall, muscular, ugly looking negro, about

fifty years of age. We explained the object of our visit, which was to

demand the surrender of the white men, who were now concealed in the

town, and for permission to pass up the river in pursuit of those who

had gone up that way. He now expressed the most violent indignation at

our presumption in demanding the pirates, and the interview was broken

off by his refusing to deliver up a single man."

We will now return to the pirates. While at Prince's Island, Capt.

Gilbert bought a magnificent dressing case worth nearly a thousand

dollars and a patent lever watch, and a quantity of tobacco, and

provisions, and two valuable cloth coats, some Guinea cloth and black

and green paint. The paint, cloth and coats were intended as presents

for the African king at Cape Lopez. These articles were all bought with

the money taken from the Mexican. After arriving at the Nazareth, $4000

were taken from the trunk, and buried in the yard of a negro prince.

Four of the pirates then went to Cape Lopez for $11,000, which had been

buried there. Boyga, Castillo, Guzman, and the "State's Evidence,"

Ferez, were the ones who went. Ferez took the bags out, and the others

counted the money; great haste was made as the musquitoes were biting

intolerably. $5000 were buried for the captain in canvas bags about two

feet deep, part of the money was carried to Nazareth, and from there

carried into the mountains and there buried. A consultation was held by

Capt. Gilbert, De Soto, and Ruiz, and the latter said, if the money was

not divided, "there would be the devil to pay." The money was now

divided in a dark room and a lantern used; Capt. Gilbert sat on the

floor with the money at his side. He gave the mate about $3000, and the

other officers $1000, each; and the crew from $300 to $500, each. The

third mate having fled, the captain sent him $1000, and Ruiz carried it

to him. When the money was first taken from the Mexican, it was spread

out on the companion way and examined to see if there was any gold

amongst it; and then put into bags made of dark coarse linen; the boxes

were then thrown overboard. After the division of the money the pirates

secreted themselves in the woods behind Cape Lopez. Perez and four

others procured a boat, and started for Fernando Po; they put their

money in the bottom of the boat for ballast, but was thrown overboard,

near a rock and afterwards recovered by divers; this was done to prevent

detection. The captain, mate, and carpenter had a conversation

respecting the attempt of the latter, to blow her up, who could not

account for the circumstance, that an explosion had not taken place;

they told him he ought to have burst a barrel of powder over the deck

and down the stairs to the magazine, loaded a gun, tied a fish line to

the lock and pulled it when he came off in the canoe.

[Illustration: _View of the Negro village on the river Nazareth, and the

Panda at anchor._]

The Panda being manned by Capt. Trotter and an English crew, commenced

firing on the town of Cape Lopez, but after firing several shots, a

spark communicated with the magazine and she blew up. Several men were

killed, and Captain Trotter and the others thrown into the water, when

he was made prisoner with several of his crew, by the King, and it

required considerable negociations to get them free.

[Illustration: _Burying the money on the beach at Cape Lopez._]

The pirates having gone up the river, an expedition was now equipped to

take them if possible. The long-boat and pinnace were instantly armed,

and victualled for several weeks, a brass gun was mounted on the bows of

each, and awnings fixed up to protect the crew from the extreme heat of

the sun by day, and the heavy dews at nightfall. As the sea-breeze and

the flood-tide set in, the boats again started and proceeded up the

river. It was ascertained the war-canoes were beyond where the Panda was

first taken; for fear of an ambuscade great caution was observed in

proceeding. "As we approached a point, a single native was observed

standing near a hut erected near the river, who, as we approached,

beckoned, and called for us to land. We endeavored to do so, but

fortunately the water was too shallow to approach near enough.

"We had hardly steered about for the channel, when the man suddenly

rushed into the bushes and disappeared. We got into the channel, and

continued some time in deep water, but this suddenly shoaled, and the

boats grounded near a mangrove, just as we came in sight of a village.

Our crew jumped out, and commenced tracking the boat over the sand, and

while thus employed, I observed by means of my glass, a crowd of

natives, and some of the pirates running down the other side of a low

point, apparently with the intention of giving us battle, as they were

all armed with spears and muskets."

The men had just succeeded in drawing the boats into deep water, when a

great number of canoes were observed coming round the point, and at the

same instant another large party running down to launch; some more on

the beach, when they joined those already afloat, in all made above

twenty-eight canoes, and about one hundred and fifty men. Having

collected all their forces, with loud whooping and encouraging shouts to

one another, they led towards us with great celerity.

We prepared instantly for battle; the awnings were got down to allow

room to use the cutlasses and to load the muskets. The brass guns were

loaded with grape shot. They now approached uttering terrific yells, and

paddling with all speed. On board the canoes the pirates were loading

the guns and encouraging the natives. Bernardo de Soto and Francisco

Ruiz were conspicuous, in manoeuvring the negro boats for battle, and

commenced a straggling fire upon the English boats. In them all was

still, each man had a cutlass by his side, and a loaded musket in his

hand. On arriving within pistol-shot a well directed fire was poured

into them, seconded by a discharge of the three pounders; many of the

balls took effect, and two of the canoes were sunk. A brisk fire was

kept up on both sides; a great number of the negroes were killed, and a

few of the pirates; the English loss was small. The negroes now became

panic-struck, and some paddled towards the shore, others jumped

overboard and swam; the sharks caught several. Captain Gilbert and De

Soto were now caught, together with five of the crew; Ruiz and the rest

escaped to a village, some ways inland, and with the aid of a telescope

it was perceived the negroes were rapidly gathering to renew the combat,

urged on by Ruiz and the other pirates; after dislodging them from this

village, negociations were entered into by the king of Cape Lopez, who

surrendered Ruiz and several men to Captain Trotter. They were carried

in the brig Curlew to Fernando Po, and after an examination, were put in

irons and conveyed to England, and there put on board the British

gun-brig Savage, and arrived in the harbor of Salem on the 26th August,

1834. Her commander, Lieut. Loney, waited upon the authorities of Salem,

and after the usual formalities, surrendered the prisoners into their

hands--stating that the British Government waived their right to try and

punish the prisoners, in favor of the United States, against whom the

principal offence had been committed. The pirates were landed at

Crowningshield wharf, and taken from thence in carriages to the Town

hall; twelve of them, handcuffed in pairs, took their places at the bar.

They were all young and middle-aged, the oldest was not over forty.

Physiognomically, they were not uncommonly ill looking, in general,

although there were exceptions, and they were all clean and wholesome in

their appearance. They were now removed to Boston and confined in

prison, where one of them, named Manuel Delgarno cut his throat with a

piece of glass, thus verifying the old proverb, _that those born to be

hung, will never be drown'd!_

On the 11th of November, Don Pedro Gilbert, _Captain_, Don Bernardo de

Soto, _Mate_, Francisco Ruiz, _Carpenter_, Nicola Costa, _Cabin-boy,_

aged 15, Antonio Ferrer, _Cook_, and Manuel Boyga, Domingo de Guzman,

_an Indian_, Juan Antonio Portana, Manuel Castillo, Angel Garcia, Jose

Velasquez, and Juan Montenegro, _alias_ Jose Basilio de Castro, were

arraigned before the Circuit Court of the United States, charged with

the crime of Piracy. Joseph Perez appeared as _State's evidence_, and

two Portuguese sailors who were shipped on board the Panda at Prince's

Island, as witnesses. After a jury was empannelled, Mr. Dunlap, the

District Attorney, rose and said--"This is a solemn, and also an unusual

scene. Here are twelve men, strangers to our country and to our

language, indicted for a heinous offence, and now before you for life or

death. They are indicted for a daring crime, and a flagrant violation of

the laws, not only of this, but of every other civilized people." He

then gave an outline of the commission of the robbery of the Mexican.

Numerous witnesses were examined, amongst whom were the captain, mate,

and several seamen of the Mexican, who recognized several of the pirates

as being the individuals who maltreated them, and took the specie. When

Thomas Fuller, one of the crew of the Mexican was called upon to

identify Ruiz, he went up to him and struck him a violent blow on the

shoulder. Ruiz immediately started up, and with violent gesticulations

protested against such conduct, and was joined by his companions. The

Court reprimanded the witness severely. The trial occupied _fourteen

days_. The counsel for the prisoners were David L. Child, Esq., and

George Hillard, Esq., who defended them with great ability. Mr. Child

brought to the cause his untiring zeal, his various and profound

learning; and exhibited a labour, and _desperation_ which showed that he

was fully conscious of the weight of the load--the dead lift--he had

undertaken to carry. Mr. Hillard concluded his argument, by making an

eloquent and affecting appeal to the jury in behalf of the boy Costa and

Antonio Ferrer, the cook, and alluded to the circumstance of Bernardo de

Soto having rescued the lives of 70 individuals on board the American

ship Minerva, whilst on a voyage from Philadelphia to Havana, when

captain of the brig Leon.

[Illustration: _Explosion of the Panda._]

If, gentlemen, said he, you deem with me, that the crew of the Panda,

(supposing her to have robbed the Mexican,) were merely servants of the

captain, you cannot convict them. But if you do not agree with me, then

all that remains for me to do, is to address a few words to you in the

way of mercy. It does not seem to me that the good of society requires

the death of all these men, the sacrifice of such a hecatomb of human

victims, or that the sword of the law should fall till it is clogged

with massacre. _Antonio Ferrer_ is plainly but a servant. He is set down

as a free black in the ship's papers, but that is no proof that he is

free. Were he a slave, he would in all probability be represented as

free, and this for obvious reasons. He is in all probability a slave,

and a native African, as the tattooing on his face proves beyond a

doubt. At any rate, he is but a servant. Now will you make misfortune

pay the penalty of guilt? Do not, I entreat you, lightly condemn this

man to death. Do not throw him in to make up the dozen. The regard for

human life is one of the most prominent proofs of a civilized state of

society. The Sultan of Turkey may place women in sacks and throw them

into the Bosphorus, without exciting more than an hour's additional

conversation at Constantinople. But in our country it is different. You

well remember the excitement produced by the abduction and death of a

single individual; the convulsions which ensued, the effect of which

will long be felt in our political institutions. You will ever find that

the more a nation becomes civilized, the greater becomes the regard for

human life. There is in the eye, the form, and heaven-directed

countenance of man, something holy, that forbids he should be rudely

touched.

The instinct of life is great. The light of the sun even in chains, is

pleasant; and life, though supported but by the damp exhalations of a

dungeon, is desirable. Often, too, we cling with added tenacity to life

in proportion as we are deprived of all that makes existence to be

coveted.

[Illustration: _Thomas Fuller striking Ruiz in Court._]

"The weariest and most loathed worldly life.

That age, ache, penury and imprisonment

Can lay on Nature, is a Paradise

To that we fear of Death."

Death is a fearful thing. The mere mention of it sometimes blanches the

cheek, and sends the fearful blood to the heart. It is a solemn thing to

break into the "bloody house of life." Do not, because this man is but

an African, imagine that his existence is valueless. He is no drift weed

on the ocean of life. There are in his bosom the same social sympathies

that animate our own. He has nerves to feel pain, and a heart to throb

with human affections, even as you have. His life, to establish the law,

or to further the ends of justice, is not required. _Taken_, it is to us

of no value; given to him, it is above the price of rubies.

And _Costa_, the cabin boy, only fifteen years of age when this crime

was committed--shall he die? Shall the sword fall upon his neck? Some of

you are advanced in years--you may have children. Suppose the news had

reached you, that your son was under trial for his life, in a foreign

country--(and every cabin boy who leaves this port may be placed in the

situation of this prisoner,)--suppose you were told that he had been

executed, because his captain and officers had violated the laws of a

distant land; what would be your feelings? I cannot tell, but I believe

the feelings of all of you would be the same, and that you would

exclaim, with the Hebrew, "My son! my son! would to God I had died for

thee." This boy _has_ a father; let the form of that father rise up

before you, and plead in your hearts for his offspring. Perhaps he has a

mother, and a home. Think of the lengthened shadow that must have been

cast over that home by his absence. Think of his mother, during those

hours of wretchedness, when she has felt hope darkening into

disappointment, next into anxiety, and from anxiety into despair. How

often may she have stretched forth her hands in supplication, and asked,

even the winds of heaven, to bring her tidings of him who was away? Let

the supplications of that mother touch your hearts, and shield their

object from the law.

After a luminous charge by Judge Story, the jury retired to agree upon

their verdict, and at 9 o'clock the next morning came in with their

verdict.

_Clerk_. Gentlemen of the Jury, have you agreed upon your verdict?

_Jury_. We have.

_Clerk_. Who shall speak for you?

_Jury_. Our foreman.

The prisoners were then directed severally to rise as soon as called,

and receive the verdict of the jury. The Captain, _Pedro Gilbert_, was

the first named. He arose, raised his hand, and regarded the jury with a

firm countenance and steady eye.

_Clerk_. Jurors look upon the prisoner; prisoner look upon the jurors.

How say you, Gentlemen, is the prisoner at the bar, Pedro Gilbert,

guilty or not guilty?

_Foreman_. GUILTY.

The same verdict was pronounced against _De Soto_ (the mate) _Ruiz_,

(the carpenter,) _Boyga, Castillo, Garcia_ and _Montenegro_. But

_Costa_, (the cabin-boy,) _Ferrer_ (the negro,) _Guzman, Portana_, and

_Velasquez_, were declared NOT GUILTY.

After having declared the verdict of the Jury, the Foreman read to the

Court the following recommendation to mercy:

"The sympathies of the Jury have been strongly moved in behalf of

_Bernardo de Soto_, on account of his generous, noble and

self-sacrificing conduct in saving the lives of more than 70 human

beings, constituting the passengers and crew of the ship _Minerva_; and

they desire that his case should be presented to the merciful

consideration of the Government."

Judge Story replied that the wish of the jury would certainly be

complied with both by the Court and the prosecuting officer.

"The appearance and demeanor of Captain Gilbert are the same as when we

first saw him; his eye is undimmed, and decision and command yet sit

upon his features. We did not discern the slightest alteration of color

or countenance when the verdict of the jury was communicated to him; he

merely slightly bowed and resumed his seat. With _De Soto_ the case was

different. He is much altered; has become thinner, and his countenance

this morning was expressive of the deepest despondency. When informed

of the contents of the paper read by the foreman of the jury, he

appeared much affected, and while being removed from the Court, covered

his face with his handkerchief."

Immediately after the delivery of the verdict, the acquitted prisoners,

on motion of Mr. Hillard, were directed to be discharged, upon which

several of the others loudly and angrily expressed their dissatisfaction

at the result of the trial. Castillo (_a half-caste_, with an extremely

mild and pleasing countenance,) pointed towards heaven, and called upon

the Almighty to bear witness that he was innocent; _Ruiz_ uttered some

words with great vehemence; and _Garcia_ said "all were in the same

ship; and it was strange that some should be permitted to escape while

others were punished." Most of them on leaving the Court uttered some

invective against "the _picaro_ who had sworn their lives away."

On _Costa_, the cabin boy, (aged 16) being declared "Not Guilty" some

degree of approbation was manifested by the audience, but instantly

checked by the judge, who directed the officers to take into custody,

every one expressing either assent or dissent. We certainly think the

sympathy expressed in favor of _Costa_ very ill placed, for although we

have not deemed ourselves at liberty to mention the fact earlier, his

conduct during the whole trial was characterized by the most reckless

effrontery and indecorum. Even when standing up to receive the verdict

of the jury, his face bore an impudent smile, and he evinced the most

total disregard of the mercy which had been extended towards him.

About this time vague rumors reached Corunna, that a Captain belonging

to that place, engaged in the Slave Trade, had turned Pirate, been

captured, and sent to America with his crew for punishment. Report at

first fixed it upon a noted slave-dealer, named Begaro. But the

astounding intelligence soon reached Senora de Soto, that her husband

was the person captured for this startling crime. The shock to her

feelings was terrible, but her love and fortitude surmounted them all;

and she determined to brave the terrors of the ocean, to intercede for

her husband if condemned, and at all events behold him once more. A

small schooner was freighted by her own and husband's father, and in it

she embarked for New-York. After a boisterous passage, the vessel

reached that port, when she learned her husband had already been tried

and condemned to die. The humane people of New-York advised her to

hasten on to Washington, and plead with the President for a pardon. On

arriving at the capital, she solicited an interview with General

Jackson, which was readily granted. From the circumstance of her

husband's having saved the lives of seventy Americans, a merciful ear

was turned to her solicitations, and a pardon for De Soto was given her,

with which she hastened to Boston, and communicated to him the joyful

intelligence.

Andrew Jackson, President of the United States of America, to all to

whom these presents shall come, _Greeting_: Whereas, at the October

Term, 1834, of the Circuit Court of the United States, Bernardo de Soto

was convicted of Piracy, and sentenced to be hung on the 11th day of

March last from which sentence a respite was granted him for three

months, bearing date the third day of March, 1835, also a subsequent

one, dated on the fifth day of June, 1835, for sixty days. And whereas

the said Bernardo de Soto has been represented as a fit subject for

executive clemency--

Now therefore, I, Andrew Jackson, President of the United States of

America, in consideration of the premises, divers good and sufficient

causes me thereto moving, have pardoned, and hereby do pardon the said

Bernardo de Soto, from and after the 11th August next, and direct that

he be then discharged from confinement. In testimony whereof I have

hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the seal of the United States to

be affixed to these presents. Done at the City of Washington the sixth

day of July, AD. 1835, and of the independence of the United States and

sixtieth. Andrew Jackson.

On the fatal morning of June 11th, 1835, Don Pedro, Juan Montenegro,

Manuel Castillo, Angel Garcia and Manuel Boyga, were, agreeably to

sentence, summoned to prepare for immediate execution. On the night

previous, a mutual agreement had been entered into to commit suicide.

Angel Garcia made the first attempt by trying to open the veins of each

arm with a piece of glass; but was prevented. In the morning, however,

while preparations were making for the execution, Boyga succeeded in

inflicting a deep gash on the left side of his neck, with a piece of

tin. The officer's eyes had been withdrawn from him scarcely a minute,

before he was discovered lying on his pallet, with a convulsive motion

of his knees, from loss of blood. Medical aid was at hand, the gash

sewed up, but he did not revive. Two Catholic clergymen attended them on

the scaffold, one a Spanish priest. They were executed in the rear of

the jail. When the procession arrived at the foot of the ladder leading

up to the platform of the gallows the Rev. Mr. Varella looking directly

at Capt. Gilbert, said, "Spaniards, ascend to heaven." Don Pedro mounted

with a quick step, and was followed by his comrades at a more moderate

pace, but without the least hesitation. Boyga, unconscious of his

situation and destiny, was carried up in a chair, and seated beneath the

rope prepared for him. Gilbert, Montenegro, Garcia and Castillo all

smiled subduedly as they took their stations on the platform. Soon after

Capt. Gilbert ascended the scaffold, he passed over to where the

apparently lifeless Boyga was seated in the chair, and kissed him.

Addressing his followers, he said, "Boys, we are going to die; but let

us be firm, for we are innocent." To Mr. Peyton, the interpreter, he

said, "I die innocent, but I'll die like a noble Spaniard. Good bye,

brother." The Marshal having read the warrant for their execution, and

stated that de Soto was respited _sixty_ and Ruiz _thirty_ days, the

ropes were adjusted round the necks of the prisoners, and a slight

hectic flush spread over the countenance of each; but not an eye

quailed, nor a limb trembled, not a muscle quivered. The fatal cord was

now cut, and the platform fell, by which the prisoners were launched

into eternity. After the execution was over, Ruiz, who was confined in

his cell, attracted considerable attention, by his maniac shouts and

singing. At one time holding up a piece of blanket, stained with Boyga's

blood, he gave utterance to his ravings in a sort of recitative, the

burden of which was--"This is the red flag my companions died under!"

After the expiration of Ruiz' second respite, the Marshal got two

surgeons of the United States Navy, who understood the Spanish language,

to attend him in his cell; they, after a patient examination pronounced

his madness a counterfeit, and his insanity a hoax. Accordingly, on the

morning of Sept. 11th, the Marshal, in company with a Catholic priest

and interpreter entered his cell, and made him sensible that longer

evasion of the sentence of the law was impossible, and that he must

surely die. They informed him that he had but half an hour to live, and

retired; when he requested that he might not be disturbed during the

brief space that remained to him, and turning his back to the open

entrance to his cell, he unrolled some fragments of printed prayers, and

commenced reading them to himself. During this interval he neither

spoke, nor heeded those who were watching him; but undoubtedly suffered

extreme mental agony. At one minute he would drop his chin on his bosom,

and stand motionless; at another would press his brow to the wall of his

cell, or wave his body from side to side, as if wrung with unutterable

anguish. Suddenly, he would throw himself upon his knees on the

mattress, and prostrate himself as if in prayer; then throwing his

prayers from him, he would clutch his rug in his fingers, and like a

child try to double it up, or pick it to pieces. After snatching up his

rug and throwing it away again and again, he would suddenly resume his

prayers and erect posture, and stand mute, gazing through the aperture

that admitted the light of day for upwards of a minute. This scene of

imbecility and indecision, of horrible prostration of mind, ceasing in

some degree when the Catholic clergyman re-entered his cell.

At 10 o'clock, the prisoner was removed from the prison, and during his

progress to the scaffold, though the hue of death was on his face, and

he trembled in every joint with fear, he chaunted with a powerful voice

an appropriate service from the Catholic ritual. Several times he turned

round to survey the heavens which at that moment were clear and bright

above him and when he ascended the scaffold after concluding his prayer,

he took one long and steadfast look at the sun, and waited in silence

his fate. His powers, mental and physical had been suddenly crushed with

the appalling reality that surrounded him; his whole soul was absorbed

with one master feeling, the dread of a speedy and violent death. He

quailed in the presence of the dreadful paraphernalia of his punishment,

as much as if he had been a stranger to deeds of blood, and never dealt

death to his fellow man as he ploughed the deep, under the black flag of

piracy, with the motto of "Rob, Kill, and Burn." After adjusting the

rope, a signal was given. The body dropped heavily, and the harsh abrupt

shock must have instantly deprived him of sensation, as there was no

voluntary action of the hands afterwards. Thus terminated his career of

crime in a foreign land without one friend to recognize or cheer him, or

a single being to regret his death.

The Spanish Consul having requested that the bodies might not be given

to the faculty, they were interred at night under the direction of the

Marshal, in the Catholic burial-ground at Charlestown. There being no

murder committed with the piracy, the laws of the United States do not

authorize the court to order the bodies for dissection.

[Illustration: _Ruiz leaving the Panda._]

THE LIFE OF BENITO DE SOTO THE PIRATE OF THE MORNING STAR.

The following narrative of the career of a desperate pirate who was

executed in Gibraltar in the month of January, 1830, is one of two

letters from the pen of the author of "the Military Sketch-Book." The

writer says Benito de Soto "had been a prisoner in the garrison for

nineteen months, during which time the British Government spared neither

the pains not expense to establish a full train of evidence against him.

The affair had caused the greatest excitement here, as well as at Cadiz,

owing to the development of the atrocities which marked the character of

this man, and the diabolical gang of which he was the leader. Nothing

else is talked of; and a thousand horrors are added to his guilt, which,

although he was guilty enough, he has no right to bear. The following is

all the authentic information I could collect concerning him. I have

drawn it from his trial, from the confession of his accomplices, from

the keeper of his prison, and not a little from his own lips. It will be

found more interesting than all the tales and sketches furnished in the

'Annuals,' magazines, and other vehicles of invention, from the simple

fact--that it is truth and not fiction."

Benito de Soto was a native of a small village near Courna; he was bred

a mariner, and was in the guiltless exercise of his calling at Buenos

Ayres, in the year 1827. A vessel was there being fitted out for a

voyage to the coast of Africa, for the smuggling of slaves; and as she

required a strong crew, a great number of sailors were engaged, amongst

whom was Soto. The Portuguese of South America have yet a privilege of

dealing in slaves on a certain part of the African coast, but it was the

intention of the captain of this vessel to exceed the limits of his

trade, and to run farther down, so as to take his cargo of human beings

from a part of the country which was proscribed, in the certainty of

being there enabled to purchase slaves at a much lower rate than he

could in the regular way; or, perhaps, to take away by force as many as

he could stow away into his ship. He therefore required a considerable

number of hands for the enterprise; and in such a traffic, it may be

easily conceived, that the morals of the crew could not be a subject of

much consideration with the employer. French, Spanish, Portuguese, and

others, were entered on board, most of them renegadoes, and they set

sail on their evil voyage, with every hope of infamous success.

Those who deal in evil carry along with them the springs of their own

destruction, upon which they will tread, in spite of every caution, and

their imagined security is but the brink of the pit into which they are

to fall. It was so with the captain of this slave-ship. He arrived in

Africa, took in a considerable number of slaves, and in order to

complete his cargo, went on shore, leaving his mate in charge of the

vessel. This mate was a bold, wicked, reckless and ungovernable spirit,

and perceiving in Benito de Soto a mind congenial with his own, he fixed

on him as a fit person to join in a design he had conceived, of running

away with the vessel, and becoming a pirate. Accordingly the mate

proposed his plan to Soto, who not only agreed to join in it, but

declared that he himself had been contemplating a similar enterprise

during the voyage. They both were at once of a mind, and they lost no

time in maturing their plot.

Their first step was to break the matter to the other members of the

crew. In this they proceeded cautiously, and succeeded so far as to

gain over twenty-two of the whole, leaving eighteen who remained

faithful to their trust. Every means were used to corrupt the well

disposed; both persuasion and threats were resorted to, but without

effect, and the leader of the conspiracy, the mate, began to despair of

obtaining the desired object. Soto, however, was not so easily

depressed. He at once decided on seizing the ship upon the strength of

his party: and without consulting the mate, he collected all the arms of

the vessel, called the conspirators together, put into each of their

possession a cutlass and a brace of pistols, and arming himself in like

manner, advanced at the head of the gang, drew his sword, and declared

the mate to be the commander of the ship, and the men who joined him

part owners. Still, those who had rejected the evil offer remained

unmoved; on which Soto ordered out the boats, and pointing to the land,

cried out, "There is the African coast; this is our ship--one or the

other must be chosen by every man on board within five minutes."

This declaration, although it had the effect of preventing any

resistance that might have been offered by the well disposed, to the

taking of the vessel, did not change them from their purpose; they still

refused to join in the robbery, and entered one by one into the boat, at

the orders of Soto, and with but one pair of oars (all that was allowed

to them) put off for the shore, from which they were then ten miles

distant. Had the weather continued calm, as it was when the boat left

the ship, she would have made the shore by dusk; but unhappily a strong

gale of wind set in shortly after her departure, and she was seen by

Soto and his gang struggling with the billows and approaching night, at

such a distance from the land as she could not possibly accomplish while

the gale lasted. All on board the ship agreed in opinion that the boat

could not live, as they flew away from her at the rate of ten knots an

hour, under close reefed topsails, leaving their unhappy messmates to

their inevitable fate. Those of the pirates who were lately executed at

Cadiz, declared that every soul in the boat perished.

[Illustration: _The Pirates carrying rum on shore to purchase slaves._]

The drunken uproar which that night reigned in the pirate ship was in

horrid unison with the raging elements around her; contention and

quarrelling followed the brutal ebriety of the pirates; each evil spirit

sought the mastery of the others, and Soto's, which was the fiend of

all, began to grasp and grapple for its proper place--the head of such a

diabolical community.

The mate (now the chief) at once gave the reins to his ruffian tyranny;

and the keen eye of Soto saw that he who had fawned with him the day

before, would next day rule him with an iron rod. Prompt in his actions

as he was penetrating in his judgment, he had no sooner conceived a

jealousy of the leader than he determined to put him aside; and as his

rival lay in his drunken sleep, Soto put a pistol to his head, and

deliberately shot him. For this act he excused himself to the crew, by

stating to them that it was in _their_ protection he did the act; that

_their_ interest was the other's death; and concluded by declaring

himself their leader, and promising a golden harvest to their future

labors, provided they obeyed him. Soto succeeded to the height of his

wishes, and was unanimously hailed by the crew as their captain.

On board the vessel, as I before stated, were a number of slaves, and

these the pirates had well secured under hatches. They now turned their

attention to those half starved, half suffocated creatures;--some were

for throwing them overboard, while others, not less cruel, but more

desirous of gain, proposed to take them to some port in one of those

countries that deal in human beings, and there sell them. The latter

recommendation was adopted, and Soto steered for the West Indies, where

he received a good price for his slaves. One of those wretched

creatures, a boy, he reserved as a servant for himself; and this boy was

destined by Providence to be the witness of the punishment of those

white men who tore away from their homes himself and his brethren. He

alone will carry back to his country the truth of Heaven's retribution,

and heal the wounded feelings of broken kindred with the recital of it.

The pirates now entered freely into their villainous pursuit, and

plundered many vessels; amongst others was an American brig, the

treatment of which forms the _chef d'oeuvre_ of their atrocity. Having

taken out of this brig all the valuables they could find, they hatched

down all hands to the hold, except a black man, who was allowed to

remain on deck for the special purpose of affording in his torture an

amusing exhibition to Soto and his gang. They set fire to the brig, then

lay to, to observe the progress of the flames; and as the miserable

African bounded from rope to rope, now climbing to the mast head--now

clinging to the shrouds--now leaping to one part of the vessel, and now

to another,--their enjoyment seemed raised to its heighest pitch. At

length the hatches opened to the devouring element, the tortured victim

of their fiendish cruelty fell exhausted into the flames, and the horrid

and revolting scene closed amidst the shouts of the miscreants who had

caused it.

Of their other exploits, that which ranks next in turpitude, and which

led to their overthrow, was the piracy of the Morning Star. They fell in

with that vessel near the island Ascension, in the year 1828, as she was

on her voyage from Ceylon to England. This vessel, besides a valuable

cargo, had on board several passengers, consisting of a major and his

wife, an assistant surgeon, two civilians, about five and twenty invalid

soldiers, and three or four of their wives. As soon as Benito de Soto

perceived the ship, which was at daylight on the 21st of February, he

called up all hands, and prepared for attacking her; he was at the time

steering on an opposite course to that of the Morning Star. On

reconnoitring her, he at first supposed she was a French vessel; but

Barbazan, one of his crew, who was himself a Frenchman, assured him the

ship was British. "So much the better," exclaimed Soto, in English (for

he could speak that language), "we shall find the more booty." He then

ordered the sails to be squared, and ran before the wind in chase of his

plunder, from which he was about two leagues distant.

The Defensor de Pedro, the name of the pirate ship, was a fast sailer,

but owing to the press of canvas which the Morning Star hoisted soon

after the pirate had commenced the chase, he did not come up with her so

quickly as he had expected: the delay caused great uneasiness to Soto,

which he manifested by muttering curses, and restlessness of manner.

Sounds of savage satisfaction were to be heard from every mouth but his

at the prospect; he alone expressed his anticipated pleasure by oaths,

menaces, and mental inquietude. While Barbazan was employed in

superintending the clearing of the decks, the arming and breakfasting of

the men, he walked rapidly up and down, revolving in his mind the plan

of the approaching attack, and when interrupted by any of the crew, he

would run into a volley of imprecations. In one instance, he struck his

black boy a violent blow with a telescope, because he asked him if he

would have his morning cup of chocolate; as soon, however, as he set his

studding sails, and perceived that he was gaining on the Morning Star,

he became somewhat tranquil, began to eat heartily of cold beef, drank

his chocolate at a draught, and coolly sat down on the deck to smoke a

cigar.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the pirate had gained considerable on

the other vessel. Soto now, without rising from where he sat, ordered a

gun, with blank cartridge, to be fired, and the British colors to be

hoisted: but finding this measure had not the effect of bringing the

Morning Star to, he cried out, "Shot the long gun and give it her point

blank." The order was obeyed, but the shot fell short of the intention,

on which he jumped up and cursed the fellows for bunglers who had fired

the gun. He then ordered them to load with canister shot, and took the

match in his own hand. He did not, however, fire immediately, but waited

until he was nearly abreast of his victim; then directing the aim

himself, and ordering a man to stand by the flag to haul it down, fired

with an air that showed he was sure of his mark. He then ran to haul up

the Colombian colors, and having done so, cried out through the speaking

trumpet, "Lower your boat down this moment, and let your captain come on

board with his papers."

During this fearful chase the people on board the Morning Star were in

the greatest alarm; but however their apprehensions might have been

excited, that courage, which is so characteristic of a British sailor,

never for a moment forsook the captain. He boldly carried on sail, and

although one of the men fell from a wound, and the ravages of the shot

were every where around him, he determined not to strike. But unhappily

he had not a single gun on board, and no small arms that could render

his courage availing. The tears of the women, and the prudent advice of

the passengers overcoming his resolution, he permitted himself to be

guided by the general opinion. One of the passengers volunteered himself

to go on board the pirate, and a boat was lowered for the purpose. Both

vessels now lay to within fifty yards of each other, and a strong hope

arose in those on board the Morning Star, that the gentleman who had

volunteered to go to the pirate, might, through his exertions, avert, at

least, the worst of the dreaded calamity.

Some people here, in their quiet security, have made no scruple of

declaring, that the commanding officer of the soldiers on board should

not have so tamely yielded to the pirate, particularly as he had his

wife along with him, and consequently a misfortune to dread, that might

be thought even worse than death: but all who knew the true state of the

circumstances, and reflect upon it, will allow that he adopted the only

chance of escaping that, which was to be most feared by a husband. The

long gun, which was on a pivot in the centre of the pirate ship, could

in a few shots sink the Morning Star; and even had resistance been made

to the pirates as they boarded her--had they been killed or made

prisoners--the result would not be much better. It was evident that the

Defensor de Pedro was the best sailer, consequently the Morning Star

could not hope to escape; in fact, submission or total destruction was

the only choice. The commanding officer, therefore, acted for the best

when he recommended the former. There was some slight hope of escaping

with life, and without personal abuse, by surrendering, but to contend

must be inevitable death.

The gentleman who had gone in a boat to the pirate returned in a short

time, exhibiting every proof of the ill treatment he had received from

Soto and his crew. It appears that when the villains learned that he was

not the captain, they fell upon and beat him, as well as the sailors

along with him, in a most brutal manner, and with the most horrid

imprecations told him, that if the captain did not instantly come, on

his return to the vessel, they would blow the ship out of the water.

This report as once decided the captain in the way he was to act.

Without hesitation he stepped into the boat, taking with him his second

mate, three soldiers and a sailor boy, and proceeded to the pirate. On

going on board that vessel, along with the mate, Soto, who stood near

the mainmast, with his drawn cutlass in his hand, desired him to

approach, while the mate was ordered, by Barbazan, to go to the

forecastle. Both these unfortunate individuals obeyed, and were

instantly slaughtered.

Soto now ordered six picked men to descend into the boat, amongst whom

was Barbazan. To him the leader addressed his orders, the last of which

was, to take care to put all in the prize to death, and then sink her.

The six pirates, who proceeded to execute his savage demand, were all

armed alike,--they each carried a brace of pistols, a cutlass and a long

knife. Their dress was composed of a sort of coarse cotton chequered

jacket and trowsers, shirts that were open at the collar, red woollen

caps, and broad canvas waistbelts, in which were the pistols and the

knives. They were all athletic men, and seemed such as might well be

trusted with the sanguinary errand on which they were despatched. While

the boat was conveying them, Soto held in his hand a cutlass, reddened

with the blood of the murdered captain, and stood scowling on them with

silence: while another ruffian, with a lighted match, stood by the long

gun, ready to support the boarding, if necessary, with a shot that

would sweep the deck.

As the boarders approached the Morning Star, the terror of the females

became excessive; they clung to their husbands in despair, who

endeavored to allay their fears by their own vain hopes, assuring them

that a quiet submission nothing more than the plunder of the vessel was

to be apprehended. But a few minutes miserably undeceived them. The

pirates rapidly mounted the side, and as they jumped on deck, commenced

to cut right and left at all within their reach, uttering at the same

time the most dreadful oaths. The females, screaming, hurried to hide

themselves below as well as they were able, and the men fell or fled

before the pirates, leaving them entire masters of the decks.

[Illustration: _The mate begging for his life._]

When the pirates had succeeded in effectually prostrating all the people

on deck, they drove most of them below, and reserved the remainder to

assist in their operations. Unless the circumstances be closely

examined, it may be wondered how six men could have so easily overcome a

crew of English seamen supported by about twenty soldiers with a major

at their head:--but it will not appear so surprising, when it is

considered that the sailors were altogether unarmed, the soldiers were

worn out invalids, and more particularly, that the pirate carried a

heavy long gun, ready to sink her victim at a shot. Major Logie was

fully impressed with the folly of opposing so powerful and desperate an

enemy, and therefore advised submission as the only course for the

safety of those under his charge; presuming no doubt that something like

humanity might be found in the breasts even of the worst of men. But

alas! he was woefully deceived in his estimate of the villains' nature,

and felt, when too late, that even death would have been preferable to

the barbarous treatment he was forced to endure.

Beaten, bleeding, terrified, the men lay huddled together in the hold,

while the pirates proceeded in their work of pillage and brutality.

Every trunk was hauled forth, every portable article of value heaped for

the plunder; money, plate, charts, nautical instruments, and seven

parcels of valuable jewels, which formed part of the cargo; these were

carried from below on the backs of those men whom the pirates selected

to assist them, and for two hours they were thus employed, during which

time Soto stood upon his own deck directing the operations; for the

vessels were within a hundred yards of each other. The scene which took

place in the cabin exhibited a licentious brutality. The sick officer,

Mr. Gibson, was dragged from his berth; the clothes of the other

passengers stripped from their backs, and the whole of the cabin

passengers driven on deck, except the females, whom they locked up in

the round-house on deck, and the steward, who was detained to serve the

pirates with wine and eatables. This treatment, no doubt hastened the

death of Gibson; the unfortunate gentleman did not long survive it. As

the passengers were forced up the cabin ladder, the feelings of Major

Logie, it may be imagined, were of the most heart-rending description.

In vain did he entreat to be allowed to remain; he was hurried away from

even the chance of protecting his defenceless wife, and battened down

with the rest in the hold, there to be racked with the fearful

apprehensions of their almost certain doom.

The labors of the robbers being now concluded, they sat down to regale

themselves, preparatory to the _chef d'oeuvre_ of their diabolical

enterprise; and a more terrible group of demi-devils, the steward

declares, could not be well imagined than commanded his attention at the

cabin table. However, as he was a Frenchman, and naturally polite, he

acquitted himself of the office of cup-bearer, if not as gracefully, at

least as anxiously, as ever did Ganymede herself. Yet, notwithstanding

this readiness to serve the visitors in their gastronomic desires, the

poor steward felt ill-requited; he was twice frightened into an icicle,

and twice thawed back into conscious horror, by the rudeness of those he

entertained. In one instance, when he had filled out a sparkling glass

for a ruffian, and believed he had quite won the heart of the drinker by

the act, he found himself grasped roughly and tightly by the throat, and

the point of a knife staring him in the face. It seems the fellow who

thus seized him, had felt between his teeth a sharp bit of broken glass,

and fancying that something had been put in the wine to poison him, he

determined to prove his suspicions by making the steward swallow what

remained in the bottle from which the liquor had been drawn, and thus

unceremoniously prefaced his command; however, ready and implicit

obedience averted further bad consequences. The other instance of the

steward's jeopardy was this; when the repast was ended, one of the

gentlemen coolly requested him to waive all delicacy, and point out the

place in which the captain's money was concealed. He might as well have

asked him to produce the philosopher's stone. However, pleading the

truth was of no use; his determined requisitor seconded the demand by

snapping a pistol at his breast; having missed fire, he recocked, and

again presented; but the fatal weapon was struck aside by Barbazan, who

reproved the rashness with a threat, and thus averted the steward's

impending fate. It was then with feelings of satisfaction he heard

himself ordered to go down to the hold, and in a moment he was bolted in

among his fellow sufferers.

The ruffians indulged in the pleasures of the bottle for some time

longer, and then having ordered down the females, treated them with even

less humanity than characterized their conduct towards the others. The

screams of the helpless females were heard in the hold by those who were

unable to render them assistance, and agonizing, indeed, must those

screams have been to their incarcerated hearers! How far the brutality

of the pirates was carried in this stage of the horrid proceeding, we

can only surmise; fortunately, their lives were spared, although, as it

afterwards appeared, the orders of Soto were to butcher every being on

board; and it is thought that these orders were not put into action, in

consequence of the villains having wasted so much time in drinking, and

otherwise indulging themselves; for it was not until the loud voice of

their chief was heard to recall them, that they prepared to leave the

ship; they therefore contented themselves with fastening the women

within the cabin, heaping heavy lumber on the hatches of the hold, and

boring holes in the planks of the vessel below the surface of the water,

so that in destroying the unhappy people at one swoop, they might make

up for the lost time. They then left the ship, sinking fast to her

apparently certain fate.

[Illustration: _Horrid abuse of the helpless women in the cabin._]

It may be reasonably supposed, bad as their conduct was towards the

females, and pitiable as was the suffering it produced, that the lives

of the whole left to perish were preserved through it; for the ship must

have gone down if the women had been either taken out of her or

murdered, and those in the hold inevitably have gone with her to the

bottom. But by good fortune, the females succeeded in forcing their way

out of the cabin, and became the means of liberating the men confined in

the hold. When they came on deck, it was nearly dark, yet they could see

the pirate ship at a considerable distance, with all her sails set and

bearing away from them. They prudently waited, concealed from the

possibility of being seen by the enemy, and when the night fell, they

crept to the hatchway, and called out to the men below to endeavor to

effect their liberation, informing them that the pirate was away and out

of sight. They then united their efforts, and the lumber being removed,

the hatches gave way to the force below, so that the released captives

breathed of hope again. The delightful draught, however, was checked,

when the ship was found to contain six feet of water! A momentary

collapse took possession of all their newly excited expectations; cries

and groans of despair burst forth, but the sailors' energy quickly

returned, and was followed by that of the others; they set to work at

the pumps, and by dint of labor succeeded in keeping the vessel afloat.

Yet to direct her course was impossible; the pirates having completely

disabled her, by cutting away her rigging and sawing the masts all the

way through. The eye of Providence, however, was not averted from the

hapless people, for they fell in with a vessel next day that relieved

them from their distressing situation, and brought them to England in

safety.

We will now return to Soto, and show how the hand of that Providence

that secured his intended victims, fell upon himself and his wicked

associates. Intoxicated with their infamous success, the night had far

advanced before Soto learned that the people in the Morning Star,

instead of being slaughtered, were only left to be drowned. The

information excited his utmost rage. He reproached Barbazan, and those

who had accompanied them in the boarding, with disobeying his orders,

and declared that now there could be no security for their lives. Late

as the hour was, and long as he had been steering away from the Morning

Star, he determined to put back, in the hope of effectually preventing

the escape of those in the devoted vessel, by seeing them destroyed

before his eyes. Soto was a follower of the principle inculcated by the

old maxim, "Dead men tell no tales;" and in pursuance of his doctrine,

lost not a moment in putting about and running back. But it was too

late; he could find no trace of the vessel, and so consoled himself with

the belief that she was at the bottom of the sea, many fathoms below the

ken and cognizance of Admiralty Courts.

Soto, thus satisfied, bent his course to Europe. On his voyage he fell

in with a small brig, boarded, plundered, sunk her, and, that he might

not again run the hazard of encountering living witnesses of his guilt,

murdered the crew, with the exception of one individual, whom he took

along with him, on account of his knowledge of the course to Corunna,

whither he intended to proceed. But, faithful to his principles of

self-protection, as soon as he had made full use of the unfortunate

sailor, and found himself in sight of the destined port, he came up to

him at the helm, which he held in his hand, "My friend," said he "is

that the harbor of Corunna?"--"Yes," was the reply. "Then," rejoined

Soto, "You have done your duty well, and I am obliged to you for your

services." On the instant he drew a pistol and shot the man; then coolly

flung his body overboard, took the helm himself, and steered into his

native harbor as little concerned as if he had returned from an honest

voyage. At this port he obtained papers in a false name, disposed of a

great part of his booty, and after a short stay set out for Cadiz, where

he expected a market for the remainder. He had a fair wind until he came

within sight of the coast near that city. It was coming on dark and he

lay to, expecting to go into his anchorage next morning, but the wind

shifted to the westward, and suddenly began to blow a heavy gale; it was

right on the land. He luffed his ship as close to the wind as possible,

in order to clear a point that stretched outward, and beat off to

windward, but his lee-way carried him towards the land, and he was

caught when he least expected the trap. The gale increased--the night

grew pitchy dark--the roaring breakers were on his lee-beam--the

drifting vessel strikes, rebounds, and strikes again--the cry of horror

rings through the flapping cordage, and despair is in the eyes of the

demon-crew. Helpless they lie amid the wrath of the storm, and the

darkened face of Heaven, for the first time, strikes terror on their

guilty hearts. Death is before them, but not with a merciful quickness

does he approach; hour after hour the frightful vision glares upon them,

and at length disappears only to come upon them again in a more dreadful

form. The tempest abates, and the sinners were spared for the time.

As the daylight broke they took to their boats, and abandoned the vessel

to preserve their lives. But there was no repentance in the pirates;

along with the night and the winds went the voice of conscience, and

they thought no more of what had passed. They stood upon the beach

gazing at the wreck, and the first thought of Soto, was to sell it, and

purchase another vessel for the renewal of his atrocious pursuits. With

the marked decision of his character, he proposed his intention to his

followers, and received their full approbation. The plan was instantly

arranged; they were to present themselves as honest, shipwrecked

mariners to the authorities at Cadiz; Soto was to take upon himself the

office of mate, or _contra maestra,_ to an imaginary captain, and thus

obtain their sanction in disposing of the vessel. In their assumed

character, the whole proceeded to Cadiz, and presented themselves before

the proper officers of the marine. Their story was listened to with

sympathy, and for a few days every thing went on to their satisfaction.

Soto had succeeded so well as to conclude the sale of the wreck with a

broker, for the sum of one thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars; the

contract was signed, but fortunately the money was not yet paid, when

suspicion arose, from some inconsistencies in the pirates' account of

themselves, and six of them were arrested by the authorities. Soto and

one of his crew instantly disappeared from Cadiz, and succeeded in

arriving at the neutral ground before Gibraltar, and six more made their

escape to the Carraccas.

None are permitted to enter the fortress of Gibraltar, without

permission from the governor, or a passport. Soto and his companion,

therefore, took up their quarters at a Posade on the neutral ground, and

resided there in security for several days. The busy and daring mind of

the former could not long remain inactive; he proposed to his companion

to attempt to enter the garrison in disguise and by stealth, but could

not prevail upon him to consent. He therefore resolved to go in alone;

and his object in doing so was to procure a supply of money by a letter

of credit which he brought with him from Cadiz. His companion, more wise

than he, chose the safer course; he knew that the neutral ground was not

much controllable by the laws either of the Spanish or the English, and

although there was not much probability of being discovered, he resolved

not to trust to chance in so great a stake as his life; and he proved to

have been right in his judgment, for had he gone to Gibraltar, he would

have shared the same fate of his chief. This man is the only one of the

whole gang, who has not met with the punishment of his crimes, for he

succeeded in effecting his escape on board some vessel. It is not even

suspected to what country he is gone; but his description, no doubt, is

registered. The steward of the Morning Star informed me, that he is a

tall, stout man, with fair hair, and fresh complexion, of a mild and

gentle countenance, but that he was one of the worst villains of the

whole piratical crew. I believe he is stated to be a Frenchman.

Soto secured his admission into the garrison by a false pass, and took

up his residence at an inferior tavern in a narrow lane, which runs off

the main street of Gibraltar, and is kept by a man of the name of Basso.

The appearance of this house suits well with the associations of the

worthy Benito's life. I have occasion to pass the door frequently at

night, for our barrack, (the Casement,) is but a few yards from it. I

never look at the place without feeling an involuntary sensation of

horror--the smoky and dirty nooks--the distant groups of dark Spaniards,

Moors, and Jews, their sallow countenances made yellow by the fight of

dim oil lamps--the unceiled rafters of the rooms above, seen through

unshuttered windows and the consciousness of their having covered the

atrocious Soto, combine this effect upon me.

In this den the villain remained for a few weeks, and during this time

seemed to enjoy himself as if he had never committed a murder. The story

he told Basso of his circumstances was, that he had come to Gibraltar on

his way to Cadiz from Malaga, and was merely awaiting the arrival of a

friend. He dressed expensively--generally wore a white hat of the best

English quality, silk stockings, white trowsers, and blue frock coat.

His whiskers were large and bushy, and his hair, which was very black,

profuse, long and naturally curled, was much in the style of a London

preacher of prophetic and anti-poetic notoriety. He was deeply browned

with the sun, and had an air and gait expressive of his bold,

enterprising, and desperate mind. Indeed, when I saw him in his cell and

at his trial, although his frame was attenuated almost to a skeleton,

the color of his face a pale yellow, his eyes sunken, and hair closely

shorn; he still exhibited strong traces of what he had been, still

retained his erect and fearless carriage, his quick, fiery, and

malevolent eye, his hurried and concise speech, and his close and

pertinent style of remark. He appeared to me such a man as would have

made a hero in the ranks of his country, had circumstances placed him in

the proper road to fame; but ignorance and poverty turned into the most

ferocious robber, one who might have rendered service and been an honor

to his sunken country. I should like to hear what the phrenologists say

of his head; it appeared to me to be the most peculiar I had ever seen,

and certainly, as far as the bump of _destructiveness_ went, bore the

theory fully out. It is rumored here that the skull has been sent to the

_savans_ of Edinburg; if this be the case, we shall no doubt be made

acquainted with their sage opinions upon the subject, and great

conquerors will receive a farther assurance of how much they resemble in

their physical natures the greatest murderers.

When I visited the pirate in the Moorish castle where he was confined,

he was sitting in his cold, narrow, and miserable cell, upon a pallet of

straw, eating his coarse meal from a tin plate. I thought him more an

object of pity than vengeance; he looked so worn with disease, so

crushed with suffering, yet so affable, frank, and kind in his address;

for he happened to be in a communicative mood, a thing that was by no

means common with him. He spoke of his long confinement, till I thought

the tears were about to start from his eyes, and alluded to his

approaching trial with satisfaction; but his predominant characteristic,

ferocity, appeared in his small piercing black eyes before I left him,

as he alluded to his keeper, the Provost, in such a way that made me

suspect his desire for blood was not yet extinguished. When he appeared

in court on his trial, his demeanor was quite altered; he seemed to me

to have suddenly risen out of the wretch he was in his cell, to all the

qualities I had heard of him; he stood erect and unembarrassed; he spoke

with a strong voice, attended closely to the proceedings, occasionally

examined the witnesses, and at the conclusion protested against the

justice of his trial. He sometimes spoke to the guards around him, and

sometimes affected an air of carelessness of his awful situation, which,

however, did not sit easy upon him. Even here the leading trait of his

mind broke forth; for when the interpreter commenced his office, the

language which he made use of being pedantic and affected, Soto

interrupted him thus, while a scowl sat upon his brow that terrified the

man of words: "I don't understand you, man; speak Spanish like others,

and I'll listen to you." When the dirk that belonged to Mr. Robertson,

the trunk and clothes taken from Mr. Gibson, and the pocket book

containing the ill-fated captain's handwriting were placed before him,

and proved to have been found in his room, and when the maid servant of

the tavern proved that she found the dirk under his pillow every morning

on arranging his bed; and when he was confronted with his own black

slave, between two wax lights, the countenance of the villain appeared

in its true nature, not depressed nor sorrowful, but vivid and

ferocious; and when the patient and dignified governor, Sir George Don,

passed the just sentence of the law upon him, he looked daggers at his

heart, and assumed a horrid silence, more eloquent than words.

The criminal persisted up to the day before his execution in asserting

his innocence, and inveighing against the injustice of his trial, but

the certainty of his fate, and the awful voice of religion, at length

subdued him. He made an unreserved confession of his guilt, and became

truly penitent; gave up to the keeper the blade of a razor which he had

secreted between the soles of his shoes for the acknowledged purpose of

adding suicide to his crimes, and seemed to wish for the moment that was

to send him before his Creator.

I witnessed his execution, and I believe there never was a more contrite

man than he appeared to be; yet there were no drivelling fears upon

him--he walked firmly at the tail of the fatal cart, gazing sometimes at

his coffin, sometimes at the crucifix which he held in his hand. The

symbol of divinity he frequently pressed to his lips, repeated the

prayers spoken in his ear by the attendant clergyman, and seemed

regardless of every thing but the world to come. The gallows was erected

beside the water, and fronting the neutral ground. He mounted the cart

as firmly as he had walked behind it, and held up his face to Heaven and

the beating rain, calm, resigned, but unshaken; and finding the halter

too high for his neck, he boldly stepped upon his coffin, and placed his

head in the noose, then watching the first turn of the wheels, he

murmured "_adios todos_," [Footnote: "Farewell, all."] and leaned

forward to facilitate his fall.

The black slave of the pirate stood upon the battery trembling before

his dying master to behold the awful termination of a series of events,

the recital of which to his African countrymen, when he shall return to

his home, will give them no doubt, a dreadful picture of European

civilization. The black boy was acquitted at Cadiz, but the men who had

fled to the Carraccas, as well as those arrested after the wreck, were

convicted, executed, their limbs severed, and hung on tenter hooks, as a

warning to all pirates.

[Illustration: _The Rock of Gibraltar._]

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN ROBERT KIDD

The easy access to the harbor of New-York, the number of hiding-places

about its waters, and the laxity of its newly organized government,

about the year 1695, made it a great rendezvous of pirates, where they

might dispose of their booty and concert new depredations. As they

brought home with them wealthy lading of all kinds, the luxuries of the

tropics, and the sumptuous spoils of the Spanish provinces, and disposed

of them with the proverbial carelessness of freebooters, they were

welcome visitors to the thrifty traders of New-York. Crews of these

desperadoes, therefore, the runagates of every country and every clime,

might be seen swaggering in open day about the streets, elbowing its

quiet inhabitants, trafficking their rich outlandish plunder at half or

quarter price to the wary merchant; and then squandering their

prize-money in taverns, drinking, gambling, singing, carousing and

astounding the neighborhood with midnight brawl and revelry. At length

these excesses rose to such a height as to become a scandal to the

provinces, and to call loudly for the interposition of government.

Measures were accordingly taken to put a stop to this widely extended

evil, and to drive the pirates out of the colonies.

Among the distinguished individuals who lurked about the colonies, was

Captain Robert Kidd, [Footnote: His real name was William Kidd.] who in

the beginning of King William's war, commanded a privateer in the West

Indies, and by his several adventurous actions, acquired the reputation

of a brave man, as well as an experienced seaman. But he had now become

notorious, as a nondescript animal of the ocean. He was somewhat of a

trader, something more of a smuggler, but mostly a pirate. He had traded

many years among the pirates, in a little rakish vessel, that could run

into all kinds of water. He knew all their haunts and lurking places,

and was always hooking about on mysterious voyages.

Upon the good old maxim of "setting a rogue to catch a rogue," Capt.

Kidd was recommended by the Lord Bellamont, then governor of Barbadoes,

as well as by several other persons, to the government here, as a person

very fit to be entrusted to the command of a government ship, and to be

employed in cruising upon the pirates, as knowing those seas perfectly

well, and being acquainted with all their lurking places; but what

reasons governed the politics of those times, I cannot tell, but this

proposal met with no encouragement here, though it is certain it would

have been of great consequence to the subject, our merchants suffering

incredible damages by those robbers.

Upon this neglect, the lord Bellamont and some others, who knew what

great captures had been made by the pirates, and what a prodigious

wealth must be in their possession, were tempted to fit out a ship at

their own private charge, and to give the command of her to Captain

Kidd; and to give the thing a greater reputation, as well as to keep

their seamen under better command, they procured the king's commission

for the said Capt. Kidd, of which the following is an exact copy:

_William Rex_,

"WILLIAM THE THIRD, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland,

France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. To our trusty and well

beloved Capt. ROBERT KIDD, commander of the ship the Adventure galley,

or to any other, the commander of the same for the time being,

_Greeting_: Whereas we are informed, that Capt. Thomas Too, John

Ireland, Capt. Thomas Wake, and Capt. William Maze or Mace, and other

subjects, natives or inhabitants of New-York, and elsewhere, in our

plantations in America, have associated themselves with divers others,

wicked and ill-disposed persons, and do, against the law of nations,

commit many and great piracies, robberies and depredations on the seas

upon the parts of America, and in other parts, to the great hindrance

and discouragement of trade and navigation, and to the great danger and

hurt of our loving subjects, our allies, and all others, navigating the

seas upon their lawful occasions. Now KNOW YE, that we being desirous to

prevent the aforesaid mischiefs, and as much as in us lies, to bring the

said pirates, free-booters and sea-rovers to justice, have thought fit,

and do hereby give and grant to the said Robert Kidd, (to whom our

commissioners for exercising the office of Lord High Admiral of England,

have granted a commission as a private man-of-war, bearing date the 11th

day of December, 1695,) and unto the commander of the said ship for the

time being, and unto the officers, mariners, and others which shall be

under your command, full power and authority to apprehend, seize, and

take into your custody as well the said Capt. Thomas Too, John Ireland,

Capt. Thomas Wake, and Capt. Wm. Maze or Mace, as all such pirates,

free-booters, and sea-rovers, being either our subjects, or of other

nations associated with them, which you shall meet with upon the seas or

coasts of America, or upon any other seas or coasts, with all their

ships and vessels, and all such merchandizes, money, goods, and wares as

shall be found on board, or with them, in case they shall willingly

yield themselves; but if they will not yield without fighting, then you

are by force to compel them to yield. And we also require you to bring,

or cause to be brought, such pirates, free-booters, or sea-rovers, as

you shall seize, to a legal trial, to the end they may be proceeded

against according to the law in such cases. And we do hereby command

all our officers, ministers, and other our loving subjects whatsoever,

to be aiding and assisting to you in the premises. And we do hereby

enjoin you to keep an exact journal of your proceedings in execution of

the premises, and set down the names of such pirates, and of their

officers and company, and the names of such ships and vessels as you

shall by virtue of these presents take and seize, and the quantities of

arms, ammunition, provision, and lading of such ships, and the true

value of the same, as near as you judge. And we do hereby strictly

charge and command you, as you will answer the contrary at your peril,

that you do not, in any manner, offend or molest our friends or allies,

their ships or subjects, by colour or pretence of these presents, or the

authority thereby granted. _In witness whereof_, we have caused our

great seal of England to be affixed to these presents. Given at our

court in Kensington, the 26th day of January, 1695, in the 7th year of

our reign."

Capt. Kidd had also another commission, which was called a commission of

reprisals; for it being then war time, this commission was to justify

him in the taking of French merchant ships, in case he should meet with

any; but as this commission is nothing to our present purpose, we shall

not burthen the reader with it.

Previous to sailing, Capt. Kidd buried his bible on the sea-shore, in

Plymouth Sound; its divine precepts being so at variance with his wicked

course of life, that he did not choose to keep a book which condemned

him in his lawless career.

With these two commissions he sailed out of Plymouth in May, 1696, in

the Adventure galley, of 30 guns, and 80 men; the place he first

designed for was New-York; in his voyage thither, he took a French

banker, but this was no act of piracy, he having a commission for that

purpose, as we have just observed.

When he arrived at New-York, he put up articles for engaging more hands,

it being necessary to his ship's crew, since he proposed to deal with a

desperate enemy. The terms he offered, were, that every man should have

a share of what was taken, reserving for himself and owners forty

shares. Upon which encouragement he soon increased his company to 155

men.

[Illustration _Captain Kidd burying his Bible._]

With this company he sailed first for Madeira, where he took in wine and

some other necessaries; from thence he proceeded to Bonavista, one of

the Cape de Verd Islands, to furnish the ship with salt, and from thence

went immediately to St. Jago, another of the Cape de Verd Islands, in

order to stock himself with provisions. When all this was done, he bent

his course to Madagascar, the known rendezvous of pirates. In his way he

fell in with Capt. Warren, commodore of three men of war; he acquainted

him with his design, kept them company two or three days, and then

leaving them, made the best of his way for Madagascar, where he arrived

in February, 1696, just nine months from his departure from Plymouth.

It happened that at this time the pirate ships were most of them out in

search of prey; so that according to the best intelligence Capt. Kidd

could get, there was not one of them at that time about the island;

wherefore, having spent some time in watering his ship and taking in

more provisions, he thought of trying his fortune on the coast of

Malabar, where he arrived in the month of June following, four months

from his reaching Madagascar. Hereabouts he made an unsuccessful cruise,

touching sometimes at the island of Mohila, and sometimes at that of

Johanna, between Malabar and Madagascar. His provisions were every day

wasting, and his ship began to want repair; wherefore, when he was at

Johanna, he found means of borrowing a sum of money from some Frenchmen

who had lost their ship, but saved their effects, and with this he

purchased materials for putting his ship in good repair.

It does not appear all this while that he had the least design of

turning pirate; for near Mohila and Johanna both, he met with several

Indian ships richly laden, to which he did not offer the least violence,

though he was strong enough to have done what he pleased with them; and

the first outrage or depredation I find he committed upon mankind, was

after his repairing his ship, and leaving Johanna; he touched at a place

called Mabbee, upon the Red Sea, where he took some Guinea corn from the

natives, by force. After this, he sailed to Bab's Key, a place upon a

little island at the entrance of the Red Sea. Here it was that he first

began to open himself to his ship's company, and let them understand

that he intended to change his measures; for, happening to talk of the

Mocha fleet, which was to sail that way, he said, "_We have been

unsuccessful hitherto; but courage, my boys, we'll make our fortunes out

of this fleet_"; and finding that none of them appeared averse to it, he

ordered a boat out, well manned, to go upon the coast to make

discoveries, commanding them to take a prisoner and bring him to him, or

get intelligence any way they could. The boat returned in a few days,

bringing him word, that they saw fourteen or fifteen ships ready to

sail, some with English, some with Dutch, and some with Moorish colors.

We cannot account for this sudden change in his conduct, otherwise than

by supposing that he first meant well, while he had hopes of making his

fortune by taking of pirates; but now weary of ill success, and fearing

lest his owners, out of humor at their great expenses, should dismiss

him, and he should want employment, and be marked out for an unlucky

man; rather, I say, than run the hazard of poverty, he resolved to do

his business one way, since he could not do it another.

He therefore ordered a man continually to watch at the mast head, lest

this fleet should go by them; and about four days after, towards

evening, it appeared in sight, being convoyed by one English and one

Dutch man of war. Kidd soon fell in with them, and getting into the

midst of them, fired at a Moorish ship which was next him; but the

men-of-war taking the alarm, bore down upon Kidd, and firing upon him,

obliged him to sheer off, he not being strong enough to contend with

them. Now he had begun hostilities, he resolved to go on, and therefore

he went and cruised along the coast of Malabar. The first prize he met

was a small vessel belonging to Aden; the vessel was Moorish, and the

owners were Moorish merchants, but the master was an Englishman; his

name was Parker. Kidd forced him and a Portuguese that was called Don

Antonio, which were all the Europeans on board, to take on with him; the

first he designed as a pilot, and the last as an interpreter. He also

used the men very cruelly, causing them to be hoisted up by the arms,

and drubbed with a naked cutlass, to force them to discover whether they

had money on board, and where it lay; but as they had neither gold nor

silver on board, he got nothing by his cruelty; however, he took from

them a bale of pepper, and a bale of coffee, and so let them go.

A little time after he touched at Carawar, a place upon the same coast,

where, before he arrived, the news of what he had done to the Moorish

ship had reached them; for some of the English merchants there had

received an account of it from the owners, who corresponded with them;

wherefore, as soon as Kidd came in, he was suspected to be the person

who committed this piracy; and one Mr. Harvey and Mr. Mason, two of the

English factory, came on board and asked for Parker, and Antonio, the

Portuguese; but Kidd denied that he knew any such persons, having

secured them both in a private place in the hold, where they were kept

for seven or eight days, that is, till Kidd sailed from thence.

However, the coast was alarmed, and a Portuguese man-of-war was sent out

to cruise. Kidd met with her, and fought her about six hours, gallantly

enough; but finding her too strong to be taken, he quitted her; for he

was able to run away from her when he would. Then he went to a place

called Porca, where he watered his ship and bought a number of hogs of

the natives to victual his company.

Soon after this, he came up with a Moorish ship, the master whereof was

a Dutchman, called Schipper Mitchell, and chased her under French

colors, which they observing hoisted French colors too; when he came

up with her, he hailed her in French, and they having a Frenchman on

board, answered him in the same language; upon which he ordered them to

send their boat on board; they were obliged to do so, and having

examined who they were, and from whence they came, he asked the

Frenchman who was a passenger, if he had a French pass for himself; the

Frenchman gave him to understand that he had. Then he told the Frenchman

that he must pass for captain, and by----, says he, you are the captain;

the Frenchman durst not refuse doing as he would have him. The meaning

of this was, that he would seize the ship as fair prize, and as if she

had belonged to French subjects, according to a commission he had for

that purpose; though one would think, after what he had already done, he

need not have recourse to a quibble to give his actions a color.

[Illustration: _Captain Kidd attacks the Moorish fleet._]

In short, he took the cargo, and sold it some time after; yet still he

seemed to have some fears upon him, lest these proceedings should have a

bad end; for, coming up with a Dutch ship some time after, when his men

thought of nothing but attacking her, Kidd opposed it; upon which a

mutiny arose, and the majority being for taking the said ship, and

arming themselves to man the boat to go and seize her, he told them,

such as did, never should come on board him again; which put an end to

the design, so that he kept company with the said ship some time,

without offering her any violence. However, this dispute was the

occasion of an accident, upon which an indictment was grounded against

Kidd; for Moor, the gunner, being one day upon deck, and talking with

Kidd about the said Dutch ship, some words arose between them, and Moor

told Kidd, that he had ruined them all; upon which Kidd, calling him a

dog, took up a bucket and struck him with it, which breaking his scull,

he died next day.

But Kidd's penitential fit did not last long; for coasting along

Malabar, he met with a great number of boats, all of which he

plundered. Upon the same coast he also fell in with a Portuguese ship,

which he kept possession of a week, and then having taken out of her

some chests of India goods, thirty jars of butter, with some wax, iron

and a hundred bags of rice, he let her go.

Much about the same time he went to one of the Malabar islands for wood

and water, and his cooper being ashore, was murdered by the natives;

upon which Kidd himself landed, and burnt and pillaged several of their

houses, the people running away; but having taken one, he caused him to

be tied to a tree, and commanded one of his men to shoot him; then

putting to sea again, he took the greatest prize which fell into his

hands while he followed this trade; this was a Moorish ship of 400 tons,

richly laden, named the Queda Merchant, the master whereof was an

Englishman, by the name of Wright; for the Indians often make use of

English or Dutchmen to command their ships, their own mariners not being

so good artists in navigation. Kidd chased her under French colors, and

having come up with her, he ordered her to hoist out her boat and send

on board of him, which being done, he told Wright he was his prisoner;

and informing himself concerning the said ship, he understood there were

no Europeans on board, except two Dutch and one Frenchman, all the rest

being Indians or Armenians, and that the Armenians were part owners of

the cargo. Kidd gave the Armenians to understand, that if they would

offer anything that was worth his taking for their ransom, he would

hearken to it. Upon which, they proposed to pay him 20,000 rupees, not

quite L3,000 sterling; but Kidd judged this would be making a bad

bargain, wherefore he rejected it, and setting the crew on shore, at

different places on the coast, he soon sold as much of the cargo as came

to ten thousand pounds. With part of it he also trafficked, receiving in

exchange provisions, or such other goods as he wanted; by degrees he

disposed of the whole cargo, and when the division was made, it came to

about L200 a man; and having reserved forty shares to himself, his

dividend amounted to about L8,000 sterling.

The Indians along the coast came on board and trafficked with all

freedom, and he punctually performed his bargains, till about the time

he was ready to sail; and then thinking he should have no further

occasion for them, he made no scruple of taking their goods and setting

them on shore, without any payment in money or goods, which they little

expected; for as they had been used to deal with pirates, they always

found them men of honor in the way of trade; a people, enemies to

deceit, and that scorned to rob but in their own way.

Kidd put some of his men on board the Queda Merchant, and with this ship

and his own sailed for Madagascar. As soon as he had arrived and cast

anchor, there came on board of him a canoe, in which were several

Englishmen, who had formerly been well acquainted with Kidd. As soon as

they saw him they saluted him, and told him they were informed he was

come to take them, and hang them, which would be a little unkind in such

an old acquaintance. Kidd soon dissipated their doubts, by swearing he

had no such design, and that he was now in every respect their brother,

and just as bad as they; and calling for a cup of bomboo, drank their

captain's health.

These men belonged to a pirate ship, called the Resolution, formerly the

Mocha Merchant, whereof one Capt. Culliford was commander, and which lay

at anchor not far from them. Kidd went on board with them, promising

them his friendship and assistance, and Culliford in his turn came on

board of Kidd; and Kidd, to testify his sincerity in iniquity, finding

Culliford in want of some necessaries, made him a present of an anchor

and some guns, to fit him out for sea again.

The Adventure galley was now so old and leaky, that they were forced to

keep two pumps continually going; wherefore Kidd shifted all the guns

and tackle out of her into the Queda Merchant, intending her for his

man-of-war; and as he had divided the money before, he now made a

division of the remainder of the cargo; soon after which, the greatest

part of the company left him, some going on board Capt. Culliford, and

others absconding into the country, so that he had not above 40 men

left.

He put to sea, and happened to touch at Amboyna, one of the Dutch spice

islands, where he was told that the news of his actions had reached

England, and that he was there declared a pirate.

The truth of it is, his piracies so alarmed our merchants that some

motions were made in parliament, to inquire into the commission that was

given him, and the persons who fitted him out. These proceedings seem to

lean a little hard upon Lord Bellamont, who thought himself so touched

thereby, that he published a justification of himself in a pamphlet,

after Kidd's execution. In the meantime it was thought advisable, in

order to stop the course of these piracies, to publish a proclamation,

offering the king's free pardon to all such pirates as should

voluntarily surrender themselves, whatever piracies they had been guilty

of, at any time before the last day of April, 1699--that is to say, for

all piracies committed eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, to the

longitude and meridian of Socatora, and Cape Cormorin; in which

proclamation, Avery and Kidd were excepted by name.

When Kidd left Amboyna he knew nothing of this proclamation, for

certainly had he had notice of his being excepted in it, he would not

have been so infatuated, as to run himself into the very jaws of danger;

but relying upon his interest with the lord Bellamont, and fancying that

a French pass or two he found on board some of the ships he took, would

serve to countenance the matter, and that part of the booty he got would

gain him new friends--I say, all these things made him flatter himself

that all would be hushed, and that justice would but wink at him.

Wherefore he sailed directly for Boston laden with booty, with a crew of

swaggering companions at his heels. But no sooner did he show himself in

Boston, than the alarm was given of his reappearance, and measures were

taken to arrest him. The daring character which Kidd had acquired,

however, and the desperate fellows who followed like bull-dogs at his

heels, caused a little delay in his arrest. He took advantage of this to

bury the greater part of his immense treasure, which has never been

found, and then carried a high head about the streets of Boston. He even

attempted to defend himself when arrested, but was secured and thrown

into prison. Such was the formidable character of this pirate and his

crew, that a frigate was sent to convey them to England for trial.

Accordingly a sessions of Admiralty being held at the Old Bailey, in May

1701, Capt. Kidd, Nicholas Churchill, James How, Robert Lumly, William

Jenkins, Gabriel Loff, Hugh Parrot, Richard Barlicorn, Abel Owens and

Darby Mullins, were arraigned for piracy and robbery on the high seas,

and all found guilty except three; these were Robert Lumly, William

Jenkins and Richard Barlicorn, who proving themselves to be apprentices

to some of the officers of the ship, and producing their indentures in

court, were acquitted.

The three above mentioned, though they were proved to be concerned in

taking and sharing the ship and goods mentioned in the indictment, yet,

as the gentlemen of the long robe rightly distinguished, there was a

great difference between their circumstances and the rest; for there

must go an intention of the mind and a freedom of the will to the

committing an act of felony or piracy. A pirate is not to be understood

to be under constraint, but a free agent; for in this case, the bare act

will not make a man guilty, unless the will make it so.

Now a servant, it is true, if he go voluntarily, and have his

proportion, he must be accounted a pirate, for then he acts upon his own

account, and not by compulsion: and these persons, according to the

evidence, received their part, but whether they accounted to their

masters for their shares afterwards, is the matter in question, and what

distinguishes them as free agents, or men that did go under the

compulsion of their masters; which being left to the consideration of

the jury, they found them _not guilty_.

Kidd was tried upon an indictment of murder also, viz. for killing Moor,

the gunner, and found guilty of the same. Nicholas Churchill, and James

How pleaded the king's pardon, as having surrendered themselves within

the time limited in the proclamation, and Col. Bass, governor of West

Jersey, to whom they surrendered, being in court, and called upon,

proved the same. However, this plea was overruled by the court, because

there being four commissioners named in the proclamation, viz. Capt.

Thomas Warren, Israel Hayes, Peter Delannoye, and Christopher Pollard,

Esquires, who were appointed commissioners, and sent over on purpose to

receive the submissions of such pirates as should surrender, it was

adjudged no other person was qualified to receive their surrender, and

that they could not be entitled to the benefit of the said proclamation,

because they had not in all circumstances complied with the conditions

of it.

Darby Mullins urged in his defence, that he served under the king's

commission, and therefore could not disobey his commander without

incurring great punishments; that whenever a ship or ships went out upon

any expedition under the king's commission, the men were never allowed

to call their officers to an account, why they did this, or why they did

that, because such a liberty would destroy all discipline; that if any

thing was done which was unlawful, the officers were to answer it, for

the men did no more than their duty in obeying orders. He was told by

the court, that acting under the commission justified in what was

lawful, but not in what was unlawful. He answered, he stood in need of

nothing to justify him in what was lawful, but the case of seamen must

be very hard, if they must be brought into such danger for obeying the

commands of their officers, and punished for not obeying them; and if

they were allowed to dispute the orders, there could be no such thing as

command kept up at sea.

This seemed to be the best defence the thing could bear; but his taking

a share of the plunder, the seamen's mutinying on board several times,

and taking upon them to control the captain, showed there was no

obedience paid to the commission; and that they acted in all things

according to the custom of pirates and freebooters, which weighing with

the jury, they brought him in guilty with the rest.

As to Capt. Kidd's defence, he insisted much on his own innocence, and

the villainy of his men. He said, he went out in a laudable employment

and had no occasion, being then in good circumstances, to go a pirating;

that the men often mutinied against him, and did as they pleased; that

he was threatened to be shot in the cabin, and that ninety-five left him

at one time, and set fire to his boat, so that he was disabled from

bringing his ship home, or the prizes he took, to have them regularly

condemned, which he said were taken by virtue of a commission under the

broad seal, they having French passes. The captain called one Col.

Hewson to his reputation, who gave him an extraordinary character, and

declared to the court, that he had served under his command, and been in

two engagements with him against the French, in which he fought as well

as any man he ever saw; that there were only Kidd's ship and his own

against Monsieur du Cass, who commanded a squadron of six sail, and they

got the better of him. But this being several years before the facts

mentioned in the indictment were committed, proved of no manner of

service to the prisoner on his trial.

[Illustration: _Captain Kidd hanging in chains._]

As to the friendship shown to Culliford, a notorious pirate, Kidd

denied, and said, he intended to have taken him, but his men being a

parcel of rogues and villains refused to stand by him, and several of

them ran away from his ship to the said pirate. But the evidence being

full and particular against him, he was found guilty as before

mentioned.

When Kidd was asked what he had to say why sentence should not pass

against him, he answered, that _he had nothing to say, but that he had

been sworn against by perjured and wicked people_. And when sentence was

pronounced, he said, _My Lord, it is a very hard sentence. For my part,

I am the most innocent person of them all, only I have been sworn

against by perjured persons_.

Wherefore about a week after, Capt. Kidd, Nicholas Churchill, James How,

Gabriel Loff, Hugh Parrot, Abel Owen, and Darby Mullins, were executed

at Execution Dock, and afterwards hung up in chains, at some distance

from each other, down the river, where their bodies hung exposed for

many years.

Kidd died hard, for the rope with which he was first tied up broke with

his weight and he tumbled to the ground. He was tied up a second time,

and more effectually. Hence came the story of Kidd's being twice hung.

Such is Captain Kidd's true history; but it has given birth to an

innumerable progeny of traditions. The report of his having buried great

treasures of gold and silver which he actually did before his arrest,

set the brains of all the good people along the coast in a ferment.

There were rumors on rumors of great sums of money found here and there,

sometimes in one part of the country sometimes in another; of coins with

Moorish inscriptions, doubtless the spoils of his eastern prizes.

Some reported the treasure to have been buried in solitary, unsettled

places about Plymouth and Cape Cod; but by degrees, various other parts,

not only on the eastern coast but along the shores of the Sound, and

even Manhattan and Long Island were gilded by these rumors. In fact the

vigorous measures of Lord Bellamont had spread sudden consternation

among the pirates in every part of the provinces; they had secreted

their money and jewels in lonely out-of-the-way places, about the wild

shores of the sea coast, and dispersed themselves over the country. The

hand of justice prevented many of them from ever returning to regain

their buried treasures, which remain to this day thus secreted, and are

irrecoverably lost. This is the cause of those frequent reports of trees

and rocks bearing mysterious marks, supposed to indicate the spots where

treasure lay hidden; and many have been the ransackings after the

pirates' booty. A rocky place on the shores of Long Island, called

Kidd's Ledge, has received great attention from the money diggers; but

they have not as yet discovered any treasures.

THE BLOODY CAREER AND EXECUTION OF VINCENT BENAVIDES A

PIRATE ON THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA.

Vincent Benavides was the son of the gaoler of Quirihue in the district

of Conception. He was a man of ferocious manners, and had been guilty of

several murders. Upon the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he

entered the patriot army as a private soldier; and was a serjeant of

grenadiers at the time of the first Chilian revolution. He, however,

deserted to the Spaniards, and was taken prisoner in their service, when

they sustained, on the plains of Maypo, on the 5th of April, 1818, that

defeat which decided their fortunes in that part of America, and secured

the independence of Chili. Benavides, his brother, and some other

traitors to the Chilian cause, were sentenced to death, and brought

forth in the Plaza, or public square of Santiago, in order to be shot.

Benavides, though terribly wounded by the discharge, was not killed; but

he had the presence of mind to counterfeit death in so perfect a manner,

that the imposture was not suspected. The bodies of the traitors were

not buried, but dragged away to a distance, and there left to be

devoured by the gallinazos or vultures. The serjeant who had the

superintendence of this part of the ceremony, had a personal hatred to

Benavides, on account of that person having murdered some of his

relations; and, to gratify his revenge, he drew his sword, and gave the

dead body, (as he thought,) a severe gash in the side, as they were

dragging it along. The resolute Benavides had fortitude to bear this

also, without flinching or even showing the least indication of life;

and one cannot help regretting that so determined a power of endurance

had not been turned to a better purpose.

Benavides lay like a dead man, in the heap of carcasses, until it became

dark; and then, pierced with shot, and gashed by the sword as he was, he

crawled to a neighboring cottage, the inhabitants of which received him

with the greatest kindness, and attended him with the greatest care.

The daring ruffian, who knew the value of his own talents and courage,

being aware that General San Martin was planning the expedition to Peru,

a service in which there would be much of desperation and danger, sent

word to the General that he was alive, and invited him to a secret

conference at midnight, in the same Plaza in which it was believed

Benavides had been shot. The signal agreed upon, was, that they should

strike fire three times with their flints, as that was not likely to be

answered by any but the proper party, and yet was not calculated to

awaken suspicion.

San Martin, alone, and provided with a brace of pistols, met the

desperado; and after a long conference, it was agreed that Benavides

should, in the mean time, go out against the Araucan Indians; but that

he should hold himself in readiness to proceed to Peru, when the

expedition suited.

Having procured the requisite passports, he proceeded to Chili, where,

having again diverted the Chilians, he succeeded in persuading the

commander of the Spanish troops, that he had force sufficient to carry

on the war against Chili; and the commander in consequence retired to

Valdivia, and left Benavides commander of the whole frontier on the

Biobio.

Having thus cleared the coast of the Spanish commander, he went over to

the Araucans, or rather, he formed a band of armed robbers, who

committed every cruelty, and were guilty of every perfidy in the south

of Chili. Whereever Benavides came, his footsteps were marked with

blood, and the old men, the women, and the children, were butchered lest

they should give notice of his motions.

When he had rendered himself formidable by land, he resolved to be

equally powerful upon the sea. He equipped a corsair, with instructions

to capture the vessels of all nations; and as Araucan is directly

opposite the island of Santa Maria, where vessels put in for

refreshment, after having doubled Cape Horn, his situation was well

adapted for his purpose. He was but too successful. The first of his

prizes was the American ship Hero, which he took by surprise in the

night; the second, was the Herculia, a brig belonging to the same

country. While the unconscious crew were proceeding, as usual, to catch

seals on this island, lying about three leagues from the main land of

Arauca, an armed body of men rushed from the woods, and overpowering

them, tied their hands behind them, and left them under a guard on the

beach. These were no other than the pirates, who now took the Herculia's

own boats, and going on board, surprised the captain and four of his

crew, who had remained to take care of the brig; and having brought off

the prisoners from the beach, threw them all into the hold, closing the

hatches over them. They then tripped the vessel's anchor, and sailing

over in triumph to Arauca, were received by Benavides, with a salute of

musketry fired under the Spanish flag, which it was their chief's

pleasure to hoist on that day. In the course of the next night,

Benavides ordered the captain and his crew to be removed to a house on

shore, at some distance from the town; then taking them out, one by one,

he stripped and pillaged them of all they possessed, threatening them

the whole time with drawn swords and loaded muskets. Next morning he

paid the prisoners a visit and ordered them to the capital, called

together the principal people of the town, and desired each to select

one as a servant. The captain and four others not happening to please

the fancy of any one, Benavides, after saying he would himself take

charge of the captain, gave directions, on pain of instant death, that

some one should hold themselves responsible for the other prisoners.

Some days after this they were called together, and required to serve as

soldiers in the pirates army; an order to which they consented, knowing

well by what they had already seen, that the consequence of refusal

would be fatal.

Benavides, though unquestionably a ferocious savage, was, nevertheless,

a man of resource, full of activity, and of considerable energy of

character. He converted the whale spears and harpoons into lances for

his cavalry, and halberts for his sergeants; and out of the sails he

made trowsers for half of his army; the carpenters he set to work making

baggage carts and repairing his boats; the armourers he kept perpetually

at work, mending muskets, and making pikes; managing in this way, to

turn the skill of every one of his prisoners to some useful account. He

treated the officers, too, not unkindly, allowed them to live in his

house, and was very anxious on all occasions, to have their advice

respecting the equipment of his troops.

Upon one occasion, when walking with the captain of the Herculia, he

remarked, that his army was now almost complete in every respect, except

in one essential particular, and it cut him, he said to the soul, to

think of such a deficiency; he had no trumpets for his cavalry, and

added, that it was utterly impossible to make the fellows believe

themselves dragoons, unless they heard a blast in their ears at every

turn; and neither men nor horses would ever do their duty properly, if

not roused to it by the sound of a trumpet; in short he declared, some

device must be hit upon to supply this equipment. The captain, willing

to ingratiate himself with the pirate, after a little reflection,

suggested to him, that trumpets might easily be made of copper sheets on

the bottoms of the vessels he had taken. "Very true," cried the

delighted chief, "how came I not to think of that before?" Instantly

all hands were employed in ripping off the copper, and the armourers

being set to work under his personal superintendence, the whole camp,

before night, resounded with the warlike blasts of the cavalry.

The captain of the ship, who had given him the brilliant idea of the

copper trumpets, had by these means, so far won upon his good will and

confidence, as to be allowed a considerable range to walk on. He of

course, was always looking out for some plan of escape, and at length an

opportunity occurring, he, with the mate of the Ocean, and nine of his

crew, seized two whale boats, imprudently left on the banks of the

river, and rowed off. Before quitting the shore, they took the

precaution of staving all the other boats, to prevent pursuit, and

accordingly, though their escape was immediately discovered, they

succeeded in getting so much the start of the people whom Benavides sent

in pursuit of them, that they reached St. Mary's Island in safety. Here

they caught several seals upon which they subsisted very miserably till

they reached Valparaiso. It was in consequence of their report of

Benavides proceedings made to Sir Thomas Hardy, the commander-in-chief,

that he deemed it proper to send a ship to rescue if possible, the

remaining unfortunate captives at Arauca.

Benavides having manned the Herculia, it suited the mate, (the captain

and crew being detained as hostages,) to sail with the brig to Chili,

and seek aid from the Spanish governor. The Herculia returned with a

twenty-four pounder, two field-pieces, eleven Spanish officers, and

twenty soldiers, together with the most flattering letters and

congratulations to the worthy ally of his Most Catholic Majesty. Soon

after this he captured the Perseverance, English whaler, and the

American brig Ocean, bound for Lima, with several thousand stand of arms

on board. The captain of the Herculia, with the mate of the Ocean, and

several men, after suffering great hardships, landed at Valparaiso, and

gave notice of the proceedings of Benavides; and in consequence, Sir

Thomas Hardy directed Captain Hall to proceed to Arauca with the convoy,

to set the captives free, if possible.

It was for the accomplishment of this service that Capt. Hall sailed

from Valparaiso; and he called at Conception on his way, in order to

glean information respecting the pirate. Here the Captain ascertained

that Benavides was between two considerable bodies of Chilian force, on

the Chilian side of the Biobio, and one of those bodies between him and

the river.

Having to wait two days at Conception for information, Captain Hall

occupied them in observing the place; the country he describes as green

and fertile, and having none of the dry and desert character of the

environs of Valparaiso. Abundance of vegetables, wood, and also coals,

are found on the shores of the bay.

On the 12th of October, the captain heard of the defeat of Benavides,

and his flight, alone, across the Biobio into the Araucan country; and

also that two of the Americans whom he had taken with him had made their

escape, and were on board the Chacabuco. As these were the only persons

who could give Captain Hall information respecting the prisoners of whom

he was in quest, he set out in search of the vessel, and after two days'

search, found her at anchor near the island of Mocha. From thence he

learned that the captain of the Ocean, with several English and American

seamen had been left at Arauca, when Benavides went on his expedition,

and he sailed for that place immediately.

He was too late, however; the Chilian forces had already made a

successful attack, and the Indians had fled, setting fire to the town

and the ships. The Indians, who were in league with the Chilians, were

every way as wild as those who arrayed themselves under Benavides. Capt.

Hall, upon his return to Conception, though dissuaded from it by the

governor, visited the Indian encampment.

When the captain and his associates entered the courtyard, they observed

a party seated on the ground, round a great tub of wine, who hailed

their entrance with loud shouts, or rather yells, and boisterously

demanded their business; to all appearance very little pleased with the

interruption. The interpreter became alarmed, and wished them to retire;

but this the captain thought imprudent, as each man had his long spear

close at hand, resting against the eaves of the house. Had they

attempted to escape they must have been taken, and possibly sacrificed,

by these drunken savages. As their best chance seemed to lie in treating

them without any show of distrust, they advanced to the circle with a

good humored confidence, which appeased them considerably. One of the

party rose and embraced them in the Indian fashion, which they had

learned from the gentlemen who had been prisoners with Benavides. After

this ceremony they roared out to them to sit down on the ground, and

with the most boisterous hospitality, insisted on their drinking with

them; a request which they cheerfully complied with. Their anger soon

vanished, and was succeeded by mirth and satisfaction, which speedily

became as outrageous as their displeasure had been at first. Seizing a

favorable opportunity, Captain Hall stated his wish to have an interview

with their chief, upon which a message was sent to him; but he did not

think fit to show himself for a considerable time, during which they

remained with the party round the tub, who continued swilling their wine

like so many hogs. Their heads soon became affected, and their

obstreperous mirth increasing every minute, the situation of the

strangers became by no means agreeable.

At length Peneleo's door opened, and the chief made his appearance; he

did not condescend, however, to cross the threshold, but leaned against

the door post to prevent falling, being by some degrees more drunk than

any of his people. A more finished picture of a savage cannot be

conceived. He was a tall, broad shouldered man; with a prodigiously

large head, and a square-shaped bloated face, from which peeped out two

very small eyes, partly hid by an immense superfluity of black, coarse,

oily, straight hair, covering his cheeks, hanging over his shoulders,

and rendering his head somewhat the shape and size of a bee-hive. Over

his shoulders was thrown a poncho of coarse blanket stuff. He received

them very gruffly, and appeared irritated and sulky at having been

disturbed; he was still more offended when he learned that they wished

to see his captive. They in vain endeavored to explain their real views;

but he grunted out his answer in a tone and manner which showed them

plainly that he neither did, nor wished to understand them.

Whilst in conversation with Peneleo, they stole an occasional glance at

his apartment. By the side of the fire burning in the middle of the

floor, was seated a young Indian woman, with long black hair reaching to

the ground; this, they conceived, could be no other than one of the

unfortunate persons they were in search of; and they were somewhat

disappointed to observe, that the lady was neither in tears, nor

apparently very miserable; they therefore came away impressed with the

unsentimental idea, that the amiable Peneleo had already made some

impression on her young heart.

Two Indians, who were not so drunk as the rest, followed them to the

outside of the court, and told them that several foreigners had been

taken by the Chilians in the battle near Chilian, and were now safe. The

interpreter hinted to them that this was probably invented by these

cunning people, on hearing their questions in the court; but he advised

them, as a matter of policy, to give them each a piece of money, and to

get away as far as they could.

Captain Hall returned to Conception on the 23d of October, reached

Valparaiso on the 26th, and in two weeks thereafter, the men of whom he

was in search, made their appearance.

The bloody career of Benavides now drew near to a close. The defeat on

the Chilian side of the Biobio, and the burning of Arauca with the loss

of his vessels, he never recovered. At length, in the end of December

1821, discovering the miserable state to which he was reduced, he

entreated the Intendant of Conception, that he might be received on

giving himself up along with his partisans. This generous chief accepted

his offer, and informed the supreme government; but in the meantime

Benavides embarked in a launch, at the mouth of the river Lebo, and

fled, with the intention of joining a division of the enemy's army,

which he supposed to be at some one of the ports on the south coast of

Peru. It was indeed absurd to expect any good faith from such an

intriguer; for in his letters at this time, he offered his services to

Chili and promised fidelity, while his real intention was still to

follow the enemy. He finally left the unhappy province of Conception,

the theatre of so many miserable scenes, overwhelmed with the misery

which he had caused, without ever recollecting that it was in that

province that he had first drawn his breath.

His despair in the boat made his conduct insupportable to those who

accompanied him, and they rejoiced when they were obliged to put into

the harbor of Topocalma in search of water of which they had run short.

He was now arrested by some patriotic individuals. From the notorious

nature of his crimes, alone, even the most impartial stranger would have

condemned him to the last punishment; but the supreme government wished

to hear what he had to say for himself, and ordered him to be tried

according to the laws. It appearing on his trial that he had placed

himself beyond the laws of society, such punishment was awarded him as

any one of his crimes deserved. As a pirate, he merited death, and as a

destroyer of whole towns, it became necessary to put him to death in

such a manner as might satisfy outraged humanity, and terrify others who

should dare to imitate him. In pursuance of the sentence passed upon

him, he was dragged from the prison in a pannier tied to the tail of a

mule, and was hanged in the great square; his head and hands were

afterwards cut off, in order to their being placed upon high poles, to

point out the places of his horrid crimes, Santa Juona, Tarpellanca and

Arauca.

[Illustration: _The head of Benavides stuck on a pole._]

[Illustration]

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN DAVIS

_With an account of his surprising the Fort at Gambia_.

Davis was born in Monmouthshire, and, from a boy, trained to the sea.

His last voyage from England was in the sloop Cadogan from Bristol, in

the character of chief mate. This vessel was captured by the pirate

England, upon the Guinea coast, whose companions plundered the crew, and

murdered the captain, as is related in England's life.

Upon the death of Captain Skinner, Davis pretended that he was urged by

England to become a pirate, but that he resolutely refused. He added,

that England, pleased with his conduct, had made him captain in room of

Skinner, giving him a sealed paper, which he was not to open until he

was in a certain latitude, and then expressly to follow the given

directions. When he arrived in the appointed place, he collected the

whole crew, and solemnly read his sealed instructions, which contained a

generous grant of the ship and all her stores to Davis and his crew,

requesting them to go to Brazil, and dispose of the cargo to the best

advantage, and make an equal division of the money.

Davis then commanded the crew to signify whether they were inclined to

follow that mode of life, when, to his astonishment and chagrin, the

majority positively refused. Then, in a transport of rage, he desired

them to go where they would.

Knowing that part of the cargo was consigned to merchants in Barbadoes,

they directed their course to that place. When arrived there, they

informed the merchants of the unfortunate death of Skinner, and of the

proposal which had been made to them. Davis was accordingly seized, and

committed to prison, but he having never been in the pirate service,

nothing could be proved to condemn him, and he was discharged without a

trial. Convinced that he could never hope for employment in that quarter

after this detection, he went to the island of Providence, which he knew

to be a rendezvous for pirates. Upon his arrival there, he was

grievously disappointed, because the pirates who frequented that place

had just accepted of his majesty's pardon, and had surrendered.

Captain Rogers having equipped two sloops for trade, Davis obtained

employment in one of these, called the Buck. They were laden with

European goods to a considerable value, which they were to sell or

exchange with the French and Spanish. They first touched at the island

of Martinique, belonging to the French, and Davis knowing that many of

the men were formerly in the pirate service, enticed them to seize the

master, and to run off with the sloop. When they had effected their

purpose, they hailed the other ship, in which they knew that there were

many hands ripe for rebellion, and coming to, the greater part joined

Davis. Those who did not choose to adhere to them were allowed to remain

in the other sloop, and continue their course, after Davis had pillaged

her of what things he pleased.

In full possession of the vessel and stores and goods, a large bowl of

punch was made; under its exhilarating influence, it was proposed to

choose a commander, and to form their future mode of policy. The

election was soon over, and a large majority of legal votes were in

favor of Davis, and no scrutiny demanded, Davis was declared duly

elected. He then drew up a code of laws, to which he himself swore, and

required the same bond of alliance from all the rest of the crew. He

then addressed them in a short and appropriate speech, the substance of

which was, a proclamation of war with the whole world.

They next consulted, what part would be most convenient to clean the

vessel, and it was resolved to repair to Coxon's Hole, at the east end

of the island of Cuba, where they could remain in perfect security, as

the entrance was so narrow that one ship could keep out a hundred.

They, however, had no small difficulty in cleaning their vessel, as

there was no carpenter among them. They performed that laborious task in

the best manner they could, and then made to the north side of

Hispaniola. The first sail they met with was a French ship of twelve

guns, which they captured; and while they were plundering her, another

appeared in view. Enquiring of the Frenchmen, they learned that she was

a ship of twenty-four guns and sixty men. Davis proposed to his crew to

attack her, assuring them that she would prove a rich prize. This

appeared to the crew such a hazardous enterprise, that they were rather

adverse to the measure. But he acquainted them that he had conceived a

stratagem that he was confident would succeed; they might, therefore,

safely leave the matter to his management. He then commenced chase, and

ordered his prize to do the same. Being a better sailer, he soon came up

with the enemy, and showed his black colors. With no small surprise at

his insolence in coming so near them, they commanded him to strike. He

replied, that he was disposed to give them employment until his

companion came up, who was able to contend with them; meanwhile assuring

them that, if they did not strike to him, it would most certainly fare

the worse for them: then giving them a broadside, he received the same

in return.

When the other pirate ship drew near, they, according to the directions

of Davis, appeared upon deck in white shirts, which making an appearance

of numbers, the Frenchman was intimidated, and struck. Davis ordered

the captain with twenty of his men to come on board, and they were all

put in irons except the captain. He then despatched four of his men to

the other ship, and calling aloud to them, desired that his compliments

should be given to the captain, with a request to send a sufficient

number of hands to go on board their new prize, to see what they had got

in her. At the same time, he gave them a written paper with their proper

instructions, even to nail up the small guns, to take out all the arms

and powder, and to go every man on board the new prize. When his men

were on board her, he ordered the greater part of the prisoners to be

removed into the empty vessels, and by this means secured himself from

any attempt to recover their ship.

During three days, these three vessels sailed in company, but finding

that his late prize was a heavy sailer, he emptied her of everything

that he stood in need of, and then restored her to the captain with all

his men. The French captain was so much enraged at being thus miserably

deceived, that, upon the discovery of the stratagem, he would have

thrown himself overboard, had not his men prevented him.

Captain Davis then formed the resolution of parting with the other

prize-ship also, and soon afterwards steered northward, and took a

Spanish sloop. He next directed his course towards the western islands,

and from Cape de Verd islands cast anchor at St. Nicholas, and hoisted

English colors. The Portuguese supposed that he was a privateer, and

Davis going on shore was hospitably received, and they traded with him

for such articles as they found most advantageous. He remained here five

weeks, and he and half of his crew visited the principal town of the

island. Davis, from his appearing in the dress of a gentleman, was

greatly caressed by the Portuguese, and nothing was spared to entertain

and render him and his men happy. Having amused themselves during a

week, they returned to the ship, and allowed the other half of the crew

to visit the capital, and enjoy themselves in like manner. Upon their

return, they cleaned their ship and put to sea, but four of the men were

so captivated with the ladies and the luxuries of the place, that they

remained in the island, and one of them married and settled there.

Davis now sailed for Bonavista, and perceiving nothing in that harbor

steered for the Isle of May. Arrived there, he found several vessels in

the harbor, and plundered them of whatever he found necessary. He also

received a considerable reinforcement of men, the greater part of whom

entered willingly into the piratical service. He likewise made free with

one of the ships, equipped her for his own purpose, and called her the

King James. Davis next proceeded to St. Jago to take in water. Davis,

with some others going on shore to seek water, the governor came to

inquire who they were, and expressed his suspicion of their being

pirates. Upon this, Davis seemed highly affronted, and expressed his

displeasure in the most polite but determined manner. He, however,

hastened on board, informed his men, and suggested the possibility of

surprising the fort during the night. Accordingly, all his men being

well armed, they advanced to the assault; and, from the carelessness of

the guards, they were in the garrison before the inhabitants were

alarmed. Upon the discovery of their danger, they took shelter in the

governor's house, and fortified it against the pirates: but the latter

throwing in some grando shells, ruined the furniture, and killed several

people.

The alarm was circulated in the morning, and the country assembled to

attack them; but, unwilling to stand a siege, the pirates dismounted the

guns, pillaged the fort, and fled to their ships.

When at sea, they mustered their hands, and found that they were seventy

strong. They then consulted among themselves what course they should

steer, and were divided in opinion; but by a majority it was carried to

sail for Gambia, on the coast of Guinea. Of this opinion was the

captain, who having been employed in that trade, was acquainted with the

coast; and informed his companions, that there was always a large

quantity of money deposited in that castle, and he was confident, if the

matter was entrusted to him, he should successfully storm that fort.

From their experience of his former prudence and courage, they

cheerfully submitted to his direction, in the full assurance of success.

Arrived at Gambia, he ordered all his men below, except just so many as

were necessary to work the vessel, that those from the fort, seeing so

few hands, might have no suspicion that she was any other than a trading

vessel. He then ran under the fort and cast anchor, and having ordered

out the boat, manned with six men indifferently dressed, he, with the

master and doctor, dressed themselves like gentlemen, in order that the

one party might look like foremastmen, and the other like merchants. In

rowing ashore, he instructed his men what to say if any questions were

put to them by the garrison.

On reaching land, the party was conducted by a file of musqueteers into

the fort, and kindly received by the governor, who enquired what they

were, and whence they came? They replied, that they were from Liverpool,

and bound for the river Senegal, to trade for gum and elephants teeth;

but that they were chased on that coast by two French men-of-war, and

narrowly escaped being taken. "We were now disposed," continued Davis,

"to make the best of our voyage, and would willingly trade here for

slaves." The governor then inquired what were the principal articles of

their cargo. They replied, that they were iron and plate, which were

necessary articles in that place. The governor then said, that he would

give them slaves for all their cargo; and asked if they had any European

liquor on board. They answered, that they had a little for their own

use, but that he should have a hamper of it. He then treated them with

the greatest civility, and desired them all to dine with him. Davis

answered, that as he was commander of the vessel, it would be necessary

for him to go down to see if she were properly moored, and to give some

other directions; but that these gentlemen might stay, and he would

return before dinner, and bring the hamper with him.

While in the fort, his eyes were keenly employed to discover the

position of the arms, and how the fort might most successfully be

surprised. He discovered that there was a sentry standing near a

guard-house, in which there were a quantity of arms heaped up in a

corner, and that a considerable number of small arms were in the

governor's hall. When he went on board, he ordered some hands on board a

sloop lying at anchor, lest, hearing any bustle they should come to the

aid of the castle; then desiring his men to avoid too much liquor, and

to be ready when he should hoist the flag from the walls, to come to his

assistance, he proceeded to the castle.

Having taken these precautions and formed these arrangements, he ordered

every man who was to accompany him to arm himself with two pair of

pistols, which he himself also did, concealed under their clothes. He

then directed them to go into the guard-room, and fall into

conversation, and immediately upon his firing a pistol out of the

governor's window, to shut the men up, and secure the arms in the

guard-room.

When Davis arrived, dinner not being ready, the governor proposed that

they should pass the time in making a bowl of punch. Davis's boatswain

attending him, had an opportunity of visiting all parts of the house,

and observing their strength. He whispered his intelligence to his

master, who being surrounded by his own friends, and seeing the governor

unattended by any of his retinue, presented a pistol to the breast of

the latter, informing him that he was a dead man, unless he should

surrender the fort and all its riches. The governor, thus taken by

surprise, was compelled to submit; for Davis took down all the pistols

that hung in the hall, and loaded them. He then fired his pistol out of

the window. His men flew like lions, presented their pistols to the

soldiers, and while some carried out the arms, the rest secured the

military, and shut them all up in the guard-house, placing a guard on

the door. Then one of them struck the union flag on the top of the

castle, which the men from the vessel perceiving, rushed to the combat,

and in an instant were in possession of the castle, without tumult or

bloodshed.

Davis then harrangued the soldiers, many of whom enlisted with him; and

those who declined, he put on board the small ships, and to prevent the

necessity of a guard, or the possibility of escape, carried off the

sails, rigging and cables.

That day being spent in feasting and rejoicing, the castle saluting the

ship, and the ship the castle, on the day following they proceeded to

examine the contents of their prize. They, however, were greatly

disappointed in their expectations, a large sum of money having been

sent off a few days before. But they found money to the amount of about

two thousand pounds in gold, and many valuable articles of different

kinds. They carried on board their vessel whatever they deemed useful,

gave several articles to the captain and crew of the small vessel, and

allowed them to depart, while they dismounted the guns, and demolished

the fortifications.

After doing all the mischief that their vicious minds could possibly

devise, they weighed anchor; but in the mean time, perceiving a sail

bearing towards them with all possible speed, they hastened to prepare

for her reception, and made towards her. Upon her near approach they

discovered that she was a French pirate of fourteen guns and sixty-four

men, the one half French, and the other half negroes.

The Frenchman was in high expectation of a rich prize, but when he came

nearer, he suspected, from the number of her guns and men, that she was

a small English man-of-war; he determined, notwithstanding, upon the

bold attempt of boarding her, and immediately fired a gun, and hoisted

his black colors: Davis immediately returned the compliment. The

Frenchman was highly gratified at this discovery; both hoisted out their

boats, and congratulated each other. Mutual civilities and good offices

passed, and the French captain proposed to Davis to sail down the coast

with him, in order to look out for a better ship, assuring him that the

very first that could be captured should be his, as he was always

willing to encourage an industrious brother.

They first touched at Sierra Leone, where they espied a large vessel,

and Davis being the swifter sailer, came first up with him. He was not a

little surprised that she did not endeavor to make off, and began to

suspect her strength. When he came alongside of her, she fired a whole

broadside, and hoisted black colors. Davis did the same, and fired a gun

to leeward. The satisfaction of these brothers in iniquity was mutual,

at having thus acquired so much additional strength and ability to

undertake more formidable adventures. Two days were devoted to mirth and

song, and upon the third, Davis and Cochlyn, the captain of the new

confederate, agreed to go in the French pirate ship to attack the fort.

When they approached, the men in the fort, apprehensive of their

character and intentions, fired all the guns upon them at once. The ship

returned the fire, and afforded employment until the other two ships

arrived, when the men in the fort seeing such a number on board, lost

courage, and abandoned the fort to the mercy of the robbers.

They took possession, remained there seven weeks, and cleaned their

vessels. They then called a council of war, to deliberate concerning

future undertakings, when it was resolved to sail down the coast in

company; and, for the greater regularity and grandeur, Davis was chosen

Commodore. That dangerous enemy, strong drink, had well nigh, however,

sown the seeds of discord among these affectionate brethren. But Davis,

alike prepared for council or for war, addressed them to the following

purport: "Hear ye, you Cochlyn and La Boise, (which was the name of the

French captain) I find, by strengthening you, I have put a rod into your

hands to whip myself; but I am still able to deal with you both:

however, since we met in love, let us part in love; for I find that

three of a trade can never agree long together." Upon this, the other

two went on board of their respective ships, and steered different

courses.

Davis held down the coast, and reaching Cape Appolonia he captured three

vessels, two English and one Scottish, plundered them, and allowed them

to proceed. In five days after he met with a Dutchman of thirty guns and

ninety men. She gave Davis a broadside, and killed nine of his men; a

desperate engagement ensued, which continued from one o'clock at noon

until nine next morning, when the Dutchman struck.

Davis equipped her for the pirate service, and called her "The Rover."

With his two ships he sailed for the bay of Anamaboa, which he entered

about noon, and took several vessels which were there waiting to take in

negroes, gold, and elephants' teeth. Davis made a present of one of

these vessels to the Dutch captain and his crew, and allowed them to go

in quest of their fortune. When the fort had intelligence that they were

pirates, they fired at them, but without any effect; Davis fired also,

and hoisted the black colors, but deemed it prudent to depart.

The next day after he left Anamaboa, the man at the mast-head discovered

a sail. It may be proper to inform our readers, that, according to the

laws of pirates, the man who first discovers a vessel, is entitled to

the best pair of pistols in the ship, and such is the honor attached to

these, that a pair of them has been known to sell for thirty pounds.

Davis pursued that vessel, which, being between him and the shore,

labored hard to run aground. Davis perceiving this, got between her and

the land, and fired a broadside at her, when she immediately struck. She

proved to be a very rich prize, having on board the Governor of Acra,

with all his substance, going to Holland. There was in money to the

amount of fifteen thousand pounds, besides a large quantity of merchant

goods, and other valuable articles.

Before they reached the Isle of Princes, the St. James sprang a leak, so

that the men and the valuable articles were removed into Davis's own

ship. When he came in sight of the fort he hoisted English colors. The

Portuguese, seeing a large ship sailing towards the shore, sent a sloop

to discover her character and destination. Davis informed them, that he

was an English man-of-war, sent out in search of some pirates which they

had heard were in this quarter. Upon this, he was piloted into the port,

and anchored below the guns at the fort. The governor was happy to have

Englishmen in his harbor; and to do honor to Davis, sent down a file of

musqueteers to escort him into the fort, while Davis, the more to cover

his design, ordered nine men, according to the custom of the English, to

row him on shore.

Davis also took the opportunity of cleaning and preparing all things for

renewing his operations. He, however, could not contentedly leave the

fort, without receiving some of the riches of the island. He formed a

scheme to accomplish his purpose, and communicated the same to his men.

He design was to make the governor a present of a few negroes in return

for his kindness; then to invite him, with a few of the principal men

and friars belonging to the island, to dine on board his ship, and

secure them all in irons, until each of them should give a large ransom.

They were accordingly invited, and very readily consented to go: and

deeming themselves honored by his attention, all that were invited,

would certainly have gone on board. Fortunately however, for them, a

negro, who was privy to the horrible plan of Davis, swam on shore during

the night, and gave information of the danger to the governor.

[Illustration: _Retreat of the Pirates and Death of Captain Davis._]

The governor occupied the whole night in strengthening the defences and

posting the men in the most advantageous places. Soon after day-break,

the pirates, with Captain Davis at their head were discovered landing

from the boats; and quickly marched across the open space toward the

fort. A brisk fire was opened upon them from the fort, which they

returned in a spirited manner. At length, a hand grenade, thrown from

the wooden veranda of the fort killed three of the pirates; but several

of the Portuguese were killed. The veranda of the fort being of wood and

very dry, it was set fire to by the pirates. This was a great advantage

to the attacking party, who could now distinguish those in the fort

without their being so clearly seen themselves; but at this moment

Captain Davis fell, mortally wounded by a musket ball in his belly. The

fall of their chief, and the determined resistance of those in the fort,

checked the impetuosity of the assailants. They hesitated, and at last

retreated, bearing away with them their wounded commander. The

Portuguese cheered, and led on by the governor, now became the

assailants. Still the pirates' retreat was orderly; they fired and

retired rank behind rank successively. They kept the Portuguese at bay

until they had arrived at the boats, when a charge was made and a severe

conflict ensued. But the pirates had lost too many men; and without

their Captain, felt dispirited. As they lifted Davis into the boat in

his dying agonies he fired his pistols at his pursuers. They now pulled

with all their might to escape from the muskets of the Portuguese, who

followed them along the banks of the river, annoying them in their

retreat to the vessel. And those on board, who expected to hoist in

treasure had to receive naught but their wounded comrades and dead

commander.

[Illustration]

AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF THE MALAY PIRATES OF THE INDIAN OCEAN.

_With a Narrative of the Expedition against the Inhabitants of Quallah

Battoo, commanded by Commodore Downes_.

A glance at the map of the East India Islands will convince us that this

region of the globe must, from its natural configuration and locality;

be peculiarly liable to become the seat of piracy. These islands form an

immense cluster, lying as if it were in the high road which connects the

commercial nations of Europe and Asia with each other, affording a

hundred fastnesses from which to waylay the traveller. A large

proportion of the population is at the same time confined to the coasts

or the estuaries of rivers; they are fishermen and mariners; they are

barbarous and poor, therefore rapacious, faithless and sanguinary. These

are circumstances, it must be confessed, which militate strongly to

beget a piratical character. It is not surprising, then, that the Malays

should have been notorious for their depredations from our first

acquaintance with them.

Among the tribes of the Indian Islands, the most noted for their

piracies are, of course, the most idle, and the least industrious, and

particularly such as are unaccustomed to follow agriculture or trade as

regular pursuits. The agricultural tribes of Java, and many of Sumatra,

never commit piracy at all; and the most civilized inhabitants of

Celebes are very little addicted to this vice.

Among the most confirmed pirates are the true Malays, inhabiting the

small islands about the eastern extremity of the straits of Malacca, and

those lying between Sumatra and Borneo, down to Billitin and Cavimattir.

Still more noted than these, are the inhabitants of certain islands

situated between Borneo and the Phillipines, of whom the most desperate

and enterprising are the Soolos and Illanoons, the former inhabiting a

well known group of islands of the same name, and the latter being one

of the most numerous nations of the great island of Magindando. The

depredations of the proper Malays extend from Junkceylon to Java,

through its whole coast, as far as Grip to Papir and Kritti, in Borneo

and the western coast of Celebes. In another direction they infest the

coasting trade of the Cochin Chinese and Siamese nations in the Gulf of

Siam, finding sale for their booty, and shelter for themselves in the

ports of Tringham, Calantan and Sahang. The most noted piratical

stations of these people are the small islands about Lingin and Rhio,

particularly Galang, Tamiang and Maphar. The chief of this last has

seventy or eighty proas fit to undertake piratical expeditions.

The Soolo pirates chiefly confine their depredations to the Phillipine

Islands, which they have continued to infest, with little interruption,

for near three centuries, in open defiance of the Spanish authorities,

and the numerous establishments maintained to check them. The piracies

of the Illanoons, on the contrary, are widely extended, being carried on

all the way from their native country to the Spice Islands, on one side,

and to the Straits of Malacca on the other. In these last, indeed, they

have formed, for the last few years, two permanent establishments; one

of these situated on Sumatra, near Indragiri, is called Ritti, and the

other a small island on the coast of Linga, is named Salangut. Besides

those who are avowed pirates, it ought to be particularly noticed that a

great number of the Malayan princes must be considered as accessories to

their crimes, for they afford them protection, contribute to their

outfit, and often share in their booty; so that a piratical proa is too

commonly more welcome in their harbours than a fair trader.

The Malay piratical proas are from six to eight tons burden, and run

from six to eight fathoms in length. They carry from one to two small

guns, with commonly four swivels or rantakas to each side, and a crew of

from twenty to thirty men. When they engage, they put up a strong

bulwark of thick plank; the Illanoon proas are much larger and more

formidable, and commonly carry from four to six guns, and a

proportionable number of swivels, and have not unfrequently a double

bulwark covered with buffalo hides; their crews consist of from forty to

eighty men. Both, of course, are provided with spears, krisses, and as

many fire arms as they can procure. Their modes of attack are cautious

and cowardly, for plunder and not fame is their object. They lie

concealed under the land, until they find a fit object and opportunity.

The time chosen is when a vessel runs aground, or is becalmed, in the

interval between the land and sea breezes. A vessel underway is seldom

or never attacked. Several of the marauders attack together, and station

themselves under the bows and quarters of a ship when she has no longer

steerage way, and is incapable of pointing her guns. The action

continues often for several hours, doing very little mischief; but when

the crew are exhausted with the defence, or have expended their

ammunition, the pirates take this opportunity of boarding in a mass.

This may suggest the best means of defence. A ship, when attacked during

a calm, ought, perhaps, rather to stand on the defensive, and wait if

possible the setting in of the sea breeze, than attempt any active

operations, which would only fatigue the crew, and disable them from

making the necessary defence when boarding is attempted. Boarding

netting, pikes and pistols, appear to afford effectual security; and,

indeed, we conceive that a vessel thus defended by resolute crews of

Europeans or Americans stand but little danger from any open attack of

pirates whatsoever; for their guns are so ill served, that neither the

hull or the rigging of a vessel can receive much damage from them,

however much protracted the contest. The pirates are upon the whole

extremely impartial in the selection of their prey, making little choice

between natives and strangers, giving always, however, a natural

preference to the most timid, and the most easily overcome.

When an expedition is undertaken by the Malay pirates, they range

themselves under the banner of some piratical chief noted for his

courage and conduct. The native prince of the place where it is

prepared, supplies the adventurers with arms, ammunition and opium, and

claims as his share of the plunder, the female captives, the cannon, and

one third of all the rest of the booty.

In Nov. 1827, a principal chief of pirates, named Sindana, made a

descent upon Mamoodgoo with forty-five proas, burnt three-fourths of the

campong, driving the rajah with his family among the mountains. Some

scores of men were killed, and 300 made prisoners, besides women and

children to half that amount. In December following, when I was there,

the people were slowly returning from the hills, but had not yet

attempted to rebuild the campong, which lay in ashes. During my stay

here (ten weeks) the place was visited by two other piratical chiefs,

one of which was from Kylie, the other from Mandhaar Point under Bem

Bowan, who appeared to have charge of the whole; between them they had

134 proas of all sizes.

Among the most desperate and successful pirates of the present day,

Raga is most distinguished. He is dreaded by people of all

denominations, and universally known as the "prince of pirates." For

more than seventeen years this man has carried on a system of piracy to

an extent never before known; his expeditions and enterprises would fill

a large volume. They have invariably been marked with singular cunning

and intelligence, barbarity, and reckless inattention to the shedding of

human blood. He has emissaries every where, and has intelligence of the

best description. It was about the year 1813 Raga commenced operations

on a large scale. In that year he cut off three English vessels, killing

the captains with his own hands. So extensive were his depredations

about that time that a proclamation was issued from Batavia, declaring

the east coast of Borneo to be under strict blockade. Two British sloops

of war scoured the coast. One of which, the Elk, Capt. Reynolds, was

attacked during the night by Raga's own proa, who unfortunately was not

on board at the time. This proa which Raga personally commanded, and the

loss of which he frequently laments, carried eight guns and was full of

his best men.

[Illustration: _A Piratical Proa in Full Chase._]

An European vessel was faintly descried about three o'clock one foggy

morning; the rain fell in torrents; the time and weather were favorable

circumstances for a surprise, and the commander determined to

distinguish himself in the absence of the Rajah Raga, gave directions to

close, fire the guns and board. He was the more confident of success, as

the European vessel was observed to keep away out of the proper course

on approaching her. On getting within about an hundred fathoms of the

Elk they fired their broadside, gave a loud shout, and with their long

oars pulled towards their prey. The sound of a drum beating to quarters

no sooner struck the ear of the astonished Malays than they endeavored

to get away: it was too late; the ports were opened, and a broadside,

accompanied with three British cheers, gave sure indications of their

fate. The captain hailed the Elk, and would fain persuade him it was a

mistake. It was indeed a mistake, and one not to be rectified by the

Malayan explanation. The proa was sunk by repeated broadsides, and the

commanding officer refused to pick up any of the people, who, with the

exception of five were drowned; these, after floating four days on some

spars, were picked up by a Pergottan proa, and told the story to Raga,

who swore anew destruction to every European he should henceforth take.

This desperado has for upwards of seventeen years been the terror of the

Straits of Macassar, during which period he has committed the most

extensive and dreadful excesses sparing no one. Few respectable families

along the coast of Borneo and Celebes but have to complain of the loss

of a proa, or of some number of their race; he is not more universally

dreaded than detested; it is well known that he has cut off and murdered

the crews of more than forty European vessels, which have either been

wrecked on the coasts, or entrusted themselves in native ports. It is

his boast that twenty of the commanders have fallen by his hands. The

western coast of Celebes, for about 250 miles, is absolutely lined with

proas belonging principally to three considerable rajahs, who act in

conjunction with Raga and other pirates. Their proas may be seen in

clusters of from 50, 80, and 100 (at Sediano I counted 147 laying on the

sand at high water mark in parallel rows,) and kept in a horizontal

position by poles, completely ready for the sea. Immediately behind them

are the campongs, in which are the crews; here likewise are kept the

sails, gunpowder, &c. necessary for their equipment. On the very summits

of the mountains, which in many parts rise abruptly from the sea, may be

distinguished innumerable huts; here reside people who are constantly on

the lookout. A vessel within ten miles of the shore will not probably

perceive a single proa, yet in less than two hours, if the tide be high,

she may be surrounded by some hundreds. Should the water be low they

will push off during the night. Signals are made from mountain to

mountain along the coast with the utmost rapidity; during the day time

by flags attached to long bamboos; at night, by fires. Each chief sends

forth his proas, the crews of which, in hazardous cases, are infuriated

with opium, when they will most assuredly take the vessel if she be not

better provided than most merchantmen.

Mr. Dalton, who went to the Pergottan river in 1830 says, "whilst I

remained here, there were 71 proas of considerable sizes, 39 of which

were professed pirates. They were anchored off the point of a small

promontory, on which the rajah has an establishment and bazaar. The

largest of these proas belonged to Raga, who received by the fleet of

proas, in which I came, his regular supplies of arms and ammunition from

Singapore. Here nestle the principal pirates, and Raga holds his head

quarters; his grand depot was a few miles farther up. Rajah Agi Bota

himself generally resides some distance up a small river which runs

eastward of the point; near his habitation stands the principal bazaar,

which would be a great curiosity for an European to visit if he could

only manage to return, which very few have. The Raga gave me a pressing

invitation to spend a couple of days at his country house, but all the

Bugis' nacodahs strongly dissuaded me from such an attempt. I soon

discovered the cause of their apprehension; they were jealous of Agi

Bota, well knowing he would plunder me, and considered every article

taken by him was so much lost to the Sultan of Coti, who naturally would

expect the people to reserve me for his own particular plucking. When

the fact was known of an European having arrived in the Pergottan river,

this amiable prince and friend of Europeans, impatient to seize his

prey, came immediately to the point from his country house, and sending

for the nacodah of the proa, ordered him to land me and all my goods

instantly. An invitation now came for me to go on shore and amuse myself

with shooting, and look at some rare birds of beautiful plumage which

the rajah would give me if I would accept of them; but knowing what were

his intentions, and being well aware that I should be supported by all

the Bugis' proas from Coti, I feigned sickness, and requested that the

birds might be sent on board. Upon this Agi Bota, who could no longer

restrain himself, sent off two boats of armed men, who robbed me of many

articles, and would certainly have forced me on shore, or murdered me in

the proa had not a signal been made to the Bugis' nacodahs, who

immediately came with their people, and with spears and krisses, drove

the rajah's people overboard. The nacodahs, nine in number, now went on

shore, when a scene of contention took place showing clearly the

character of this chief. The Bugis from Coti explained, that with regard

to me it was necessary to be particularly circumspect, as I was not only

well known at Singapore, but the authorities in that settlement knew

that I was on board the Sultan's proa, and they themselves were

responsible for my safety. To this circumstance alone I owe my life on

several occasions, as in the event of any thing happening to me, every

nacodah was apprehensive of his proa being seized on his return to

Singapore; I was therefore more peculiarly cared for by this class of

men, and they are powerful. The rajah answered the nacodahs by saying, I

might be disposed of as many others had been, and no further notice

taken of the circumstance; he himself would write to Singapore that I

had been taken by an alligator, or bitten by a snake whilst out

shooting; and as for what property I might have in the proa he would

divide it with the Sultan of Coti. The Bugis, however, refused to listen

to any terms, knowing the Sultan of Coti would call him to an account

for the property, and the authorities of Singapore for my life. Our

proa, with others, therefore dropped about four miles down the river,

where we took in fresh water. Here we remained six days, every argument

being in vain to entice me on shore. At length the Bugis' nacodahs came

to the determination to sail without passes, which brought the rajah to

terms. The proas returned to the point, and I was given to understand I

might go on shore in safety. I did so, and was introduced to the rajah

whom I found under a shed, with about 150 of his people; they were busy

gambling, and had the appearance of what they really are, a ferocious

set of banditti. Agi Bota is a good looking man, about forty years of

age, of no education whatever; he divides his time between gaming, opium

and cockfighting; that is in the interval of his more serious and

profitable employment, piracy and rapine. He asked me to produce what

money I had about me; on seeing only ten rupees, he remarked that it was

not worth while to win so small a sum, but that if I would fight cocks

with him he would lend me as much money as I wanted, and added it was

beneath his dignity to fight under fifty reals a battle. On my saying it

was contrary to an Englishman's religion to bet wagers, he dismissed me;

immediately after the two rajahs produced their cocks and commenced

fighting for one rupee a side. I was now obliged to give the old

Baudarre five rupees to take some care of me, as whilst walking about,

the people not only thrust their hands into my pockets, but pulled the

buttons from my clothes. Whilst sauntering behind the rajah's campong I

caught sight of an European woman, who on perceiving herself observed,

instantly ran into one of the houses, no doubt dreading the consequences

of being recognized. There are now in the house of Agi Bota two European

women; up the country there are others, besides several men. The Bugis,

inimical to the rajah, made no secret of the fact; I had heard of it on

board the proa, and some person in the bazaar confirmed the statement.

On my arrival, strict orders had been given to the inhabitants to put

all European articles out of sight. One of my servants going into the

bazaar, brought me such accounts as induced me to visit it. In one house

were the following articles: four Bibles, one in English, one in Dutch,

and two in the Portuguese languages; many articles of wearing apparel,

such as jackets and trowsers, with the buttons altered to suit the

natives; pieces of shirts tagged to other parts of dress; several broken

instruments, such as quadrants, spy glasses (two,) binnacles, with

pieces of ship's sails, bolts and hoops; a considerable variety of

gunner's and carpenter's tools, stores, &c. In another shop were two

pelisses of faded lilac color; these were of modern cut and fashionably

made. On enquiring how they became possessed of these articles, I was

told they were some wrecks of European vessels on which no people were

found, whilst others made no scruple of averring that they were formerly

the property of people who had died in the country. All the goods in the

bazaar belonged to the rajah, and were sold on his account; large

quantities were said to be in his house up the river; but on all hands

it was admitted Raga and his followers had by far the largest part of

what was taken. A Mandoor, or head of one of the campongs, showed me

some women's stockings, several of which were marked with the letters

S.W.; also two chemises, one with the letters S.W.; two flannel

petticoats, a miniature portrait frame (the picture was in the rajah's

house,) with many articles of dress of both sexes. In consequence of the

strict orders given on the subject I could see no more; indeed there

were both difficulty and danger attending these inquiries. I

particularly wanted to obtain the miniature picture, and offered the

Mandoor fifty rupees if he could procure it; he laughed at me, and

pointing significantly to his kris, drew one hand across my throat, and

then across his own, giving me to understand such would be the result to

us both on such an application to the rajah. It is the universal custom

of the pirates, on this coast, to sell the people for slaves immediately

on their arrival, the rajah taking for himself a few of the most useful,

and receiving a percentage upon the purchase money of the remainder,

with a moiety of the vessel and every article on board. European vessels

are taken up the river, where they are immediately broken up. The

situation of European prisoners is indeed dreadful in a climate like

this, where even the labor of natives is intolerable; they are compelled

to bear all the drudgery, and allowed a bare sufficiency of rice and

salt to eat."

It is utterly impossible for Europeans who have seen these pirates at

such places as Singapore and Batavia, to form any conception of their

true character. There they are under immediate control, and every part

of their behaviour is a tissue of falsehood and deception. They

constantly carry about with them a smooth tongue, cringing demeanor, a

complying disposition, which always asserts, and never contradicts; a

countenance which appears to anticipate the very wish of the Europeans,

and which so generally imposes upon his understanding, that he at once

concludes them to be the best and gentlest of human beings; but let the

European meet them in any of their own campongs, and a very different

character they will appear. The character and treacherous proceeding

narrated above, and the manner of cutting off vessels and butchering

their crews, apply equally to all the pirates of the East India Islands,

by which many hundred European and American vessels have been surprised

and their crews butchered.

On the 7th of February, 1831, the ship Friendship, Capt. Endicott, of

Salem (Mass.,) was captured by the Malays while lying at Quallah Battoo,

on the coast of Sumatra. In the forenoon of the fatal day, Capt.

Endicott, Mr. Barry, second mate, and four of the crew, it seems went on

shore as usual, for the purpose of weighing pepper, expecting to obtain

that day two boat loads, which had been promised them by the Malays.

After the first boat was loaded, they observed that she delayed some

time in passing down the river, and her crew being composed of Malays,

was supposed by the officers to be stealing pepper from her, and

secreting it in the bushes. In consequence of this conjecture, two men

were sent off to watch them, who on approaching the boat, saw five or

six Malays leap from the jungle, and hurry on board of her. The former,

however, supposed them to be the boat's crew, as they had seen an equal

number quit her previous to their own approach. In this they were

mistaken, as will subsequently appear. At this time a brig hove in

sight, and was seen standing towards Soo Soo, another pepper port,

distant about five miles. Capt. Endicott, on going to the beach to

ascertain whether the brig had hoisted any colors, discovered that the

boat with pepper had approached within a few yards of the Friendship,

manned with an unusual number of natives.

It appears that when the pepper boats came alongside of the Friendship,

as but few of the hands could work at a time, numbers of the Malays came

on board, and on being questioned by Mr. Knight, the first officer, who

was in the gangway, taking an account of the pepper, as to their

business, their reply was, that they had come to see the vessel. Mr.

Knight ordered them into their boat again, and some of them obeyed, but

only to return immediately to assist in the work of death, which was now

commenced by attacking Mr. Knight and the rest of the crew on board. The

crew of the vessel being so scattered, it was impossible to concentrate

their force so as to make a successful resistance. Some fell on the

forecastle, one in the gangway, and Mr. Knight fell upon the quarter

deck, severely wounded by a stab in the back while in the act of

snatching from the bulwarks a boarding pike with which to defend

himself.

The two men who were taking the pepper on a stage, having vainly

attempted to get on board to the assistance of their comrades, were

compelled to leap into the sea. One of them, Charles Converse, of Salem,

being severely wounded, succeeded in swimming to the bobstays, to which

he clung until taken on board by the natives, and from some cause he was

not afterwards molested. His companion, John Davis, being unable to

swim, drifted with the tide near the _boat tackle_, or _davit falls_,

the blocks being overhauled down near the water; one of these he laid

hold of, which the Malays perceiving, dropped their boat astern and

despatched him! the cook sprang into a canoe along side, and in

attempting to push off she was capsized; and being unable to swim, he

got on the bottom, and paddled ashore with his hands, where he was made

prisoner. Gregory, an Italian, sought shelter in the foretop-gallant

cross-trees, where he was fired at several times by the Malays with the

muskets of the Friendship, which were always kept loaded and ready for

use while on the coast.

Three of the crew leaped into the sea, and swam to a point of land near

a mile distant, to the northward of the town; and, unperceived by the

Malays on shore, pursued their course to the northward towards Cape

Felix, intending to go to the port of Annalaboo, about forty-five miles

distant. Having walked all night, they found themselves, on the

following morning, near the promontory, and still twenty-five miles

distant from Annalaboo.

When Mr. Endicott, Mr. Barry, and the four seamen arrived at the beach,

they saw the crew jumping into the sea; the truth now, with all its

horrors, flashed upon his mind, that the vessel was attacked, and in an

instant they jumped on board the boat and pushed off; at the same time a

friendly rajah named Po Adam, sprang into the boat; he was the

proprietor of a port and considerable property at a place called Pulo

Kio, but three miles distant from the mouth of the river Quallah Battoo.

More business had been done by the rajah during the eight years past

than by any other on the pepper coast; he had uniformly professed

himself friendly to the Americans, and he has generally received the

character of their being honest. Speaking a little English as he sprang

into the boat, he exclaimed, "Captain, you got trouble; Malay kill you,

he kill Po Adam too!" Crowds of Malays assembled on both sides of the

river, brandishing their weapons in a menacing manner, while a ferry

boat, manned with eight or ten of the natives, armed with spears and

krisses, pushed off to prevent the officers' regaining their ship. The

latter exhibited no fear, and flourished the cutlass of Po Adam in a

menacing manner from the bows of the boat; it so intimidated the Malays

that they fled to the shore, leaving a free passage to the ship; but as

they got near her they found that the Malays had got entire possession

of her; some of them were promenading the deck, others were making

signals of success to the people on shore, while, with the exception of

one man aloft, not an individual of the crew could be seen. Three Malay

boats, with about fifty men, now issued from the river in the direction

of the ship, while the captain and his men, concluding that their only

hope of recovering their vessel was to obtain assistance from some other

ships, directed their course towards Muchie, where they knew that

several American vessels were lying at anchor. Three American captains,

upon hearing the misfortunes of their countrymen, weighed anchor

immediately for Quallah Battoo, determined, if possible, to recover the

ship. By four o'clock on the same day they gained an anchorage off that

place; the Malays, in the meantime, had removed on shore every moveable

article belonging to the ship, including specie, besides several cases

of opium, amounting in all to upwards of thirty thousand dollars. This

was done on the night of the 9th, and on the morning of the 10th, they

contrived to heave in the chain cable, and get the anchor up to the

bows; and the ship was drifting finely towards the beach, when the

cable, not being stopped abaft the bitts, began suddenly to run out with

great velocity; but a bight having by accident been thrown forward of

the windlass, a riding turn was the consequence, and the anchor, in its

descent, was suddenly checked about fifteen fathoms from the hawse. A

squall soon after coming on, the vessel drifted obliquely towards the

shore, and grounded upon a coral reef near half a mile to the southward

of the town. The next day, having obtained a convenient anchorage, a

message was sent by a friendly Malay who came on board at Soo Soo,

demanding the restoration of the ship. The rajah replied that he would

not give her up, but that they were welcome to take her if they could; a

fire was now opened upon the Friendship by the vessels, her decks were

crowded with Malays, who promptly returned the fire, as did also the

forts on shore. This mode of warfare appeared undecisive, and it was

determined to decide the contest by a close action. A number of boats

being manned and armed with about thirty officers and men, a movement

was made to carry the ship by boarding. The Malays did not wait the

approach of this determined attack, but all deserted the vessel to her

lawful owners, when she was taken possession of and warped out into deep

water. The appearance of the ship, at the time she was boarded, beggars

all description; every part of her bore ample testimony of the scene of

violence and destruction with which she had been visited. The objects of

the voyage were abandoned, and the Friendship returned to the United

States. The public were unanimous in calling for a redress of the

unparalleled outrage on the lives and property of citizens of the United

States. The government immediately adopted measures to punish so

outrageous an act of piracy by despatching the frigate Potomac,

Commodore Downs, Commander. The Potomac sailed from New York the 24th of

August, 1831, after touching at Rio Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope.

She anchored off Quallah Battoo in February 1832, disguised as a Danish

ship, and came to in merchantman style, a few men being sent aloft,

dressed in red and blue flannel shirts, and one sail being clewed up and

furled at a time. A reconnoitering party were sent on shore disguised as

pepper dealers, but they returned without being able to ascertain the

situations of the forts. The ship now presented a busy scene; it was

determined to commence an attack upon the town the next morning, and

every necessary preparation was accordingly made, muskets were cleaned,

cartridge-boxes buckled on, cutlasses examined and put in order, &c.

At twelve o'clock at night, all hands were called, those assigned to

take part in the expedition were mustered, when Lieut. Shubrick, the

commander of the detachment, gave them special orders; when they entered

the boats and proceeded to the shore, where they effected a landing near

the dawn of day, amid a heavy surf, about a mile and a half to the north

of the town, undiscovered by the enemy, and without any serious accident

having befallen them, though several of the party were thoroughly

drenched by the beating of the surf, and some of their ammunition was

injured.

The troops then formed and took up their line of march against the

enemy, over a beach of deep and heavy sand. They had not proceeded far

before they were discovered by a native at a distance, who ran at full

speed to give the alarm. A rapid march soon brought them up with the

first fort, when a division of men, under the command of Lieut. Hoff,

was detached from the main body, and ordered to surround it. The first

fort was found difficult of access, in consequence of a deep hedge of

thorn-bushes and brambles with which it was environed. The assault was

commenced by the pioneers, with their crows and axes, breaking down the

gates and forcing a passage. This was attended with some difficulty, and

gave the enemy time for preparation. They raised their warwhoop, and

resisted most manfully, fighting with spears, sabres, and muskets. They

had also a few brass pieces in the fort, but they managed them with so

little skill as to produce no effect, for the balls uniformly whizzed

over the heads of our men. The resistance of the Malays was in vain, the

fort was stormed, and soon carried; not, however, till almost every

individual in it was slain. Po Mahomet, a chief of much distinction, and

who was one of the principal persons concerned in the outrage on the

Friendship was here slain; the mother of Chadoolah, another rajah, was

also slain here; another woman fell at this port, but her rank was not

ascertained; she fought with the spirit of a desperado. A seaman had

just scaled one of the ramparts, when he was severely wounded by a blow

received from a weapon in her hands, but her life paid the forfeit of

her daring, for she was immediately transfixed by a bayonet in the hands

of the person whom she had so severely injured. His head was wounded by

a javelin, his thumb nearly cut off by a sabre, and a ball was shot

through his hat.

Lieutenants Edson and Ferret proceeded to the rear of the town, and made

a bold attack upon that fort, which, after a spirited resistance on the

part of the Malays, surrendered. Both officers and marines here narrowly

escaped with their lives. One of the natives in the fort had trained his

piece in such a manner as to rake their whole body, when he was shot

down by a marine while in the very act of applying a match to it. The

cannon was afterwards found to have been filled with bullets. This fort,

like the former, was environed with thick jungle, and great difficulty

had been experienced in entering it. The engagement had now become

general, and the alarm universal. Men, women and children were seen

flying in every direction, carrying the few articles they were able to

seize in the moments of peril, and some of the men were cut down in the

flight. Several of the enemy's proas, filled with people, were severely

raked by a brisk fire from the six pounder, as they were sailing up the

river to the south of the town, and numbers of the natives were killed.

The third and most formidable fort was now attacked, and it proved the

most formidable, and the co-operation of the several divisions was

required for its reduction; but so spirited was the fire poured into it

that it was soon obliged to yield, and the next moment the American

colors were seen triumphantly waving over its battlements. The greater

part of the town was reduced to ashes. The bazaar, the principal place

of merchandize, and most of the private dwellings were consumed by fire.

The triumph had now been completed over the Malays; ample satisfaction

had been taken for their outrages committed upon our own countrymen, and

the bugle sounded the return of the ship's forces; and the embarkation

was soon after effected. The action had continued about two hours and a

half, and was gallantly sustained both by officers and men, from its

commencement to its close. The loss on the part of the Malays was near a

hundred killed, while of the Americans only two lost their lives. Among

the spoils were a Chinese gong, a Koran, taken at Mahomet's fort, and

several pieces of rich gold cloth. Many of the men came off richly laden

with spoils which they had taken from the enemy, such as rajah's scarfs,

gold and silver chunam boxes, chains, ear rings and finger rings,

anklets and bracelets, and a variety of shawls, krisses richly hilted

and with gold scabbards, and a variety of other ornaments. Money to a

considerable amount was brought off. That nothing should be left undone

to have an indelible impression on the minds of these people, of the

power of the United States to inflict punishment for aggressions

committed on her commerce, in seas however distant, the ship was got

underway the following morning, and brought to, with a spring on her

cable, within less than a mile of the shore, when the larboard side was

brought to bear nearly upon the site of the town. The object of the

Commodore, in this movement, was not to open an indiscriminate or

destructive fire upon the town and inhabitants of Quallah Battoo, but to

show them the irresistible power of thirty-two pound shot, and to reduce

the fort of Tuca de Lama, which could not be reached on account of the

jungle and stream of water, on the morning before, and from which a fire

had been opened and continued during the embarkation of the troops on

their return to the ship. The fort was very soon deserted, while the

shot was cutting it to pieces, and tearing up whole cocoa-trees by the

roots. In the afternoon a boat came off from the shore, bearing a flag

of truce to the Commodore, beseeching him, in all the practised forms of

submission of the east, that he would grant them peace, and cease to

fire his big guns. Hostilities now ceased, and the Commodore informed

them that the objects of his government in sending him to their shores

had now been consummated in the punishment of the guilty, who had

committed their piracies on the Friendship. Thus ended the intercourse

with Quallah Battoo. The Potomac proceeded from this place to China, and

from thence to the Pacific Ocean; after looking to the interests of the

American commerce in those parts she arrived at Boston in 1834, after a

three years' absence.

THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN CONDENT

Captain Condent was a Plymouth man born, but we are as yet ignorant of

the motives and time of his first turning pirate. He was one of those

who thought fit to retire from Providence, on Governor Rogers' arrival

at that island, in a sloop belonging to Mr. Simpson, of New York, a Jew

merchant, of which sloop he was then quarter-master. Soon after they

left the island, an accident happened on board, which put the whole crew

into consternation. They had among them an Indian man, whom some of them

had beaten; in revenge, he got most of the arms forward into the hold,

and designed to blow up the sloop; upon which, some advised scuttling

the deck, and throwing grenade shells down, but Condent said that was

too tedious and dangerous, since the fellow might fire through the deck

and kill several of them. He, therefore, taking a pistol in one hand,

and his cutlass in the other, leaped into the hold. The Indian

discharged a piece at him, which broke his arm; but, however, he ran up

and shot the Indian. When he was dead, the crew hacked him to pieces,

and the gunner, ripping up his belly and tearing out his heart, broiled

and eat it.

After this, they took a merchantman called the Duke of York; and some

disputes arising among the pirates, the captain, and one half of the

company, went on board the prize; the other half, who continued in the

sloop, chose Condent captain. He shaped his course for the Cape-de Verd

Islands, and in his way took a merchant ship from Madeira, laden with

wine, and bound for the West Indies, which he plundered and let go;

then coming to the Isle of May, one of the said islands, he took the

whole salt fleet, consisting of about 20 sail. Wanting a boom, he took

out the mainmast of one of these ships to supply the want. Here he took

upon himself the administration of justice, inquiring into the manner of

the commanders' behaviour to their men, and those against whom complaint

was made, he whipped and pickled. He took what provision and other

necessaries he wanted, and having augmented his company by volunteers

and forced men, he left the ships and sailed to St. Jago, where he took

a Dutch ship, which had formerly been a privateer. This proved also an

easy prize, for he fired but one broadside, and clapping her on board,

carried her without resistance, for the captain and several men were

killed, and some wounded by his great shot.

The ship proving for his purpose, he gave her the name of the Flying

Dragon, went on board with his crew, and made a present of his sloop to

a mate of an English prize, whom he had forced with him. From hence he

stood away for the coast of Brazil, and in his cruize took several

Portuguese ships, which he plundered and let go.

After these he fell in with the Wright galley, Capt. John Spelt,

commander, hired by the South Sea company, to go to the coast of Angola

for slaves, and thence to Buenos Ayres. This ship he detained a

considerable time, and the captain being his townsman, treated him very

civilly. A few days after he took Spelt, he made prize of a Portuguese,

laden with bale goods and stores. He rigged the Wright galley anew, and

put on board of her some of the goods. Soon after he had discharged the

Portuguese, he met with a Dutch East Indiaman of 28 guns, whose captain

was killed the first broadside, and took her with little resistance, for

he had hoisted the pirate's colors on board Spelt's ship.

[Illustration: _Capt. Condent leaping into the hold, to attack the

Indian._]

He now, with three sail, steered for the island of Ferdinando, where

he hove down and cleaned the Flying Dragon. Having careened, he put 11

Dutchmen on board Capt. Spelt, to make amends for the hands he had

forced from him, and sent him away, making him a present of the goods he

had taken from the Portuguese ship. When he sailed himself, he ordered

the Dutch to stay at Ferdinando 24 hours after his departure;

threatening, if he did not comply, to sink his ship, if he fell a second

time into his hands, and to put all the company to the sword. He then

stood for the coast of Brazil, where he met a Portuguese man of war of

70 guns, which he came up with. The Portuguese hailed him, and he

answered, _from London, bound to Buenos Ayres_. The Portuguese manned

his shrouds and cheered him, when Condent fired a broadside, and a smart

engagement ensued for the space of three glasses; but Condent finding

himself over-matched, made the best of his way, and being the best

sailer, got off.

A few days after, he took a vessel of the same nation, who gave an

account that he had killed above forty men in the Guarda del Costa,

beside a number wounded. He kept along the coast to the southward, and

took a French ship of 18 guns, laden with wine and brandy, bound for the

South Sea, which he carried with him into the River of Platte. He sent

some of his men ashore to kill some wild cattle, but they were taken by

the crew of a Spanish man-of-war. On their examination before the

captain, they said they were two Guinea ships, with slaves belonging to

the South Sea company, and on this story were allowed to return to their

boats. Here five of his forced men ran away with his canoe; he plundered

the French ship, cut her adrift, and she was stranded. He proceeded

along the Brazil coast, and hearing a pirate ship was lost upon it, and

the pirates imprisoned, he used all the Portuguese who fell into his

hands, who were many, very barbarously, cutting off their ears and

noses; and as his master was a papist, when they took a priest, they

made him say mass at the mainmast, and would afterwards get on his back

and ride him about the decks, or else load and drive him like a beast.

He from this went to the Guinea coast, and took Capt. Hill, in the

Indian Queen.

[Illustration: _The Pirates riding the Priests about deck._]

In Luengo Bay he saw two ships at anchor, one a Dutchman of 44 guns, the

other an English ship, called the Fame, Capt. Bowen, commander. They

both cut and ran ashore; the Fame was lost, but the Dutch ship the

pirate got off and took with him. When he was at sea again, he

discharged Captain Hill, and stood away for the East Indies. Near the

Cape he took an Ostend East-Indiaman, of which Mr. Nash, a noted

merchant of London, was supercargo. Soon after he took a Dutch

East-Indiaman, discharged the Ostender, and made for Madagascar. At the

Isle of St. Mary, he met with some of Capt. Halsey's crew, whom he took

on board with other stragglers, and shaped his course for the

East-Indies, and in the way, at the island of Johanna, took, in company

with two other pirates he met at St. Mary's, the Cassandra

East-Indiaman, commanded by Capt. James Macraigh. He continued his

course for the East-Indies, where he made a very great booty; and

returning, touched at the island of Mascarenhas, where he met with a

Portuguese ship of 70 guns, with the viceroy of Goa on board. This ship

he made prize of, and hearing she had money on board, they would allow

of no ransom, but carried her to the coast of Zanguebar, where was a

Dutch fortification, which they took and plundered, razed the fort, and

carried off several men voluntarily. From hence they stood for St.

Mary's, where they shared their booty, broke up their company, and

settled among the natives. Here a snow came from Bristol, which they

obliged to carry a petition to the governor of Mascarenhas for a pardon,

though they paid the master very generously. The governor returned

answer he would take them into protection if they would destroy their

ships, which they agreed to, and accordingly sunk the Flying Dragon, &c.

Condent and some others went to Mascarenhas, where Condent married the

governor's sister-in-law, and remained some time; but, as I have been

credibly informed, he is since come to France, settled at St. Maloes,

and drives a considerable trade as a merchant.

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN EDWARD LOW.

This ferocious villain was born in Westminster, and received an

education similar to that of the common people in England. He was by

nature a pirate; for even when very young he raised contributions among

the boys of Westminster, and if they declined compliance, a battle was

the result. When he advanced a step farther in life, he began to exert

his ingenuity at low games, and cheating all in his power; and those who

pretended to maintain their own right, he was ready to call to the field

of combat.

He went to sea in company with his brother, and continued with him for

three or four years. Going over to America, he wrought in a

rigging-house at Boston for some time. He then came home to see his

mother in England, returned to Boston, and continued for some years

longer at the same business. But being of a quarrelsome temper, he

differed with his master, and went on board a sloop bound for the Bay of

Honduras.

While there, he had the command of a boat employed in bringing logwood

to the ship. In that boat there were twelve men well armed, to be

prepared for the Spaniards, from whom the wood was taken by force. It

happened one day that the boat came to the ship just a little before

dinner was ready, and Low desired that they might dine before they

returned. The captain, however, ordered them a bottle of rum, and

requested them to take another trip, as no time was to be lost. The crew

were enraged, particularly Low, who took up a loaded musket and fired at

the captain, but missing him, another man was shot, and they ran off

with the boat. The next day they took a small vessel, went on board her,

hoisted a black flag, and declared war with the whole world.

In their rovings, Low met with Lowther, who proposed that he should join

him, and thus promote their mutual advantage. Having captured a

brigantine, Low, with forty more, went on board her; and leaving

Lowther, they went to seek their own fortune.

Their first adventure was the capture of a vessel belonging to Amboy,

out of which they took the provisions, and allowed her to proceed. On

the same day they took a sloop, plundered her, and permitted her to

depart. The sloop went into Black Island, and sent intelligence to the

governor that Low was on the coast. Two small vessels were immediately

fitted out, but, before their arrival, Low was beyond their reach. After

this narrow escape, Low went into port to procure water and fresh

provisions; and then renewed his search of plunder. He next sailed into

the harbor of Port Rosemary, where were thirteen ships, but none of them

of any great strength. Low hoisted the black flag, assuring them that if

they made any resistance they should have no quarter; and manning their

boat, the pirates took possession of every one of them, which they

plundered and converted to their own use. They then put on board a

schooner ten guns and fifty men, named her the Fancy, and Low himself

went on board of her, while Charles Harris was constituted captain of

the brigantine. They also constrained a few of the men to join them, and

sign their articles.

After an unsuccessful pursuit of two sloops from Boston, they steered

for the Leeward Islands, but in their way were overtaken by a terrible

hurricane. The search for plunder gave place to the most vigorous

exertion to save themselves. On board the brigantine, all hands were at

work both day and night; they were under the necessity of throwing

overboard six of her guns, and all the weighty provisions. In the storm,

the two vessels were separated, and it was some time before they again

saw each other.

After the storm, Low went into a small island west of the Carribbees,

refitted his vessels, and got provision for them in exchange of goods.

As soon as the brigantine was ready for sea, they went on a cruise until

the Fancy should be prepared, and during that cruise, met with a vessel

which had lost all her masts in the storm, which they plundered of goods

to the value of 1000_l_. and returned to the island. When the Fancy was

ready to sail, a council was held what course they should next steer.

They followed the advice of the captain, who thought it not safe to

cruise any longer to the leeward, lest they should fall in with any of

the men-of-war that cruised upon that coast, so they sailed for the

Azores.

The good fortune of Low was now singular; in his way thither he captured

a French ship of 34 guns, and carried her along with him. Then entering

St. Michael's roads, he captured seven sail, threatening with instant

death all who dared to oppose him. Thus, by inspiring terror, without

firing a single gun, he became master of all that property. Being in

want of water and fresh provisions, Low sent to the governor demanding a

supply, upon condition of releasing the ships he had taken, otherwise he

would commit them to the flames. The request was instantly complied

with, and six of the vessels were restored. But a French vessel being

among them, they emptied her of guns and all her men except the cook,

who, they said, being a greasy fellow, would fry well; they accordingly

bound the unfortunate man to the mast, and set the ship on fire.

The next who fell in their way was Captain Carter, in the Wright galley;

who, because he showed some inclination to defend himself, was cut and

mangled in a barbarous manner. There were also two Portuguese friars,

whom they tied to the foremast, and several times let them down before

they were dead, merely to gratify their own ferocious dispositions.

Meanwhile, another Portuguese, beholding this cruel scene, expressed

some sorrow in his countenance, upon which one of the wretches said he

did not like his looks, and so giving him a stroke across the body with

his cutlass, he fell upon the spot. Another of the miscreants, aiming a

blow at a prisoner, missed his aim, and struck Low upon the under jaw.

The surgeon was called, and stitched up the wound; but Low finding fault

with the operation, the surgeon gave him a blow which broke all the

stiches, and left him to sew them himself. After he had plundered this

vessel, some of them were for burning her, as they had done the

Frenchman; but instead of that, they cut her cables, rigging, and sails

to pieces, and sent her adrift to the mercy of the waves.

[Illustration: _The Cruelties practised by Captain Low._]

They next sailed for the island of Madeira, and took up a fishing boat

with two old men and a boy. They detained one of them, and sent the

other on shore with a flag of truce, requesting the governor to send

them a boat of water, else they would hang the other man at the yard

arm. The water was sent, and the man dismissed.

They next sailed for the Canary Islands, and there took several vessels;

and being informed that two small galleys were daily expected, the sloop

was manned and sent in quest of them. They, however, missing their prey,

and being in great want of provision, went into St. Michael's in the

character of traders, and being discovered, were apprehended, and the

whole crew conducted to the castle, and treated according to their

merits.

Meanwhile, Low's ship was overset upon the careen and lost, so that,

having only the Fancy schooner remaining, they all, to the number of a

hundred, went on board her, and set sail in search of new spoils. They

soon met a rich Portuguese vessel, and after some resistance captured

her. Low tortured the men to constrain them to inform him where they had

hid their treasures. He accordingly discovered that, during the chase,

the captain had hung a bag with eleven thousand moidores out of the

cabin window, and that, when they were taken, he had cut the rope, and

allowed it to fall into the sea. Upon this intelligence, Low raved and

stormed like a fury, ordered the captain's lips to be cut off and

broiled before his eyes, then murdered him and all his crew.

[Illustration: _The Captain of the Portuguese Ship cutting away the Bag

of Moidores._]

After this bloody action, the miscreants steered northward, and in their

course seized several vessels, one of which they burned, and plundering

the rest, allowed them to proceed. Having cleaned in one of the islands,

they then sailed for the bay of Honduras. They met a Spaniard coming out

of the bay, which had captured five Englishmen and a pink, plundered

them, and brought away the masters prisoners. Low hoisted Spanish

colors, but, when he came near, hung out the black flag, and the

Spaniard was seized without resistance. Upon finding the masters of the

English vessels in the hold, and seeing English goods on board, a

consultation was held, when it was determined to put all the Spaniards

to the sword. This was scarcely resolved upon, when they commenced with

every species of weapons to massacre every man, and some flying from

their merciless hands into the waves, a canoe was sent in pursuit of

those who endeavored to swim on shore. They next plundered the Spanish

vessel, restored the English masters to their respective vessels, and

set the Spaniard on fire.

Low's next cruise was between the Leeward Islands and the main land,

where, in a continued course of prosperity, he successively captured no

less than nineteen ships of different sizes, and in general treated

their crews with a barbarity unequalled even among pirates. But it

happened that the Greyhound, of twenty guns and one hundred and twenty

men, was cruising upon that coast. Informed of the mischief these

miscreants had done, the Greyhound went in search of them. Supposing

they had discovered a prize, Low and his crew pursued them, and the

Greyhound, allowing them to run after her until all things were ready

to engage, turned upon the two sloops.

One of these sloops was called the Fancy, and commanded by Low himself,

and the other the Ranger, commanded by Harris; both hoisted their

piratical colors, and fired each a gun. When the Greyhound came within

musket shot, she hauled up her mainsail, and clapped close upon a wind,

to keep the pirates from running to leeward, and then engaged. But when

the rogues found whom they had to deal with, they edged away under the

man-of-war's stern, and the Greyhound standing after them, they made a

running fight for about two hours; but little wind happening, the sloops

gained from her, by the help of their oars; upon which the Greyhound

left off firing, turned all hands to her own oars, and at three in the

afternoon came up with them. The pirates hauled upon a wind to receive

the man-of-war, and the fight was immediately renewed, with a brisk fire

on both sides, till the Ranger's mainyard was shot down. Under these

circumstances, Low abandoned her to the enemy, and fled.

The conduct of Low was surprising in this adventure, because his reputed

courage and boldness had hitherto so possessed the minds of all people,

that he became a terror even to his own men; but his behaviour

throughout this whole action showed him to be a base cowardly villain;

for had Low's sloop fought half so briskly as Harris' had done (as they

were under a solemn oath to do,) the man-of-war, in the opinion of some

present, could never have hurt them.

Nothing, however, could lessen the fury, or reform the manners, of that

obdurate crew. Their narrow escape had no good effect upon them, and

with redoubled violence they renewed their depredations and cruelties.

The next vessel they captured, was eighty miles from land. They used the

master with the most wanton cruelty, then shot him dead, and forced the

crew into the boat with a compass, a little water, and a few biscuits,

and left them to the mercy of the waves; they, however, beyond all

expectation, got safe to shore.

Low proceeded in his villainous career with too fatal success.

Unsatisfied with satiating their avarice and walking the common path of

wickedness, those inhuman wretches, like to Satan himself, made mischief

their sport, cruelty their delight, and the ruin and murder of their

fellow men their constant employment. Of all the piratical crews

belonging to the English nation, none ever equalled Low in barbarity.

Their mirth and their anger had the same effect. They murdered a man

from good humor, as well as from anger and passion. Their ferocious

disposition seemed only to delight in cries, groans, and lamentations.

One day Low having captured Captain Graves, a Virginia man, took a bowl

of punch in his hand, and said, "Captain, here's half this to you." The

poor gentleman was too much touched with his misfortunes to be in a

humor for drinking, he therefore modestly excused himself. Upon this Low

cocked and presented a pistol in the one hand, and his bowl in the

other, saying, "Either take the one or the other."

Low next captured a vessel called the Christmas, mounted her with

thirty-four guns, went on board her himself, assumed the title of

admiral, and hoisted the black flag. His next prize was a brigantine

half manned with Portuguese, and half with English. The former he

hanged, and the latter he thrust into their boat and dismissed, while he

set fire to the vessel. The success of Low was unequalled, as well as

his cruelty; and during a long period he continued to pursue his wicked

course with impunity.

All wickedness comes to an end and Low's crew at last rose against him

and he was thrown into a boat without provisions and abandoned to his

fate. This was because Low murdered the quarter-master while he lay

asleep. Not long after he was cast adrift a French vessel happened along

and took him into Martinico, and after a quick trial by the authorities

he received short shift on a gallows erected for his benefit.

[Illustration: _Low presenting a Pistol and Bowl of Punch._]

LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN EDWARD ENGLAND

This adventurer was mate of a sloop that sailed from Jamaica, and was

taken by Captain Winter, a pirate, just before the settlement of the

pirates at Providence island. After the pirates had surrendered to his

Majesty's pardon, and Providence island was peopled by the English

government, Captain England sailed to Africa. There he took several

vessels, particularly the Cadogan, from Bristol, commanded by one

Skinner. When the latter struck to the pirate, he was ordered to come on

board in his boat. The person upon whom he first cast his eye, proved to

be his old boatswain, who stared him in the face, and accosted him in

the following manner: "Ah, Captain Skinner, is it you? the only person I

wished to see: I am much in your debt, and I shall pay you all in your

own coin." The poor man trembled in every joint, and dreaded the event,

as he well might. It happened that Skinner and his old boatswain, with

some of his men, had quarrelled, so that he thought fit to remove them

on board a man-of-war, while he refused to pay them their wages. Not

long after, they found means to leave the man-of-war, and went on board

a small ship in the West Indies. They were taken by a pirate, and

brought to Providence, and from thence sailed as pirates with Captain

England. Thus accidentally meeting their old captain, they severely

revenged the treatment they had received.

After the rough salutation which has been related, the boatswain called

to his comrades, laid hold of Skinner, tied him fast to the windlass,

and pelted him with glass bottles until they cut him in a shocking

manner, then whipped him about the deck until they were quite fatigued,

remaining deaf to all his prayers and entreaties; and at last, in an

insulting tone, observed, that as he had been a good master to his men,

he should have an easy death, and upon this shot him through the head.

[Illustration: _The Pirates pelting Captain Skinner with Glass

Bottles._]

Having taken such things out of the ship as they stood most in need of,

she was given to Captain Davis in order to try his fortune with a few

hands.

Captain England, some time after, took a ship called the Pearl, for

which he exchanged his own sloop, fitted her up for piratical service,

and called her the Royal James. In that vessel he was very fortunate,

and took several ships of different sizes and different nations. In the

spring of 1719, the pirates returned to Africa, and beginning at the

river Gambia, sailed down the coast to Cape Corso, and captured several

vessels. Some of them they pillaged, and allowed to proceed, some they

fitted out for the pirate service, and others they burned.

Leaving our pirate upon this coast, the Revenge and the Flying King, two

other pirate vessels, sailed for the West Indies, where they took

several prizes, and then cleared and sailed for Brazil. There they

captured some Portuguese vessels; but a large Portuguese man-of-war

coming up to them, proved an unwelcome guest. The Revenge escaped, but

was soon lost upon that coast. The Flying King in despair run ashore.

There were then seventy on board, twelve of whom were slain, and the

remainder taken prisoners. The Portuguese hanged thirty-eight of them.

Captain England, whilst cruising upon that coast, took the Peterborough

of Bristol, and the Victory. The former they detained, the latter they

plundered and dismissed. In the course of his voyage, England met with

two ships, but these taking shelter under Cape Corso Castle, he

unsuccessfully attempted to set them on fire. He next sailed down to

Whydah road, where Captain La Bouche had been before England, and left

him no spoil. He now went into the harbor, cleaned his own ship, and

fitted up the Peterborough, which he called the Victory. During several

weeks the pirates remained in this quarter, indulging in every species

of riot and debauchery, until the natives, exasperated with their

conduct, came to an open rupture, when several of the negroes were

slain, and one of their towns set on fire by the pirates.

Leaving that port, the pirates, when at sea, determined by vote to sail

for the East Indies, and arrived at Madagascar. After watering and

taking in some provisions they sailed for the coast of Malabar. This

place is situated in the Mogul Empire, and is one of its most beautiful

and fertile districts. It extends from the coast of Canora to Cape

Comorin. The original natives are negroes; but a mingled race of

Mahometans, who are generally merchants, have been introduced in modern

times. Having sailed almost round the one half of the globe, literally

seeking whom they might devour, our pirates arrived in this hitherto

untried and prolific field for their operations.

Not long after their settlement at Madagascar, they took a cruise, in

which they captured two Indian vessels and a Dutchman. They exchanged

the latter for one of their own, and directed their course again to

Madagascar. Several of their hands were sent on shore with tents and

ammunition, to kill such beasts and venison as the island afforded. They

also formed the resolution to go in search of Avery's crew, which they

knew had settled upon the island; but as their residence was upon the

other side of the island, the loss of time and labour was the only fruit

of their search.

They tarried here but a very short time, then steered their course to

Johanna, and coming out of that harbor, fell in with two English vessels

and an Ostend ship, all Indiamen, which, after a most desperate action,

they captured. The particulars of this extraordinary action are related

in the following letter from Captain Mackra.

"_Bombay, November 16th_, 1720.

"We arrived on the 25th of July last, in company with the Greenwich, at

Johanna, an island not far from Madagascar. Putting in there to refresh

our men, we found fourteen pirates who came in their canoes from the

Mayotta, where the pirate ship to which they belonged, viz. the Indian

Queen, two hundred and fifty tons, twenty-eight guns, and ninety men,

commanded by Captain Oliver de la Bouche, bound from the Guinea coast to

the East Indies, had been bulged and lost. They said they left the

captain and forty of their men building a new vessel, to proceed on

their wicked designs. Captain Kirby and I concluding that it might be of

great service to the East India Company to destroy such a nest of

rogues, were ready to sail for that purpose on the 17th of August, about

eight o'clock in the morning, when we discovered two pirates standing

into the bay Johanna, one of thirty-four, and the other of thirty-six

guns. I immediately went on board the Greenwich, where they seemed very

diligent in preparation for an engagement, and I left Captain Kirby with

mutual promises of standing by each other. I then unmoored, got under

sail, and brought two boats a-head to row me close to the Greenwich; but

he being open to a valley and a breeze, made the best of his way from

me; which an Ostender in our company, of twenty-two guns, seeing, did

the same, though the captain had promised heartily to engage with us,

and I believe would have been as good as his word, if Captain Kirby had

kept his. About half an hour after twelve, I called several times to the

Greenwich to bear down to our assistance, and fired a shot at him, but

to no purpose; for though we did not doubt but he would join us,

because, when he got about a league from us he brought his ship to and

looked on, yet both he and the Ostender basely deserted us, and left us

engaged with barbarous and inhuman enemies, with their black and bloody

flags hanging over us, without the least appearance of ever escaping,

but to be cut to pieces. But God in his good providence determined

otherwise; for, notwithstanding their superiority, we engaged them both

about three hours; during which time the biggest of them received some

shot betwixt wind and water, which made her keep off a little to stop

her leaks. The other endeavored all she could to board us, by rowing

with her oars, being within half a ship's length of us above an hour;

but by good fortune we shot all her oars to pieces, which prevented

them, and by consequence saved our lives.

"About four o'clock most of the officers and men posted on the

quarter-deck being killed and wounded, the largest ship making up to us

with diligence, being still within a cable's length of us, often giving

us a broadside; there being now no hopes of Captain Kirby's coming to

our assistance, we endeavored to run a-shore; and though we drew four

feet of water more than the pirate, it pleased God that he stuck fast on

a higher ground than happily we fell in with; so was disappointed a

second time from boarding us. Here we had a more violent engagement than

before: all my officers and most of my men behaved with unexpected

courage; and, as we had a considerable advantage by having a broadside

to his bow, we did him great damage; so that had Captain Kirby come in

then, I believe we should have taken both the vessels, for we had one of

them sure; but the other pirate (who was still firing at us,) seeing the

Greenwich did not offer to assist us, supplied his consort with three

boats full of fresh men. About five in the evening the Greenwich stood

clear away to sea, leaving us struggling hard for life, in the very jaws

of death; which the other pirate that was afloat, seeing, got a warp

out, and was hauling under our stern.

"By this time many of my men being killed and wounded, and no hopes left

us of escaping being all murdered by enraged barbarous conquerors, I

ordered all that could to get into the long-boat, under the cover of the

smoke of our guns; so that, with what some did in boats, and others by

swimming, most of us that were able, got ashore by seven o'clock. When

the pirates came aboard, they cut three of our wounded men to pieces. I

with some of my people made what haste I could to King's-town,

twenty-five miles from us, where I arrived next day, almost dead with

the fatigue and loss of blood, having been sorely wounded in the head by

a musket-ball.

"At this town I heard that the pirates had offered ten thousand dollars

to the country people to bring me in, which many of them would have

accepted, only they knew the king and all his chief people were in my

interest. Meantime, I caused a report to be spread that I was dead of my

wounds, which much abated their fury. About ten days after, being pretty

well recovered, and hoping the malice of our enemies was nigh over, I

began to consider the dismal condition we were reduced to; being in a

place where we had no hopes of getting a passage home, all of us in a

manner naked, not having had time to bring with us either a shirt or a

pair of shoes, except what we had on. Having obtained leave to go on

board the pirates with a promise of safety, several of the chief of them

knew me, and some of them had sailed with me, which I found to be of

great advantage; because, notwithstanding their promise, some of them

would have cut me to pieces, and all that would not enter with them, had

it not been for their chief captain, Edward England, and some others

whom I knew. They talked of burning one of their ships, which we had so

entirely disabled as to be no farther useful to them, and to fit the

Cassandra in her room; but in the end I managed the affair so well, that

they made me a present of the said shattered ship, which was Dutch

built, and called the Fancy; her burden was about three hundred tons. I

procured also a hundred and twenty-nine bales of the Company's cloth,

though they would not give me a rag of my own clothes.

"They sailed the 3rd of September; and I, with jury-masts, and such old

sails as they left me, made a shift to do the like on the 8th, together

with forty-three of my ship's crew, including two passengers and twelve

soldiers; having no more than five tuns of water aboard. After a passage

of forty-eight days, I arrived here on the 26th of October, almost naked

and starved, having been reduced to a pint of water a-day, and almost in

despair of ever seeing land, by reason of the calms we met with between

the coast of Arabia and Malabar.

"We had in all thirteen men killed and twenty-four wounded; and we were

told that we destroyed about ninety or a hundred of the pirates. When

they left us, they were about three hundred whites, and eighty blacks,

on both ships. I am persuaded, had our consort the Greenwich done his

duty, we had destroyed both of them, and got two hundred thousand pounds

for our owners and selves; whereas the loss of the Cassandra may justly

be imputed to his deserting us. I have delivered all the bales that were

given me into the Company's warehouse, for which the governor and

council have ordered me a reward. Our governor, Mr. Boon, who is

extremely kind and civil to me, had ordered me home with the packet; but

Captain Harvey, who had a prior promise, being come in with the fleet,

goes in my room. The governor had promised me a country voyage to help

to make up my losses, and would have me stay and accompany him to

England next year."

Captain Mackra was certainly in imminent danger, in trusting himself and

his men on board the pirate ship, and unquestionably nothing but the

desperate circumstances in which he was placed could have justified so

hazardous a step. The honor and influence of Captain England, however,

protected him and his men from the fury of the crew, who would willingly

have wreaked their vengeance upon them.

It is pleasing to discover any instance of generosity or honor among

such an abandoned race, who bid defiance to all the laws of honor, and,

indeed, are regardless of all laws human and divine. Captain England was

so steady to Captain Mackra, that he informed him, it would be with no

small difficulty and address that he would be able to preserve him and

his men from the fury of the crew, who were greatly enraged at the

resistance which had been made. He likewise acquainted him, that his

influence and authority among them was giving place to that of Captain

Taylor, chiefly because the dispositions of the latter were more savage

and brutal. They therefore consulted between them what was the best

method to secure the favor of Taylor, and keep him in good humor. Mackra

made the punch to flow in great abundance, and employed every artifice

to soothe the mind of that ferocious villain.

A single incident was also very favorable to the unfortunate captain. It

happened that a pirate, with a prodigious pair of whiskers, a wooden

leg, and stuck round with pistols, came blustering and swearing upon the

quarter deck, inquiring "where was Captain Mackra." He naturally

supposed that this barbarous-looking fellow would be his executioner;

but, as he approached, he took the captain by the hand, swearing "that

he was an honest fellow, and that he had formerly sailed with him, and

would stand by him; and let him see the man that would touch him." This

terminated the dispute, and Captain Taylor's disposition was so

ameliorated with punch, that he consented that the old pirate ship, and

so many bales of cloth, should be given to Mackra, and then sank into

the arms of intoxication. England now pressed Mackra to hasten away,

lest the ruffian, upon his becoming sober, should not only retract his

word, but give liberty to the crew to cut him and his men to pieces.

But the gentle temper of Captain England, and his generosity towards the

unfortunate Mackra, proved the organ of much calamity to himself. The

crew, in general, deeming the kind of usage which Mackra had received,

inconsistent with piratical policy, they circulated a report, that he

was coming against them with the Company's force. The result of these

invidious reports was to deprive England of his command, and to excite

these cruel villains to put him on shore, with three others, upon the

island of Mauritius. If England and his small company had not been

destitute of every necessary, they might have made a comfortable

subsistence here, as the island abounds with deer, hogs, and other

animals. Dissatisfied, however, with their solitary situation, Captain

England and his three men exerted their industry and ingenuity, and

formed a small boat, with which they sailed to Madagascar, where they

subsisted upon the generosity of some more fortunate piratical

companions.

[Illustration: _Captain Mackra, and the Pirate with a wooden leg._]

Captain Taylor detained some of the officers and men belonging to

Captain Mackra, and having repaired their vessel, sailed for India. The

day before they made land, they espied two ships to the eastward, and

supposing them to be English, Captain Taylor ordered one of the officers

of Mackra's ship to communicate to him the private signals between the

Company's ships, swearing that if he did not do so immediately, he would

cut him into pound pieces. But the poor man being unable to give the

information demanded, was under the necessity of enduring their threats.

Arrived at the vessels, they found that they were two Moorish ships,

laden with horses. The pirates brought the captains and merchants on

board, and tortured them in a barbarous manner, to constrain them to

tell where they had hid their treasure. They were, however,

disappointed; and the next morning they discovered land, and at the same

time a fleet on shore plying to windward. In this situation they were at

a considerable loss how to dispose of their prizes. To let them go would

lead to their discovery, and thus defeat the design of their voyage; and

it was a distressing matter to sink the men and the horses, though many

of them were for adopting that measure. They, however, brought them to

anchor, threw all the sails overboard, and cut one of the masts half

through.

While they lay at anchor, and were employed in taking in water, one of

the above-mentioned fleet moved towards them with English colors, and

was answered by the pirate with a red ensign; but they did not hail each

other. At night they left the Muscat ships, and sailed after the fleet.

About four next morning, the pirates were in the midst of the fleet, but

seeing their vast superiority, were greatly at a loss what method to

adopt. The Victory had become leaky, and their hands were so few in

number, that it only remained for them to deceive, if possible, the

English squadron. They were unsuccessful in gaining any thing out of

that fleet, and had only the wretched satisfaction of burning a single

galley. They however that day seized a galliot laden with cotton, and

made inquiry of the men concerning the fleet. They protested that they

had not seen a ship since they left Gogo, and earnestly implored their

mercy; but, instead of treating them with lenity, they put them to the

rack, in order to extort farther confession. The day following, a fresh

easterly wind blew hard, and rent the galliot's sails; upon this the

pirates put her company into a boat, with nothing but a try-sail, no

provisions, and only four gallons of water, and, though they were out of

sight of land, left them to shift for themselves.

It may be proper to inform our readers, that one Angria, an Indian

prince, of considerable territory and strength, had proved a troublesome

enemy to Europeans, and particularly to the English. Calaba was his

principal fort, situated not many leagues from Bombay, and he possessed

an island in sight of the port, from whence he molested the Company's

ships. His art in bribing the ministers of the Great Mogul, and the

shallowness of the water, that prevented large ships of war from

approaching, were the principal causes of his safety.

The Bombay fleet, consisting of four grabs, the London and the Candois,

and two other ships, with a galliot, having an additional thousand men

on board for this enterprise, sailed to attack a fort belonging to

Angria upon the Malabar coast. Though their strength was great, yet they

were totally unsuccessful in their enterprise. It was this fleet

returning home that our pirates discovered upon the present occasion.

Upon the sight of the pirates, the commodore of the fleet intimated to

Mr. Brown, the general, that as they had no orders to fight, and had

gone upon a different purpose, it would be improper for them to engage.

Informed of the loss of this favorable opportunity of destroying the

robbers, the governor of Bombay was highly enraged, and giving the

command of the fleet to Captain Mackra, ordered him to pursue and engage

them wherever they should be found.

The pirates having barbarously sent away the galliot with her men, they

arrived southward, and between Goa and Carwar they heard several guns,

so that they came to anchor, and sent their boat to reconnoitre, which

returned next morning with the intelligence of two grabs, lying at

anchor in the road. They accordingly weighed, ran towards the bay, and

in the morning were discovered by the grabs, who had just time to run

under India-Diva castle for protection. This was the more vexatious to

the pirates, as they were without water; some of them, therefore, were

for making a descent upon the island, but that measure not being

generally approved, they sailed towards the south, and took a small

ship, which had only a Dutchman and two Portuguese on board. They sent

one of these on shore to the captain, to inform him that, if he would

give them some water and fresh provisions, he might have his vessel

returned. He replied that, if they would give him possession over the

bar, he would comply with their request. But, suspecting the integrity

of his design, they sailed for Lacca Deva islands, uttering dreadful

imprecations against the captain.

Disappointed in finding water at these islands, they sailed to Malinda

island, and sent their boats on shore, to discover if there was any

water, or if there were any inhabitants.. They returned with the

information, that there was abundance of water, that the houses were

only inhabited by women and children, the men having fled at the

appearance of the ships. They accordingly hastened to supply themselves

with water, used the defenceless women in a brutal manner, destroyed

many of their fruit-trees, and set some of their houses on fire.

While off the island, they lost several of their anchors by the

rockiness of the ground; and one day, blowing more violently than usual,

they were forced to take to sea, leaving several people and most of the

water-casks; but when the gale was over, they returned to take in their

men and water. Their provisions being nearly exhausted, they resolved to

visit the Dutch at Cochin. After sailing three days, they arrived off

Tellechery, and took a small vessel belonging to Governor Adams, and

brought the master on board, very much intoxicated, who informed them of

the expedition of Captain Mackra. This intelligence raised their utmost

indignation. "A villain!" said they, "to whom we have given a ship and

presents, to come against us! he ought to be hanged; and since we cannot

show our resentment to him, let us hang the dogs his people, who wish

him well, and would do the same, if they were clear." "If it be in my

power," said the quarter-master, "both masters and officers of ships

shall be carried with us for the future, only to plague them. Now,

England, we mark him for this."

They proceeded to Calicut, and attempting to cut out a ship, were

prevented by some guns placed upon the shore. One of Captain Mackra's

officers was under deck at this time, and was commanded both by the

captain and the quarter-master to tend the braces on the booms, in hopes

that a shot would take him before they got clear. He was about to have

excused himself, but they threatened to shoot him; and when he

expostulated, and claimed their promise to put him on shore, he received

an unmerciful beating from the quarter-master; Captain Taylor, to whom

that duty belonged, being lame in his hands.

The day following they met a Dutch galliot, laden with limestone, bound

for Calicut, on board of which they put one Captain Fawkes; and some of

the crew interceding for Mackra's officer, Taylor and his party replied,

"If we let this dog go, who has overheard our designs and resolutions,

he will overset all our well-advised resolutions, and particularly this

supply we are seeking for at the hands of the Dutch."

When they arrived at Cochin, they sent a letter on shore by a

fishing-boat, entered the road, and anchored, each ship saluting the

fort with eleven guns, and receiving the same number in return. This was

the token of their welcome reception, and at night a large boat was

sent, deeply laden with liquors and all kinds of provisions, and in it a

servant of John Trumpet, one of their friends, to inform them that it

would be necessary for them to run farther south, where they would be

supplied both with provisions and naval stores.

They had scarcely anchored at the appointed place, when several canoes,

with white and black inhabitants, came on board, and continued without

interruption to perform all the good offices in their power during their

stay in that place. In particular, John Trumpet brought a large boat of

arrack, and sixty bales of sugar, as a present from the governor and his

daughter; the former receiving in return a table-clock, and the other a

gold watch, the spoil of Captain Mackra's vessel. When their provisions

were all on board, Trumpet was rewarded with about six or seven thousand

pounds, was saluted with three cheers, and eleven guns; and several

handsfull of silver were thrown into the boat, for the men to gather at

pleasure.

There being little wind that night, they remained at anchor, and in the

morning were surprised with the return of Trumpet, bringing another boat

equally well stored with provisions, with chests of piece-goods and

ready-made clothes, and along with him the fiscal of the place. At noon

they espied a sail towards the south, and immediately gave chase, but

she outsailed them, and sheltered under the fort of Cochin. Informed

that they would not be molested in taking her from under the castle,

they sailed towards her, but upon the fort firing two guns, they ran

off for fear of more serious altercation, and returning, anchored in

their former station. They were too welcome visitants to be permitted to

depart, so long as John Trumpet could contrive to detain them. With this

view he informed them, that in a few days a rich vessel, commanded by

the Governor of Bombay's brother, was to pass that way.

That government is certainly in a wretched state, which is under the

necessity of trading with pirates, in order to enrich itself; nor will

such a government hesitate by what means an injury can be repaired, or a

fortune gained. Neither can language describe the low and base

principles of a government which could employ such a miscreant as John

Trumpet in its service. He was a tool in the hands of the government of

Cochin; and, as the dog said in the fable, "What is done by the master's

orders, is the master's action;" or, as the same sentiment is, perhaps,

better expressed in the legal axiom; "Qui facit per alium facit per se."

While under the direction of Trumpet, some proposed to proceed directly

to Madagascar, but others were disposed to wait until they should be

provided with a store ship. The majority being of the latter opinion,

they steered to the south, and seeing a ship on shore were desirous to

get near her, but the wind preventing, they separated, the one sailing

northward and the other southward, in hopes of securing her when she

should come out, whatever direction she might take. They were now,

however, almost entrapped in the snare laid for them. In the morning, to

their astonishment and consternation, instead of being called to give

chase, five large ships were near, which made a signal for the pirates

to bear down. The pirates were in the greatest dread lest it should be

Captain Mackra, of whose activity and courage they had formerly

sufficient proof. The pirate ships, however, joined and fled with all

speed from the fleet. In three hours' chase none of the fleet gained

upon them, except one grab. The remainder of the day was calm, and, to

their great consolation, the next day this dreaded fleet was entirely

out of sight.

Their alarm being over, they resolved to spend the Christmas in feasting

and mirth, in order to drown care, and to banish thought. Nor did one

day suffice, but they continued their revelling for several days, and

made so free with their fresh provisions, that in their next cruise they

were put upon short allowance; and it was entirely owing to the sugar

and other provisions that were in the leaky ship that they were

preserved from absolute starvation.

In this condition they reached the island of Mauritius, refitted the

Victory, and left that place with the following inscription written upon

one of the walls: "Left this place on the 5th of April, to go to

Madagascar for Limos." This they did lest any visit should be paid to

the place during their absence. They, however, did not sail directly for

Madagascar, but the island of Mascarius, where they fortunately fell in

with a Portuguese of seventy guns, lying at anchor. The greater part of

her guns had been thrown overboard, her masts lost, and the whole vessel

disabled by a storm; she therefore, became an easy prey to the pirates.

Conde de Ericeira, Viceroy of Goa, who went upon the fruitless

expedition against Angria the Indian, and several passengers, were on

board. Besides other valuable articles and specie, they found in her

diamonds to the amount of four millions of dollars. Supposing that the

ship was an Englishman, the Viceroy came on board next morning, was made

prisoner, and obliged to pay two thousand dollars as a ransom for

himself and the other prisoners. After this he was sent ashore, with an

express engagement to leave a ship to convey him and his companions to

another port.

Meanwhile, the pirates received intelligence that a vessel was to the

leeward of the island, which they pursued and captured. But instead of

performing their promise to the Viceroy, which they could easily have

done, they sent the Ostender along with some of their men to Madagascar,

to inform their friends of their success, with instructions to prepare

masts for the prize; and they soon followed, carrying two thousand

negroes in the Portuguese vessel.

Madagascar is an island larger than Great Britain, situated upon the

eastern coast of Africa, abounding with all sorts of provisions, such as

oxen, goats, sheep, poultry, fish, citrons, oranges, tamarinds, dates,

cocoa-nuts, bananas, wax, honey, rice, cotton, indigo, and all other

fruits common in that quarter of the globe; ebony of which lances are

made, gums of several kinds, and many other valuable productions. Here,

in St. Augustine's bay, the ships sometimes stop to take in water, when

they make the inner passage to India, and do not intend to stop at

Johanna.

When the Portuguese ship arrived there, they received intelligence that

the Ostender had taken advantage of an hour when the men were

intoxicated, had risen upon them, and carried the ship to Mozambique,

from whence the governor ordered her to Goa.

The pirates now divided their plunder, receiving forty-two diamonds per

man, or in smaller proportion according to their magnitude. A foolish

jocular fellow, who had received a large diamond of the value of

forty-two, was highly displeased, and so went and broke it in pieces,

exclaiming, that he had many more shares than either of them. Some,

contended with their treasure, and unwilling to run the risk of losing

what they possessed, and perhaps their lives also, resolved to remain

with their friends at Madagascar, under the stipulation that the longest

livers should enjoy all the booty. The number of adventurers being now

lessened, they burned the Viceroy, cleaned the Cassandra, and the

remainder went on board her under the command of Taylor, whom we must

leave for a little while, in order to give an account of the squadron

which arrived in India in 1721.

When the commodore arrived at the Cape, he received a letter that had

been written by the Governor of Pondicherry to the Governor of Madras,

informing him that the pirates were strong in the Indian seas; that they

had eleven sail, and fifteen hundred men; but adding, that many of them

retired about that time to Brazil and Guinea, while others fortified

themselves at Madagascar, Mauritius, Johanna, and Mohilla; and that a

crew under the command of Condin, in a ship called the Dragon, had

captured a vessel with thirteen lacks of rupees on board, and having

divided their plunder, had taken up their residence with their friends

at Madagascar.

Upon receiving this intelligence, Commodore Matthews sailed for these

islands, as the most probable place of success. He endeavored to prevail

on England, at St. Mary's, to communicate to him what information he

could give respecting the pirates; but England declined, thinking that

this would be almost to surrender at discretion. He then took up the

guns of the Jubilee sloop that were on board, and the men-of-war made

several cruises in search of the pirates, but to no purpose. The

squadron was then sent down to Bombay, was saluted by the fort, and

after these exploits returned home.

The pirate, Captain Taylor, in the Cassandra, now fitted up the

Portuguese man-of-war, and resolved upon another voyage to the Indies;

but, informed that four men-of-war had been sent after the pirates in

that quarter, he changed his determination, and sailed for Africa.

Arrived there, they put in a place near the river Spirito Sancto, on the

coast of Monomotapa. As there was no correspondence by land, nor any

trade carried on by sea to this place, they thought that it would afford

a safe retreat. To their astonishment, however, when they approached the

shore, it being in the dusk of the evening, they were accosted by

several shot. They immediately anchored, and in the morning saw that

the shot had come from a small fort of six guns, which they attacked and

destroyed.

This small fort was erected by the Dutch East India Company a few weeks

before, and committed to the care of 150 men, the one half of whom had

perished by sickness or other causes. Upon their petition, sixteen of

these were admitted into the society of the pirates; and the rest would

also have been received, had they not been Dutchmen, to whom they had a

rooted aversion.

In this place they continued during four months, refitting their

vessels, and amusing themselves with all manner of diversions, until the

scarcity of their provisions awakened them to industry and exertion.

They, however, left several parcels of goods to the starving Dutchmen,

which Mynheer joyfully exchanged for provisions with the next vessel

that touched at that fort.

Leaving that place, they were divided in opinion what course to steer;

some went on board the Portuguese prize, and, sailing for Madagascar,

abandoned the pirate life; and others going on board the Cassandra,

sailed for the Spanish West Indies. The Mermaid man-of-war, returning

from a convoy, got near the pirates, and would have attacked them, but a

consultation being held, it was deemed inexpedient, and thus the pirates

escaped. A sloop was, however, dispatched to Jamaica with the

intelligence, and the Lancaster was sent after them; but they were some

days too late, the pirates having, with all their riches, surrendered to

the Governor of Portobello.

ACCOUNT OF THE LYNN PIRATES

_And Thomas Veal, who was buried in his cave by the Great Earthquake_.

In the year 1658 there was a great earthquake in New-England. Some time

previous, on one pleasant evening, a little after sunset, a small vessel

was seen to anchor near the mouth of Saugus river. A boat was presently

lowered from her side, into which four men descended, and moved up the

river a considerable distance, when they landed, and proceeded directly

into the woods. They had been noticed by only a few individuals; but in

those early times, when the people were surrounded by danger, and easily

susceptible of alarm, such an incident was well calculated to awaken

suspicion, and in the course of the evening the intelligence was

conveyed to many houses. In the morning, the people naturally directed

their eyes toward the shore, in search of the strange vessel--but she

was gone, and no trace could be found either of her or her singular

crew. It was afterwards ascertained that, on the morning one of the men

at the Iron Works, on going into the foundry, discovered a paper, on

which was written, that if a quantity of shackles, handcuffs, hatchets,

and other articles of iron manufacture, were made and deposited, with

secrecy, in a certain place in the woods, which was particularly

designated, an amount of silver, to their full value, would be found in

their place. The articles were made in a few days, and placed in

conformity with the directions. On the next morning they were gone, and

the money was found according to the promise; but though a watch had

been kept, no vessel was seen. Some months afterwards, the four men

returned, and selected one of the most secluded and romantic spots in

the woods of Saugus, for their abode. The place of their retreat was a

deep narrow valley, shut in on two sides by craggy, precipitous rocks,

and shrouded on the others by thick pines, hemlocks and cedars, between

which there was only one small spot, to which the rays of the sun at

noon could penetrate. On climbing up the rude and almost perpendicular

steps of the rock on either side, the eye could command a full view of

the bay on the south, and a prospect of a considerable portion of the

surrounding country. The place of their retreat has ever since been

called the Pirates' Glen, and they could not have selected a spot on the

coast for many miles, more favorable for the purposes both of

concealment and observation. Even at this day, when the neighborhood has

become thickly peopled, it is still a lonely and desolate place, and

probably not one in a hundred of the inhabitants has ever descended into

its silent and gloomy recess. There the pirates built a small hut, made

a garden, and dug a well, the appearance of which is still visible. It

has been supposed that they buried money; but though people have dug

there, and in many other places, none has ever been found. After

residing there some time, their retreat became known, and one of the

king's cruizers appeared on the coast. They were traced to their glen,

and three of them were taken, and carried to England, where it is

probable they were executed. The other, whose name was Thomas Veal,

escaped to a rock in the woods, about two miles to the north, in which

was a spacious cavern, where the pirates had previously deposited some

of their plunder. There the fugitive fixed his residence, and practised

the trade of a shoemaker, occasionally coming down to the village to

obtain articles of sustenance. He continued his residence till the great

earthquake in 1658, when the top of the rock was loosened, and crushed

down into the mouth of the cavern, enclosing the unfortunate inmate in

its unyielding prison. It has ever since been called the Pirate's

Dungeon. A part of the cavern is still open, and is much visited by the

curious.

This rock is situated on a lofty range of thickly wooded hills, and

commands an extensive view of the ocean, for fifty miles both north and

south. A view from the top of it, at once convinces the beholder that it

would be impossible to select a place more convenient for the haunt of a

gang of pirates; as all vessels bound in and out of the harbors of

Boston, Salem, and the adjacent ports, can be distinctly seen from its

summit. Saugus river meanders among the hills a short distance to the

south, and its numerous creeks which extend among thick bushes, would

afford good places to secrete boats, until such time as the pirates

descried a sail, when they could instantly row down the river, attack

and plunder them, and with their booty return to the cavern. This was

evidently their mode of procedure. On an open space in front of the rock

are still to be seen distinct traces of a small garden spot, and in the

corner is a small well, full of stones and rubbish; the foundation of

the wall round the garden remains, and shows that the spot was of a

triangular shape, and was well selected for the cultivation of potatoes

and common vegetables. The aperture in the rock is only about five feet

in height, and extends only fifteen feet into the rock. The needle is

strongly attracted around this, either by the presence of magnetic iron

ore or some metallic substance buried in the interior.

The Pirates' Glen, which is some distance from this, is one of Nature's

wildest and most picturesque spots, and the cellar of the pirate's hut

remains to the present time, as does a clear space, which was evidently

cultivated at some remote period.

[Illustration: _The Dungeon Rock and Pirate's Cave, at Lynn, Mass._]

HISTORY OF THE LADRONE PIRATES

_And their Depredations on the Coast of China: with an Account of the

Enterprises and Victories of Mistress Ching, a Female Pirate_.

The Ladrones as they were christened by the Portuguese at Macao, were

originally a disaffected set of Chinese, that revolted against the

oppression of the Mandarins. The first scene of their depredations was

the Western coast, about Cochin China, where they began by attacking

small trading vessels in row boats, carrying from thirty to forty men

each. They continued this system of piracy, and thrived and increased in

numbers under it, for several years. At length the fame of their

success, and the oppression and horrid poverty and want that many of the

lower orders of Chinese labored under, had the effect of augmenting

their bands with astonishing rapidity. Fishermen and other destitute

classes flocked by hundreds to their standard, and their audacity

growing with their numbers, they not merely swept the coast, but

blockaded all the rivers and attacked and took several large government

war junks, mounting from ten to fifteen guns each.--These junks being

added to their shoals of boats, the pirates formed a tremendous fleet,

which was always along shore, so that no small vessel could safely trade

on the coast. When they lacked prey on the sea, they laid the land under

tribute. They were at first accustomed to go on shore and attack the

maritime villages, but becoming bolder, like the Buccaneers, made long

inland journeys, and surprised and plundered even large towns.

An energetic attempt made by the Chinese government to destroy them,

only increased their strength; for in their first encounter with the

pirates, twenty-eight of the Imperial junks struck, and the remaining

twelve saved themselves, by a precipitate retreat.

The captured junks, fully equipped for war, were a great acquisition to

the robbers, whose numbers now increased more rapidly than ever. They

were in their plenitude of power in the year 1809, when Mr. Glasspoole

had the misfortune to fall into their hands, at which time that

gentleman supposed their force to consist of 70,000 men, navigating

eight hundred large vessels, and one thousand small ones, including row

boats. They were divided into six large squadrons, under different

flags;--the red, the yellow, the green, the blue, the black and the

white. "These wasps of the Ocean," as a Chinese historian calls them,

were further distinguished by the names of their respective commanders:

by these commanders a certain _Ching-yih_ had been the most

distinguished by his valor and conduct. By degrees, Ching obtained

almost a supremacy of command over the whole united fleet; and so

confident was this robber in his strength and daily augmenting means,

that he aspired to the dignity of a king, and went so far as openly to

declare his patriotic intention of hurling the present Tartar family

from the throne of China, and of restoring the ancient Chinese dynasty.

But unfortunately for the ambitious pirate, he perished in a heavy gale,

and instead of placing a sovereign on the Chinese throne, he and his

lofty aspirations were buried in the yellow sea. And now comes the most

remarkable passage in the history of these pirates--remarkable with any

class of men, but doubly so among the Chinese, who entertain more than

the general oriental opinion of the inferiority of the fair sex. On the

death of _Ching-yih,_ his legitimate wife had sufficient influence over

the freebooters to induce them to recognize her authority in the place

of her deceased husband's, and she appointed one _Paou_ as her

lieutenant and prime minister, and provided that she should be

considered the mistress or commander-in-chief of the united squadrons.

This _Paou_ had been a poor fisher-boy, picked up with his father at

sea, while fishing, by _Ching-yih,_ whose good will and favor he had the

fortune to captivate, and by whom, before that pirate's death, he had

been made a captain. Instead of declining under the rule of a woman, the

pirates became more enterprising than ever. Ching's widow was clever as

well as brave, and so was her lieutenant Paou. Between them they drew up

a code of law for the better regulation of the freebooters.

In this it was decreed, that if any man went privately on shore, or did

what they called "transgressing the bars," he should have his ears slit

in the presence of the whole fleet; a repetition of the same unlawful

act, was death! No one article, however trifling in value, was to be

privately subtracted from the booty or plundered goods. Every thing they

took was regularly entered on the register of their stores. The

following clause of Mistress _Ching's_ code is still more delicate. No

person shall debauch at his pleasure captive women, taken in the

villages and open places, and brought on board a ship; he must first

request the ship's purser for permission, and then go aside in the

ship's hold. To use violence, against any woman, or to wed her, without

permission, shall be punished with death.

By these means an admirable discipline was maintained on board the

ships, and the peasantry on shore never let the pirates want for

gunpowder, provisions, or any other necessary. On a piratical

expedition, either to advance or retreat without orders, was a capital

offence. Under these philosophical institutions, and the guidance of a

woman, the robbers continued to scour the China sea, plundering every

vessel they came near. The Great War Mandarin, Kwolang-lin sailed from

the Bocca Tigris into the sea to fight the pirates. Paou gave him a

tremendous drubbing, and gained a splendid victory. In this battle which

lasted from morning to night, the Mandarin Kwolang-lin, a desperate

fellow himself, levelled a gun at Paou, who fell on the deck as the

piece went off; his disheartened crew concluded it was all over with

him. But Paou was quick eyed. He had seen the unfriendly intention of

the mandarin, and thrown himself down. The Great Mandarin was soon after

taken with fifteen junks; three were sunk. The pirate lieutenant would

have dealt mercifully with him, but the fierce old man suddenly seized

him by the hair on the crown of his head, and grinned at him, so that he

might provoke him to slay him. But even then Paou spoke kindly to him.

Upon this he committed suicide, being seventy years of age.

After several victories and reverses, the Chinese historian says our

men-of-war escorting some merchant ships, happened to meet the pirate

chief nicknamed "The Jewel of the Crew" cruising at sea. The traders

became exceedingly frightened, but our commander said,--This not being

the flag of the widow Ching-yih, we are a match for them, therefore we

will attack and conquer them. Then ensued a battle; they attacked each

other with guns and stones, and many people were killed and wounded. The

fighting ceased towards evening, and began again next morning. The

pirates and the men-of-war were very close to each other, and they

boasted mutually about their strength and valor. The traders remained at

some distance; they saw the pirates mixing gunpowder in their

beverage,--they looked instantly red about the face and the eyes, and

then fought desperately. This fighting continued three days and nights

incessantly; at last, becoming tired on both sides, they separated.

To understand this inglorious bulletin, the reader must remember that

many of the combatants only handled bows and arrows, and pelted stones,

and that Chinese powder and guns are both exceedingly bad. The pathos

of the conclusion does somewhat remind one of the Irishman's despatch

during the American war,--"It was a bloody battle while it lasted; and

the searjent of marines lost his cartouche box."

The Admiral Ting River was sent to sea against them. This man was

surprised at anchor by the ever vigilant Paou, to whom many fishermen

and other people on the coast, must have acted as friendly spies. Seeing

escape impossible, and that his officers stood pale and inactive by the

flag-staff, the Admiral conjured them, by their fathers and mothers,

their wives and children, and by the hopes of brilliant reward if they

succeeded, and of vengeance if they perished, to do their duty, and the

combat began. The Admiral had the good fortune, at the onset, of killing

with one of his great guns the pirate captain, "The Jewel of the Crew."

But the robbers swarmed thicker and thicker around him, and when the

dreaded Paou lay him by the board, without help or hope, the Mandarin

killed himself. An immense number of his men perished in the sea, and

twenty-five vessels were lost. After his defeat, it was resolved by the

Chinese Government to cut off all their supplies of food, and starve

them out. All vessels that were in port were ordered to remain there,

and those at sea, or on the coast ordered to return with all speed. But

the pirates, full of confidence, now resolved to attack the harbors

themselves, and to ascend the rivers, which are navigable for many miles

up the country, and rob the villages. The consternation was great when

the Chinese saw them venturing above the government forts.

The pirates separated: Mistress Ching plundering in one place, Paou in

another, and O-po-tae in another, &c.

It was at this time that Mr. Glasspoole had the ill fortune to fall into

their power. This gentlemen, then an officer in the East India Company's

ship the Marquis of Ely, which was anchored under an island about twelve

miles from Macao, was ordered to proceed to the latter place with a

boat to procure a pilot. He left the ship in one of the cutters, with

seven British seamen well armed, on the 17th September, 1809. He reached

Macao in safety, and having done his business there and procured a

pilot, returned towards the ship the following day. But, unfortunately,

the ship had weighed anchor and was under sail, and in consequence of

squally weather, accompanied with thick fogs, the boat could not reach

her, and Mr. Glasspoole and his men and the pilot were left at sea, in

an open boat. "Our situation," says that gentleman, "was truly

distressing--night closing fast, with a threatening appearance, blowing

fresh, with a hard rain and a heavy sea; our boat very leaky, without a

compass, anchor, or provisions, and drifting fast on a lee-shore,

surrounded with dangerous rocks, and inhabited by the most barbarous

pirates."

After suffering dreadfully for three whole days, Mr. Glasspoole, by the

advice of the pilot, made for a narrow channel, where he presently

discovered three large boats at anchor, which, on seeing the English

boat, weighed and made sail towards it. The pilot told Mr. Glasspoole

they were Ladrones, and that if they captured the boat, they would

certainly put them all to death! After rowing tremendously for six hours

they escaped these boats, but on the following morning falling in with a

large fleet of the pirates, which the English mistook for fishing-boats,

they were captured.

"About twenty savage-looking villains," says Mr. Glasspoole, "who were

stowed at the bottom of the boat, leaped on board us. They were armed

with a short sword in either hand, one of which they layed upon our

necks, and pointed the other to our breasts, keeping their eyes fixed on

their officer, waiting his signal to cut or desist. Seeing we were

incapable of making any resistance, the officer sheathed his sword, and

the others immediately followed his example. They then dragged us into

their boat, and carried us on board one of their junks, with the most

savage demonstrations of joy, and, as we supposed, to torture and put us

to a cruel death."

When on board the junk they rifled the Englishmen, and brought heavy

chains to chain them to the deck.

"At this time a boat came, and took me, with one of my men and an

interpreter, on board the chief's vessel. I was then taken before the

chief. He was seated on deck, in a large chair, dressed in purple silk,

with a black turban on. He appeared to be about thirty years of age, a

stout commanding-looking man. He took me by the coat, and drew me close

to him; then questioned the interpreter very strictly, asking who we

were, and what was our business in that part of the country. I told him

to say we were Englishmen in distress, having been four days at sea

without provisions. This he would not credit, but said we were bad men,

and that he would put us all to death; and then ordered some men to put

the interpreter to the torture until he confessed the truth. Upon this

occasion, a Ladrone, who had been once to England and spoke a few words

of English, came to the chief, and told him we were really Englishmen,

and that we had plenty of money, adding that the buttons on my coat were

gold. The chief then ordered us some coarse brown rice, of which we made

a tolerable meal, having eaten nothing for nearly four days, except a

few green oranges. During our repast, a number of Ladrones crowded round

us, examining our clothes and hair, and giving us every possible

annoyance. Several of them brought swords, and laid them on our necks,

making signs that they would soon take us on shore, and cut us in

pieces, which I am sorry to say was the fate of some hundreds during my

captivity. I was now summoned before the chief, who had been conversing

with the interpreter: he said I must write to my captain, and tell him,

if he did not send an hundred thousand dollars for our ransom, in ten

days he would put us all to death."

After vainly expostulating to lessen the ransom, Mr. Glasspoole wrote

the letter, and a small boat came alongside and took it to Macao.

Early in the night the fleet sailed, and anchored about one o'clock the

following day in a bay under the island of Lantow, where the head

admiral of Ladrones (our acquaintance Paou) was lying at anchor, with

about two hundred vessels and a Portuguese brig they had captured a few

days before, and the captain and part of the crew of which they had

murdered. Early the next morning, a fishing-boat came to inquire if they

had captured an European boat; they came to the vessel the English were

in.

"One of the boatmen spoke a few words of English, and told me he had a

Ladrone-pass, and was sent by our captain in search of us; I was rather

surprised to find he had no letter. He appeared to be well acquainted

with the chief, and remained in his cabin smoking opium, and playing

cards all the day. In the evening I was summoned with the interpreter

before the chief. He questioned us in a much milder tone, saying, he now

believed we were Englishmen, a people he wished to be friendly with; and

that if our captain would lend him seventy thousand dollars till he

returned from his cruise up the river, he would repay him, and send us

all to Macao. I assured him it was useless writing on these terms, and

unless our ransom was speedily settled, the English fleet would sail,

and render our enlargement altogether ineffectual. He remained

determined, and said if it were not sent, he would keep us, and make us

fight, or put us to death. I accordingly wrote, and gave my letter to

the man belonging to the boat before mentioned. He said he could not

return with an answer in less than five days. The chief now gave me the

letter I wrote when first taken. I have never been able to ascertain his

reasons for detaining it, but suppose he dared not negociate for our

ransom without orders from the head admiral, who I understood was sorry

at our being captured. He said the English ships would join the

Mandarins and attack them."

While the fleet lay here, one night the Portuguese who were left in the

captured brig murdered the Ladrones that were on board of her, cut the

cables, and fortunately escaped through the darkness of the night.

"At day-light the next morning, the fleet, amounting to above five

hundred sail of different sizes, weighed, to proceed on their intended

cruise up the rivers, to levy contributions on the towns and villages.

It is impossible to describe what were my feelings at this critical

time, having received no answers to my letters, and the fleet under-way

to sail--hundreds of miles up a country never visited by Europeans,

there to remain probably for many months, which would render all

opportunities for negotiating for our enlargement totally ineffectual;

as the only method of communication is by boats that have a pass from

the Ladrones, and they dare not venture above twenty miles from Macao,

being obliged to come and go in the night, to avoid the Mandarins; and

if these boats should be detected in having any intercourse with the

Ladrones, they are immediately put to death, and all their relations,

though they had not joined in the crime, share in the punishment, in

order that not a single person of their families should be left to

imitate their crimes or avenge their death."

The following is a very touching incident in Mr. Glasspoole's narrative.

"Wednesday the 26th of September, at day-light, we passed in sight of

our own ships, at anchor under the island of Chun Po. The chief then

called me, pointed to the ships, and told the interpreter to tell us to

look at them, for we should never see them again! About noon we entered

a river to the westward of the Bogue. Three or four miles from the

entrance we passed a large town situated on the side of a beautiful

hill, which is tributary to the Ladrones; the inhabitants saluted them

with songs as they passed."

After committing numerous minor robberies, "The Ladrones now prepared to

attack a town with a formidable force, collected in row-boats from the

different vessels. They sent a messenger to the town, demanding a

tribute of ten thousand dollars annually, saying, if these terms were

not complied with, they would land, destroy the town, and murder all the

inhabitants: which they would certainly have done, had the town laid in

a more advantageous situation for their purpose; but being placed out of

the reach of their shot, they allowed them to come to terms. The

inhabitants agreed to pay six thousand dollars, which they were to

collect by the time of our return down the river. This finesse had the

desired effect, for during our absence they mounted a few guns on a

hill, which commanded the passage, and gave us in lieu of the dollars, a

warm salute on our return.

"October the 1st, the fleet weighed in the night, dropped by the tide up

the river, and anchored very quietly before a town surrounded by a thick

wood. Early in the morning the Ladrones assembled in row-boats, and

landed; then gave a shout, and rushed into the town, sword in hand. The

inhabitants fled to the adjacent hills, in numbers apparently superior

to the Ladrones. We may easily imagine to ourselves the horror with

which these miserable people must be seized, on being obliged to leave

their homes, and everything dear to them. It was a most melancholy sight

to see women in tears, clasping their infants in their arms, and

imploring mercy for them from those brutal robbers! The old and the

sick, who were unable to fly, or make resistance, were either made

prisoners or most inhumanly butchered! The boats continued passing and

repassing from the junks to the shore, in quick succession, laden with

booty, and the men besmeared with blood! Two hundred and fifty women

and several children, were made prisoners, and sent on board different

vessels. They were unable to escape with the men, owing to that

abominable practice of cramping their feet; several of them were not

able to move without assistance. In fact, they might all be said to

totter, rather than walk. Twenty of these poor women were sent on board

the vessel I was in; they were hauled on board by the hair, and treated

in a most savage manner. When the chief came on board, he questioned

them respecting the circumstances of their friends, and demanded ransoms

accordingly, from six thousand to six hundred dollars each. He ordered

them a berth on deck, at the after part of the vessel, where they had

nothing to shelter them from the weather, which at this time was very

variable--the days excessively hot, and the nights cold, with heavy

rains. The town being plundered of everything valuable, it was set on

fire, and reduced to ashes by the morning. The fleet remained here three

days, negotiating for the ransom of the prisoners, and plundering the

fish-tanks and gardens. During all this time, the Chinese never ventured

from the hills, though there were frequently not more than a hundred

Ladrones on shore at a time, and I am sure the people on the hills

exceeded ten times that number.

"On the 10th we formed a junction with the Black-squadron, and proceeded

many miles up a wide and beautiful river, passing several ruins of

villages that had been destroyed by the Black-squadron. On the 17th, the

fleet anchored abreast four mud batteries, which defended a town, so

entirely surrounded with wood, that it was impossible to form any idea

of its size. The weather was very hazy, with hard squalls of rain. The

Ladrones remained perfectly quiet for two days. On the third day the

forts commenced a brisk fire for several hours: the Ladrones did not

return a single shot, but weighed in the night and dropped down the

river. The reasons they gave for not attacking the town, or returning

the fire, were, that Joss had not promised them success. They are very

superstitious, and consult their idol on all occasions. If his omens are

good, they will undertake the most daring enterprises. The fleet now

anchored opposite the ruins of the town where the women had been made

prisoners. Here we remained five or six days, during which time about an

hundred of the women were ransomed; the remainder were offered for sale

amongst the Ladrones, for forty dollars each. The woman is considered

the lawful wife of the purchaser, who would be put to death if he

discarded her. Several of them leaped overboard and drowned themselves,

rather than submit to such infamous degradation.

"Mei-ying, the wife of Ke-choo-yang, was very beautiful, and a pirate

being about to seize her by the head, she abused him exceedingly. The

pirate bound her to the yard-arm; but on abusing him yet more, the

pirate dragged her down and broke two of her teeth, which filled her

mouth and jaws with blood. The pirate sprang up again to bind her. Ying

allowed him to approach, but as soon as he came near her, she laid hold

of his garments with her bleeding mouth, and threw both him and herself

into the river, where they were drowned. The remaining captives of both

sexes were after some months liberated, on having paid a ransom of

fifteen thousand leang or ounces of silver.

"The fleet then weighed," continues Mr. Glasspoole, "and made sail down

the river, to receive the ransom from the town before-mentioned. As we

passed the hill, they fired several shot at us, but without effect. The

Ladrones were much exasperated, and determined to revenge themselves;

they dropped out of reach of their shot, and anchored. Every junk sent

about a hundred men each on shore, to cut paddy, and destroy their

orange-groves, which was most effectually performed for several miles

down the river. During our stay here, they received information of nine

boats lying up a creek, laden with paddy; boats were immediately

despatched after them. Next morning these boats were brought to the

fleet; ten or twelve men were taken in them. As these had made no

resistance, the chief said he would allow them to become Ladrones, if

they agreed to take the usual oaths before Joss. Three or four of them

refused to comply, for which they were punished in the following cruel

manner: their hands were tied behind their backs, a rope from the

masthead rove through their arms, and hoisted three or four feet from

the deck, and five or six men flogged them with their rattans twisted

together till they were apparently dead; then hoisted them up to the

mast-head, and left them hanging nearly an hour, then lowered them down,

and repeated the punishment, till they died or complied with the oath.

"On the 28th of October, I received a letter from Captain Kay, brought by

a fisherman, who had told him he would get us all back for three

thousand dollars. He advised me to offer three thousand, and if not

accepted, extend it to four; but not farther, as it was bad policy to

offer much at first: at the same time assuring me we should be

liberated, let the ransom be what it would. I offered the chief the

three thousand, which he disdainfully refused, saying he was not to be

played with; and unless they sent ten thousand dollars, and two large

guns, with several casks of gunpowder, he would soon put us to death. I

wrote to Captain Kay, and informed him of the chief's determination,

requesting, if an opportunity offered, to send us a shift of clothes,

for which it may be easily imagined we were much distressed, having been

seven weeks without a shift; although constantly exposed to the weather,

and of course frequently wet.

"On the first of November, the fleet sailed up a narrow river, and

anchored at night within two miles of a town called Little Whampoa. In

front of it was a small fort, and several Mandarin vessels lying in the

harbor. The chief sent the interpreter to me, saying, I must order my

men to make cartridges and clean their muskets, ready to go on shore in

the morning. I assured the interpreter I should give the men no such

orders, that they must please themselves. Soon after the chief came on

board, threatening to put us all to a cruel death if we refused to obey

his orders. For my own part I remained determined, and advised the men

not to comply, as I thought by making ourselves useful we should be

accounted too valuable. A few hours afterwards he sent to me again,

saying, that if myself and the quarter-master would assist them at the

great guns, that if also the rest of the men went on shore and succeeded

in taking the place, he would then take the money offered for our

ransom, and give them twenty dollars for every Chinaman's head they cut

off. To these proposals we cheerfully acceded, in hopes of facilitating

our deliverance.

"The Mandarin vessels continued firing, having blocked up the entrance of

the harbor to prevent the Ladrone boats entering. At this the Ladrones

were much exasperated, and about three hundred of them swam on shore,

with a short sword lashed close under each arm; they then ran along the

banks of the river till they came abreast of the vessels, and then swam

off again and boarded them. The Chinese thus attacked, leaped overboard,

and endeavored to reach the opposite shore; the Ladrones followed, and

cut the greater number of them to pieces in the water. They next towed

the vessels out of the harbor, and attacked the town with increased

fury. The inhabitants fought about a quarter of an hour, and then

retreated to an adjacent hill, from which they were soon driven with

great slaughter. After this the Ladrones returned, and plundered the

town, every boat leaving it with lading. The Chinese on the hills

perceiving most of the boats were off, rallied, and retook the town,

after killing near two hundred Ladrones. One of my men was

unfortunately lost in this dreadful massacre! The Ladrones landed a

second time, drove the Chinese out of the town, then reduced it to

ashes, and put all their prisoners to death, without regarding either

age or sex! I must not omit to mention a most horrid (though ludicrous)

circumstance which happened at this place. The Ladrones were paid by

their chief ten dollars for every Chinaman's head they produced. One of

my men turning the corner of a street was met by a Ladrone running

furiously after a Chinese; he had a drawn sword in his hand, and two

Chinaman's heads which he had cut off, tied by their tails, and slung

round his neck. I was witness myself to some of them producing five or

six to obtain payment!

"On the 4th of November an order arrived from the admiral for the fleet

to proceed immediately to Lantow, where he was lying with only two

vessels, and three Portuguese ships and a brig constantly annoying him;

several sail of Mandarin vessels were daily expected. The fleet weighed

and proceeded towards Lantow. On passing the island of Lintin, three

ships and a brig gave chase to us. The Ladrones prepared to board; but

night closing we lost sight of them: I am convinced they altered their

course and stood from us. These vessels were in the pay of the Chinese

Government, and styled themselves the Invincible Squadron, cruising in

the river Tigris to annihilate the Ladrones!

"On the fifth, in the morning, the red squadron anchored in a bay under

Lantow; the black squadron stood to the eastward. In the afternoon of

the 8th of November, four ships, a brig, and a schooner came off the

mouth of the bay. At first the pirates were much alarmed, supposing them

to be English vessels come to rescue us. Some of them threatened to hang

us to the mast-head for them to fire at; and with much difficulty we

persuaded them that they were Portuguese. The Ladrones had only seven

junks in a fit state for action; these they hauled outside, and moored

them head and stern across the bay, and manned all the boats belonging

to the repairing vessels ready for boarding. The Portuguese observing

these manoeuvres hove to, and communicated by boats. Soon afterwards

they made sail, each ship firing her broadside as she passed, but

without effect, the shot falling far short. The Ladrones did not return

a single shot, but waved their colors, and threw up rockets, to induce

them to come further in, which they might easily have done, the outside

junks lying in four fathoms water, which I sounded myself: though the

Portuguese in their letters to Macao lamented there was not sufficient

water for them to engage closer, but that they would certainly prevent

their escaping before the Mandarin fleet arrived!

[Illustration: _A Ladrone Pirate, cutting off the Heads of the Chinese._]

"On the 20th of November, early in the morning, discovered an immense

fleet of Mandarin vessels standing for the bay. On nearing us, they

formed a line, and stood close in; each vessel, as she discharged her

guns, tacked to join the rear and reload. They kept up a constant fire

for about two hours, when one of their largest vessels was blown up by a

firebrand thrown from a Ladrone junk; after which they kept at a more

respectful distance, but continued firing without intermission till the

21st at night, when it fell calm. The Ladrones towed out seven large

vessels, with about two hundred row-boats to board them: but a breeze

springing up, they made sail and escaped. The Ladrones returned into the

bay, and anchored. The Portuguese and Mandarins followed, and continued

a heavy cannonading during that night and the next day. The vessel I was

in had her foremast shot away, which they supplied very expeditiously by

taking a mainmast from a smaller vessel.

"On the 23d, in the evening, it again fell calm; the Ladrones towed out

fifteen junks in two divisions, with the intention of surrounding them,

which was nearly effected, having come up with and boarded one, when a

breeze suddenly sprang up. The captured vessel mounted twenty-two guns.

Most of her crew leaped overboard; sixty or seventy were taken,

immediately cut to pieces, and thrown into the river. Early in the

morning the Ladrones returned into the bay, and anchored in the same

situation as before. The Portuguese and Mandarins followed, keeping up a

constant fire. The Ladrones never returned a single shot, but always

kept in readiness to board, and the Portuguese were careful never to

allow them an opportunity.

"On the 28th, at night they sent eight fire-vessels, which, if properly

constructed, must have done great execution, having every advantage they

could wish for to effect their purpose; a strong breeze and tide

directed into the bay, and the vessels lying so close together, that it

was impossible to miss them. On their first appearance, the Ladrones

gave a general shout, supposing them to be Mandarin vessels on fire, but

were very soon convinced of their mistake. They came very regularly into

the centre of the fleet, two and two, burning furiously; one of them

came alongside of the vessel I was in, but they succeeded in booming her

off. She appeared to be a vessel of about thirty tons; her hold was

filled with straw and wood, and there were a few small boxes of

combustibles on her deck, which exploded alongside of us without doing

any damage. The Ladrones, however, towed them all on shore, extinguished

the fire, and broke them up for firewood. The Portuguese claim the

credit of constructing these destructive machines, and actually sent a

despatch to the Governor of Macao, saying they had destroyed at least

one-third of the Ladrone's fleet, and hoped soon to effect their purpose

by totally annihilating them!

"On the 29th of November, the Ladrones being all ready for sea, they

weighed and stood boldly out, bidding defiance to the invincible

squadron and imperial fleet, consisting of ninety-three war-junks, six

Portuguese ships, a brig, and a schooner. Immediately after the Ladrones

weighed, they made all sail. The Ladrones chased them two or three

hours, keeping up a constant fire; finding they did not come up with

them, they hauled their wind, and stood to the eastward. Thus terminated

the boasted blockade, which lasted nine days, during which time the

Ladrones completed all their repairs. In this action not a single

Ladrone vessel was destroyed, and their loss was about thirty or forty

men. An American was also killed, one of three that remained out of

eight taken in a schooner. I had two very narrow escapes: the first, a

twelve pounder shot fell within three or four feet of me; another took a

piece out of a small brass-swivel on which I was standing. The chief's

wife frequently sprinkled me with garlick-water, which they considered

an effectual charm against shot. The fleet continued under sail all

night, steering towards the eastward. In the morning they anchored in a

large bay surrounded by lofty and barren mountains. On the 2d of

December I received a letter from Lieutenant Maughn, commander of the

Honorable Company's cruiser Antelope, saying that he had the ransom on

board, and had been three days cruising after us, and wished me to

settle with the chief on the securest method of delivering it. The chief

agreed to send us in a small gun-boat till we came within sight of the

Antelope; then the compradore's boat was to bring the ransom and receive

us. I was so agitated at receiving this joyful news, that it was with

difficulty I could scrawl about two or three lines to inform Lieutenant

Maughn of the arrangements I had made. We were all so deeply affected by

the gratifying tidings, that we seldom closed our eyes, but continued

watching day and night for the boat.

"On the 6th she returned with Lieutenant Maughn's answer, saying, he

would respect any single boat; but would not allow the fleet to approach

him. The chief, then, according to his first proposal, ordered a

gun-boat to take us, and with no small degree of pleasure we left the

Ladrone fleet about four o'clock in the afternoon. At one P.M. saw the

Antelope under all sail, standing towards us. The Ladrone boat

immediately anchored, and dispatched the compradore's boat for the

ransom, saying, that if she approached nearer they would return to the

fleet; and they were just weighing when she shortened sail, and anchored

about two miles from us. The boat did not reach her till late in the

afternoon, owing to the tide's being strong against her. She received

the ransom and left the Antelope just before dark. A Mandarin boat that

had been lying concealed under the land, and watching their manoeuvres,

gave chace to her, and was within a few fathoms of taking her, when she

saw a light, which the Ladrones answered, and the Mandarin hauled off.

Our situation was now a critical one; the ransom was in the hands of the

Ladrones, and the compradore dare not return with us for fear of a

second attack from the Mandarin boat. The Ladrones would not wait till

morning, so we were obliged to return with them to the fleet. In the

morning the chief inspected the ransom, which consisted of the following

articles: two bales of superfine cloth; two chests of opium; two casks

of gunpowder, and a telescope; the rest in dollars. He objected to the

telescope not being new; and said he should detain one of us till

another was sent, or a hundred dollars in lieu of it. The compradore,

however, agreed with him for the hundred dollars. Every thing being at

length settled, the chief ordered two gun-boats to convey us near the

Antelope; we saw her just before dusk, when the Ladrone boats left us.

We had the inexpressible pleasure of arriving on board the Antelope at

seven, P.M., where we were most cordially received, and heartily

congratulated on our safe and happy deliverance from a miserable

captivity, which we had endured for eleven weeks and three days.

(Signed) "RICHARD GLASSPOOLE. _China, December 8th_. 1809."

"The Ladrones have no settled residence on shore, but live constantly in

their vessels. The after-part is appropriated to the captain and his

wives; he generally has five or six. With respect to the conjugal rights

they are religiously strict; no person is allowed to have a woman on

board, unless married to her according to their laws. Every man is

allowed a small berth, about four feet square, where he stows with his

wife and family. From the number of souls crowded in so small a space,

it must naturally be supposed they are horridly dirty, which is

evidently the case, and their vessels swarm with all kinds of vermin.

Rats in particular, which they encourage to breed, and eat as great

delicacies; in fact, there are very few creatures they will not eat.

During our captivity we lived three weeks on caterpillars boiled with

rice. They are much addicted to gambling, and spend all their leisure

hours at cards and smoking opium."

[Illustration: _The War Junks of the Ladrones._]

At the time of Mr. Glasspoole's liberation, the pirates were at the

height of their power; after such repeated victories over the Mandarin

ships, they had set at nought the Imperial allies--the Portuguese, and

not only the coast, but the rivers of the celestial empire seemed to be

at their discretion--and yet their formidable association did not many

months survive this event. It was not, however, defeat that reduced it

to the obedience of the laws. On the contrary, that extraordinary woman,

the widow of Ching-yih, and the daring Paou, were victorious and more

powerful than ever, when dissensions broke out among the pirates

themselves. Ever since the favor of the chieftainess had elevated Paou

to the general command, there had been enmity and altercations between

him and the chief O-po-tae, who commanded one of the flags or divisions

of the fleet; and it was only by the deference and respect they both

owed to Ching-yih's widow, that they had been prevented from turning

their arms against each other long before.

At length, when the brave Paou was surprised and cooped up by a strong

blockading force of the Emperor's ships, O-po-tae showed all his deadly

spite, and refused to obey the orders of Paou, and even of the

chieftainess, which were, that he should sail to the relief of his

rival.

Paou, with his bravery and usual good fortune, broke through the

blockade, but when he came in contact with O-po-tae, his rage was too

violent to be restrained.

O-po-tae at first pleaded that his means and strength had been

insufficient to do what had been expected of him, but concluded by

saying,--"Am I bound to come and join the forces of Paou?"

"Would you then separate from us!" cried Paou, more enraged than ever.

O-po-tae answered: "I will not separate myself."

Paou:--"Why then do you not obey the orders of the wife of Ching-yih and

my own? What is this else than separation, that you do not come to

assist me, when I am surrounded by the enemy? I have sworn it that I

will destroy thee, wicked man, that I may do away with this soreness on

my back."

The summons of Paou, when blockaded, to O-po-tae was in language

equally figurative:--"I am harassed by the Government's officers outside

in the sea; lips and teeth must help one another, if the lips are cut

away the teeth will feel cold. How shall I alone be able to fight the

Government forces? You should therefore come at the head of your crew,

to attack the Government squadron in the rear. I will then come out of

my station and make an attack in front; the enemy being so taken in the

front and rear, will, even supposing we cannot master him, certainly be

thrown into disorder."

The angry words of Paou were followed by others, and then by blows.

Paou, though at the moment far inferior in force, first began the fight,

and ultimately sustained a sanguinary defeat, and the loss of sixteen

vessels. Our loathing for this cruel, detestable race, must be increased

by the fact, that the victors massacred all their prisoners--or three

hundred men!

This was the death-blow to the confederacy which had so long defied the

Emperor's power, and which might have effected his dethronement.

O-po-tae dreading the vengeance of Paou and his mistress, Ching-yih's

widow, whose united forces would have quintupled his own, gained over

his men to his views, and proffered a submission to Government, on

condition of free pardon, and a proper provision for all.

The petition of the pirates is so curious a production, and so

characteristic of the Chinese, that it deserves to be inserted at

length. "It is my humble opinion that all robbers of an overpowering

force, whether they had their origin from this or any other cause, have

felt the humanity of Government at different times. Leang-sham, who

three times plundered the city, was nevertheless pardoned, and at last

made a minister of state. Wakang often challenged the arms of his

country, and was suffered to live, and at last made a corner-stone of

the empire. Joo-ming pardoned seven times Mang-hwo; and Kwan-kung three

times set Tsaou-tsaou at liberty. Ma-yuen pursued not the exhausted

robbers; and Yo-fei killed not those who made their submission. There

are many instances of such transactions both in former and recent times,

by which the country was strengthened, and government increased its

power. We now live in a very populous age; some of us could not agree

with their relations, and were driven out like noxious weeds. Some,

after having tried all they could, without being able to provide for

themselves, at last joined bad society. Some lost their property by

shipwrecks; some withdrew into this watery empire to escape from

punishment. In such a way those who in the beginning were only three or

five, were in the course of time increased to a thousand or ten

thousand, and so it went on increasing every year. Would it not have

been wonderful if such a multitude, being in want of their daily bread,

had not resorted to plunder and robbery to gain their subsistence, since

they could not in any other manner be saved from famine? It was from

necessity that the laws of the empire were violated, and the merchants

robbed of their goods. Being deprived of our land and of our native

places, having no house or home to resort to, and relying only on the

chances of wind and water, even could we for a moment forget our griefs,

we might fall in with a man-of-war, who with stones, darts, and guns,

would knock out our brains! Even if we dared to sail up a stream and

boldly go on with anxiety of mind under wind, rain, and stormy weather,

we must everywhere prepare for fighting. Whether we went to the east, or

to the west, and after having felt all the hardships of the sea, the

night dew was our only dwelling, and the rude wind our meal. But now we

will avoid these perils, leave our connexions, and desert our comrades;

we will make our submission. The power of Government knows no bounds; it

reaches to the islands in the sea, and every man is afraid, and sighs.

Oh we must be destroyed by our crimes, none can escape who opposeth the

laws of Government. May you then feel compassion for those who are

deserving of death; may you sustain us by your humanity!"

The Government that had made so many lamentable displays of its

weakness, was glad to make an unreal parade of its mercy. It was but too

happy to grant all the conditions instantly, and, in the fulsome

language of its historians, "feeling that compassion is the way of

heaven--that it is the right way to govern by righteousness--it

therefore redeemed these pirates from destruction, and pardoned their

former crimes."

O-po-tae, however, had hardly struck his free flag, and the pirates were

hardly in the power of the Chinese, when it was proposed by many that

they should all be treacherously murdered. The governor happened to be

more honorable and humane, or probably, only more politic than those who

made this foul proposal--he knew that such a bloody breach of faith

would for ever prevent the pirates still in arms from voluntary

submitting; he knew equally well, even weakened as they were by

O-po-tae's defection, that the Government could not reduce them by

force, and he thought by keeping his faith with them, he might turn the

force of those who had submitted against those who still held out, and

so destroy the pirates with the pirates. Consequently the eight thousand

men, it had been proposed to cut off in cold blood, were allowed to

remain uninjured, and their leader, O-po-tae, having changed his name to

that of Hoe-been, or, "The Lustre of Instruction," was elevated to the

rank of an imperial officer.

The widow of Ching-yih, and her favorite Paou, continued for some months

to pillage the coast, and to beat the Chinese and the Mandarins' troops

and ships, and seemed almost as strong as before the separation of

O-po-tae's flag. But that example was probably operating in the minds of

many of the outlaws, and finally the lawless heroine herself, who was

the spirit that kept the complicate body together, seeing that O-po-tae

had been made a government officer, and that he continued to prosper,

began also to think of making her submission.

"I am," said she, "ten times stronger than O-po-tae, and government will

perhaps, if I submit, act towards me as they have done with O-po-tae."

A rumor of her intentions having reached shore, the Mandarin sent off a

certain Chow, a doctor of Macao, "Who," says the historian, "being

already well acquainted with the pirates, did not need any

introduction," to enter on preliminaries with them.

When the worthy practitioner presented himself to Paou, that friend

concluded he had been committing some crime, and had come for safety to

that general _refugium peccatorum,_ the pirate fleet.

The Doctor explained, and assured the chief, that if he would submit,

Government was inclined to treat him and his far more favorably and more

honorably than O-po-tae. But if he continued to resist, not only a

general arming of all the coast and the rivers, but O-po-tae was to

proceed against him.

At this part of his narrative our Chinese historian is again so curious,

that I shall quote his words at length.

"When Fei-heung-Chow came to Paou, he said: 'Friend Paou, do you know

why I come to you?'"

"Paou.--'Thou hast committed some crime and comest to me for

protection?'"

"Chow.--'By no means.'"

"Paou.--'You will then know how it stands concerning the report about

our submission, if it is true or false?'"

"Chow.--'You are again wrong here, Sir. What are you in comparison with

O-po-tae?'"

"Paou.--'Who is bold enough to compare me with O-po-tae?'"

"Chow.--'I know very well that O-po-tae could not come up to you, Sir;

but I mean only, that since O-po-tae has made his submission, since he

has got his pardon and been created a Government officer,--how would it

be, if you with your whole crew should also submit, and if his

Excellency should desire to treat you in the same manner, and to give

you the same rank as O-po-tae? Your submission would produce more joy to

Government than the submission of O-po-tae. You should not wait for

wisdom to act wisely; you should make up your mind to submit to the

Government with all your followers. I will assist you in every respect,

it would be the means of securing your own happiness and the lives of

all your adherents.'"

"Chang-paou remained like a statue without motion, and Fei-heung Chow

went on to say: 'You should think about this affair in time, and not

stay till the last moment. Is it not clear that O-po-tae, since you

could not agree together, has joined Government. He being enraged

against you, will fight, united with the forces of the Government, for

your destruction; and who could help you, so that you might overcome

your enemies? If O-po-tae could before vanquish you quite alone, how

much more can he now when he is united with Government? O-po-tae will

then satisfy his hatred against you, and you yourself will soon be taken

either at Wei-chow or at Neaou-chow. If the merchant-vessels of

Hwy-chaou, the boats of Kwang-chow, and all the fishing-vessels, unite

together to surround and attack you in the open sea, you will certainly

have enough to do. But even supposing they should not attack you, you

will soon feel the want of provisions to sustain you and all your

followers. It is always wisdom to provide before things happen;

stupidity and folly never think about future events. It is too late to

reflect upon events when things have happened; you should, therefore,

consider this matter in time!'"

Paou was puzzled, but after being closeted for some time with his

mistress, Ching-yih's widow, who gave her high permission for him to

make arrangements with Doctor Chow, he said he would repair with his

fleet to the Bocca Tigris, and there communicate personally with the

organs of Government.

After two visits had been paid to the pirate-fleets by two inferior

Mandarins, who carried the Imperial proclamation of free pardon, and

who, at the order of Ching-yih's widow, were treated to a sumptuous

banquet by Paou, the Governor-general of the province went himself in

one vessel to the pirates' ships, that occupied a line of ten _le_ off

the mouth of the river.

As the governor approached, the pirates hoisted their flags, played on

their instruments, and fired their guns, so that the smoke rose in

clouds, and then bent sail to meet him. On this the dense population

that were ranged thousands after thousands along the shore, to witness

the important reconciliation, became sorely alarmed, and the

Governor-general seems to have had a strong inclination to run away. But

in brief space of time, the long dreaded widow of Ching-yih, supported

by her Lieutenant Paou, and followed by three other of her principal

commanders, mounted the side of the governor's ship, and rushed through

the smoke to the spot where his excellency was stationed; where they

fell on their hands and knees, shed tears, knocked their heads on the

deck before him, and received his gracious pardon, and promised for

future kind treatment. They then withdrew satisfied, having promised to

give in a list of their ships, and of all else they possessed, within

three days.

But the sudden apparition of some large Portuguese ships, and some

Government war-junks, made the pirates suspect treachery. They

immediately set sail, and the negociations were interrupted for several

days.

They were at last concluded by the boldness of their female leader. "If

the Governor-general," said this heroine, "a man of the highest rank,

could come to us quite alone, why should not I, a mean woman, go to the

officers of Government? If there be danger in it, I take it all on

myself; no person among you need trouble himself about me--my mind is

made up, and I will go to Canton!"

Paou said--"If the widow of Ching-yih goes, we must fix a time for her

return. If this pass without our obtaining any information, we must

collect all our forces, and go before Canton: this is my opinion as to

what ought to be done; comrades, let me hear yours!"

The pirates, then, struck with the intrepidity of their chieftainess,

and loving her more than ever, answered, "Friend Paou, we have heard thy

opinion, but we think it better to wait for the news here, on the water,

than to send the wife of Ching-yih alone to be killed." Nor would they

allow her to leave the fleet.

Matters were in this state of indecision, when the two inferior

Mandarins who had before visited the pirates, ventured out to repeat

their visit. These officers protested no treachery had been intended,

and pledged themselves, that if the widow of Ching-yih would repair to

the Governor, she would be kindly received, and every thing settled to

their hearts' satisfaction.

With this, in the language of our old ballads, upspoke Mrs. Ching. "You

say well, gentlemen! and I will go myself to Canton with some other of

our ladies, accompanied by you!" And accordingly, she and a number of

the pirates' wives with their children, went fearlessly to Canton,

arranged every thing, and found they had not been deceived. The fleet

soon followed. On its arrival every vessel was supplied with pork and

with wine, and every man (in lieu it may be supposed, of his share of

the vessels, and plundered property he resigned) received at the same

time a bill for a certain quantity of money. Those who wished it, could

join the military force of Government for pursuing the remaining

pirates; and those who objected, dispersed and withdrew into the

country. "This is the manner in which the great red squadron of the

pirates was pacified."

The valiant Paou, following the example of his rival O-po-tae, entered

into the service of Government, and proceeded against such of his

former associates and friends as would not accept the pardon offered

them. There was some hard fighting, but the two renegadoes successively

took the chief Shih Url, forced the redoubtable captain, styled "The

scourge of the Eastern Ocean" to surrender himself, drove "Frog's Meal,"

another dreadful pirate, to Manilla, and finally, and within a few

months, destroyed or dissipated the "wasps of the ocean" altogether.

I have already noticed the marked intention of the Chinese historian, to

paint the character of Paou in a poetical or epic manner. When

describing the battle with Shih-Url, he says:--

"They fought from seven o'clock in the morning till one at noon, burnt

ten vessels, and killed an immense number of the pirates. Shih-Url was

so weakened that he could scarcely make any opposition. On perceiving

this through the smoke, Paou mounted on a sudden the vessel of the

pirate, and cried out: 'I Chang Paou am come,' and at the same moment he

cut some pirates to pieces; the remainder were then hardly dealt with.

Paou addressed himself in an angry tone to Shih-Url, and said: 'I advise

you to submit: will you not follow my advice? what have you to say?'

Shih-Url was struck with amazement, and his courage left him. Paou

advanced and bound him, and the whole crew were then taken captives."

"From that period," says our Chinese historian, in conclusion, "ships

began to pass and repass in tranquillity. All became quiet on the

rivers, and tranquil on the four seas. People lived in peace and plenty.

Men sold their arms and bought oxen to plough their fields; they buried

sacrifices, said prayers on the tops of the hills, and rejoiced

themselves by singing behind screens during day-time"--and (grand climax

to all!) the Governor of the province, in consideration of his valuable

services in the pacification of the pirates, was allowed by an edict of

the "Son of Heaven," to wear peacocks' feathers with two eyes!

THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN LEWIS.

Captain Lewis was at an early age associated with pirates. We first find

him a boy in company with the pirate Banister, who was hanged at the

yard arm of a man-of-war, in sight of Port Royal, Jamaica. This Lewis

and another boy were taken with him, and brought into the island hanging

by the middle at the mizen peak. He had a great aptitude for languages,

and spoke perfectly well that of the Mosquil Indians, French, Spanish,

and English. I mention our own, because it is doubted whether he was

French or English, for we cannot trace him back to his origin. He sailed

out of Jamaica till he was a lusty lad, and was then taken by the

Spaniards at the Havana, where he tarried some time; but at length he

and six more ran away with a small canoe, and surprised a Spanish

periagua, out of which two men joined them, so that they were now nine

in company. With this periagua they surprised a turtling sloop, and

forced some of the hands to take on with them; the others they sent away

in the periagua.

He played at this small game, surprising and taking coasters and

turtlers, till with forced men and volunteers he made up a company of 40

men. With these he took a large pink built ship, bound from Jamaica to

the bay of Campeachy, and after her, several others bound to the same

place; and having intelligence that there lay in the bay a fine Bermuda

built brigantine of 10 guns, commanded by Captain Tucker, he sent the

captain of the pink to him with a letter, the purport of which was, that

he wanted such a brigantine, and if he would part with her, he would

pay him 10,000 pieces of eight; if he refused this, he would take care

to lie in his way, for he was resolved, either by fair or foul means to

have the vessel. Captain Tucker, having read the letter, sent for the

masters of vessels then lying in the bay, and told them, after he had

shown the letter, that if they would make him up 54 men, (for there

were about ten Bermuda sloops,) he would go out and fight the pirates.

They said no, they would not hazard their men, they depended on their

sailing, and every one must take care of himself as well as he could.

[Illustration: _The Pirate Banister, hanging at the Yard Arm._]

However, they all put to sea together, and spied a sail under the land,

which had a breeze while they lay becalmed. Some said he was a turtler;

others, the pirate, and so it proved; for it was honest Captain Lewis,

who putting out his oars, got in among them. Some of the sloops had four

guns, some two, some none. Joseph Dill had two, which he brought on one

side, and fired smartly at the pirate, but unfortunately one of them

split, and killed three men. Tucker called to all the sloops to send him

men, and he would fight Lewis, but to no purpose; nobody came on board

him. In the mean while a breeze sprung up, and Tucker, trimming his

sails, left them, who all fell a prey to the pirate; into whom, however,

he fired a broadside at going off. One sloop, whose master I will not

name, was a very good sailer, and was going off; but Lewis firing a

shot, brought her to, and he lay by till all the sloops were visited and

secured. Then Lewis sent on board him, and ordered the master into his

sloop. As soon as he was on board, he asked the reason of his lying by,

and betraying the trust his owners had reposed in him, which was doing

like a knave and coward, and he would punish him accordingly; _for_,

said he, _you might have got off, being so much a better sailer than my

vessel_. After this speech, he fell upon him with a rope's end, and then

snatching up his cane, drove him about the decks without mercy. The

master, thinking to pacify him, told him he had been out trading in that

sloop several months, and had on board a good quantity of money, which

was hid, and which, if he would send on board a black belonging to the

owners, he would discover to him. This had not the desired effect, but

one quite contrary; for Lewis told him he was a rascal and villain for

this discovery, and he would pay him for betraying his owners, and

redoubled his strokes. However, he sent and took the money and negro,

who was an able sailor. He took out of his prizes what he had occasion

for, forty able negro sailors, and a white carpenter. The largest sloop,

which was about ninety tons, he took for his own use, and mounted her

with 12 guns. His crew was now about eighty men, whites and blacks.

[Illustration: _The Master Caned by Captain Lewis._]

After these captures, he cruised in the Gulf of Florida, laying in wait

for the West India homeward bound ships that took the leeward passage,

several of which, falling into his hands, were plundered by him, and

released. From hence he went to the coast of Carolina, where he cleaned

his sloop, and a great many men whom he had forced, ran away from him.

However, the natives traded with him for rum and sugar, and brought him

all he wanted, without the government's having any knowledge of him, for

he had got into a very private creek; though he was very much on his

guard, that he might not be surprised from the shore.

From Carolina he cruised on the coast of Virginia, where he took and

plundered several merchantmen, and forced several men, and then returned

to the coast of Carolina, where he did abundance of mischief. As he had

now an abundance of French on board, who had entered with him, and

Lewis, hearing the English had a design to maroon them, he secured the

men he suspected, and put them in a boat, with all the other English,

ten leagues from shore, with only ten pieces of beef, and sent them

away, keeping none but French and negroes. These men, it is supposed,

all perished in the sea.

From the coast of Carolina he shaped his course for the banks of

Newfoundland, where he overhauled several fishing vessels, and then went

into Trinity Harbor in Conception Bay, where there lay several

merchantmen, and seized a 24 gun galley, called the Herman. The

commander, Captain Beal, told Lewis, if he would send his quarter master

ashore he would furnish him with necessaries. He being sent ashore, a

council was held among the masters, the consequence of which was, the

seizing the quarter master, whom they carried to Captain Woodes Rogers.

He chained him to a sheet anchor which was ashore, and planted guns at

the point, to prevent the pirate getting out, but to little purpose; for

the people at one of these points firing too soon, Lewis quitted the

ship, and, by the help of oars and the favor of the night, got out in

his sloop, though she received many shot in her hull. The last shot that

was fired at the pirate did him considerable damage.

He lay off and on the harbor, swearing he would have his quarter master,

and intercepted two fishing shallops, on board of one of which was the

captain of the galley's brother. He detained them, and sent word, if his

quarter master did not immediately come off, he would put all his

prisoners to death. He was sent on board without hesitation. Lewis and

the crew inquired how he had been used, and he answered, very civilly.

"It's well," said the pirate, "for had you been ill treated, I would

have put all these rascals to the sword." They were dismissed, and the

captain's brother going over the side, the quarter master stopped him,

saying, he must drink the gentlemen's health ashore, particularly

Captain Rogers' and, whispering him in the ear, told him, if they had

known of his being chained all night, he would have been cut in pieces,

with all his men. After this poor man and his shallop's company were

gone, the quarter master told the usage he had met with, which enraged

Lewis, and made him reproach his quarter master, whose answer was, that

he did not think it just the innocent should suffer for the guilty.

The masters of the merchantmen sent to Capt. Tudor Trevor, who lay at

St. John's in the Sheerness man-of-war. He immediately got under sail,

and missed the pirate but four hours. She kept along the coast and made

several prizes, French and English, and put into a harbor where a French

ship lay making fish. She was built at the latter end of the war, for a

privateer, was an excellent sailer, and mounted 24 guns. The commander

hailed him: the pirate answered, _from Jamaica with rum and sugar_. The

Frenchman bid him go about his business; that a pirate sloop was on the

coast, and he might be the rogue; if he did not immediately sheer off,

he would fire a broadside into him. He went off and lay a fortnight out

at sea, so far as not to be descried from shore, with resolution to have

the ship. The Frenchman being on his guard, in the meanwhile raised a

battery on the shore, which commanded the harbor. After a fortnight,

when he was thought to be gone off, he returned, and took two of the

fishing shallops belonging to the Frenchman, and manning them with

pirates, they went in. One shallop attacked the battery; the other

surprised, boarded and carried the ship, just as the morning star

appeared, for which reason he gave her that name. In the engagement the

owner's son was killed, who made the voyage out of curiosity only. The

ship being taken, seven guns were fired, which was the signal, and the

sloop came down and lay alongside the ship. The captain told him he

supposed he only wanted his liquor; but Lewis made answer he wanted his

ship, and accordingly hoisted all his ammunition and provision into her.

When the Frenchman saw they would have his ship, he told her trim, and

Lewis gave him the sloop; and excepting what he took for provision, all

the fish he had made. Several of the French took on with him, who, with

others, English and French, had by force or voluntarily, made him up 200

men.

From Newfoundland he steered for the coast of Guinea, where he took a

great many ships, English, Dutch and Portuguese. Among these ships was

one belonging to Carolina, commanded by Capt. Smith. While he was in

chase of this vessel a circumstance occurred, which made his men

believe he dealt with the devil; his fore and main top-mast being

carried away, he, Lewis, running up the shrouds to the maintop, tore off

a handful of hair, and throwing it into the air used this expression,

_good devil, take this till I come_. And it was observed, that he came

afterwards faster up with the chase than before the loss of his

top-masts.

[Illustration: _Captain Lewis giving a lock of his hair to the Devil._]

Smith being taken, Lewis used him very civilly, and gave him as much or

more in value than he took from him, and let him go, saying, he would

come to Carolina when he had made money on the coast, and would rely on

his friendship.

They kept some time on the coast, when they quarrelled among themselves,

the French and English, of which the former were more numerous, and they

resolved to part. The French therefore chose a large sloop newly taken,

thinking the ship's bottom, which was not sheathed, damaged by the

worms. According to this agreement they took on board what ammunition

and provision they thought fit out of the ship, and put off, choosing

one Le Barre captain. As it blew hard, and the decks were encumbered,

they came to an anchor under the coast, to stow away their ammunition,

goods, &c. Lewis told his men they were a parcel of rogues, and he would

make them refund; accordingly he run alongside, his guns being all

loaded and new primed, and ordered him to cut away his mast or he would

sink him. Le Barre was obliged to obey. Then he ordered them all ashore.

They begged the liberty of carrying their arms, goods, &c. with them,

but he allowed them only their small arms and cartridge boxes. Then he

brought the sloop alongside, put every thing on board the ship, and sunk

the sloop.

Le Barre and the rest begged to be taken on board. However, though he

denied them, he suffered Le Barre and some few to come, with whom he and

his men drank plentifully. The negroes on board Lewis told him the

French had a plot against him. He answered, he could not withstand his

destiny; for the devil told him in the great cabin he should be murdered

that night.

In the dead of the night, the rest of the French came on board in

canoes, got into the cabin and killed Lewis. They fell on the crew; but,

after an hour and a half's dispute, the French were beaten off, and the

quarter master, John Cornelius, an Irishman, succeeded Lewis.

--"He was the mildest manner'd man,

That ever scuttled ship or cut a throat;

With such true breeding of a gentleman,

You never could discern his real thought.

Pity he loved an adventurous life's variety,

He was so great a loss to good society."

THE LIFE, CAREER AND DEATH OF CAPTAIN THOMAS WHITE.

He was born at Plymouth, where his mother kept a public house. She took

great care of his education, and when he was grown up, as he had an

inclination to the sea, procured him the king's letter. After he had

served some years on board a man-of-war, he went to Barbadoes, where he

married, got into the merchant service, and designed to settle in the

island. He had the command of the Marygold brigantine given him, in

which he made two successful voyages to Guinea and back to Barbadoes. In

his third, he had the misfortune to be taken by a French pirate, as were

several other English ships, the masters and inferior officers of which

they detained, being in want of good artists. The brigantine belonging

to White, they kept for their own use, and sunk the vessel they before

sailed in; but meeting with a ship on the Guinea coast more fit for

their purpose, they went on board her and burnt the brigantine.

It is not my business here to give an account of this French pirate, any

farther than Capt. White's story obliges me, though I beg leave to take

notice of their barbarity to the English prisoners, for they would set

them up as a butt or mark to shoot at; several of whom were thus

murdered in cold blood, by way of diversion.

White was marked out for a sacrifice by one of these villains, who, for

what reason I know not, had sworn his death, which he escaped thus. One

of the crew, who had a friendship for White, knew this fellow's design

to kill him in the night, and therefore advised him to lie between him

and the ship's side, with intention to save him; which indeed he did,

but was himself shot dead by the murderous villain, who mistook him for

White.

After some time cruising along the coast, the pirates doubled the Cape

of Good Hope, and shaped their course for Madagascar, where, being drunk

and mad, they knocked their ship on the head, at the south end of the

island, at a place called by the natives Elexa. The country thereabouts

was governed by a king, named Mafaly.

When the ship struck, Capt. White, Capt. Boreman, (born in the Isle of

Wight, formerly a lieutenant of a man-of-war, but in the merchant

service when he fell into the hands of the pirates,) Capt. Bowen and

some other prisoners got into the long-boat, and with broken oars and

barrel staves, which they found in the bottom of the boat, paddled to

Augustin Bay, which is about 14 or 15 leagues from the wreck, where they

landed, and were kindly received by the king of Bavaw, (the name of that

part of the island) who spoke good English.

They stayed here a year and a half at the king's expense, who gave them

a plentiful allowance of provision, as was his custom to all white men,

who met with any misfortune on his coast. His humanity not only provided

for such, but the first European vessel that came in, he always obliged

to take in the unfortunate people, let the vessel be what it would; for

he had no notion of any difference between pirates and merchants.

At the expiration of the above term, a pirate brigantine came in, on

board which the king obliged them to enter, or travel by land to some

other place, which they durst not do; and of two evils chose the least,

that of going on board the pirate vessel, which was commanded by one

William Read, who received them very civilly.

This commander went along the coast, and picked up what Europeans he

could meet with. His crew, however, did not exceed 40 men. He would have

been glad of taking some of the wrecked Frenchmen, but for the

barbarity they had used towards the English prisoners. However, it was

impracticable, for the French pretending to lord it over the natives,

whom they began to treat inhumanly, were set upon by them, one half of

their number cut off, and the other half made slaves.

Read, with this gang, and a brigantine of 60 tons, steered his course

for the Persian Gulf, where they met a grab, (a one masted vessel) of

about 200 tons, which was made a prize. They found nothing on board but

bale goods, most of which they threw overboard in search of gold, and to

make room in the vessel; but as they learned afterwards, they threw

over, in their search, what they so greedily hunted after, for there was

a considerable quantity of gold concealed in one of the bales they

tossed into the sea!

In this cruise Capt. Read fell ill and died, and was succeeded by one

James. The brigantine being small, crazy and worm-eaten, they shaped

their course for the island of Mayotta, where they took out the masts of

the brigantine, fitted up the grab, and made a ship of her. Here they

took in a quantity of fresh provisions, which are in this island very

plentiful and very cheap, and found a twelve-oared boat, which formerly

belonged to the Ruby East Indiaman, which had been lost there.

They stayed here all the monsoon time, which is about six months; after

which they resolved for Madagascar. As they came in with the land, they

spied a sail coming round from the east side of the island. They gave

chase on both sides, so that they soon met. They hailed each other and

receiving the same answer from each vessel, viz. _from the seas,_ they

joined company.

This vessel was a small French ship, laden with liquors from Martinico,

first commanded by one Fourgette, to trade with the pirates for slaves,

at Ambonavoula, on the east side of the island, in the latitude of 17

deg. 30 min. and was by them taken after the following manner.

The pirates, who were headed by George Booth, now commander of the

ship, went on board, (as they had often done,) to the number of ten, and

carried money with them under pretence of purchasing what they wanted.

This Booth had formerly been gunner of a pirate ship, called the

Dolphin. Capt. Fourgette was pretty much upon his guard, and searched

every man as he came over the side, and a pair of pocket pistols were

found upon a Dutchman, who was the first that entered. The captain told

him that _he was a rogue, and had a design upon his ship_, and the

pirates pretended to be so angry with this fellow's offering to come on

board with arms, that they threatened to knock him on the head, and

tossing him roughly into the boat, ordered him ashore, though they had

before taken an oath on the Bible, either to carry the ship, or die in

the undertaking.

They were all searched, but they however contrived to get on board four

pistols, which were all the arms they had for the enterprise, though

Fourgette had 20 hands on board, and his small arms on the awning, to be

in readiness.

The captain invited them into the cabin to dinner, but Booth chose to

dine with the petty officer, though one Johnson, Isaac and another, went

down. Booth was to give the watchword, which was _hurrah_. Standing near

the awning, and being a nimble fellow, at one spring he threw himself

upon it, drew the arms to him, fired his pistol among the men, one of

whom he wounded, (who jumping overboard was lost) and gave the signal.

Three, I said, were in the cabin, and seven upon deck, who with

handspikes and the arms seized, secured the ship's crew. The captain and

his two mates, who were at dinner in the cabin, hearing the pistol, fell

upon Johnson, and stabbed him in several places with their forks, but

they being silver, did him no great damage. Fourgette snatched his

piece, which he snapped at Isaac's breast several times, but it would

not go off. At last, finding his resistance vain, he submitted, and the

pirates set him, and those of his men who would not join them, on shore,

allowing him to take his books, papers, and whatever else he claimed as

belonging to himself; and besides treating him very humanely, gave him

several casks of liquor, with arms and powder, to purchase provisions in

the country.

I hope this digression, as it was in a manner needful, will be excused.

I shall now proceed.

After they had taken in the Dolphin's company, which were on the island,

and increased their crew, by that means, to the number of 80 hands, they

sailed to St. Mary's, where Capt. Mosson's ship lay at anchor, between

the island and the main. This gentleman and his whole ship's company had

been cut off at the instigation of Ort-Vantyle, a Dutchman of New-York.

Out of her they took water casks and other necessaries; which having

done, they designed for the river Methelage, on the west side of

Madagascar, in the lat. of 16 degrees or thereabouts, to salt up

provisions and to proceed to the East Indies, cruise off the islands of

St. John, and lie in wait for the Moor ships from Mocha.

In their way to Methelage they fell in (as I have said) with the pirate,

on board of which was Capt. White. They joined company, came to an

anchor together in the above named river, where they had cleaned, salted

and took in their provisions, and were ready to go to sea, when a large

ship appeared in sight, and stood into the same river.

The pirates knew not whether she was a merchantman or man-of-war. She

had been the latter, belonging to the French king, and could mount 50

guns; but being taken by the English, she was bought by some London

merchants, and fitted out from that port to slave at Madagascar, and go

to Jamaica. The captain was a young, inexperienced man, who was put in

with a nurse.

The pirates sent their boats to speak with them, but the ship firing at

them, they concluded it a man of war, and rowed ashore; the grab

standing in, and not keeping her wind so well as the French built ship,

run among a parcel of mangroves, and a stump piercing her bottom, she

sunk: the other run aground, let go her anchor, and came to no damage,

for the tide of flood fetched her off.

The captain of the Speaker, for that was the name of the ship which

frightened the pirates, was not a little vain of having forced these two

vessels ashore, though he did not know whether they were pirates or

merchantmen, and could not help expressing himself in these words: "How

will my name ring on the exchange, when it is known I have run two

pirates aground;" which gave handle to a satirical return from one of

his men after he was taken, who said, "Lord! how our captain's name will

ring on the exchange, when it is heard, he frightened two pirate ships

ashore, and was taken by their two boats afterwards."

When the Speaker came within shot, she fired several times at the two

vessels; and when she came to anchor, several more into the country,

which alarmed the negroes, who, acquainting their king, he would allow

him no trade, till the pirates living ashore, and who had a design on

his ship, interceded for them, telling the king, they were their

countrymen, and what had happened was through a mistake, it being a

custom among them to fire their guns by way of respect, and it was owing

to the gunner of the ship's negligence that they fired shot.

The captain of the Speaker sent his purser ashore, to go up the country

to the king, who lived about 24 miles from the coast, to carry a couple

of small arms inlaid with gold, a couple of brass blunderbusses, and a

pair of pistols, as presents, and to require trade. As soon as the

purser was ashore, he was taken prisoner, by one Tom Collins, a

Welshman, born in Pembroke, who lived on shore, and had belonged to the

Charming Mary, of Barbadoes, which went out with a commission but was

converted to a pirate. He told the purser he was his prisoner, and must

answer the damage done to two merchants who were slaving. The purser

answered, that he was not commander; that the captain was a hot rash

youth, put into business by his friends, which he did not understand;

but however, satisfaction should be made. He was carried by Collins on

board Booth's ship, where, at first, he was talked to in pretty strong

terms; but after a while very civilly used, and the next morning sent up

to the king with a guide, and peace made for him.

The king allowed them trade, and sent down the usual presents, a couple

of oxen between twenty and thirty people laden with rice, and as many

more with the country liquor, called _toke_.

The captain then settled the factory on the shore side, and began to buy

slaves and provisions. The pirates were among them, and had

opportunities of sounding the men, and knowing in what posture the ship

lay. They found by one Hugh Man, belonging to the Speaker, that there

were not above 40 men on board, and that they had lost the second mate

and 20 hands in the long boat, on the coast, before they came into this

harbor, but that they kept a good look out, and had their guns ready

primed. However, he, for a hundred pounds, undertook to wet all the

priming, and assist in taking the ship.

After some days the captain of the Speaker came on shore, and was

received with great civility by the heads of the pirates, having agreed

before to make satisfaction. In a day or two after, he was invited by

them to eat a barbacued shoat, which invitation he accepted. After

dinner, Capt. Bowen, who was, I have already said, a prisoner on board

the French pirate, but now become one of the fraternity, and master of

the grab, went out, and returned with a case of pistols in his hand, and

told the Captain of the Speaker, whose name I won't mention, that he was

his prisoner. He asked, upon what account? Bowen answered, "they wanted

his ship, his was a good one, and they were resolved to have her, to

make amends for the damage he had done them."

[Illustration: _Hugh Man wetting the Priming of the Guns._]

In the mean while his boat's crew, and the rest of his men ashore, were

told by others of the pirates, who were drinking with them, that they

were also prisoners: some of them answered, _Zounds, we don't trouble

our heads what we are, let's have t'other bowl of punch_.

A watchword was given, and no boat to be admitted on board the ship.

This word, which was for that night, _Coventry_, was known to them. At 8

o'clock they manned the twelve-oared boat, and the one they found at

Mayotta, with 24 men, and set out for the ship. When they were put off,

the captain of the Speaker desired them to come back, as he wanted to

speak with them. Capt. Booth asked what he wanted! He said, "they could

never take his ship." "Then," said Booth, "we'll die in or alongside of

her."--"But," replied the captain, "if you will go with safety, don't

board on the larboard side, for there is a gun out of the steerage

loaded with partridge, which will clear the decks." They thanked him,

and proceeded.

When they were near the ship they were hailed, and the answer was, _the

Coventry_. "All well," said the mate, "get the lights over the side;"

but spying the second boat, he asked what boat that was? One answered it

was a raft of water, another that it was a boat of beef; this

disagreement in the answers made the mate suspicious, who cried

out--_Pirates, take to your arms my lads_, and immediately clapped a

match to a gun, which, as the priming was before wet by the treachery of

Hugh Man, only fizzed. They boarded in the instant, and made themselves

masters of her, without the loss of a man on either side.

The next day they put necessary provisions on board the French built

ship, and gave her to the captain of the Speaker, and those men who

would go off with him, among whom was Man, who had betrayed his ship;

for the pirates had both paid him the 100_l_ agreed, and kept his

secret. The captain having thus lost his ship, sailed in that which the

pirates gave him, for Johanna, where he fell ill and died with grief.

The pirates having here victualled, they sailed for the Bay of St.

Augustine, where they took in between 70 and 80 men, who had belonged to

the ship Alexander, commanded by Capt. James, a pirate. They also took

up her guns, and mounted the Speaker with 54, which made up their

number, and 240 men, besides slaves, of which they had about 20.

From hence they sailed for the East Indies, but stopped at Zanguebar for

fresh provisions, where the Portuguese had once a settlement, but now

inhabited by Arabians. Some of them went ashore with the captain to buy

provisions. The captain was sent for by the governor, who went with

about 14 in company. They passed through the guard, and when they had

entered the governor's house, they were all cut off; and, at the same

time, others who were in different houses of the town were set upon,

which made them fly to the shore. The long-boat, which lay off a

grappling, was immediately put in by those who looked after her. There

were not above half a dozen of the pirates who brought their arms

ashore, but they plied them so well, for they were in the boat, that

most of the men got into her. The quarter-master ran down sword in hand,

and though he was attacked by many, he behaved himself so well, that he

got into a little canoe, put off, and reached the long-boat.

In the interim, the little fort the Arabians had, played upon the ship,

which returned the salute very warmly. Thus they got on board, with the

loss of Captain Booth and 20 men, and set sail for the East Indies. When

they were under sail, they went to voting for a new captain, and the

quarter-master, who had behaved so well in the last affair with the

Arabians, was chosen; but he declining all command the crew made choice

of Bowen for captain, Pickering to succeed him as master, Samuel

Herault, a Frenchman, for quarter-master, and Nathaniel North for

captain quarter-master.

Things being thus settled, they came to the mouth of the Red Sea, and

fell in with 13 sail of Moor ships, which they kept company with the

greater part of the day, but afraid to venture on them, as they took

them for Portuguese men-of-war. At length part were for boarding, and

advised it. The captain though he said little, did not seem inclined,

for he was but a young pirate, though an old commander of a merchantman.

Those who pushed for boarding, then desired Captain Boreman, already

mentioned, to take the command; but he said he would not be a usurper;

that nobody was more fit for it than he who had it; that for his part

he would stand by his fuzil, and went forward to the forecastle with

such as would have him take the command, to be ready to board; on which

the captain's quarter-master said, if they were resolved to engage,

their captain, (whose representative he was) did not want resolution;

therefore ordered them to get their tacks on board (for they had already

made a clear ship) and get ready for boarding; which they accordingly

did, and coming up with the sternmost ship, they fired a broadside into

her, which killed two Moors, clapped her on board and carried her; but

night coming on, they made only this prize, which yielded them L500 per

man. From hence they sailed to the coast of Malabar. The adventures of

these pirates on this coast are already set down in Captain Bowen's

life, to which I refer the reader, and shall only observe, that Captain

White was all this time before the mast, being a forced man from the

beginning.

Bowen's crew dispersing, Captain White went to Methelage, where he lived

ashore with the king, not having an opportunity of getting off the

island, till another pirate ship, called the Prosperous, commanded by

one Howard, who had been bred a lighterman on the river Thames, came in.

This ship was taken at Augustin, by some pirates from shore, and the

crew of their long-boat, which joined them, at the instigation of one

Ranten, boatswain's mate, who sent for water. They came on board in the

night and surprised her, though not without resistance, in which the

captain and chief mate were killed, and several others wounded.

Those who were ashore with Captain White, resolving to enter in this

ship, determined him to go also, rather than be left alone with the

natives, hoping, by some accident or other, to have an opportunity of

returning home. He continued on board this ship, in which he was made

quarter-master, till they met with, and all went on board of Bowen, as

is set down in his life, in which ship he continued after Bowen left

them. At Port Dolphin he went _off_ in the boats to fetch some of the

crew left ashore, the ship being blown to sea the night before. The ship

not being able to get in, and he supposing her gone to the west side of

the island, as they had formerly proposed, he steered that course in his

boat with 26 men. They touched at Augustin, expecting the ship, but she

not appearing in a week, the time they waited, the king ordered them to

be gone, telling them they imposed on him with lies, for he did not

believe they had any ship: however he gave them fresh provision: they

took in water, and made for Methelage. Here as Captain White was known

to the king, they were kindly received, and staid about a fortnight in

expectation of the ship, but she not appearing they raised their boat a

streak, salted the provision the king gave them, put water aboard, and

stood for the north end of the island, designing to go round, believing

their ship might be at the island of St. Mary. When they came to the

north end, the current, which sets to the N.W. for eight months in the

year, was so strong they found it impossible to get round. Wherefore

they got into a harbor, of which there are many for small vessels. Here

they stayed about three weeks or a month, when part of the crew were for

burning the boat, and travelling over land to a black king of their

acquaintance, whose name was Reberimbo, who lived at a place called

Manangaromasigh, in lat. 15 deg. or thereabouts. As this king had been

several times assisted by the whites in his wars, he was a great friend

to them. Captain White dissuaded them from this undertaking, and with

much ado, saved the boat; but one half of the men being resolved to go

by land, they took what provisions they thought necessary, and set out.

Captain White, and those who staid with him, conveyed them a day's

journey, and then returning, he got into the boat with his companions,

and went back to Methelage, fearing these men might return, prevail

with the rest, and burn the boat.

[Illustration: _The Murder of the Captain and Chief Mate._]

Here he built a deck on his boat, and lay by three months, in which time

there came in three pirates with a boat, who had formerly been trepanned

on board the Severn and Scarborough men-of-war, which had been looking

for pirates on the east side; from which ships they made their escape at

Mohila, in a small canoe to Johanna, and from Johanna to Mayotta, where

the king built them the boat which brought them to Methelage. The time

of the current's setting with violence to the N.W. being over, they

proceeded together in White's boat (burning that of Mayotta) to the

north end, where the current running yet too strong to get round, they

went into a harbor and staid there a month, maintaining themselves with

fish and wild hogs, of which there was a great plenty. At length, having

fine weather, and the strength of the current abating, they got round;

and after sailing about 40 miles on the east side, they went into a

harbor, where they found a piece of a jacket, which they knew belonged

to one of those men who had left them to go over land. He had been a

forced man, and a ship carpenter. This they supposed he had torn to wrap

round his feet; that part of the country being barren and rocky. As they

sailed along this coast, they came to anchor in convenient harbors every

night, till they got as far as Manangaromasigh, where king Reberimbo

resided, where they went in to inquire for their men, who left them at

the north end, and to recruit with provisions. The latter was given

them, but they could get no information of their companions.

From hence they went to the island of St. Mary, where a canoe came off

to them with a letter directed to any white man. They knew it to be the

hand of one of their former shipmates. The contents of this letter was

to advise them to be on their guard, and not trust too much to the

blacks of this place, they having been formerly treacherous. They

inquired after their ship, and were informed, that the company had given

her to the Moors, who were gone away with her, and that they themselves

were settled at Ambonavoula, about 20 leagues to the southward of St.

Mary, where they lived among the negroes as so many sovereign princes.

One of the blacks, who brought off the letter went on board their boat,

carried them to the place called Olumbah, a point of land made by a

river on one side, and the sea on the other, where twelve of them lived

together in a large house they had built, and fortified with about

twenty pieces of cannon.

The rest of them were settled in small companies of about 12 or 14

together, more or less, up the said river, and along the coast, every

nation by itself, as the English, French, Dutch, &c. They made inquiry

of their consorts after the different prizes which belonged to them, and

they found all very justly laid by to be given them, if ever they

returned, as were what belonged to the men who went over land. Captain

White, hankering after home, proposed going out again in the boat; for

he was adverse to settling with them; and many others agreed to go under

his command; and if they could meet with a ship to carry them to Europe,

to follow their old vocation. But the others did not think it reasonable

he should have the boat, but that it should be set to sale for the

benefit of the company. Accordingly it was set up, and Captain White

bought it for 400 pieces of eight, and with some of his old consorts,

whose number was increased by others of the ship's crew, he went back

the way he had come to Methelage. Here he met with a French ship of

about 50 tons, and 6 guns, which had been taken by some pirates who

lived at Maratan, on the east side of the island, and some of the

Degrave East-Indiaman's crew, to whom the master of her refused a

passage to Europe; for as he had himself been a pirate, and

quarter-master to Bowen, in the Speaker, he apprehended their taking

away his ship. War then existing between England and France, he thought

they might do it without being called in question as pirates. The

pirates who had been concerned in taking Herault's ship, for that was

his name, had gone up the country, and left her to the men belonging to

the Degrave, who had fitted her up, cleaned and tallowed her, and got in

some provision, with a design to go to the East-Indies, that they might

light on some ship to return to their own country.

Captain White, finding these men proposed joining him, and going round

to Ambonavoula, to make up a company, it was agreed upon, and they

unanimously chose him commander. They accordingly put to sea, and stood

away round the south end of the island, and touched at Don Mascarenhas,

where he took in a surgeon, and stretching over again to Madagascar,

fell in with Ambonavoula, and made up his complement of 60 men. From

hence he shaped his course for the island of Mayotta, where he cleaned

his ship, and waited for the season to go into the Red Sea. His

provisions being taken in, the time proper, and the ship well fitted, he

steered for Babel-Mandeb, and running into a harbor, waited for the

Mocha ships.

He here took two grabs laden with provisions, and having some small

money and drugs aboard. These he plundered of what was for his turn,

kept them a fortnight by him, and let them go. Soon after they espied a

lofty ship, upon which they put to sea; but finding her European built,

and too strong to attempt, for it was a Dutchman, they gave over the

chase, and were glad to shake them off, and return to their station.

Fancying they were here discovered, from the coast of Arabia, or that

the grabs had given information of them they stood over for the

Ethiopian shore, keeping a good look out for the Mocha ships. A few days

after, they met with a large ship of about 1000 tons and 600 men, called

the Malabar, which they chased, kept company with her all night, and

took in the morning, with the loss of only their boatswain, and two or

three men wounded. In taking this ship, they damaged their own so much,

by springing their foremast, carrying away their bowsprit, and beating

in part of their upper works that they did not think her longer fit for

their use. They therefore filled her away with prisoners, gave them

provision and sent them away.

Some days after this, they espied a Portuguese man-of war of 44 guns,

which they chased, but gave it over by carrying away their maintopmast,

so that they did not speak with her, for the Portuguese took no notice

of them. Four days after they had left this man-of-war, they fell in

with a Portuguese merchantman, which they chased with English colors

flying. The chase, taking White for an English man-of-war or

East-Indiaman, made no sail to get from him, but on his coming up,

brought to, and sent his boat on board with a present of sweet-meats for

the English captain. His boat's crew was detained, and the pirates

getting into his boat with their arms, went on board and fired on the

Portuguese, who being surprised, asked if war was broke out between

England and Portugal? They answered in the affirmative, but the captain

could not believe them. However they took what they liked, and kept him

with them.

After two days they met with the Dorothy, an English ship, Captain

Penruddock, commander, coming from Mocha. They exchanged several shots

in the chase, but when they came along side of her, they entered their

men, and found no resistance, she being navigated by Moors, no

Europeans, except the officers being on board. On a vote, they gave

Captain Penruddock (from whom they took a considerable quantity of

money) the Portuguese ship and cargo, with what bale he pleased to take

out of his own, bid him go about his business, and make what he could of

her. As to the English ship, they kept her for their own use.

Soon after they plundered the Malabar ship, out of which they took as

much money as came to L200 sterling a man, but missed 50,000 sequins,

which were hid in a jar under a cow's stall, kept for the giving milk to

the Moor supercargo, an ancient man. They then put the Portuguese and

Moor prisoners on board the Malabar, and sent them about their business.

The day after they had sent them away, one Captain Benjamin Stacy, in a

ketch of 6 guns fell into their hands. They took what money he had, and

what goods and provisions they wanted. Among the money were 500 dollars,

a silver mug, and two spoons belonging to a couple of children on board,

who were under the care of Stacy. The children took on for their loss,

and the captain asked the reason of their tears, was answered by Stacy,

and the above sum and plate was all the children had to bring them up.

Captain White made a speech to his men, and told them it was cruel to

rob the innocent children; upon which, by unanimous consent, all was

restored to them again. Besides, they made a gathering among themselves,

and made a present to Stacy's mate, and other of his inferior officers,

and about 120 dollars to the children. They then discharged Stacy and

his crew, and made the best of their way out of the Red Sea.

They came into the bay of Defarr, where they found a ketch at anchor,

which the people had made prize of, by seizing the master and boat's

crew ashore. They found a French gentleman, one Monsieur Berger, on

board, whom they carried with them, took out about 2000 dollars, and

sold the ketch to the chief ashore for provisions.

Hence they sailed for Madagascar, but touched at Mascarenhas, where

several of them went ashore with their booty, about L1200 a man. Here

taking in fresh provisions, White steered for Madagascar, and fell in

with Hopeful Point where they shared their goods, and took up

settlements ashore, where White built a house, bought cattle, took off

the upper deck of ship, and was fitting her up for the next season. When

she was near ready for sea, Captain John Halsey, who had made a broken

voyage, came in with a brigantine, which being a more proper vessel for

their turn, they desisted from working on the ship, and those who had a

mind for fresh adventures, went on board Halsey, among whom Captain

White entered before the mast.

At his return to Madagascar, White was taken ill of a flux, which in

about five or six months ended his days. Finding his time was drawing

nigh, he made his will, left several legacies, and named three men of

different nations, guardian to a son he had by a woman in the country,

requiring he might be sent to England with the money he left him, by the

first English ship, to be brought up in the Christian religion, in hopes

that he might live a better man than his father. He was buried with the

same ceremony they used at the funerals of their companions, which is

mentioned in the account of Halsey. Some years after, an English ship

touching there, the guardians faithfully discharged their trust, and put

him on board with the captain, who brought up the boy with care, acting

by him as became a man of probity and honor.

THE LIFE, ATROCITIES, AND BLOODY DEATH OF BLACK BEARD.

Edward Teach was a native of Bristol, and having gone to Jamaica,

frequently sailed from that port as one of the crew of a privateer

during the French war. In that station he gave frequent proofs of his

boldness and personal courage; but he was not entrusted with any command

until Captain Benjamin Hornigold gave him the command of a prize which

he had taken.

In the spring of 1717, Hornigold and Teach sailed from Providence for

the continent of America, and on their way captured a small vessel with

120 barrels of flour, which they put on board their own vessel. They

also seized two other vessels; from one they took some gallons of wine,

and from the other, plunder to a considerable value. After cleaning upon

the coast of Virginia, they made a prize of a large French Guineaman

bound to Martinique, and Teach obtaining the command of her, went to the

island of Providence, and surrendered to the king's clemency.

Teach now began to act an independent part. He mounted his vessel with

forty guns, and named her "The Queen Anne's Revenge." Cruising near the

island of St. Vincent, he took a large ship, called the Great Allan, and

after having plundered her of what he deemed proper, set her on fire. A

few days after, Teach encountered the Scarborough man-of-war, and

engaged her for some hours; but perceiving his strength and resolution,

she retired, and left Teach to pursue his depredations. His next

adventure was with a sloop of ten guns, commanded by Major Bonnet, and

these two men co-operated for some time: but Teach finding him

unacquainted with naval affairs, gave the command of Bonnet's ship to

Richards, one of his own crew, and entertained Bonnet on board his own

vessel. Watering at Turniff, they discovered a sail, and Richards with

the Revenge slipped her cable, and ran out to meet her. Upon seeing the

black flag hoisted, the vessel struck, and came-to under the stern of

Teach the commodore. This was the Adventure from Jamaica. They took the

captain and his men on board the great ship, and manned his sloop for

their own service.

Weighing from Turniff, where they remained during a week, and sailing to

the bay, they found there a ship and four sloops. Teach hoisted his

flag, and began to fire at them, upon which the captain and his men left

their ship and fled to the shore. Teach burned two of these sloops, and

let the other three depart.

They afterwards sailed to different places, and having taken two small

vessels, anchored off the bar of Charleston for a few days. Here they

captured a ship bound for England, as she was coming out of the harbor.

They next seized a vessel coming out of Charleston, and two pinks coming

into the same harbor, together with a brigantine with fourteen negroes.

The audacity of these transactions, performed in sight of the town,

struck the inhabitants with terror, as they had been lately visited by

some other notorious pirates. Meanwhile, there were eight sail in the

harbor, none of which durst set to sea for fear of falling into the

hands of Teach. The trade of this place was totally interrupted, and the

inhabitants were abandoned to despair. Their calamity was greatly

augmented from this circumstance, that a long and desperate war with the

natives had just terminated, when they began to be infested by these

robbers.

Teach having detained all the persons taken in these ships as

prisoners, they were soon in great want of medicines, and he had the

audacity to demand a chest from the governor. This demand was made in a

manner not less daring than insolent. Teach sent Richards, the captain

of the Revenge, with Mr. Marks, one of the prisoners, and several

others, to present their request. Richards informed the governor, that

unless their demand was granted, and he and his companions returned in

safety, every prisoner on board the captured ships should instantly be

slain, and the vessels consumed to ashes.

During the time that Mr. Marks was negotiating with the governor,

Richards and his associates walked the streets at pleasure, while

indignation flamed from every eye against them, as the robbers of their

property, and the terror of their country. Though the affront thus

offered to the Government was great and most audacious, yet, to preserve

the lives of so many men, they granted their request, and sent on board

a chest valued at three or four hundred pounds.

Teach, as soon as he received the medicines and his fellow pirates,

pillaged the ships of gold and provisions, and then dismissed the

prisoners with their vessels. From the bar of Charleston they sailed to

North Carolina. Teach now began to reflect how he could best secure the

spoil, along with some of the crew who were his favorites. Accordingly,

under pretence of cleaning, he ran his vessel on shore, and grounded;

then ordered the men in Hands' sloop to come to his assistance, which

they endeavoring to do, also ran aground, and so they were both lost.

Then Teach went into the tender with forty hands, and upon a sandy

island, about a league from shore, where there was neither bird no

beast, nor herb for their subsistence, he left seventeen of his crew,

who must inevitably have perished, had not Major Bonnet received

intelligence of their miserable situation, and sent a long-boat for

them. After this barbarous deed. Teach, with the remainder of his crew,

went and surrendered to the governor of North Carolina, retaining all

the property which had been acquired by his fleet.

The temporary suspension of the depredations of Black Beard, for so he

was now called, did not proceed from a conviction of his former errors,

or a determination to reform, but to prepare for future and more

extensive exploits. As governors are but men, and not unfrequently by no

means possessed of the most virtuous principles, the gold of Black Beard

rendered him comely in the governor's eyes, and, by his influence, he

obtained a legal right to the great ship called "The Queen Anne's

Revenge." By order of the governor, a court of vice-admiralty was held

at Bath-town, and that vessel was condemned as a lawful prize which he

had taken from the Spaniards, though it was a well-known fact that she

belonged to English merchants. Before he entered upon his new

adventures, he married a young woman of about sixteen years of age, the

governor himself attending the ceremony. It was reported that this was

only his fourteenth wife, about twelve of whom were yet alive; and

though this woman was young and amiable, he behaved towards her in a

manner so brutal, that it was shocking to all decency and propriety,

even among his abandoned crew of pirates.

In his first voyage, Black Beard directed his course to the Bermudas,

and meeting with two or three English vessels, emptied them of their

stores and other necessaries, and allowed them to proceed. He also met

with two French vessels bound for Martinique, the one light, and the

other laden with sugar and cocoa: he put the men on board the latter

into the former, and allowed her to depart. He brought the freighted

vessel into North Carolina, where the governor and Black Beard shared

the prizes. Nor did their audacity and villany stop here. Teach and some

of his abandoned crew waited upon his excellency, and swore that they

had seized the French ship at sea, without a soul on board; therefore a

court was called, and she was condemned, the honorable governor received

sixty hogsheads of sugar for his share, his secretary twenty, and the

pirates the remainder. But as guilt always inspires suspicion, Teach was

afraid that some one might arrive in the harbor who might detect the

roguery: therefore, upon pretence that she was leaky, and might sink,

and so stop up the entrance to the harbor where she lay, they obtained

the governor's liberty to drag her into the river, where she was set on

fire, and when burnt down to the water, her bottom was sunk, that so she

might never rise in judgment against the governor and his confederates.

[Illustration: _The crews of Black Beard's and Vane's vessels carousing

on the coast of Carolina._]

Black Beard now being in the province of Friendship, passed several

months in the river, giving and receiving visits from the planters;

while he traded with the vessels which came to that river, sometimes in

the way of lawful commerce, and sometimes in his own way. When he chose

to appear the honest man, he made fair purchases on equal barter; but

when this did not suit his necessities, or his humor, he would rob at

pleasure, and leave them to seek their redress from the governor; and

the better to cover his intrigues with his excellency, he would

sometimes outbrave him to his face, and administer to him a share of

that contempt and insolence which he so liberally bestowed upon the rest

of the inhabitants of the province.

But there are limits to human insolence and depravity. The captains of

the vessels who frequented that river, and had been so often harrassed

and plundered by Black Beard, secretly consulted with some of the

planters what measures to pursue, in order to banish such an infamous

miscreant from their coasts, and to bring him to deserved punishment.

Convinced from long experience, that the governor himself, to whom it

belonged, would give no redress, they represented the matter to the

governor of Virginia, and entreated that an armed force might be sent

from the men-of-war lying there, either to take or to destroy those

pirates who infested their coast.

Upon this representation, the Governor of Virginia consulted with the

captains of the two men-of-war as to the best measures to be adopted. It

was resolved that the governor should hire two small vessels, which

could pursue Bleak Beard into all his inlets and creeks; that they

should be manned from the men-of-war, and the command given to

Lieutenant Maynard, an experienced and resolute officer. When all was

ready for his departure, the governor called an assembly, in which it

was resolved to issue a proclamation, offering a great reward to any

who, within a year, should take or destroy any pirate.

Upon the 17th of November, 1717, Maynard left James's river in quest of

Black Beard, and on the evening of the 21st came in sight of the pirate.

This expedition was fitted out with all possible expedition and secrecy,

no boat being permitted to pass that might convey any intelligence,

while care was taken to discover where the pirates were lurking. His

excellency the governor of Bermuda, and his secretary, however, having

obtained information of the intended expedition, the latter wrote a

letter to Black Beard, intimating, that he had sent him four of his men,

who were all he could meet within or about town, and so bade him be on

his guard. These men were sent from Bath-town to the place where Black

Beard lay, about the distance of twenty leagues.

The hardened and infatuated pirate, having been often deceived by false

intelligence, was the less attentive to this information, nor was he

convinced of its accuracy until he saw the sloops sent to apprehend him.

Though he had then only twenty men on board, he prepared to give battle.

Lieutenant Maynard arrived with his sloops in the evening, and anchored,

as he could not venture, under cloud of night, to go into the place

where Black Beard lay. The latter spent the night in drinking with the

master of a trading-vessel, with the same indifference as if no danger

had been near. Nay, such was the desperate wickedness of this villain,

that, it is reported, during the carousals of that night, one of his men

asked him, "In case any thing should happen to him during the engagement

with the two sloops which were waiting to attack him in the morning,

whether his wife knew where he had buried his money?" when he impiously

replied, "That nobody but himself and the devil knew where it was, and

the longest liver should take all."

In the morning Maynard weighed, and sent his boat to sound, which coming

near the pirate, received her fire. Maynard then hoisted royal colors,

and made directly towards Black Beard with every sail and oar. In a

little time the pirate ran aground, and so also did the king's vessels.

Maynard lightened his vessel of the ballast and water, and made towards

Black Beard. Upon this he hailed him in his own rude style, "D--n you

for villains, who are you, and from whence come you?" The lieutenant

answered, "You may see from our colors we are no pirates." Black Beard

bade him send his boat on board, that he might see who he was. But

Maynard replied, "I cannot spare my boat, but I will come on board of

you as soon as I can with my sloop." Upon this Black Beard took a glass

of liquor and drank to him, saying, "I'll give no quarter nor take any

from you." Maynard replied, "He expected no quarter from him, nor should

he give him any."

During this dialogue the pirate's ship floated, and the sloops were

rowing with all expedition towards him. As she came near, the pirate

fired a broadside, charged with all manner of small shot, which killed

or wounded twenty men. Black Beard's ship in a little after fell

broadside to the shore; one of the sloops called the Ranger, also fell

astern. But Maynard finding that his own sloop had way, and would soon

be on board of Teach, ordered all his men down, while himself and the

man at the helm, who he commanded to lie concealed, were the only

persons who remained on deck. He at the same time desired them to take

their pistols, cutlasses, and swords, and be ready for action upon his

call, and, for greater expedition, two ladders were placed in the

hatchway. When the king's sloop boarded, the pirate's case-boxes, filled

with powder, small shot, slugs, and pieces of lead and iron, with a

quick-match in the mouth of them, were thrown into Maynard's sloop.

Fortunately, however, the men being in the hold, they did small injury

on the present occasion, though they are usually very destructive. Black

Beard seeing few or no hands upon deck, cried to his men that they were

all knocked on the head except three or four; "and therefore," said he,

"let us jump on board, and cut to pieces those that are alive."

[Illustration: _Death of Black Beard._]

Upon this, during the smoke occasioned by one of these case-boxes, Black

Beard, with fourteen of his men, entered, and were not perceived until

the smoke was dispelled. The signal was given to Maynard's men, who

rushed up in an instant. Black Beard and the lieutenant exchange shots,

and the pirate was wounded; they then engaged sword in hand, until the

sword of the lieutenant broke, but fortunately one of his men at that

instant gave Black Beard a terrible wound in the neck and throat. The

most desperate and bloody conflict ensued:--Maynard with twelve men, and

Black Beard with fourteen. The sea was dyed with blood all around the

vessel, and uncommon bravery was displayed upon both sides. Though the

pirate was wounded by the first shot from Maynard, though he had

received twenty cuts, and as many shots, he fought with desperate valor;

but at length, when in the act of cocking his pistol, fell down dead. By

this time eight of his men had fallen, and the rest being wounded, cried

out for quarter, which was granted, as the ringleader was slain. The

other sloop also attacked the men who remained in the pirate vessels,

until they also cried out for quarter. And such was the desperation of

Black Beard, that, having small hope of escaping, he had placed a negro

with a match at the gunpowder door, to blow up the ship the moment that

he should have been boarded by the king's men, in order to involve the

whole in general ruin. That destructive broadside at the commencement of

the action, which at first appeared so unlucky, was, however, the means

of their preservation from the intended destruction.

Maynard severed the pirate's head from his body, suspended it upon his

bowsprit-end, and sailed to Bath-town, to obtain medical aid for his

wounded men. In the pirate sloop several letters and papers were found,

which Black Beard would certainly have destroyed previous to the

engagement, had he not determined to blow her up upon his being taken,

which disclosed the whole villainy between the honorable governor of

Bermuda and his honest secretary on the one hand, and the notorious

pirate on the other, who had now suffered the just punishment of his

crimes.

[Illustration: _Black Beard's Head on the end of the Bowsprit._]

Scarcely was Maynard returned to Bath-town, when he boldly went and made

free with the sixty hogsheads of sugar in the possession of the

governor, and the twenty in that of his secretary.

After his men had been healed at Bath-town, the lieutenant proceeded to

Virginia, with the head of Black Beard still suspended on his

bowsprit-end, as a trophy of his victory, to the great joy of all the

inhabitants. The prisoners were tried, condemned, and executed; and thus

all the crew of that infernal miscreant, Black Beard, were destroyed,

except two. One of these was taken out of a trading-vessel, only the day

before the engagement, in which he received no less than seventy wounds,

of all which he was cured. The other was Israel Hands, who was master of

the Queen Anne's Revenge; he was taken at Bath-town, being wounded in

one of Black Beard's savage humors. One night Black Beard, drinking in

his cabin with Hands, the pilot, and another man, without any pretence,

took a small pair of pistols, and cocked them under the table; which

being perceived by the man, he went on deck, leaving the captain, Hands,

and the pilot together. When his pistols were prepared, he extinguished

the candle, crossed his arms, and fired at his company. The one pistol

did no execution, but the other wounded Hands in the knee. Interrogated

concerning the meaning of this, he answered with an imprecation, "That

if he did not now and then kill one of them, they would forget who he

was." Hands was eventually tried and condemned, but as he was about to

be executed, a vessel arrived with a proclamation prolonging the time of

his Majesty's pardon, which Hands pleading, he was saved from a violent

and shameful death.

In the commonwealth of pirates, he who goes the greatest length of

wickedness, is looked upon with a kind of envy amongst them, as a person

of a most extraordinary gallantry; he is therefore entitled to be

distinguished by some post, and, if such a one has but courage, he must

certainly be a great man. The hero of whom we are writing was thoroughly

accomplished in this way, and some of his frolics of wickedness were as

extravagant as if he aimed at making his men believe he was a devil

incarnate. Being one day at sea, and a little flushed with drink;

"Come," said he, "let us make a hell of our own, and try how long we can

bear it." Accordingly he, with two or three others, went down into the

hold, and closing up all the hatches, filled several pots full of

brimstone, and other combustible matter; they then set it on fire, and

so continued till they were almost suffocated, when some of the men

cried out for air; at length he opened the hatches, not a little pleased

that he had held out the longest.

Those of his crew who were taken alive, told a story which may appear a

little incredible. That once, upon a cruise, they found out that they

had a man on board more than their crew; such a one was seen several

days amongst them, sometimes below, and sometimes upon deck, yet no man

in the ship could give any account who he was, or from whence he came;

but that he disappeared a little before they were cast away in their

great ship, and, it seems, they verily believed it was the devil.

One would think these things should have induced them to reform their

lives; but being so many reprobates together, they encouraged and

spirited one another up in their wickedness, to which a continual course

of drinking did not a little contribute. In Black Beard's journal,

which was taken, there were several memoranda of the following nature,

all written with his own hand.--"Such a day, rum all out;--our company

somewhat sober;--a d--d confusion amongst us!--rogues a plotting;--great

talk of separation. So I looked sharp for a prize;--such a day took one,

with a great deal of liquor on board; so kept the company hot, d--d hot,

then all things went well again."

We shall close the narrative of this extraordinary man's life by an

account of the cause why he was denominated Black Beard. He derived this

name from his long black beard, which, like a frightful meteor, covered

his whole face, and terrified all America more than any comet that had

ever appeared. He was accustomed to twist it with ribbon in small

quantities, and turn them about his ears. In time of action he wore a

sling over his shoulders with three brace of pistols. He stuck lighted

matches under his hat, which appeared on both sides of his face and

eyes, naturally fierce and wild, made him such a figure that the human

imagination cannot form a conception of a fury more terrible and

alarming; and if he had the appearance and look of a fury, his actions

corresponded with that character.

THE EXPLOITS, ARREST, AND EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN CHARLES

VANE.

Charles Vane was one of those who stole away the silver which the

Spaniards had fished up from the wrecks of the galleons in the Gulf of

Florida, and was at Providence when governor Rogers arrived there with

two men-of-war.

All the pirates who were then found at this colony of rogues, submitted

and received certificates of their pardon, except Captain Vane and his

crew; who, as soon as they saw the men-of-war enter, slipped their

cable, set fire to a prize they had in the harbor, sailed out with their

piratical colors flying, and fired at one of the men-of-war, as they

went off from the coast.

Two days after, they met with a sloop belonging to Barbadoes, which they

took, and kept the vessel for their own use, putting aboard five and

twenty hands, with one Yeates the commander. In a day or two they fell

in with a small interloping trader, with a quantity of Spanish pieces of

eight aboard, bound for Providence, which they also took along with

them. With these two sloops, Vane went to a small island and cleaned;

where he shared the booty, and spent some time in a riotous manner.

About the latter end of May 1718, Vane and his crew sailed, and being in

want of provisions, they beat up for the Windward Islands. In the way

they met with a Spanish sloop, bound from Porto Rico to the Havana,

which they burnt, stowed the Spaniards into a boat, and left them to

get to the island by the blaze of their vessel. Steering between St.

Christopher's and Anguilla, they fell in with a brigantine and a sloop,

freighted with such cargo as they wanted; from whom they got provisions

for sea-store.

Sometime after this, standing to the northward, in the track the old

English ships take in their voyage to the American colonies, they took

several ships and vessels, which they plundered of what they thought

fit, and then let them pass.

About the latter end of August, with his consort Yeates, came off South

Carolina, and took a ship belonging to Ipswich, laden with logwood. This

was thought convenient enough for their own business, and therefore they

ordered their prisoners to work, and threw all the lading overboard; but

when they had more than half cleared the ship, the whim changed, and

they would not have her; so Coggershall, the captain of the captured

vessel, had his ship again, and he was suffered to pursue his voyage

home. In this voyage the pirates took several ships and vessels,

particularly a sloop from Barbadoes, a small ship from Antigua, a sloop

belonging to Curacoa, and a large brigantine from Guinea, with upwards

of ninety negroes aboard. The pirates plundered them all and let them

go, putting the negroes out of the brigantine aboard Yeates' vessel.

Captain Vane always treated his consort with very little respect, and

assumed a superiority over him and his crew, regarding the vessel but as

a tender to his own: this gave them disgust; for they thought themselves

as good pirates, and as great rogues as the best of them; so they

caballed together, and resolved, the first opportunity, to leave the

company, and accept of his majesty's pardon, or set up for themselves;

either of which they thought more honorable than to be the servants to

Vane: the putting aboard so many negroes, where there were so few hands

to take care of them, aggravated the matter, though they thought fit to

conceal or stifle their resentment at that time.

In a day or two, the pirates lying off at anchor, Yeates in the evening

slipped his cable, and put his vessel under sail, standing into the

shore; which when Vane saw, he was highly provoked, and got his sloop

under sail to chase his consort. Vane's brigantine sailing best, he

gained ground of Yeates, and would certainly have come up with them, had

he had a little longer run; but just as he got over the bar, when Vane

came within gun-shot of him, he fired a broadside at his old friend, and

so took his leave.

Yeates came into North Eddisto river, about ten leagues to the southward

of Charleston, and sent an express to the governor, to know if he and

his comrades might have the benefit of his majesty's pardon; promising

that, if they might, they would surrender themselves to his mercy, with

the sloops and negroes. Their request being granted, they all came up,

and received certificates; and Captain Thompson, from whom the negroes

were taken, had them all restored to him, for the use of his owners.

Vane cruised some time off the bar, in hopes to catch Yeates at his

coming out again, but therein he was disappointed; however, he there

took two ships from Charleston, which were bound home to England. It

happened just at this time, that two sloops well manned and armed, were

equipped to go after a pirate, which the governor of South Carolina was

informed lay then in Cape Fear river cleaning: but Colonel Rhet, who

commanded the sloops, meeting with one of the ships that Vane had

plundered, going back over the bar for such necessaries as had been

taken from her, and she giving the Colonel an account of being taken by

the pirate Vane, and also, that some of her men, while they were

prisoners on board of him, had heard the pirates say they should clean

in one of the rivers to the southward, he altered his first design, and

instead of standing to the northward, in pursuit of the pirate in Cape

Fear river, turned to the southward after Vane, who had ordered such

reports to be given out, on purpose to put any force that should come

after him upon a wrong scent; for he stood away to the northward, so

that the pursuit proved to be of no effect. Colonel Rhet's speaking with

this ship was the most unlucky thing that could have happened, because

it turned him out of the road which, in all probability, would have

brought him into the company of Vane, as well as of the pirate he went

after, and so they might have been both destroyed; whereas, by the

Colonel's going a different way, he not only lost the opportunity of

meeting with one, but if the other had not been infatuated, and lain six

weeks together at Cape Fear, he would have missed him likewise; however,

the Colonel having searched the rivers and inlets, as directed, for

several days without success, at length sailed in prosecution of his

first design, and met with the pirate accordingly, whom he fought and

took.

Captain Vane went into an inlet to the northward, where he met with

Captain Teach, otherwise Black Beard, whom he saluted (when he found who

he was) with his great guns loaded with shot: it being the custom among

pirates when they meet, to do so, though they are wide of one another:

Black Beard answered the salute in the same manner, and mutual

civilities passed between them some days, when, about the beginning of

October, Vane took leave, and sailed farther to the northward.

On the 23d of October, off Long Island, he took a small brigantine bound

from Jamaica to Salem in New England, besides a little sloop: they

rifled the brigantine, and sent her away. From thence they resolved on a

cruise between Cape Meise and Cape Nicholas, where they spent some time

without seeing or speaking with any vessel, till the latter end of

November; they then fell in with a ship, which it was expected would

have struck as soon as their black colors were hoisted; but instead of

this she discharged a broadside upon the pirate, and hoisted French

colors, which showed her to be a French man-of-war. Vane desired to have

nothing more to say to her, but trimmed his sails, and stood away from

the Frenchman; however, Monsieur having a mind to be better informed who

he was, set all his sails and crowded after him. During this chase the

pirates were divided in their resolution what to do. Vane, the captain,

was for making off as fast as he could, alleging that the man-of-war was

too strong for them to cope with; but one John Rackam, their

quarter-master, and who was a kind of check upon the captain, rose up in

defence of a contrary opinion, saying, "that though she had more guns,

and a greater weight of metal, they might board her, and then the best

boys would carry the day." Rackam was well seconded, and the majority

was for boarding; but Vane urged, "that it was too rash and desperate an

enterprise, the man-of-war appearing to be twice their force, and that

their brigantine might be sunk by her before they could reach to board

her." The mate, one Robert Deal, was of Vane's opinion, as were about

fifteen more, and all the rest joined with Rackam the quarter-master. At

length the captain made use of his power to determine this dispute,

which in these cases is absolute and uncontrollable, by their own laws,

viz., the captain's absolute right of determining in all questions

concerning fighting, chasing, or being chased; in all other matters

whatsoever the captain being governed by a majority; so the brigantine

having the heels, as they term it, of the Frenchman, she came clear off.

But the next day, the captain's conduct was obliged to stand the test of

a vote, and a resolution passed against his honor and dignity, which

branded him with the name of coward, deposed him from the command, and

turned him out of the company with marks of infamy; and with him went

all those who did not vote for boarding the French man-of-war. They had

with them a small sloop that had been taken by them some time before,

which they gave to Vane and the discarded members; and that they might

be in a condition to provide for themselves by their own honest

endeavors, they let them have a sufficient quantity of provisions and

ammunition.

John Rackam was voted captain of the brigantine in Vane's room, and he

proceeded towards the Carribbee Islands, where we must leave him, till

we have finished our history of Charles Vane.

The sloop sailed for the bay of Honduras, and Vane and his crew put her

in as good a condition as they could by the way, that they might follow

their old trade. They cruised two or three days off the northwest part

of Jamaica, and took a sloop and two perriaguas, all the men of which

entered with them: the sloop they kept, and Robert Deal was appointed

captain.

On the 16th of December, the two sloops came into the bay, where they

found only one vessel at anchor. She was called the Pearl of Jamaica,

and got under sail at the sight of them; but the pirate sloops coming

near Rowland, and showing no colors, he gave them a gun or two,

whereupon they hoisted the black flag, and fired three guns each at the

Pearl. She struck, and the pirates took possession, and carried her away

to a small island called Barnacho, where they cleaned. By the way they

met with a sloop from Jamaica, as she was going down to the bay, which

they also took.

In February, Vane sailed from Barnacho, for a cruise; but, some days

after he was out, a violent tornado overtook him, which separated him

from his consort, and, after two days' distress, threw his sloop upon a

small uninhabited island, near the bay of Honduras, where she staved to

pieces, and most of her men were drowned: Vane himself was saved, but

reduced to great straits for want of necessaries, having no opportunity

to get any thing from the wreck. He lived here some weeks, and was

supported chiefly by fishermen, who frequented the island with small

crafts from the main, to catch turtles and other fish.

[Illustration: _Vane arrested by Captain Holford._]

While Vane was upon this island, a ship put in there from Jamaica for

water, the captain of which, one Holford, an old buccaneer, happened to

be Vane's acquaintance. He thought this a good opportunity to get off,

and accordingly applied to his old friend: but Holford absolutely

refused him, saying to him, "Charles, I shan't trust you aboard my ship,

unless I carry you as a prisoner, for I shall have you caballing with my

men, knocking me on the head, and running away with my ship pirating."

Vane made all the protestations of honor in the world to him; but, it

seems, Captain Holford was too intimately acquainted with him, to repose

any confidence at all in his words or oaths. He told him, "He might

easily find a way to get off, if he had a mind to it:--I am going down

the bay," said he, "and shall return hither in about a month, and if I

find you upon the island when I come back, I'll carry you to Jamaica,

and there hang you." "How can I get away?" answered Vane. "Are there not

fishermen's dories upon the beach? Can't you take one of them?" replied

Holford. "What!" said Vane, "would you have me steal a dory then?" "Do

you make it a matter of conscience," replied Holford, "to steal a dory,

when you have been a common robber and pirate, stealing ships and

cargoes, and plundering all mankind that fell in your way! Stay here if

you are so squeamish?" and he left him to consider of the matter.

After Captain Holford's departure, another ship put into the same

island, in her way home, for water; none of the company knowing Vane, he

easily passed for another man, and so was shipped for the voyage. One

would be apt to think that Vane was now pretty safe, and likely to

escape the fate which his crimes had merited; but here a cross accident

happened that ruined all. Holford returning from the bay, was met by

this ship, and the captains being very well acquainted with each other,

Holford was invited to dine aboard, which he did. As he passed along to

the cabin, he chanced to cast his eye down into the hold, and there saw

Charles Vane at work: he immediately spoke to the captain, saying, "Do

you know whom you have got aboard there?" "Why," said he, "I have

shipped a man at such an island, who was cast away in a trading sloop,

and he seems to be a brisk hand." "I tell you," replied Captain Holford,

"it is Vane the notorious pirate." "If it be he," cried the other, "I

won't keep him." "Why then," said Holford, "I'll send and take him

aboard, and surrender him at Jamaica." This being agreed upon, Captain

Holford, as soon as he returned to his ship, sent his boat with his

mate, armed, who coming to Vane, showed him a pistol, and told him he

was his prisoner. No man daring to make opposition, he was brought

aboard and put into irons; and when Captain Holford arrived at Jamaica,

he delivered up his old acquaintance to justice, at which place he was

tried, convicted, and executed, as was some time before, Vane's consort,

Robert Deal, who was brought thither by one of the men-of-war. It is

clear from this how little ancient friendship will avail a great

villain, when he is deprived of the power that had before supported and

rendered him formidable.

[Illustration]

THE WEST INDIA PIRATES

_Containing Accounts of their Atrocities, Manners of Living, &c., with

proceedings of the Squadron under Commodore Porter in those seas, the

victory and death of Lieutenant Allen, the interesting Narrative of

Captain Lincoln, &c._

Those innumerable groups of islands, keys and sandbanks, known as the

West-Indies, are peculiarly adapted from their locality and formation,

to be a favorite resort for pirates; many of them are composed of coral

rocks, on which a few cocoa trees raise their lofty heads; where there

is sufficient earth for vegetation between the interstices of the rocks,

stunted brushwood grows. But a chief peculiarity of some of the islands,

and which renders them suitable to those who frequent them as pirates,

are the numerous caves with which the rocks are perforated; some of them

are above high-water mark, but the majority with the sea water flowing

in and out of them, in some cases merely rushing in at high-water

filling deep pools, which are detached from each other when the tide

recedes, in others with a sufficient depth of water to allow a large

boat to float in. It is hardly necessary to observe how convenient the

higher and dry caves are as receptacles for articles which are intended

to be concealed, until an opportunity occurs to dispose of them. The

Bahamas, themselves are a singular group of isles, reefs and quays;

consisting of several hundred in number, and were the chief resort of

pirates in old times, but now they are all rooted from them; they are

low and not elevated, and are more than 600 miles in extent, cut up into

numerous intricate passages and channels, full of sunken rocks and coral

reefs. They afforded a sure retreat to desperadoes. Other islands are

full of mountain fastnesses, where all pursuit can be eluded. Many of

the low shores are skirted, and the islands covered by the mangrove, a

singular tree, shooting fresh roots as it grows, which, when the tree is

at its full age, may be found six or eight feet from the ground, to

which the shoots gradually tend in regular succession; the leaf is very

thick and stiff and about eight inches long and nine wide, the interval

between the roots offer secure hiding places for those who are suddenly

pursued. Another circumstance assists the pirate when pursued.--As the

islands belong to several different nations, when pursued from one

island he can pass to that under the jurisdiction of another power. And

as permission must be got by those in pursuit of him, from the

authorities of the island to land and take him, he thus gains time to

secrete himself. A tropical climate is suited to a roving life, and

liquor as well as dissolute women being in great abundance, to gratify

him during his hours of relaxation, makes this a congenial region for

the lawless.

[Illustration: _A Piratical Vessel destroying a Merchant Ship._]

The crews of pirate vessels in these seas are chiefly composed of

Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Mulattoes, Negroes, and a few natives of

other countries. The island of Cuba is the great nest of pirates at the

present day, and at the Havana, piracy is as much tolerated as any other

profession. As the piracies committed in these seas, during a single

year, have amounted to more than fifty, we shall give only a few

accounts of the most interesting.

In November 1821, the brig Cobbessecontee, Captain Jackson, sailed from

Havana, on the morning of the 8th for Boston, and on the evening of the

same day, about four miles from the Moro, was brought to by a piratical

sloop containing about 30 men. A boat from her, with 10 men, came

alongside, and soon after they got on board commenced plundering. They

took nearly all the clothing from the captain and mate--all the cooking

utensils and spare rigging--unrove part of the running rigging--cut the

small cable--broke the compasses--cut the mast's coats to pieces--took

from the captain his watch and four boxes cigars--and from the cargo

three bales cochineal and six boxes cigars. They beat the mate

unmercifully, and hung him up by the neck under the maintop. They also

beat the captain severely--broke a large broad sword across his back,

and ran a long knife through his thigh, so that he almost bled to death.

Captain Jackson saw the sloop at Regla the day before.

Captain Jackson informs us, and we have also been informed by other

persons from the Havana, that this system of piracy is openly

countenanced by some of the inhabitants of that place--who say that it

is a retaliation on the Americans for interfering against the Slave

Trade.

About this time the ship Liverpool Packet, Ricker, of Portsmouth, N.H.,

was boarded off Cape St. Antonio, Cuba, by two piratical schooners; two

barges containing thirty or forty men, robbed the vessel of every thing

movable, even of her _flags_, rigging, and a boat which happened to be

afloat, having a boy in it, which belonged to the ship. They held a

consultation whether they should murder the crew, as they had done

before, or not--in the mean time taking the ship into anchoring ground.

On bringing her to anchor, the crew saw a brig close alongside, burnt to

the water's edge, and three dead bodies floating near her. The pirates

said they had burnt the brig the day before, and _murdered all the

crew!_--and intended doing the same with them. They said "look at the

turtles (meaning the dead bodies) you will soon be the same." They said

the vessel was a Baltimore brig, which they had robbed and burnt, and

murdered the crew as before stated, of which they had little doubt.

Captain Ricker was most shockingly bruised by them. The mate was hung

till he was supposed to be dead, but came to, and is now alive. They

told the captain that they belonged in Regla, and should kill them all

to prevent discovery.

In 1822, the United States had several cruisers among the West-India

islands, to keep the pirates in check. Much good was done but still many

vessels were robbed and destroyed, together with their crews. This year

the brave Lieutenant Allen fell by the hand of pirates; he was in the

United States schooner Alligator, and receiving intelligence at

Matanzas, that several vessels which had sailed from that port, had been

taken by the pirates, and were then in the bay of Lejuapo. He hastened

to their assistance. He arrived just in time to save five sail of

vessels which he found in possession of a gang of pirates, 300 strong,

established in the bay of Lejuapo, about 15 leagues east of this. He

fell, pierced by two musket balls, in the van of a division of boats,

attacking their principal vessel, a fine schooner of about eighty tons,

with a long eighteen pounder on a pivot, and four smaller guns, _with

the bloody flag nailed to the mast_. Himself, Captain Freeman of

Marines, and twelve men, were in the boat, much in advance of his other

boats, and even took possession of the schooner, after a desperate

resistance, which nothing but a bravery almost too daring could have

overcome. The pirates, all but one, escaped by taking to their boats and

jumping overboard, before the Alligator's boat reached them. Two other

schooners escaped by the use of their oars, the wind being light.

Captain Allen survived about four hours, during which his conversation

evinced a composure and firmness of mind, and correctness of feeling, as

honorable to his character, and more consoling to his friends, than even

the dauntless bravery he before exhibited.

The surgeon of the Alligator in a letter to a friend, says, "He

continued giving orders and conversing with Mr. Dale and the rest of us,

until a few minutes before his death, with a degree of cheerfulness that

was little to be expected from a man in his condition. He said he wished

his relatives and his country to know that he had fought well, and added

that he died in peace and good will towards all the world, and hoped for

his reward in the next."

Lieutenant Allen had but few equals in the service. He was ardently

devoted to the interest of his country, was brave, intelligent, and

accomplished in his profession. He displayed, living and dying, a

magnanimity that sheds lustre on his relatives, his friends, and his

country.

[Illustration: _Horrid Piracy and Murder by a Mexican "privateer."_]

About this time Captain Lincoln fell into the hands of the pirates, and

as his treatment shows the peculiar habits and practices of these

wretches, we insert the very interesting narrative of the captain.

The schooner Exertion, Captain Lincoln, sailed from Boston, bound for

Trinidad de Cuba, Nov. 13th, 1821, with the following crew; Joshua

Bracket, mate; David Warren, cook; and Thomas Young, Francis De Suze,

and George Reed, seamen.

The cargo consisted of flour, beef, pork, lard, butter, fish, beans,

onions, potatoes, apples, hams, furniture, sugar box shooks, &c.,

invoiced at about eight thousand dollars. Nothing remarkable occurred

during the passage, except much bad weather, until my capture, which was

as follows:--

Monday, December 17th, 1821, commenced with fine breezes from the

eastward. At daybreak saw some of the islands northward of Cape Cruz,

called Keys--stood along northwest; every thing now seemed favorable for

a happy termination of our voyage. At 3 o'clock, P.M., saw a sail coming

round one of the Keys, into a channel called Boca de Cavolone by the

chart, nearly in latitude 20 deg. 55' north, longitude 79 deg. 55' west,

she made directly for us with all sails set, sweeps on both sides (the wind

being light) and was soon near enough for us to discover about forty men

on her deck, armed with muskets, blunderbusses, cutlasses, long knives,

dirks, &c., two carronades, one a twelve, the other a six pounder; she

was a schooner, wearing the Patriot flag (blue, white and blue) of the

Republic of Mexico. I thought it not prudent to resist them, should they

be pirates, with a crew of seven men, and only five muskets; accordingly

ordered the arms and ammunition to be immediately stowed away in as

secret a place as possible, and suffer her to speak us, hoping and

believing that a republican flag indicated both honor and friendship

from those who wore it, and which we might expect even from Spaniards.

But how great was my astonishment, when the schooner having approached

very near us, hailed in English, and ordered me to heave my boat out

immediately and come on board of her with my papers.--Accordingly my

boat was hove out, but filled before I could get into her.--I was then

ordered to tack ship and lay by for the pirates' boat to board me; which

was done by Bolidar, their first lieutenant, with six or eight Spaniards

armed with as many of the before mentioned weapons as they could well

sling about their bodies. They drove me into the boat, and two of them

rowed me to their privateer (as they called their vessel), where I shook

hands with their commander, Captain Jonnia, a Spaniard, who before

looking at my papers, ordered Bolidar, his lieutenant, to follow the

Mexican in, back of the Key they had left, which was done. At 6 o'clock,

P.M., the Exertion was anchored in eleven feet water, near this vessel,

and an island, which they called Twelve League Key (called by the chart

Key Largo), about thirty or thirty-five leagues from Trinidad. After

this strange conduct they began examining my papers by a Scotchman who

went by the name of Nickola, their sailing master.--He spoke good

English, had a countenance rather pleasing, although his beard and

mustachios had a frightful appearance--his face, apparently full of

anxiety, indicated something in my favor; he gave me my papers, saying

"take good care of them, for I am afraid you have fallen into bad

hands." The pirates' boat was then sent to the Exertion with more men

and arms; a part of them left on board her; the rest returning with

three of my crew to their vessel; viz., Thomas Young, Thomas Goodall,

and George Reed--they treated them with something to drink, and offered

them equal shares with themselves, and some money, if they would enlist,

but they could not prevail on them. I then requested permission to go on

board my vessel which was granted, and further requested Nickola should

go with me, but was refused by the captain, who vociferated in a harsh

manner, "No, No, No." accompanied with a heavy stamp upon the deck. When

I got on board, I was invited below by Bolidar, where I found they had

emptied the case of liquors, and broken a cheese to pieces and crumbled

it on the table and cabin floor; the pirates, elated with their prize

(as they called it), had drank so much as to make them desperately

abusive. I was permitted to lie down in my berth; but, reader, if you

have ever been awakened by a gang of armed, desperadoes, who have taken

possession of your habitation in the midnight hour, you can imagine my

feelings.--Sleep was a stranger to me, and anxiety was my guest.

Bolidar, however, pretended friendship, and flattered me with the

prospect of being soon set at liberty. But I found him, as I suspected,

a consummate hypocrite; indeed, his very looks indicated it. He was a

stout and well built man, of a dark, swarthy complexion, with keen,

ferocious eyes, huge whiskers, and beard under his chin and on his lips,

four or five inches long; he was a Portuguese by birth, but had become a

naturalized Frenchman--had a wife, if not children (as I was told) in

France, and was well known there as commander of a first rate privateer.

His appearance was truly terrific; he could talk some English, and had a

most lion-like voice.

Tuesday, 18th.--Early this morning the captain of the pirates came on

board the Exertion; took a look at the cabin stores, and cargo in the

state rooms, and then ordered me back with him to his vessel, where he,

with his crew, held a consultation for some time respecting the cargo.

After which, the interpreter, Nickola, told me that "the captain had, or

pretended to have, a commission under General Traspelascus,

commander-in-chief of the republic of Mexico, authorizing him to take

all cargoes whatever of provisions, bound to any royalist Spanish

port--that my cargo being bound to an enemy's port, must be condemned;

but that the vessel should be given up and be put into a fair channel

for Trinidad, where I was bound." I requested him to examine the papers

thoroughly, and perhaps he would be convinced to the contrary, and told

him my cargo was all American property taken in at Boston, and consigned

to an American gentleman, agent at Trinidad. But the captain would not

take the trouble, but ordered both vessels under way immediately, and

commenced beating up amongst the Keys through most of the day, the wind

being very light. They now sent their boats on board the Exertion for

stores, and commenced plundering her of bread, butter, lard, onions,

potatoes, fish, beans, &c., took up some sugar box shocks that were on

deck, and found the barrels of apples; selected the best of them and

threw the rest overboard. They inquired for spirits, wine, cider, &c.

and were told "they had already taken all that was on board." But not

satisfied they proceeded to search the state rooms and forcastle, ripped

up the floor of the later and found some boxes of bottled cider, which

they carried to their vessel, gave three cheers, in an exulting manner

to me, and then began drinking it with such freedom, that a violent

quarrel arose between officers and men, which came very near ending in

bloodshed. I was accused of falsehood, for saying they had got all the

liquors that were on board, and I thought they had; the truth was, I

never had any bill of lading of the cider, and consequently had no

recollection of its being on board; yet it served them as an excuse for

being insolent. In the evening peace was restored and they sung songs. I

was suffered to go below for the night, and they placed a guard over me,

stationed at the companion way.

Wednesday, 19th, commenced with moderate easterly winds, beating towards

the northeast, the pirate's boats frequently going on board the Exertion

for potatoes, fish, beans, butter, &c. which were used with great waste

and extravagance. They gave me food and drink, but of bad quality, more

particularly the victuals, which was wretchedly cooked. The place

assigned me to eat was covered with dirt and vermin. It appeared that

their great object was to hurt my feelings with threats and

observations, and to make my situation as unpleasant as circumstances

would admit. We came to anchor near a Key, called by them Brigantine,

where myself and mate were permitted to go on shore, but were guarded by

several armed pirates. I soon returned to the Mexican and my mate to the

Exertion, with George Reed, one of my crew; the other two being kept on

board the Mexican. In the course of this day I had considerable

conversation with Nickola, who appeared well disposed towards me. He

lamented most deeply his own situation, for he was one of those men,

whose early good impressions were not entirely effaced, although

confederated with guilt. He told me "those who had taken me were no

better than pirates, and their end would be the halter; but," he added,

with peculiar emotion, "I will never be hung as a pirate," showing me a

bottle of laudanum which he had found in my medicine chest, saying, "If

we are taken, that shall cheat the hangman, before we are condemned." I

endeavored to get it from him, but did not succeed. I then asked him how

he came to be in such company, as he appeared to be dissatisfied. He

stated, that he was at New Orleans last summer, out of employment, and

became acquainted with one Captain August Orgamar, a Frenchman, who had

bought a small schooner of about fifteen tons, and was going down to the

bay of Mexico to get a commission under General Traspelascus, in order

to go a privateering under the patriot flag. Capt. Orgamar made him

liberal offers respecting shares, and promised him a sailing master's

berth, which he accepted and embarked on board the schooner, without

sufficiently reflecting on the danger of such an undertaking. Soon after

she sailed from Mexico, where they got a commission, and the vessel was

called Mexican. They made up a complement of twenty men, and after

rendering the General some little service, in transporting his troops

to a place called ---- proceeded on a cruise; took some small prizes off

Campeachy; afterwards came on the south coast of Cuba, where they took

other small prizes, and the one which we were now on board of. By this

time the crew were increased to about forty, nearly one half Spaniards,

the others Frenchmen and Portuguese. Several of them had sailed out of

ports in the United States with American protections; but, I confidently

believe, none are natives, especially of the northern states. I was

careful in examining the men, being desirous of knowing if any of my

countrymen were among this wretched crew; but am satisfied there were

none, and my Scotch friend concurred in the opinion. And now, with a new

vessel, which was the prize of these plunderers, they sailed up

Manganeil bay; previously, however, they fell in with an American

schooner, from which they bought four barrels of beef, and paid in

tobacco. At the Bay was an English brig belonging to Jamaica, owned by

Mr. John Louden of that place. On board of this vessel the Spanish part

of the crew commenced their depredations as pirates, although Captain

Orgamar and Nickola protested against it, and refused any participation;

but they persisted, and like so many ferocious blood-hounds, boarded the

brig, plundered the cabin, stores, furniture, captain's trunk, &c., took

a hogshead of rum, one twelve pound carronade, some rigging and sails.

One of them plundered the chest of a sailor, who made some resistance,

so that the Spaniard took his cutlass, and beat and wounded him without

mercy. Nickola asked him "why he did it?" the fellow answered, "I will

let you know," and took up the cook's axe and gave him a cut on the

head, which nearly deprived him of life. Then they ordered Captain

Orgamar to leave his vessel, allowing him his trunk and turned him

ashore, to seek for himself. Nickola begged them to dismiss him with his

captain, but no, no, was the answer; for they had no complete navigator

but him. After Captain Orgamar was gone, they put in his stead the

present brave (or as I should call him cowardly) Captain Jonnia, who

headed them in plundering the before mentioned brig, and made Bolidar

their first lieutenant, and then proceeded down among those Keys or

Islands, where I was captured. This is the amount of what my friend

Nickola told me of their history.

Saturday, 22d.--Both vessels under way standing to the eastward, they

ran the Exertion aground on a bar, but after throwing overboard most of

her deck load of shooks, she floated off; a pilot was sent to her, and

she was run into a narrow creek between two keys, where they moored her

head and stern along side of the mangrove trees, set down her yards and

topmasts, and covered her mast heads and shrouds with bushes to prevent

her being seen by vessels which might pass that way. I was then suffered

to go on board my own vessel, and found her in a very filthy condition;

sails torn, rigging cut to pieces, and every thing in the cabin in waste

and confusion. The swarms of moschetoes and sand-flies made it

impossible to get any sleep or rest. The pirate's large boat was armed

and manned under Bolidar, and sent off with letters to a merchant (as

they called him) by the name of Dominico, residing in a town called

Principe, on the main island of Cuba. I was told by one of them, who

could speak English, that Principe was a very large and populous town,

situated at the head of St. Maria, which was about twenty miles

northeast from where we lay, and the Keys lying around us were called

Cotton Keys.--The captain pressed into his service Francis de Suze, one

of my crew, saying that he was one of his countrymen. Francis was very

reluctant in going, and said to me, with tears in his eyes, "I shall do

nothing but what I am obliged to do, and will not aid in the least to

hurt you or the vessel; I am very sorry to leave you." He was

immediately put on duty and Thomas Goodall sent back to the Exertion.

Sunday, 23d.--Early this morning a large number of the pirates came on

board of the Exertion, threw out the long boat, broke open the hatches,

and took out considerable of the cargo, in search of rum, gin, &c.,

still telling me "I had some and they would find it," uttering the most

awful profaneness. In the afternoon their boat returned with a perough,

having on board the captain, his first lieutenant and seven men of a

patriot or piratical vessel that was chased ashore at Cape Cruz by a

Spanish armed brig. These seven men made their escape in said boat, and

after four days, found our pirates and joined them; the remainder of the

crew being killed or taken prisoners.

Monday, 24th.--Their boat was manned and sent to the before-mentioned

town.--I was informed by a line from Nickola, that the pirates had a man

on board, a native of Principe, who, in the garb of a sailor, was a

partner with Dominico, but I could not get sight of him. This lets us a

little into the plans by which this atrocious system of piracy has been

carried on. Merchants having partners on board of these pirates! thus

pirates at sea and robbers on land are associated to destroy the

peaceful trader. The willingness exhibited by the seven above-mentioned

men, to join our gang of pirates, seems to look like a general

understanding among them; and from there being merchants on shore so

base as to encourage the plunder and vend the goods, I am persuaded

there has been a systematic confederacy on the part of these

unprincipled desperadoes, under cover of the patriot flag; and those on

land are no better than those on the sea. If the governments to whom

they belong know of the atrocities committed (and I have but little

doubt they do) they deserve the execration of all mankind.

Thursday, 27th.--A gang of the pirates came and stripped our masts of

the green bushes, saying, "she appeared more like a sail than

trees"--took one barrel of bread and one of potatoes, using about one of

each every day. I understood they were waiting for boats to take the

cargo; for the principal merchant had gone to Trinidad.

Sunday, 30th.--The beginning of trouble! This day, which peculiarly

reminds Christians of the high duties of compassion and benevolence, was

never observed by these pirates. This, of course, we might expect, as

they did not often know when the day came, and if they knew it, it was

spent in gambling. The old saying among seamen, "no Sunday off

soundings," was not thought of; and even this poor plea was not theirs,

for they were on soundings and often at anchor.--Early this morning, the

merchant, as they called him, came with a large boat for the cargo. I

was immediately ordered into the boat with my crew, not allowed any

breakfast, and carried about three miles to a small island out of sight

of the Exertion, and left there by the side of a little pond of thick,

muddy water, which proved to be very brackish, with nothing to eat but a

few biscuits. One of the boat's men told us the merchant was afraid of

being recognized, and when he had gone the boat would return for us; but

we had great reason to apprehend they would deceive us, and therefore

passed the day in the utmost anxiety. At night, however, the boats came

and took us again on board the Exertion; when, to our surprise and

astonishment, we found they had broken open the trunks and chests, and

taken all our wearing apparel, not even leaving a shirt or pair of

pantaloons, nor sparing a small miniature of my wife which was in my

trunk. The little money I and my mate had, with some belonging to the

owners, my mate had previously distributed about the cabin in three or

four parcels, while I was on board the pirate, for we dare not keep it

about us; one parcel in a butter pot they did not discover.--Amidst the

hurry with which I was obliged to go to the before-mentioned island, I

fortunately snatched by vessel's papers, and hid them in my bosom, which

the reader will find was a happy circumstance for me. My writing desk,

with papers, accounts, &c., all Mr. Lord's letters (the gentlemen to

whom my cargo was consigned) and several others were taken and

maliciously destroyed. My medicine chest, which I so much wanted, was

kept for their own use. What their motive could be to take my papers I

could not imagine, except they had hopes of finding bills of lading for

some Spaniards, to clear them from piracy. Mr. Bracket had some notes

and papers of consequence to him, which shared the same fate. My

quadrant, charts, books and bedding were not yet taken, but I found it

impossible to hide them, and they were soon gone from my sight.

[Illustration: _A Cave in the Caicos group of the West India Islands._]

Tuesday, January 1st, 1822--A sad new-year's day to me. Before breakfast

orders came for me to cut down the Exertion's railing and bulwarks on

one side, for their vessel to heave out by, and clean her bottom. On my

hesitating a little they observed with anger, "very well, captain,

suppose you no do it quick, we do it for you." Directly afterwards

another boat full of armed men came along side; they jumped on deck with

swords drawn, and ordered all of us into her immediately; I stepped

below, in hopes of getting something which would be of service to us;

but the captain hallooed, "Go into the boat directly or I will fire upon

you." Thus compelled to obey, we were carried, together with four

Spanish prisoners, to a small, low island or key of sand in the shape of

a half moon, and partly covered with mangrove trees; which was about one

mile from and in sight of my vessel. There they left nine of us, with a

little bread, flour, fish, lard, a little coffee and molasses; two or

three kegs of water, which was brackish; an old sail for a covering, and

a pot and some other articles no way fit to cook in. Leaving us these,

which were much less than they appear in the enumeration, they pushed

off, saying, "we will come to see you in a day or two." Selecting the

best place, we spread the old sail for an awning; but no place was free

from flies, moschetoes, snakes, the venomous skinned scorpion, and the

more venomous santipee. Sometimes they were found crawling inside of

our pantaloons, but fortunately no injury was received. This afternoon

the pirates hove their vessel out by the Exertion and cleaned one side,

using her paints, oil, &c. for that purpose. To see my vessel in that

situation and to think of our prospects was a source of the deepest

distress. At night we retired to our tent; but having nothing but the

cold damp ground for a bed, and the heavy dew of night penetrating the

old canvass--the situation of the island being fifty miles from the

usual track of friendly vessels, and one hundred and thirty-five from

Trinidad--seeing my owner's property so unjustly and wantonly

destroyed--considering my condition, the hands at whose mercy I was, and

deprived of all hopes, rendered sleep or rest a stranger to me.

Friday, 4th.--Commenced with light winds and hot sun, saw a boat coming

from the Exertion, apparently loaded; she passed between two small Keys

to northward, supposed to be bound for Cuba. At sunset a boat came and

inquired if we wanted anything, but instead of adding to our provisions,

took away our molasses, and pushed off. We found one of the Exertion's

water casks, and several pieces of plank, which we carefully laid up, in

hopes of getting enough to make a raft.

Saturday, 5th.--Pirates again in sight, coming from the eastward; they

beat up along side their prize, and commenced loading. In the afternoon

Nickola came to us, bringing with him two more prisoners, which they had

taken in a small sail boat coming from Trinidad to Manganeil, one a

Frenchman, the other a Scotchman, with two Spaniards, who remained on

board the pirate, and who afterwards joined them. The back of one of

these poor fellows was extremely sore, having just suffered a cruel

beating from Bolidar, with the broad side of a cutlass. It appeared,

that when the officer asked him "where their money was, and how much,"

he answered, "he was not certain but believed they had only two ounces

of gold"--Bolidar furiously swore he said "ten," and not finding any

more, gave him the beating. Nickola now related to me a singular fact;

which was, that the Spanish part of the crew were determined to shoot

him; that they tied him to the mast, and a man was appointed for the

purpose; but Lion, a Frenchman, his particular friend, stepped up and

told them, if they shot him they must shoot several more; some of the

Spaniards sided with him, and he was released. Nickola told me, the

reason for such treatment was, that he continually objected to their

conduct towards me, and their opinion if he should escape, they would be

discovered, as he declared he would take no prize money. While with us

he gave me a letter written in great haste, which contains some

particulars respecting the cargo;--as follows:--

_January 4th,_ 1822.

Sir,--We arrived here this morning, and before we came to anchor, had

five canoes alongside ready to take your cargo, part of which we had in;

and as I heard you express a wish to know what they took out of her, to

this moment, you may depend upon this account of Jamieson for quality

and quantity; if I have the same opportunity you will have an account of

the whole. The villain who bought your cargo is from the town of

Principe, his name is Dominico, as to that it is all that I can learn;

they have taken your charts aboard the schooner Mexican, and I suppose

mean to keep them, as the other captain has agreed to act the same

infamous part in the tragedy of his life. Your clothes are here on

board, but do not let me flatter you that you will get them back; it may

be so, and it may not. Perhaps in your old age, when you recline with

ease in a corner of your cottage, you will have the goodness to drop a

tear of pleasure to the memory of him, whose highest ambition should

have been to subscribe himself, though devoted to the gallows, your

friend,

Excuse haste. NICKOLA MONACRE.

Sunday, 6th.--The pirates were under way at sunrise, with a full load of

the Exertion's cargo, going to Principe again to sell a second freight,

which was done readily for cash. I afterwards heard that the flour only

fetched five dollars per barrel, when it was worth at Trinidad thirteen;

so that the villain who bought my cargo at Principe, made very large

profits by it.

Tuesday, 8th.--Early this morning the pirates in sight again, with fore

top sail and top gallant sail set; beat up along side of the Exertion

and commenced loading; having, as I supposed, sold and discharged her

last freight among some of the inhabitants of Cuba. They appeared to

load in great haste; and the song, "O he oh," which echoed from one

vessel to the other, was distinctly heard by us. How wounding was this

to me! How different was this sound from what it would have been, had I

been permitted to pass unmolested by these lawless plunderers, and been

favored with a safe arrival at the port of my destination, where my

cargo would have found an excellent sale. Then would the "O he oh," on

its discharging, have been a delightful sound to me. In the afternoon

she sailed with the perough in tow, both with a full load, having

chairs, which was part of the cargo, slung at her quarters.

Monday, 14th.--They again hove in sight, and beat up as usual,

along-side their prize. While passing our solitary island, they laughed

at our misery, which was almost insupportable--looking upon us as though

we had committed some heinous crime, and they had not sufficiently

punished us; they hallooed to us, crying out "Captain, Captain,"

accompanied with obscene motions and words, with which I shall not

blacken these pages--yet I heard no check upon such conduct, nor could I

expect it among such a gang, who have no idea of subordination on

board, except when in chase of vessels, and even then but very little.

My resentment was excited at such a malicious outrage, and I felt a

disposition to revenge myself, should fortune ever favor me with an

opportunity. It was beyond human nature not to feel and express some

indignation at such treatment.--Soon after, Bolidar, with five men, well

armed, came to us; he having a blunderbuss, cutlass, a long knife and

pair of pistols--but for what purpose did he come? He took me by the

hand, saying, "Captain, me speak with you, walk this way." I obeyed, and

when at some distance from my fellow prisoners, (his men following) he

said, "the captain send me for your _wash_" I pretended not to

understand what he meant, and replied, "I have no clothes, nor any soap

to wash with--you have taken them all," for I had kept my watch about

me, hoping they would not discover it. He demanded it again as before;

and was answered, "I have nothing to wash;" this raised his anger, and

lifting his blunderbuss, he roared out, "what the d--l you call him that

make clock? give it me." I considered it imprudent to contend any

longer, and submitted to his unlawful demand. As he was going off, he

gave me a small bundle, in which was a pair of linen drawers, sent to me

by Nickola, and also the Rev. Mr. Brooks' "Family Prayer Book." This

gave me great satisfaction. Soon after, he returned with his captain,

who had one arm slung up, yet with as many implements of war, as his

diminutive wicked self could conveniently carry; he told me (through an

interpreter who was his prisoner.) "that on his cruize he had fallen in

with two Spanish privateers, and beat them off; but had three of his men

killed, and himself wounded in the arm"--Bolidar turned to me and said,

"it is a d--n lie"--which words proved to be correct, for his arm was

not wounded, and when I saw him again, which was soon afterwards, he had

forgotten to sling it up. He further told me, "after tomorrow you shall

go with your vessel, and we will accompany you towards Trinidad." This

gave me some new hopes, and why I could not tell. They then left us

without rendering any assistance.--This night we got some rest.

Tuesday, 15th. The words "go after tomorrow," were used among our

Spanish fellow prisoners, as though that happy tomorrow would never

come--in what manner it came will soon be noticed.

Friday, 18th commenced with brighter prospects of liberty than ever. The

pirates were employed in setting up our devoted schooner's shrouds,

stays, &c. My condition now reminded me of the hungry man, chained in

one corner of a room, while at another part was a table loaded with

delicious food and fruits, the smell and sight of which he was

continually to experience, but alas! his chains were never to be loosed

that he might go and partake--at almost the same moment they were thus

employed, the axe was applied with the greatest dexterity to both her

masts and I saw them fall over the side! Here fell my hopes--I looked at

my condition, and then thought of home.--Our Spanish fellow prisoners

were so disappointed and alarmed that they recommended hiding ourselves,

if possible, among the mangrove trees, believing, as they said, we

should now certainly be put to death; or, what was worse, compelled to

serve on board the Mexican as pirates. Little else it is true, seemed

left for us; however, we kept a bright look out for them during the day,

and at night "an anchor watch" as we called it, determined if we

discovered their boats coming towards us, to adopt the plan of hiding,

although starvation stared us in the face--yet preferred that to instant

death. This night was passed in sufficient anxiety--I took the first

watch.

Saturday, 19th.--The pirate's largest boat came for us--it being

day-light, and supposing they could see us, determined to stand our

ground and wait the result. They ordered us all into the boat, but left

every thing else; they rowed towards the Exertion--I noticed a

dejection of spirits in one of the pirates, and inquired of him where

they were going to carry us? He shook his head and replied, "I do not

know." I now had some hopes of visiting my vessel again--but the pirates

made sail, ran down, took us in tow and stood out of the harbor. Bolidar

afterwards took me, my mate and two of my men on board and gave us some

coffee. On examination I found they had several additional light sails,

made of the Exertion's. Almost every man, a pair of canvas trousers; and

my colors cut up and made into belts to carry their money about them. My

jolly boat was on deck, and I was informed, all my rigging was disposed

of. Several of the pirates had on some of my clothes, and the captain

one of my best shirts, a cleaner one, than I had ever seen him have on

before.--He kept at a good distance from me, and forbid my friend

Nickola's speaking to me.--I saw from the companion way in the captain's

cabin my quadrant, spy glass and other things which belonged to us, and

observed by the compass, that the course steered was about west by

south,--distance nearly twenty miles, which brought them up with a

cluster of islands called by some "Cayman Keys." Here they anchored and

caught some fish, (one of which was named _guard fish_) of which we had

a taste. I observed that my friend Mr. Bracket was somewhat dejected,

and asked him in a low voice, what his opinion was with respects to our

fate? He answered, "I cannot tell you, but it appears to me the worst is

to come." I told him that I hoped not, but thought they would give us

our small boat and liberate the prisoners. But mercy even in this shape

was not left-for us. Soon after, saw the captain and officers

whispering for some time in private conference. When over, their boat

was manned under the commond of Bolidar, and went to one of those

Islands or Keys before mentioned. On their return, another conference

took place--whether it was a jury upon our lives we could not tell. I

did not think conscience could be entirely extinguished in the human

breast, or that men could become fiends. In the afternoon, while we knew

not the doom which had been fixed for us, the captain was engaged with

several of his men in gambling, in hopes to get back some of the five

hundred dollars, they said, he lost but a few nights before; which had

made his unusually fractious. A little before sunset he ordered all the

prisoners into the large boat, with a supply of provisions and water,

and to be put on shore. While we were getting into her, one of my fellow

prisoners, a Spaniard, attempted with tears in his eyes to speak to the

captain, but was refused with the answer. "I'll have nothing to say to

any prisoner, go into the boat." In the mean time Nickola said to me,

"My friend, I will give you your book," (being Mr. Colman's Sermons,)

"it is the only thing of yours that is in my possession; I dare not

attempt any thing more." But the captain forbid his giving it to me, and

I stepped into the boat--at that moment Nickola said in a low voice,

"never mind, I may see you again before I die." The small boat was well

armed and manned, and both set off together for the island, where they

had agreed to leave us to perish! The scene to us was a funereal scene.

There were no arms in the prisoners boat, and, of course, all attempts

to relieve ourselves would have been throwing our lives away, as Bolidar

was near us, well armed. We were rowed about two miles north-easterly

from the pirates, to a small low island, lonely and desolate. We arrived

about sunset; and for the support of us eleven prisoners, they only left

a ten gallon keg of water, and perhaps a few quarts, in another small

vessel, which was very poor; part of a barrel of flour, a small keg of

lard, one ham and some salt fish; a small kettle and an old broken pot;

an old sail for a covering, and a small mattress and blanket, which was

thrown out as the boats hastened away. One of the prisoners happened to

have a little coffee in his pocket, and these comprehended all our means

of sustaining life, and for what length of time we knew not. We now

felt the need of water, and our supply was comparatively nothing. A man

may live nearly twice as long without food, as without water. Look at us

now, my friends, left benighted on a little spot of sand in the midst of

the ocean, far from the usual track of vessels, and every appearance of

a violent thunder tempest, and a boisterous night. Judge of my feelings,

and the circumstances which our band of sufferers now witnessed. Perhaps

you can and have pitied us. I assure you, we were very wretched; and to

paint the scene, is not within my power. When the boats were moving from

the shore, on recovering myself a little, I asked Bolidar, "If he was

going to leave us so?"--he answered, "no, only two days--we go for water

and wood, then come back, take you." I requested him to give us bread

and other stores, for they had plenty in the boat, and at least one

hundred barrels of flour in the Mexican. "No, no, suppose to-morrow

morning me come, me give you bread," and hurried off to the vessel. This

was the last time I saw him. We then turned our attention upon finding a

spot most convenient for our comfort, and soon discovered a little roof

supported by stakes driven into the sand; it was thatched with leaves of

the cocoa-nut tree, considerable part of which was torn or blown off.

After spreading the old sail over this roof, we placed our little stock

of provisions under it. Soon after came on a heavy shower of rain which

penetrated the canvas, and made it nearly as uncomfortable inside, as it

would have been out. We were not prepared to catch water, having nothing

to put it in. Our next object was to get fire, and after gathering some

of the driest fuel to be found, and having a small piece of cotton

wick-yarn, with flint and steel, we kindled a fire, which was never

afterwards suffered to be extinguished. The night was very dark, but we

found a piece of old rope, which when well lighted served for a candle.

On examining the ground under the roof, we found perhaps thousands of

creeping insects, scorpions, lizards, crickets, &c. After scraping them

out as well as we could, the most of us having nothing but the damp

earth for a bed, laid ourselves down in hopes of some rest; but it being

so wet, gave many of us severe colds, and one of the Spaniards was quite

sick for several days.

Sunday, 20th.--As soon as day-light came on, we proceeded to take a view

of our little island, and found it to measure only one acre, of coarse,

white sand; about two feet, and in some spots perhaps three feet above

the surface of the ocean. On the highest part were growing some bushes

and small mangroves, (the dry part of which was our fuel) and the wild

castor oil beans. We were greatly disappointed in not finding the latter

suitable food; likewise some of the prickly pear bushes, which gave us

only a few pears about the size of our small button pear; the outside

has thorns, which if applied to the fingers or lips, will remain there,

and cause a severe smarting similar to the nettle; the inside a spungy

substance, full of juice and seeds, which are red and a little

tartish--had they been there in abundance, we should not have suffered

so much for water--but alas! even this substitute was not for us. On the

northerly side of the island was a hollow, where the tide penetrated the

sand, leaving stagnant water. We presumed, in hurricanes the island was

nearly overflowed. According to the best calculations I could make, we

were about thirty-five miles from any part of Cuba, one hundred from

Trinidad and forty from the usual track of American vessels, or others

which might pass that way. No vessel of any considerable size, can

safely pass among these Keys (or "Queen's Gardens," as the Spaniards

call them) being a large number extending from Cape Cruz to Trinidad,

one hundred and fifty miles distance; and many more than the charts have

laid down, most of them very low and some covered at high water, which

makes it very dangerous for navigators without a skilful pilot. After

taking this view of our condition, which was very gloomy, we began to

suspect we were left on this desolate island by those merciless

plunderers to perish. Of this I am now fully convinced; still we looked

anxiously for the pirate's boat to come according to promise with more

water and provisions, but looked in vain. We saw them soon after get

under way with all sail set and run directly from us until out of our

sight, and _we never saw them again_! One may partially imagine our

feelings, but they cannot be put into words. Before they were entirely

out of sight of us, we raised the white blanket upon a pole, waving it

in the air, in hopes, that at two miles distance they would see it and

be moved to pity. But pity in such monsters was not to be found. It was

not their interest to save us from the lingering death, which we now saw

before us. We tried to compose ourselves, trusting to God, who had

witnessed our sufferings, would yet make use of some one, as the

instrument of his mercy towards us. Our next care, now, was to try for

water. We dug several holes in the sand and found it, but quite too salt

for use. The tide penetrates probably through the island. We now came on

short allowances for water. Having no means of securing what we had by

lock and key, some one in the night would slyly drink, and it was soon

gone. The next was to bake some bread, which we did by mixing flour with

salt water and frying it in lard, allowing ourselves eight quite small

pancakes to begin with. The ham was reserved for some more important

occasion, and the salt fish was lost for want of fresh water. The

remainder of this day was passed in the most serious conversation and

reflection. At night, I read prayers from the "Prayer Book," before

mentioned, which I most carefully concealed while last on board the

pirates. This plan was pursued morning and evening, during our stay

there. Then retired for rest and sleep, but realized little of either.

Monday, 21st.--In the morning we walked round the beach, in expectation

of finding something useful. On our way picked up a paddle about three

feet long, very similar to the Indian canoe paddle, except the handle,

which was like that of a shovel, the top part being split off; we laid

it by for the present. We likewise found some konchs and roasted them;

they were pretty good shell fish, though rather tough. We discovered at

low water, a bar or spit of sand extending north-easterly from us, about

three miles distant, to a cluster of Keys, which were covered with

mangrove trees, perhaps as high as our quince tree. My friend Mr.

Bracket and George attempted to wade across, being at that time of tide

only up to their armpits; but were pursued by a shark, and returned

without success. The tide rises about four feet.

Tuesday, 22d.--We found several pieces of the palmetto or cabbage tree,

and some pieces of boards, put them together in the form of a raft, and

endeavored to cross, but that proved ineffectual. Being disappointed, we

set down to reflect upon other means of relief, intending to do all in

our power for safety while our strength continued. While setting here,

the sun was so powerful and oppressive, reflecting its rays upon the

sea, which was then calm, and the white sand which dazzled the eye, was

so painful, that we retired under the awning; there the moschetoes and

flies were so numerous, that good rest could not be found. We were,

however, a little cheered, when, in scraping out the top of the ground

to clear out, I may say, thousands of crickets and bugs, we found a

hatchet, which was to us peculiarly serviceable. At night the strong

north-easterly wind, which prevails there at all seasons, was so cold as

to make it equally uncomfortable with the day. Thus day after day, our

sufferings and apprehensions multiplying, we were very generally

alarmed.

Thursday, 24th.--This morning, after taking a little coffee, made of the

water which we thought least salt, and two or three of the little

cakes, we felt somewhat refreshed, and concluded to make another visit

to those Keys, in hopes of finding something more, which might make a

raft for us to escape the pirates, and avoid perishing by thirst.

Accordingly seven of us set off, waded across the bar and searched all

the Keys thereabouts. On one we found a number of sugar-box shooks, two

lashing plank and some pieces of old spars, which were a part of the

Exertion's deck load, that was thrown overboard when she grounded on the

bar, spoken of in the first part of the narrative. It seems they had

drifted fifteen miles, and had accidentally lodged on these very Keys

within our reach. Had the pirates known this, they would undoubtedly

have placed us in another direction. They no doubt thought that they

could not place us on a worse place. The wind at this time was blowing

so strong on shore, as to prevent rafting our stuff round to our island,

and we were obliged to haul it upon the beach for the present; then dug

for water in the highest place, but found it as salt as ever, and then

returned to our habitation. But hunger and thirst began to prey upon us,

and our comforts were as few as our hopes.

Friday, 25th.--Again passed over to those Keys to windward in order to

raft our stuff to our island, it being most convenient for building. But

the surf on the beach was so very rough, that we were again compelled to

postpone it. Our courage, however, did not fail where there was the

slightest hopes of life. Returning without it, we found on our way an

old top timber of some vessel; it had several spikes on it, which we

afterwards found very serviceable. In the hollow of an old tree, we

found two guarnas of small size, one male, the other female. Only one

was caught. After taking off the skin, we judged it weighed a pound and

a half. With some flour and lard, (the only things we had except salt

water,) it made us a fine little mess. We thought it a rare dish, though

a small one for eleven half starved persons. At the same time a small

vessel hove in sight; we made a signal to her with the blanket tied to a

pole and placed it on the highest tree--some took off their white

clothes and waved them in the air, hoping they would come to us; should

they be pirates, they could do no more than kill us, and perhaps would

give us some water, for which we began to suffer most excessively; but,

notwithstanding all our efforts, she took no notice of us.

Saturday, 26th.--This day commenced with moderate weather and smooth

sea; at low tide found some cockles; boiled and eat them, but they were

very painful to the stomach. David Warren had a fit of strangling, with

swelling of the bowels; but soon recovered, and said, "something like

salt rose in his throat and choked him." Most of us then set off for the

Keys, where the plank and shooks were put together in a raft, which we

with pieces of boards paddled over to our island; when we consulted the

best plan, either to build a raft large enough for us all to go on, or a

boat; but the shooks having three or four nails in each, and having a

piece of large reed or bamboo, previously found, of which we made pins,

we concluded to make a boat.

Sunday, 27--Commenced our labor, for which I know we need offer no

apology. We took the two planks, which were about fourteen feet long,

and two and a half wide, and fixed them together for the bottom of the

boat; then with moulds made of palmetto bark, cut timber and knees from

mangrove trees which spread so much as to make the boat four feet wide

at the top, placed them exactly the distance apart of an Havana sugar

box.--Her stern was square and the bows tapered to a peak, making her

form resemble a flat-iron. We proceeded thus far and returned to rest

for the night--but Mr. Bracket was too unwell to get much sleep.

Monday, 28--Went on with the work as fast as possible. Some of the

Spaniards had long knives about them, which proved very useful in

fitting timbers, and a gimblet of mine, accidentally found on board the

pirate, enabled us to use the wooden pins. And now our spirits began to

revive, though _water, water_, was continually in our minds. We now

feared the pirates might possibly come, find out our plan and put us to

death, (although before we had wished to see them, being so much in want

of water.) Our labor was extremely burdensome, and the Spaniards

considerably peevish--but they would often say to me "never mind

captain, by and by, Americana or Spanyola catch them, me go and see 'um

hung." We quitted work for the day, cooked some cakes but found it

necessary to reduce the quantity again, however small before. We found

some herbs on a windward Key, which the Spaniards called Spanish

tea.--This when well boiled we found somewhat palatable, although the

water was very salt. This herb resembles pennyroyal in look and taste,

though not so pungent. In the evening when we were setting round the

fire to keep of the moschetoes, I observed David Warren's eyes shone

like glass. The mate said to him--"David I think you will die before

morning--I think you are struck with death now." I thought so too, and

told him, "I thought it most likely we should all die here soon; but as

some one of us might survive to carry the tidings to our friends, if you

have any thing to say respecting your family, now is the time."--He then

said, "I have a mother in Saco where I belong--she is a second time a

widow--to-morrow if you can spare a scrap of paper and pencil I will

write something." But no tomorrow came to him.--In the course of the

night he had another spell of strangling, and soon after expired,

without much pain and without a groan. He was about twenty-six years

old.--How solemn was this scene to us! Here we beheld the ravages of

death commenced upon us. More than one of us considered death a happy

release. For myself I thought of my wife and children; and wished to

live if God should so order it, though extreme thirst, hunger and

exhaustion had well nigh prostrated my fondest hopes.

Tuesday, 29th.--Part of us recommenced labor on the boat, while myself

and Mr. Bracket went and selected the highest clear spot of sand on the

northern side of the island, where we dug Warren's grave, and boxed it

up with shooks, thinking it would be the most suitable spot for the rest

of us--whose turn would come next, we knew not. At about ten o'clock,

A.M. conveyed the corpse to the grave, followed by us survivers--a

scene, whose awful solemnity can never be painted. We stood around the

grave, and there I read the funeral prayer from the Rev. Mr. Brooks's

Family Prayer Book; and committed the body to the earth; covered it with

some pieces of board and sand, and returned to our labor. One of the

Spaniards, an old man, named Manuel, who was partial to me, and I to

him, made a cross and placed it at the head of the grave saying, "Jesus

Christ hath him now." Although I did not believe in any mysterious

influence of this cross, yet I was perfectly willing it should stand

there. The middle part of the day being very warm, our mouths parched

with thirst, and our spirits so depressed, that we made but little

progress during the remainder of this day, but in the evening were

employed in picking oakum out of the bolt rope taken from the old sail.

Wednesday, 30th.--Returned to labor on the boat with as much vigor as

our weak and debilitated state would admit, but it was a day of trial to

us all; for the Spaniards and we Americans could not well understand

each other's plans, and they being naturally petulant, would not work,

nor listen with any patience for Joseph, our English fellow prisoner, to

explain our views--they would sometimes undo what they had done, and in

a few minutes replace it again; however before night we began to caulk

her seams, by means of pieces of hard mangrove, made in form of a

caulking-iron, and had the satisfaction of seeing her in a form

something like a boat.

Thursday, 31st.--Went on with the work, some at caulking, others at

battening the seams with strips of canvas, and pieces of pine nailed

over, to keep the oakum in. Having found a suitable pole for a mast, the

rest went about making a sail from the one we had used for a covering,

also fitting oars of short pieces of boards, in form of a paddle, tied

on a pole, we having a piece of fishing line brought by one of the

prisoners. Thus, at three P.M. the boat was completed and put

afloat.--We had all this time confidently hoped, that she would be

sufficiently large and strong to carry us all--we made a trial and were

disappointed! This was indeed a severe trial, and the emotions it called

up were not easy to be suppressed. She proved leaky, for we had no

carpenter's yard, or smith's shop to go to.--And now the question was,

"who should go, and how many?" I found it necessary for six; four to

row, one to steer and one to bale. Three of the Spaniards and the

Frenchman claimed the right, as being best acquainted with the nearest

inhabitants; likewise, they had when taken, two boats left at St. Maria,

(about forty miles distant,) which they were confident of finding. They

promised to return within two or three days for the rest of us--I

thought it best to consent--Mr. Bracket it was agreed should go in my

stead, because my papers must accompany me as a necessary protection,

and my men apprehended danger if they were lost. Joseph Baxter (I think

was his name) they wished should go, because he could speak both

languages--leaving Manuel, George, Thomas and myself, to wait their

return. Having thus made all arrangements, and putting up a keg of the

least salt water, with a few pancakes of salt fish, they set off a

little before sunset with our best wishes and prayers for their safety

and return to our relief.--To launch off into the wide ocean, with

strength almost exhausted, and in such a frail boat as this, you will

say was very hazardous, and in truth it was; but what else was left to

us?--Their intention was to touch at the Key where the Exertion was and

if no boat was to be found there, to proceed to St. Maria, and if none

there, to go to Trinidad and send us relief.--But alas! it was the last

time I ever saw them!--Our suffering this day was most acute.

Tuesday, 5th.--About ten o'clock, A.M. discovered a boat drifting by on

the southeastern side of the island about a mile distant. I deemed it a

providential thing to us, and urged Thomas and George trying the raft

for her. They reluctantly consented and set off, but it was nearly three

P.M. when they came up with her--it was the same boat we had built!

Where then was my friend Bracket and those who went with him? Every

appearance was unfavorable.--I hoped that a good Providence had yet

preserved him.--The two men who went for the boat, found it full of

water, without oars, paddle, or sail; being in this condition, and about

three miles to the leeward, the men found it impossible to tow her up,

so left her, and were until eleven o'clock at night getting back with

the raft. They were so exhausted, that had it not been nearly calm, they

could never have returned.

Wednesday, 6th.--This morning was indeed the most gloomy I had ever

experienced.--There appeared hardly a ray of hope that my friend Bracket

could return, seeing the boat was lost. Our provisions nearly gone; our

mouths parched extremely with thirst; our strength wasted; our spirits

broken, and our hopes imprisoned within the circumference of this

desolate island in the midst of an unfrequented ocean; all these things

gave to the scene around us the hue of death. In the midst of this

dreadful despondence, a sail hove in sight bearing the white flag! Our

hopes were raised, of course--but no sooner raised than darkened, by

hearing a gun fired. Here then was another gang of pirates. She soon,

however, came near enough to anchor, and her boat pushed off towards us

with three men in her.--Thinking it now no worse to die by sword than

famine, I walked down immediately to meet them. I knew them not.--A

moment before the boat touched the ground, a man leaped from her bows

and caught me in his arms! _It was Nickola_!--saying, "Do you now

believe Nickola is your friend? yes, said he, _Jamieson_ will yet prove

himself so."--No words can express my emotions at this moment. This was

a friend indeed. The reason of my not recognizing them before, was that

they had cut their beards and whiskers. Turning to my fellow-sufferers,

Nickola asked--"Are these all that are left of you? where are the

others?"--At this moment seeing David's grave--"are they dead then? Ah!

I suspected it, I know what you were put here for." As soon as I could

recover myself, I gave him an account of Mr. Bracket and the

others.--"How unfortunate," he said, "they must be lost, or some pirates

have taken them."--"But," he continued, "we have no time to lose; you

had better embark immediately with us, and go where you please, we are

at your service." The other two in the boat were Frenchmen, one named

Lyon, the other Parrikete. They affectionately embraced each of us; then

holding to my mouth the nose of a teakettle, filled with wine, said

"Drink plenty, no hurt you." I drank as much as I judged prudent. They

then gave it to my fellow sufferers--I experienced almost immediate

relief, not feeling it in my head; they had also brought in the boat for

us, a dish of salt beef and potatoes, of which we took a little. Then

sent the boat on board for the other two men, being five in all; who

came ashore, and rejoiced enough was I to see among them Thomas Young,

one of my crew, who was detained on board the Mexican, but had escaped

through Nickola's means; the other a Frenchman, named John Cadedt. I now

thought again and again, with troubled emotion, of my dear friend

Bracket's fate. I took the last piece of paper I had, and wrote with

pencil a few words, informing him (should he come there) that "I and the

rest were safe; that I was not mistaken in the friend in whom I had

placed so much confidence, that he had accomplished my highest

expectations; and that I should go immediately to Trinidad, and

requested him to go there also, and apply to Mr. Isaac W. Lord, my

consignee, for assistance." I put the paper into a junk bottle,

previously found on the beach, put in a stopper, and left it, together

with what little flour remained, a keg of water brought from Nickola's

vessel, and a few other things which I thought might be of service to

him. We then repaired with our friends on board, where we were kindly

treated. She was a sloop from Jamaica, of about twelve tons, with a

cargo of rum and wine, bound to Trinidad. I asked "which way they

intended to go?" They said "to Jamaica if agreeable to me." As I

preferred Trinidad, I told them, "if they would give me the Exertion's

boat which was along-side (beside their own) some water and provisions,

we would take chance in her."--"For perhaps," said I, "you will fare

better at Jamaica, than at Trinidad." After a few minutes consultation,

they said "you are too much exhausted to row the distance of one hundred

miles, therefore we will go and carry you--we consider ourselves at your

service." I expressed a wish to take a look at the Exertion, possibly we

might hear something of Mr. Bracket. Nickola said "very well," so got

under way, and run for her, having a light westerly wind. He then

related to me the manner of their desertion from the pirates; as nearly

as I can recollect his own words, he said, "A few days since, the

pirates took four small vessels, I believe Spaniards; they having but

two officers for the two first, the third fell to me as prize master,

and having an understanding with the three Frenchmen and Thomas,

selected them for my crew, and went on board with orders to follow the

Mexican; which I obeyed. The fourth, the pirates took out all but one

man and bade him also follow their vessel. Now our schooner leaked so

bad, that we left her and in her stead agreed to take this little sloop

(which we are now in) together with the one man. The night being very

dark we all agreed to desert the pirates--altered our course and touched

at St. Maria, where we landed the one man--saw no boats there, could

hear nothing from you, and agreed one and all at the risk of our lives

to come and liberate you if you were alive; knowing, as we did, that you

were put on this Key to perish. On our way we boarded the Exertion,

thinking possibly you might have been there. On board her we found a

sail and paddle. We took one of the pirate's boats which they had left

along-side of her, which proves how we came by two boats. My friend, the

circumstance I am now about to relate, will somewhat astonish you. When

the pirate's boat with Bolidar was sent to the before mentioned Key, on

the 19th of January, it was their intention to leave you prisoners

there, where was nothing but salt water and mangroves, and no

possibility of escape. This was the plan of Baltizar, their abandoned

pilot; but Bolidar's heart failed him, and he objected to it; then,

after a conference, Captain Jonnia ordered you to be put on the little

island from whence we have now taken you. But after this was done, that

night the French and Portuguese part of the Mexican's crew protested

against it; so that Captain Jonnia to satisfy them, sent his large boat

to take you and your fellow prisoners back again, taking care to select

his confidential Spaniards for this errand. And you will believe me they

set off from the Mexican, and after spending about as much time as would

really have taken them to come to you, they returned, and reported they

had been to your island, and landed, and that none of you were there,

somebody having taken you off! This, all my companions here know to be

true.--I knew it was impossible you could have been liberated, and

therefore we determined among ourselves, that should an opportunity

occur we would come and save your lives, as we now have." He then

expressed, as he hitherto had done (and I believe with sincerity), his

disgust with the bad company which he had been in, and looked forward

with anxiety to the day when he might return to his native country. I

advised him to get on board an American vessel, whenever an opportunity

offered, and come to the United States; and on his arrival direct a

letter to me; repeating my earnest desire to make some return for the

disinterested friendship which he had shown toward me. With the

Frenchman I had but little conversation, being unacquainted with the

language.

Here ended Nickola's account. "And now" said the Frenchman, "our hearts

be easy." Nickola observed he had left all and found us. I gave them my

warmest tribute of gratitude, saying I looked upon them under God as the

preservers of our lives, and promised them all the assistance which my

situation might enable me to afford.--This brings me to,

Thursday evening, 7th, when, at eleven o'clock, we anchored at the

creek's mouth, near the Exertion. I was anxious to board her;

accordingly took with me Nickola, Thomas, George and two others, well

armed, each with a musket and cutlass. I jumped on her deck, saw a fire

in the camboose, but no person there: I called aloud Mr. Bracket's name

several times, saying "it is Captain Lincoln, don't be afraid, but show

yourself," but no answer was given. She had no masts, spars, rigging,

furniture, provisions or any think left, except her bowsprit, and a few

barrels of salt provisions of her cargo. Her ceiling had holes cut in

it, no doubt in their foolish search for money. I left her with peculiar

emotions, such as I hope never again to experience; and returned to the

little sloop where we remained till--

Friday, 8th--When I had disposition to visit the island on which we

were first imprisoned.----Found nothing there--saw a boat among the

mangroves, near the Exertion. Returned, and got under way immediately

for Trinidad. In the night while under full sail, run aground on a

sunken Key, having rocks above the water, resembling old stumps of

trees; we, however, soon got off and anchored. Most of those Keys have

similar rocks about them, which navigators must carefully guard against.

Monday, 11th--Got under way--saw a brig at anchor about five miles below

the mouth of the harbor; we hoped to avoid her speaking us; but when we

opened in sight of her, discovered a boat making towards us, with a

number of armed men in her. This alarmed my friends, and as we did not

see the brig's ensign hoisted, they declared the boat was a pirate, and

looking through the spy-glass, they knew some of them to be the

Mexican's men! This state of things was quite alarming. They said, "we

will not be taken alive by them." Immediately the boat fired a musket;

the ball passed through our mainsail. My friends insisted on beating

them off: I endeavored to dissuade them, believing, as I did, that the

brig was a Spanish man-of-war, who had sent her boat to ascertain who we

were. I thought we had better heave to. Immediately another shot came.

Then they insisted on fighting, and said "if I would not help them, I

was no friend." I reluctantly acquiesced, and handed up the

guns--commenced firing upon them and they upon us. We received several

shot through the sails, but no one was hurt on either side. Our boats

had been cast adrift to make us go the faster, and we gained upon

them--continued firing until they turned from us, and went for our

boats, which they took in tow for the brig. Soon after this, it became

calm: then I saw that the brig had us in her power.--She manned and

armed two more boats for us. We now concluded, since we had scarcely any

ammunition, to surrender; and were towed down along-side the brig on

board, and were asked by the captain, who could speak English, "what for

you fire on the boat?" I told him "we thought her a pirate, and did not

like to be taken by them again, having already suffered too much;"

showing my papers. He said, "Captain Americana, never mind, go and take

some dinner--which are your men?" I pointed them out to him, and he

ordered them the liberty of the decks; but my friend Nickola and his

three associates were immediately put in irons. They were, however,

afterwards taken out of irons and examined; and I understood the

Frenchmen agreed to enlist, as they judged it the surest way to better

their condition. Whether Nickola enlisted, I do not know, but think that

he did, as I understood that offer was made to him: I however endeavored

to explain more distinctly to the captain, the benevolent efforts of

these four men by whom my life had been saved, and used every argument

in my power to procure their discharge. I also applied to the governor,

and exerted myself with peculiar interest, dictated as I trust with

heartfelt gratitude--and I ardently hope ere this, that Nickola is on

his way to this country, where I may have an opportunity of convincing

him that such an act of benevolence will not go unrewarded. Previous to

my leaving Trinidad, I made all the arrangements in my power with my

influential friends, and doubt not, that their laudable efforts will be

accomplished.--The sloop's cargo was then taken on board the brig; after

which the captain requested a certificate that I was politely treated by

him, saying that his name was Captain Candama, of the privateer brig

Prudentee of eighteen guns. This request I complied with. His first

lieutenant told me he had sailed out of Boston, as commander for T.C.

Amory, Esq. during the last war. In the course of the evening my friends

were taken out of irons and examined separately, then put back again.

The captain invited me to supper in his cabin, and a berth for the

night, which was truly acceptable. The next morning after breakfast, I

with my people were set on shore with the few things we had, with the

promise of the Exertion's small boat in a day or two,--but it was never

sent me--the reason, let the reader imagine. On landing at the wharf

Casildar, we were immediately taken by soldiers to the guard house,

which was a very filthy place; thinking I suppose, and even calling us,

pirates. Soon some friends came to see me. Mr. Cotton, who resides there

brought us in some soup. Mr. Isaac W. Lord, of Boston, my merchant, came

with Captain Tate, who sent immediately to the governor; for I would not

show my papers to any one else. He came about sunset, and after

examining Manuel my Spanish fellow prisoner, and my papers, said to be,

giving me the papers, "Captain, you are at liberty." I was kindly

invited by Captain Matthew Rice, of schooner Galaxy, of Boston, to go on

board his vessel, and live with him during my stay there. This generous

offer I accepted, and was treated by him with the greatest hospitality;

for I was hungered and he gave me meat, I was athirst and he gave me

drink, I was naked and he clothed me, a stranger and he took me in. He

likewise took Manuel and my three men for that night. Next day Mr. Lord

rendered me all necessary assistance in making my protest. He had heard

nothing from me until my arrival. I was greatly disappointed in not

finding Mr. Bracket, and requested Mr. Lord to give him all needful aid

if he should come there. To Captain Carnes, of the schooner Hannah, of

Boston, I would tender my sincere thanks, for his kindness in giving me

a passage to Boston, which I gladly accepted. To those gentlemen of

Trinidad, and many captains of American vessels, who gave me sea

clothing, &c., I offer my cordial gratitude.

I am fully of the opinion that these ferocious pirates are linked in

with many inhabitants of Cuba; and the government in many respects

appears covertly to encourage them.

It is with heartfelt delight, that, since the above narrative was

written, I have learned that Mr. Bracket and his companions are safe; he

arrived at Port d'Esprit, about forty leagues east of Trinidad. A letter

has been received from him, stating that he should proceed to Trinidad

the first opportunity.--It appears that after reaching the wreck, they

found a boat from the shore, taking on board some of the Exertion's

cargo, in which they proceeded to the above place. Why it was not in his

power to come to our relief will no doubt be satisfactorily disclosed

when he may be so fortunate as once more to return to his native country

and friends.

I felt great anxiety to learn what became of Jamieson, who, my readers

will recollect, was detained on board the Spanish brig Prudentee near

Trinidad. I heard nothing from him, until I believe eighteen months

after I reached home, when I received a letter from him, from Montego

Bay, Jamaica, informing me that he was then residing in that island. I

immediately wrote to him, and invited him to come on to the United

States. He accordingly came on passenger with Captain Wilson of

Cohasset, and arrived in Boston, in August, 1824. Our meeting was very

affecting. Trying scenes were brought up before us; scenes gone forever,

through which we had passed together, where our acquaintance was formed,

and since which time, we had never met. I beheld once more the preserver

of my life; the instrument, under Providence, of restoring me to my

home, my family, and my friends, and I regarded him with no ordinary

emotion. My family were delighted to see him, and cordially united in

giving him a warm reception. He told me that after we separated in

Trinidad, he remained on board the Spanish brig. The commander asked him

and his companions if they would enlist; the Frenchmen replied that they

would, but he said nothing, being determined to make his escape, the

very first opportunity which should present. The Spanish brig afterwards

fell in with a Columbian Patriot, an armed brig of eighteen guns. Being

of about equal force, they gave battle, and fought between three and

four hours. Both parties were very much injured; and, without any

considerable advantage on either side, both drew off to make repairs.

The Spanish brig Prudentee, put into St. Jago de Cuba. Jamieson was

wounded in the action, by a musket ball, through his arm, and was taken

on shore, with the other wounded, and placed in the hospital of St.

Jago. Here he remained for a considerable time, until he had nearly

recovered, when he found an opportunity of escaping, and embarking for

Jamaica. He arrived in safety at Kingston, and from there, travelled

barefoot over the mountains, until very much exhausted, he reached

Montego Bay, where he had friends, and where one of his brothers

possessed some property. From this place, he afterwards wrote to me. He

told me that before he came to Massachusetts, he saw the villainous

pilot of the Mexican, the infamous Baltizar, with several other pirates,

brought into Montego Bay, from whence they were to be conveyed to

Kingston to be executed. Whether the others were part of the Mexican's

crew, or not, I do not know. Baltizar was an old man, and as Jamieson

said, it was a melancholy and heart-rending sight, to see him borne to

execution with those gray hairs, which might have been venerable in

virtuous old age, now a shame and reproach to this hoary villain, for he

was full of years, and old in iniquity. When Jamieson received the

letter which I wrote him, he immediately embarked with Captain Wilson,

and came to Boston, as I have before observed.

According to his own account he was of a very respectable family in

Greenock, Scotland. His father when living was a rich cloth merchant,

but both his father and mother had been dead many years. He was the

youngest of thirteen children, and being, as he said, of a roving

disposition, had always followed the seas. He had received a polite

education, and was of a very gentlemanly deportment. He spoke several

living languages, and was skilled in drawing and painting. He had

travelled extensively in different countries, and acquired in

consequence an excellent knowledge of their manners and customs. His

varied information (for hardly any subject escaped him) rendered him a

very entertaining companion. His observations on the character of

different nations were very liberal; marking their various traits, their

virtues and vices, with playful humorousness, quite free from bigotry,

or narrow prejudice.

I was in trade, between Boston and Philadelphia, at the time he came to

Massachusetts, and he sailed with me several trips as my mate. He

afterwards went to Cuba, and was subsequently engaged in the mackerel

fishery, out of the port of Hingham, during the warm season, and in the

winter frequently employed himself in teaching navigation to young men,

for which he was eminently qualified. He remained with us, until his

death, which took place in 1829. At this time he had been out at sea two

or three days, when he was taken sick, and was carried into Cape Cod,

where he died, on the first day of May, 1829, and there his remains lie

buried. Peace be to his ashes! They rest in a strange land, far from his

kindred and his native country.

Since his death I have met with Mr. Stewart, of Philadelphia, who was

Commercial Agent in Trinidad at the time of my capture. He informed me

that the piratical schooner Mexican, was afterwards chased by an English

government vessel, from Jamaica, which was cruising in search of it.

Being hotly pursued, the pirates deserted their vessel, and fled to the

mangrove bushes, on an island similar to that on which they had placed

me and my crew to die. The English surrounded them, and thus they were

cut off from all hopes of escape. They remained there, I think fourteen

days, when being almost entirely subdued by famine, eleven surrendered

themselves, and were taken. The others probably perished among the

mangroves. The few who were taken were carried by the government vessel

into Trinidad. Mr. Stewart said that he saw them himself, and such

miserable objects, that had life, he never before beheld. They were in a

state of starvation; their beards had grown to a frightful length, their

bodies, were covered with filth and vermin, and their countenances were

hideous. From Trinidad they were taken to Kingston, Jamaica, and there

hung on Friday, the 7th of February, 1823.

About a quarter of an hour before day dawn, the wretched culprits were

taken from the jail, under a guard of soldiers from the 50th regiment,

and the City Guard. On their arrival at the wherry wharf, the military

retired, and the prisoners, with the Town Guard were put on board two

wherries, in which they proceeded to Port Royal Point, the usual place

of execution in similar cases. They were there met by a strong party of

military, consisting of 50 men, under command of an officer. They formed

themselves into a square round the place of execution, with the sheriff

and his officers with the prisoners in the centre. The gallows was of

considerable length, and contrived with a drop so as to prevent the

unpleasant circumstances which frequently occur.

The unfortunate men had been in continual prayer from the time they were

awakened out of a deep sleep till they arrived at that place, where they

were to close their existence.

They all expressed their gratitude for the attention they had met with

from the sheriff and the inferior officers. Many pressed the hands of

the turnkey to their lips, others to their hearts and on their knees,

prayed that God, Jesus Christ, and the Virgin Mary would bless him and

the other jailors for their goodness. They all then fervently joined

in prayer. To the astonishment of all, no clerical character, of any

persuasion, was present. They repeatedly called out "Adonde esta el

padre," (Where is the holy father).

[Illustration: _The execution of ten pirates._]

Juan Hernandez called on all persons present to hear him--he was

innocent; what they had said about his confessing himself guilty was

untrue. He had admitted himself guilty, because he hoped for pardon; but

that now he was to die, he called God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the

Virgin Mary, and the Saints, to witness that he spoke the truth--that he

was no pirate, no murderer--he had been forced. The Lieutenant of the

pirates was a wretch, who did not fear God, and had compelled him to

act.

Juan Gutterez and Francisco de Sayas were loud in their protestations of

innocence.

Manuel Lima said, for himself, he did not care; he felt for the old man

(Miguel Jose). How could he be a pirate who could not help himself? If

it were a Christian country, they would have pardoned him for his gray

hairs. He was innocent--they had both been forced. Let none of his

friends or relations ever venture to sea--he hoped his death would be a

warning to them, that the innocent might suffer for the guilty. The

language of this young man marked him a superior to the generality of

his companions in misfortune. The seamen of the Whim stated that he was

very kind to them when prisoners on board the piratical vessel. Just

before he was turned off, he addressed the old man--"Adios viejo, para

siempre adios."--(Farewell, old man, forever farewell.)

Several of the prisoners cried out for mercy, pardon, pardon.

Domingo Eucalla, the black man, then addressed them. "Do not look for

mercy here, but pray to God; we are all brought here to die. This is not

built for nothing; here we must end our lives. You know I am innocent,

but I must die the same as you all. There is not any body here who can

do us any good, so let us think only of God Almighty. We are not

children but men, you know that all must die; and in a few years those

who kill us must die too. When I was born, God set the way of my death;

I do not blame any body. I was taken by the pirates and they made me

help them; they would not let me be idle. I could not show that this was

the truth, and therefore they have judged me by the people they have

found me with. I am put to death unjustly, but I blame nobody. It was my

misfortune. Come, let us pray. If we are innocent, so much the less we

have to repent. I do not come here to accuse any one. Death must come

one day or other; better to the innocent than guilty." He then joined in

prayer with the others. He seemed to be much reverenced by his fellow

prisoners. He chose those prayers he thought most adapted to the

occasion. Hundreds were witnesses to the manly firmness of this negro.

Observing a bystander listening attentively to the complaints of one of

his fellow wretches, he translated what had been said into English. With

a steady pace, and a resolute and resigned countenance, he ascended the

fatal scaffold. Observing the executioner unable to untie a knot on the

collar of one of the prisoners, he with his teeth untied it. He then

prayed most fervently till the drop fell.

Miguel Jose protested his innocence.--"No he robado, no he matado

ningune, muero innocente."--(I have robbed no one, I have killed no one,

I die innocent. I am an old man, but my family will feel my disgraceful

death.)

Francisco Migul prayed devoutly, but inaudibly.--His soul seemed to have

quitted the body before he was executed.

Breti Gullimillit called on all to witness his innocence; it was of no

use for him to say an untruth, for he was going before the face of God.

Augustus Hernandez repeatedly declared his innocence, requested that no

one would say he had made a confession; he had none to make.

Juan Hernandez was rather obstinate when the execution pulled the cap

over his eyes. He said, rather passionately--"Quita is de mis

ojos."--(Remove it from my eyes.) He then rubbed it up against one of

the posts of the gallows.

Miguel Jose made the same complaint, and drew the covering from his eyes

by rubbing his head against a fellow sufferer.

Pedro Nondre was loud in his ejaculations for mercy. He wept bitterly.

He was covered with marks of deep wounds.

The whole of the ten included in the death warrant, having been placed

on the scaffold, and the ropes suspended, the drop was let down. Nondre

being an immense heavy man, broke the rope, and fell to the ground

alive. Juan Hernandez struggled long. Lima was much convulsed. The old

man Gullimillit, and Migul, were apparently dead before the drop fell.

Eucalla (the black man) gave one convulsion, and all was over.

When Nondre recovered from the fall and saw his nine lifeless companions

stretched in death, he gave an agonizing shriek; he wrung his hands,

screamed "Favor, favor, me matan sin causa. O! buenos Christianos, me

amparen, ampara me, ampara me, no hay Christiano en asta, tiara?"

(Mercy, mercy, they kill me without cause.--Oh, good Christians, protect

me. Oh, protect me. Is there no Christian in this land?)

He then lifted his eyes to Heaven, and prayed long and loud. Upon being

again suspended, he was for a long period convulsed. He was an immense

powerful man, and died hard.

A piratical station was taken in the Island of Cuba by the U.S.

schooners of war, Greyhound and Beagle. They left Thompson's Island

June 7, 1823, under the command of Lieuts. Kearney and Newton, and

cruised within the Key's on the south side of Cuba, as far as Cape Cruz,

touching at all the intermediate ports on the island, to intercept

pirates. On the 21st of July, they came to anchor off Cape Cruz, and

Lieut. Kearney went in his boat to reconnoitre the shore, when he was

fired on by a party of pirates who were concealed among the bushes. A

fire was also opened from several pieces of cannon erected on a hill a

short distance off. The boat returned, and five or six others were

manned from the vessels, and pushed off for the shore, but a very heavy

cannonade being kept up by the pirates on the heights, as well as from

the boats, were compelled to retreat. The two schooners were then warped

in, when they discharged several broadsides, and covered the landing of

the boats. After a short time the pirates retreated to a hill that was

well fortified. A small hamlet, in which the pirates resided, was set

fire to and destroyed. Three guns, one a four pounder, and two large

swivels, with several pistols, cutlasses, and eight large boats, were

captured. A cave, about 150 feet deep, was discovered, near where the

houses were, and after considerable difficulty, a party of seamen got to

the bottom, where was found an immense quantity of plunder, consisting

of broadcloths, dry goods, female dresses, saddlery, &c. Many human

bones were also in the cave, supposed to have been unfortunate persons

who were taken and put to death. A great many of the articles were

brought away, and the rest destroyed. About forty pirates escaped to the

heights, but many were supposed to have been killed from the fire of the

schooners, as well as from the men who landed. The bushes were so thick

that it was impossible to go after them. Several other caves are in the

neighborhood, in which it was conjectured they occasionally take

shelter.

In 1823, Commodore Porter commanded the United States squadron in these

seas; much good was done in preventing new acts of piracy; but these

wretches kept aloof and did not venture to sea as formerly, but some

were taken.

Almost every day furnished accounts evincing the activity of Commodore

Porter, and the officers and men under his command; but for a long time

their industry and zeal was rather shown in the _suppression_ of piracy

than the _punishment_ of it. At length, however, an opportunity offered

for inflicting the latter, as detailed in the following letter, dated

Matanzas, July 10, 1823.

"I have the pleasure of informing you of a brilliant achievement

obtained against the pirates on the 5th inst. by two barges attached to

Commodore Porter's squadron, the Gallinipper, Lieut. Watson, 18 men, and

the Moscheto, Lieut. Inman, 10 men. The barges were returning from a

cruise to windward; when they were near Jiguapa Bay, 13 leagues to

windward of Matanzas, they entered it--it being a rendezvous for

pirates. They immediately discovered a large schooner under way, which

they supposed to be a Patriot privateer; and as their stores were nearly

exhausted, they hoped to obtain some supplies from her. They therefore

made sail in pursuit. When they were within cannon shot distance, she

rounded to and fired her long gun, at the same time run up the bloody

flag, directing her course towards the shore, and continuing to fire

without effect. When she had got within a short distance of the shore,

she came to, with springs on her cable, continuing to fire; and when the

barges were within 30 yards, they fired their muskets without touching

boat or man; our men gave three cheers, and prepared to board; the

pirates, discovering their intention, jumped into the water, when the

bargemen, calling on the name of 'Allen,' commenced a destructive

slaughter, killing them in the water and as they landed. So exasperated

were our men, that it was impossible for their officers to restrain

them, and many were killed after orders were given to grant quarter.

Twenty-seven dead were counted, some sunk, five taken prisoners by the

bargemen, and eight taken by a party of Spaniards on shore. The officers

calculated that from 30 to 35 were killed. The schooner mounted a long

nine pounder on a pivot, and 4 four pounders, with every other necessary

armament, and a crew of 50 to 60 men, and ought to have blown the barges

to atoms. She was commanded by the notorious Diableto or Little Devil.

This statement I have from Lieut. Watson himself, and it is certainly

the most decisive operation that has been effected against those

murderers, either by the English or American force."

[Illustration: _The Pirates fire into Lieut. Kearney's boat, while

reconnoitering the shore._]

"This affair occurred on the same spot where the brave Allen fell about

one year since. The prize was sent to Thompson's Island."

A British sloop of war, about the same time, captured a pirate schooner

off St. Domingo, with a crew of 60 men. She had 200,000 dollars in

specie, and other valuable articles on board. The brig Vestal sent

another pirate schooner to New-Providence.

THE ADVENTURES AND EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN JOHN RACKAM.

This John Rackam, as has been reported in the foregoing pages, was

quarter-master to Vane's company, till the crew were divided, and Vane

turned out of it for refusing to board a French man-of-war, Rackam being

voted captain of the division that remained in the brigantine. The 24th

of November 1718, was the first day of his command; his first cruise was

among the Carribbee Islands, where he took and plundered several

vessels.

We have already taken notice, that when Captain Woods Rogers went to the

island of Providence with the king's pardon to such of the pirates as

should surrender, this brigantine, which Rackam commanded, made its

escape through another passage, bidding defiance to the mercy that was

offered.

To the windward of Jamaica, a Madeira-man fell into the pirate's way,

which they detained two or three days, till they had their market out of

her, and then they gave her back to the master, and permitted one Hosea

Tidsel, a tavern keeper at Jamaica, who had been picked up in one of

their prizes, to depart in her, she being bound for that island.

After this cruise they went into a small island, and cleaned, and spent

their Christmas ashore, drinking and carousing as long as they had any

liquor left, and then went to sea again for more. They succeeded but too

well, though they took no extraordinary prize for above two months,

except a ship laden with convicts from Newgate, bound for the

plantations, which in a few days was retaken, with all her cargo, by an

English man-of-war that was stationed in those seas.

Rackam stood towards the island of Bermuda, and took a ship bound to

England from Carolina, and a small pink from New England, both of which

he brought to the Bahama Islands, where, with the pitch, tar and stores

they cleaned again, and refitted their own vessel; but staying too long

in that neighborhood, Captain Rogers, who was Governor of Providence,

hearing of these ships being taken, sent out a sloop well manned and

armed, which retook both the prizes, though in the mean while the pirate

had the good fortune to escape.

From hence they sailed to the back of Cuba, where Rackam kept a little

kind of a family, at which place they stayed a considerable time, living

ashore with their Delilahs, till their money and provisions were

expended, and they concluded it time to look out for more. They repaired

their vessel, and were making ready to put to sea, when a guarda de

costa came in with a small English sloop, which she had taken as an

interloper on the coast. The Spanish guard-ship attacked the pirate, but

Rackam being close in behind a little island, she could do but little

execution where she lay; the Dons therefore warped into the channel that

evening, in order to make sure of her the next morning. Rackam finding

his case desperate, and that there was hardly any possibility of

escaping, resolved to attempt the following enterprise. The Spanish

prize lying for better security close into the land, between the little

island and the Main, our desperado took his crew into the boat with

their cutlasses, rounded the little island, and fell aboard their prize

silently in the dead of the night without being discovered, telling the

Spaniards that were aboard her, that if they spoke a word, or made the

least noise, they were all dead men; and so they became masters of her.

When this was done he slipped her cable, and drove out to sea. The

Spanish man-of-war was so intent upon their expected prize, that they

minded nothing else, and as soon as day broke, they made a furious fire

upon the empty sloop; but it was not long before they were rightly

apprised of the matter, when they cursed themselves sufficiently for a

company of fools, to be bit out of a good rich prize, as she proved to

be, and to have nothing but an old crazy hull in the room of her.

Rackam and his crew had no occasion to be displeased at the exchange, as

it enabled them to continue some time longer in a way of life that

suited their depraved minds. In August 1720, we find him at sea again,

scouring the harbours and inlets of the north and west parts of Jamaica,

where he took several small crafts, which proved no great booty to the

rovers; but they had but few men, and therefore were obliged to run at

low game till they could increase their company and their strength.

In the beginning of September, they took seven or eight fishing boats in

Harbour Island, stole their nets and other tackle, and then went off to

the French part of Hispaniola, where they landed, and took the cattle

away, with two or three Frenchmen whom they found near the water-side,

hunting wild hogs in the evening. The Frenchmen came on board, whether

by consent or compulsion is not certainly known. They afterwards

plundered two sloops, and returned to Jamaica, on the north coast of

which island, near Porto Maria Bay, they took a schooner, Thomas

Spenlow, master, it being then the 19th of October. The next day Rackam

seeing a sloop in Dry Harbour Bay, stood in and fired a gun; the men all

ran ashore, and he took the sloop and lading; but when those ashore

found that they were pirates, they hailed the sloop, and let them know

they were all willing to come on board of them.

Rackam's coasting the island in this manner proved fatal to him; for

intelligence of his expedition came to the governor by a canoe which he

had surprised ashore in Ocho Bay: upon this a sloop was immediately

fitted out, and sent round the island in quest of him, commanded by

Captain Barnet, and manned with a good number of hands. Rackam, rounding

the island, and drawing round the western point, called Point Negril,

saw a small pettiaga, which, at the sight of the sloop, ran ashore and

landed her men, when one of them hailed her. Answer was made that they

were Englishmen, and begged the pettiaga's men to come on board and

drink a bowl of punch, which they prevailed upon them to do.

Accordingly, the company, in an evil hour, came all aboard of the

pirate, consisting of nine persons; they were armed with muskets and

cutlasses, but what was their real design in so doing we will not

pretend to say. They had no sooner laid down their arms and taken up

their pipes, than Barnet's sloop, which was in pursuit of Rackam's, came

in sight.

The pirates, finding she stood directly towards them, feared the event,

and weighed their anchor, which they had but lately let go, and stood

off. Captain Barnet gave them chase, and, having advantage of little

breezes of wind which blew off the land, came up with her, and brought

her into Port Royal, in Jamaica.

About a fortnight after the prisoners were brought ashore, viz. November

16, 1720, Captain Rackam and eight of his men were condemned and

executed. Captain Rackam and two others were hung in chains.

But what was very surprising, was the conviction of the nine men that

came aboard the sloop on the same day she was taken. They were tried at

an adjournment of the court on the 24th of January, the magistracy

waiting all that time, it is supposed, for evidence to prove the

piratical intention of going aboard the said sloop; for it seems there

was no act or piracy committed by them, as appeared by the witnesses

against them, two Frenchmen, taken by Rackam off the island of

Hispaniola, who merely deposed that the prisoners came on board without

any compulsion.

The court considered the prisoners' cases, and the majority of the

commissioners being of opinion that they were all guilty of the piracy

and felony they were charged with, viz. the going over with a piratical

intent to John Rackam, &c. then notorious pirates, and by them known to

be so, they all received sentence of death, and were executed on the

17th of February at Gallows Point at Port Royal.

Nor holy bell, nor pastoral bleat,

In former days within the vale.

Flapped in the bay the pirate's sheet,

Curses were on the gale;

Rich goods lay on the sand, and murdered men,

Pirate and wreckers kept their revels there.

THE BUCCANEER.

THE LIFE AND EXPLOITS OF ANNE BONNEY.

This female pirate was a native of Cork. Her father was an attorney,

and, by his activity in business, rose to considerable respectability in

that place. Anne was the fruit of an unlawful connexion with his own

servant maid, with whom he afterwards eloped to America, leaving his own

affectionate and lawful wife. He settled at Carolina, and for some time

followed his own profession; but soon commenced merchant, and was so

successful as to purchase a considerable plantation. There he lived with

his servant in the character of his wife; but she dying, his daughter

Anne superintended the domestic affairs of her father.

During her residence with her parent she was supposed to have a

considerable fortune, and was accordingly addressed by young men of

respectable situations in life. It happened with Anne, however, as with

many others of her youth and sex, that her feelings, and not her

interest, determined her choice of a husband. She married a young sailor

without a shilling. The avaricious father was so enraged, that, deaf to

the feelings of a parent, he turned his own child out of doors. Upon

this cruel usage, and the disappointment of her fortune, Anne and her

husband sailed for the island of Providence, in the hope of gaining

employment.

Acting a part very different from that of Mary Read, Anne's affections

were soon estranged from her husband by Captain Rackam; and eloping with

him, she went to sea in men's clothes. Proving with child, the captain

put her on shore, and entrusted her to the care of some friends until

her recovery, when she again accompanied him in his expeditions.

Upon the king's proclamation offering a pardon to all pirates, he

surrendered, and went into the privateering business, as we have related

before: he, however, soon embraced an opportunity to return to his

favorite employment. In all his piratical exploits Anne accompanied him;

and, as we have already recorded, displayed such courage and

intrepidity, that she, along with Mary Read and a seaman, were the last

three who remained on board when the vessel was taken.

Anne was known to many of the planters in Jamaica, who remembered to

have seen her in her father's house, and they were disposed to intercede

in her behalf. Her unprincipled conduct, in leaving her own husband and

forming an illicit connexion with Rackam, tended, however, to render her

friends less active. By a special favor, Rackam was permitted to visit

her the day before he was executed; but, instead of condoling with him

on account of his sad fate, she only observed, that she was sorry to see

him there, but if he had fought like a man he needed not have been

hanged like a dog. Being with child, she remained in prison until her

recovery, was reprieved from time to time, and though we cannot

communicate to our readers any particulars of her future life, or the

manner of her death, yet it is certain that she was not executed.

THE ADVENTURES AND HEROISM OF MARY READ.

The attention of our readers is now to be directed to the history of two

female pirates,--a history which is chiefly remarkable from the

extraordinary circumstance of the softer sex assuming a character

peculiarly distinguished for every vice that can disgrace humanity, and

at the same time for the exertion of the most daring, though brutal,

courage.

Mary Read was a native of England, but at what place she was born is not

recorded. Her mother married a sailor when she was very young, who, soon

after their marriage, went to sea, and never returned. The fruit of that

marriage was a sprightly boy. The husband not returning, she again found

herself with child, and to cover her shame, took leave of her husband's

relations, and went to live in the country, taking her boy along with

her. Her son in a short time died, and she was relieved from the burden

of his maintenance and education. The mother had not resided long in the

country before Mary Read, the subject of the present narrative, was

born.

After the birth of Mary, her mother resided in the country for three or

four years, until her money was all spent, and her ingenuity was set at

work to contrive how to obtain a supply. She knew that her husband's

mother was in good circumstances, and could easily support her child,

provided she could make her pass for a boy, and her son's child. But it

seemed impossible to impose upon an old experienced mother. She,

however, presented Mary in the character of her grandson. The old woman

proposed to take the boy to live with her, but the mother would not on

any account part with her boy; the grandmother, therefore, allowed a

crown per week for his support.

The ingenuity of the mother being successful, she reared the daughter as

a boy. But as she grew up, she informed her of the secret of her birth,

in order that she might conceal her sex. The grandmother, however,

dying, the support from that quarter failed, and she was obliged to hire

her out as a footboy to a French lady. The strength and manly

disposition of this supposed boy increased with her years, and leaving

that servile employment, she engaged on board a man-of-war.

The volatile disposition of the youth did not permit her to remain long

in this station, and she next went into Flanders, and joined a regiment

of foot as a cadet. Though in every action she conducted herself with

the greatest bravery, yet she could not obtain a commission, as they

were in general bought and sold. She accordingly quitted that service,

and enlisted into a regiment of horse; there she behaved herself so

valiantly, that she gained the esteem of all her officers. It, however,

happened, that her comrade was a handsome young Fleming, and she fell

passionately in love with him. The violence of her feelings rendered her

negligent of her duty, and effected such a change in her behaviour as

attracted the attention of all. Both her comrade and the rest of the

regiment deemed her mad. Love, however, is inventive, and as they slept

in the same tent, she found means to discover her sex without any

seeming design. He was both surprised and pleased, supposing that he

would have a mistress to himself; but he was greatly mistaken, and he

found that it was necessary to court her for his wife. A mutual

attachment took place, and, as soon as convenient, women's clothes were

provided for her, and they were publicly married.

The singularity of two troopers marrying caused a general conversation,

and many of the officers honored the ceremony with their presence, and

resolved to make presents to the bride, to provide her with necessaries.

After marriage they were desirous to quit the service, and their

discharge being easily obtained, they set up an ordinary under the sign

of the "Three Shoes," and soon acquired a considerable run of business.

But Mary Read's felicity was of short duration; the husband died, and

peace being concluded, her business diminished. Under these

circumstances she again resumed her man's dress, and going into Holland,

enlisted into a regiment of foot quartered in one of the frontier towns.

But there being no prospect of preferment in time of peace, she went on

board a vessel bound for the West Indies.

During the voyage, the vessel was captured by English pirates, and as

Mary was the only English person on board, they detained her, and having

plundered the vessel of what they chose, allowed it to depart. Mary

continued in that unlawful commerce for some time, but the royal pardon

being tendered to all those in the West Indies, who should, before a

specified day, surrender, the crew to which she was attached, availed

themselves of this, and lived quietly on shore with the fruits of their

adventures. But from the want of their usual supplies, their money

became exhausted; and being informed that Captain Rogers, in the island

of Providence, was fitting out some vessels for privateering, Mary, with

some others, repaired to that island to serve on board his privateers.

We have already heard, that scarcely had the ships sailed, when some of

their crews mutinied, and ran off with the ships, to pursue their former

mode of life. Among these was Mary Read. She indeed, frequently

declared, that the life of a pirate was what she detested, and that she

was constrained to it both on the former and present occasion. It was,

however, sufficiently ascertained, that both Mary Read and Anne Bonney

were among the bravest and most resolute fighters of the whole crew;

that when the vessel was taken, these two heroines, along with another

of the pirates, were the last three upon deck; and that Mary, having in

vain endeavored to rouse the courage of the crew, who had fled below,

discharged a pistol amongst them, killing one and wounding another.

Nor was Mary less modest than brave; for though she had remained many

years in the character of a sailor, yet no one had discovered her sex,

until she was under the necessity of doing so to Anne Bonney. The reason

of this was, that Anne, supposing her to be a handsome fellow, became

greatly enamored of her, and discovered her sex and wishes to Mary, who

was thus constrained to reveal her secret to Anne. Rackam being the

paramour of Bonney, and observing her partiality towards Mary,

threatened to shoot her lover; so that to prevent any mischief, Anne

also informed the captain of the sex of her companion.

Rackam was enjoined to secrecy, and here he behaved honorably; but love

again assailed the conquered Mary. It was usual with the pirates to

retain all the artists who were captured in the trading-vessels; among

these was a very handsome young man, of engaging manners, who vanquished

the heart of Mary. In a short time her love became so violent, that she

took every opportunity of enjoying his company and conversation; and,

after she had gained his friendship, discovered her sex. Esteem and

friendship were speedily converted into the most ardent affection, and a

mutual flame burned in the hearts of these two lovers. An occurrence

soon happened that put the attachment of Mary to a severe trial. Her

lover having quarrelled with one of the crew, they agreed to fight a

duel on shore. Mary was all anxiety for the fate of her lover, and she

manifested a greater concern for the preservation of his life than that

of her own; but she could not entertain the idea that he could refuse to

fight, and so be esteemed a coward. Accordingly she quarrelled with the

man who challenged her lover, and called him to the field two hours

before his appointment with her lover, engaged him with sword and

pistol, and laid him dead at her feet.

Though no esteem or love had formerly existed, this action was

sufficient to have kindled the most violent flame. But this was not

necessary, for the lover's attachment was equal, if not stronger than

her own; they pledged their faith, which was esteemed as binding as if

the ceremony had been performed by a clergyman.

Captain Rackam one day, before he knew that she was a woman, asked her

why she followed a line of life that exposed her to so much danger, and

at last to the certainty of being hanged. She replied, that, "As to

hanging, she thought it no great hardship, for were it not for that,

every cowardly fellow would turn pirate, and so infest the seas; and men

of courage would starve. That if it was put to her choice, she would not

have the punishment less than death, the fear of which kept some

dastardly rogues honest; that many of those who are now cheating the

widows and orphans, and oppressing their poor neighbors who have no

money to obtain justice, would then rob at sea, and the ocean would be

as crowded with rogues as the land: so that no merchants would venture

out, and the trade in a little time would not be worth following."

Being with child at the time of her trial, her execution was delayed;

and it is probable that she would have found favor, but in the mean time

she fell sick and died.

Mary Read was of a strong and robust constitution, capable of enduring

much exertion and fatigue. She was vain and bold in her disposition, but

susceptible of the tenderest emotions, and of the most melting

affections. Her conduct was generally directed by virtuous principles,

while at the same time, she was violent in her attachments. Though she

was inadvertently drawn into that dishonorable mode of life which has

stained her character, and given her a place among the criminals noticed

in this work, yet she possessed a rectitude of principle and of conduct,

far superior to many who have not been exposed to such temptations to

swerve from the path of female virtue and honor.

[Illustration: _Mary Read kills her antagonist._]

THE ALGERINE PIRATES.

_Containing accounts of the cruelties and atrocities of the Barbary

Corsairs, with narratives of the expeditions sent against them, and the

final capture of Algiers by the French in_ 1830.

That former den of pirates, the city of Algiers is situated on the

shores of a pretty deep bay, by which the northern coast of Africa, is

here indented, and may be said to form an irregular triangular figure,

the base line of which abuts on the sea, while the apex is formed by the

Cassaubah, or citadel, which answered the double purpose of a fort to

defend and awe the city, and a palace for the habitation of the Dey and

his court. The hill on which the city is built, slopes rather rapidly

upwards, so that every house is visible from the sea, in consequence of

which it was always sure to suffer severely from a bombardment. The top

of the hill has an elevation of nearly five hundred feet, and exactly at

this point is built the citadel; the whole town lying between it and the

sea. The houses of Algiers have no roofs, but are all terminated by

terraces, which are constantly whitewashed; and as the exterior walls,

the fort, the batteries and the walls are similarly beautified, the

whole city, from a distance, looks not unlike a vast chalk quarry opened

on the side of a hill.

The fortifications towards the sea are of amasing strength, and with the

additions made since Lord Exmouth's attack, may be considered as almost

impregnable. They occupy the entire of a small island, which lies a

short distance in front of the city, to which it is connected at one

end by a magnificent mole of solid masonry, while the other which

commands the entrance of the port, is crowned with a battery, bristling

with cannon of immense calibre, which would instantly sink any vessel

which should now attempt to occupy the station taken by the Queen

Charlotte on that memorable occasion.

On the land side, the defences are by no means of equal strength, as

they were always considered rather as a shelter against an

insurrectionary movement of the natives, than as intended to repulse the

regular attacks of a disciplined army. In fact defences on this side

would be of little use as the city is completely commanded by different

hills, particularly that on which the Emperor's fort is built, and was

obliged instantly to capitulate, as soon as this latter had fallen into

the hands of the French, in 1830.

There are four gates; one opening on the mole, which is thence called

the marine gate, one near the citadel, which is termed the new gate; and

the other two, at the north and south sides of the city, with the

principal street running between them. All these gates are strongly

fortified, and outside the three land gates run the remains of a ditch,

which once surrounded the city, but is now filled up except at these

points. The streets of Algiers are all crooked, and all narrow. The best

are scarcely twelve feet in breadth, and even half of this is occupied

by the projections of the shops, or the props placed to support the

first stories of the houses, which are generally made to advance beyond

the lower, insomuch that in many places a laden mule can scarcely pass.

Of public buildings, the most remarkable is the Cassaubah, or citadel,

the situation of which we have already mentioned. It is a huge, heavy

looking brick building, of a square shape, surrounded by high and

massive walls, and defended by fifty pieces of cannon, and some mortars,

so placed as equally to awe the city and country. The apartments set

apart for the habitation of the Dey and the ladies of his harem, are

described as extremely magnificent, and abundantly supplied with marble

pillars, fountains, mirrors, carpets, ottomans, cushions, and other

articles of oriental luxury; but there are others no less valuable and

curious, such as the armory, furnished with weapons of every kind, of

the finest manufacture, and in the greatest abundance, the treasury,

containing not only a profusion of the precious metals, coined or in

ingots, but also diamonds, pearls, rubies, and other precious stones of

great value; and lastly, the store rooms of immense extent, in which

were piled up the richest silk stuffs, velvets, brocades, together with

wool, wax, sugar, iron, lead, sabre-blades, gun barrels, and all the

different productions of the Algerine territories; for the Dey was not

only the first robber but the first merchant in his own dominions.

Next to the Cassaubah, the mole with the marine forts, presented the

handsomest and most imposing pile of buildings. The mole is no less than

one thousand three hundred feet in length, forming a beautiful terrace

walk, supported by arches, beneath which lay splendid magazines, which

the French found filled with spars, hemp, cordage, cables, and all

manner of marine stores. At the extremity of the mole, lay the barracks

of the Janissaries, entrusted with the defence of the marine forts, and

consisting of several small separate chambers, in which they each slept

on sheepskin mats, while in the centre was a handsome coffee-room. The

Bagnios were the buildings, in which Europeans for a long time felt the

most interest, inasmuch as it was in these that the Christian slaves

taken by the corsairs were confined. For many years previous to the

French invasion, however, the number of prisoners had been so trifling,

that many of these terrific buildings had fallen to decay, and

presented, when the French army entered Algiers, little more than piles

of mouldering ruins. The inmates of the Bagnio when taken by the French

were the crews of two French brigs, which a short time before had been

wrecked off Cape Bingut, a few French prisoners of war made during

their advance, and about twenty Greek, and Genoese sailors, who had been

there for two years; in all about one hundred and twenty. They

represented their condition as bad, though by no means so deplorable as

it would have been in former days. The prison was at first so close,

that there was some danger of suffocation, to avoid which the Turks had

made holes in the walls; but as they neglected to supply these with

windows or shutters of any kind, there was no means of excluding wind or

rain, from which consequently they often suffered.

[Illustration: _On board an Algerine corsair._]

We shall only trace these pirates back to about the year 1500, when

Selim, king of Algiers, being invaded by the Spaniards, at last

entreated the assistance of the famous corsair, Oruj Reis, better known

by his European name, Barbarossa, composed of two Italian words,

signifying _red beard_. Nothing could be more agreeable than the number

and hardihood of his naval exploits, had been such an invitation to this

ambitious robber, who elated by for some time considering how he might

best establish his power by land. Accordingly, attended by five thousand

picked men, he entered Algiers, made himself master of the town,

assassinated Selim, and had himself proclaimed king in his stead; and

thus was established that nest of pirates, fresh swarms from which never

ceased to annoy Christian commerce and enslave Christian mariners, until

its late final destruction, by the French expedition in 1830.

In a piratical career of many centuries, the countless thousands who

have been taken, enslaved, and perished in bondage by these monsters

should long ago have drawn upon them the united vengeance of all

Christendom. Many a youth of family and fortune, of delicate

constitution has been captured and sold in the slave market. His labor

through the long hot days would be to cleanse out the foul bed of some

large empty reservoir, where he would be made to strip, and descending

into the pond, bring up in his arms the black stinking mud, heaped up

and pressed against his bosom; or to labor in drawing huge blocks of

stone to build the mole; or in building and repairing the

fortifications, with numerous other painful and disgusting tasks. The

only food was a scanty supply of black bread, and occasionally a few

decayed olives, or sheep which had died from some disorder. At night

they were crowded into that most horrid of prisons the Bagnio, to sleep

on a little filthy straw, amidst the most noisome stenches. Their limbs

in chains, and often receiving the lash. Occasionally an individual

would be ransomed; when his story would draw tears of pity from all who

heard it. Ladies were frequently taken by these monsters and treated in

the most inhuman manner. And sometimes whole families were enslaved.

Numerous facts, of the most heart-rending description are on record: but

our limits oblige us to be brief.

A Spanish lady, the wife of an officer, with her son, a youth of

fourteen, and her daughter, six years old, were taken in a Spanish

vessel by the Algerines. The barbarians treated her and both her

children with the greatest inhumanity. The eldest they kept in chains;

and the defenceless little one they wantonly treated so ill, that the

unhappy mother was often nearly deprived of her reason at the blows her

infant received from these wretches, who plundered them of every thing.

They kept them many days at sea on hard and scanty fare, covered only

with a few soiled rags; and in this state brought them to Algiers. They

had been long confined in a dreadful dungeon in the Bagnio where the

slaves are kept, when a messenger was sent to the Aga, or Captain of the

Bagnio, for a female slave. It fortunately fell to the lot of the

Spanish lady, but at the instant when she was embracing her son, who was

tearing himself from his mother with haggard and disordered looks, to go

to his imperious drivers; and while in despair she gazed on her little

worn-out infant, she heard herself summoned to attend the guard of the

prison to a family that had sent for a female slave. She obtained

permission to take her little daughter with her. She dreaded being

refused, and sent back to the horrid dungeon she was leaving where no

difference was paid to rank, and slaves of all conditions were huddled

together. She went therefore prepared to accept of anything short of

these sufferings. She was refused, as being in every respect opposite to

the description of the person sent for. At length her entreaties and

tears prevailed; compassion overruled every obstacle; and she, with her

little girl, was accepted. But there remained another difficulty; she

had left her son chained in the midst of that dungeon from which she had

just been rescued. Her kind patrons soon learned the cause of her

distress; but to send for the youth and treat him kindly, or in any way

above that of a common slave, must hazard the demand of so large a

ransom for him and his mother, as would forever preclude the hope of

liberty. He was, however, sent for, and the menial offices they were

both engaged to perform were only nominal. With circumspection the whole

family were sheltered in this manner for three years; when the war with

the Spaniards growing more inveterate, the Algerines demanded the youth

back to the Bagnio, to work in common with the other slaves, in

repairing the damages done to the fortresses by the Spanish cannon. He

was now compelled to go, loaded with heavy stones, through the whole of

the town; and at almost every step he received dreadful blows, not being

able to hasten his pace from the great weight.

Overcome at last with ill usage, the delicacy of his form and

constitution gave way to the excessive labor, and he one morning refused

the orders of his master, or driver, to rise from the straw on which he

was stretched, declaring they might kill him if they chose, for he would

not even try to carry another load of stones. Repeated messages had

been sent from the Venetian consul's, where his mother and sister were

sheltered, to the Aga, to return him; and when the Algerines found that

they had absolutely reduced him so near death, they thought it best to

spare his life for the sake of future ransom. They agreed, therefore, to

let him return to the Christians. His life was for some time despaired

of; but through the kind attention he received, he was rescued from the

threatened dissolution. His recovery was concealed, for fear of his

being demanded back to work; and a few months after, the Spanish peace

of 1784 being concluded, a ransom was accepted by the Algerines for this

suffering family, and they were set at liberty.

These pirates in old times extended their depredations into the Atlantic

as far as the British Channel. They swarmed in the Mediterranean, not

only belonging to Algiers, but Tunis, and other ports on the coast of

Barbary. Their corsairs making descents on the coasts of those countries

which border on the Mediterranean, pillaging the villages and carrying

off the inhabitants into slavery. The corsairs were vessels of different

descriptions; some large armed ships, and latterly frigates; others were

row gallies and the various craft used by the nations which navigate

that sea, and had been taken by them and added to their marine. Upon the

slaves being landed at Algiers they were marched to the Dey's or

Bashaw's palace, when he selected the number which according to law

belonged to him; and the rest were sold in the slave market to the

highest bidder. A moiety of the plunder, cargoes and vessels taken also

belonged to the Dey. Occasionally, a person by pretending to renounce

his religion, and turning Mahometan would have his sufferings mitigated.

The most desperate attempts were sometimes made to effect an escape from

these ruthless monsters, which occasionally succeeded.

In 1644 William Oakley and four companions escaped from Algiers, in a

most miraculous manner, in a canvas boat. There was at this time an

English clergyman, Mr. Sprat, in captivity, and the wretched slaves had

the privilege of meeting in a cellar, where he would pray with them.

Oakley had got into the good graces of his master, and was allowed his

time by giving his master two dollars a month. He traded in tobacco and

a few trifling articles, so that a strict watch was not kept on his

movements. He conceived the project of making a canvas boat. He says I

now first opened my design to my comrades, informing them, that I had

contrived the model of a boat, which, being formed in pieces, and

afterwards put together, might be the means of our deliverance. They

greedily grasped at the prospect; but cooler reflection pointed out

difficulties innumerable: some of them started objections which they

thought insuperable, and these I endeavored to overrule.

We began our work in the cellar which had served for our devotions,

though it was not the sanctity of the place, but its privacy, that

induced us to this selection. We first provided a piece of wood, twelve

feet long, and, that it might escape observation, it was cut in two,

being jointed in the middle. Next we procured the timbers of ribs,

which, to avoid the same hazard, were in three pieces each, and jointed

in two places. The flat side of one of the two pieces was laid over the

other, and two holes bored in every joint to receive nails; so that when

united, each joint would make an obtuse angle, and approach towards a

semicircular figure, as we required. We had, in the formation of an

external covering, to avoid hammering and nailing, which would have made

such a noise in the cellar as to attract the notice of the Algerines,

who are insufferably suspicious about their wives and slaves. Therefore,

we provided as much canvas as would cover the boat twice over, and as

much pitch, tar and tallow, as would make it a kind of tarpaulin; as

also earthen pots in which to melt our materials. The two carpenters and

myself were appointed to this service in the cellar. We stopped up all

chinks and crevices, that the fumes of these substances might not betray

us. But we had not been long at work, when the smell of the melting

materials overcame me, and obligated me to go into the streets gasping

for breath, where meeting with the cool air, I swooned away, and broke

my face in the fall. My companions, finding me in this plight, carried

me back, extremely sick and unserviceable. Before long, I heard one of

them complain of sickness, and thus he could proceed no further;

therefore, I saw if we abandoned our project this night, it might not be

resumed, which made me resolve to set the cellar door wide open, while I

stood sentinel to give notice of approaching danger. In this way we

finished the whole, and then carried it to my shop, which was about a

furlong distant.

Every thing was fitted in the cellar, the timbers to the keel, the

canvas to the timbers, and the seats to the whole, and then all were

taken to pieces again. It was a matter of difficulty, however, to get

the pieces conveyed out of the city; but William Adams carried the keel,

and hid it at the bottom of a hedge: the rest was carried away with

similar precautions. As I was carrying a piece of canvas, which we had

bought for a sail, I looked back, and discovered the same spy, who had

formerly given us much trouble, following behind. This gave me no small

concern; but, observing an Englishman washing clothes by the sea side, I

desired his help in washing the canvas. Just as we were engaged with it,

the spy came up, and stood on a rock exactly over our heads, to watch

us. Therefore, to delude him, I took the canvas and spread it before his

face on the top of the rock to dry; he staid his own time, and then

marched off. Still I was jealous of his intentions, which induced me to

carry the canvas, when dry, straight back to the city, an incident that

greatly discouraged my comrades. We also procured a small quantity of

provisions, and two goat skins full of fresh water.

In the mean time, I paid my patron my wonted visits, kept up a fair

correspondence, and duly gave him his demands; while I secretly turned

all my goods to ready money as fast as I could, and putting it into a

trunk with a false bottom, I committed it to the charge of Mr. Sprat who

faithfully preserved it for me.

The place which we chose for joining the boat together was a hill about

half a mile from the city, thinking by that means the better to descry

the approach of danger. When the pieces were united, and the canvas

drawn on, four of our number carried the boat down to the sea, where,

stripping ourselves naked, and putting our clothes within, we carried it

as far as we could wade, lest it might be injured by the stones or rocks

near the shore. But we soon discovered that our calculations of lading

were erroneous; for no sooner had we embarked, than the water came in

over the sides, and she was like to sink; so that some new device became

necessary. At last, one whose heart most failed him was willing to be

excluded, and wished rather to hazard the uncertain torments of land,

than the certainty of being drowned at sea. However the boat was still

so deeply laden, that we all concluded that it was impossible to venture

to sea. At length another went ashore, and she held her head stoutly,

and seemed sufficiently capable of our voyage.

Taking a solemn farewell of our two companions left behind, and wishing

them as much happiness as could be hoped for in slavery, and they to us

as long life as could be expected by men going to their graves, we

launched out on the 30th of June 1644, a night ever to be remembered.

Our company consisted of John Anthony, William Adams, John Jephs, John

the carpenter and myself. We now put to sea, without helm, tackle, or

compass. Four of us continually labored at the oars; the employment of

the fifth was baling out the water that leaked through the canvas. We

struggled hard the first night to get out of the reach of our old

masters; but when the day broke, we were still within sight of their

ships in the haven and road-stead. Yet, out boat being small, and lying

close and snug upon the sea, either was not discovered at all, or else

seemed something that was not worth taking up.

On all occasions we found our want of foresight, for now the bread which

had lain soaking in the salt water, was quite spoiled, and the tanned

skins imparted a nauseous quality to the fresh water. So long as bread

was bread, we made no complaints; with careful economy it lasted three

days, but then pale famine, which is the most horrible shape in which

death can be painted, began to stare us in the face. The expedients on

which we fell to assuage our thirst rather inflamed it, and several

things added to our distress. For some time the wind was right against

us; our labour was incessant, for, although much rowing did not carry us

forward, still, cessation of it drove us back; and the season was raging

hot, which rendered our toil insupportable. One small alleviation we had

in the man whose province it was to bale the water out of the boat; he

threw it on our bodies to cool them. However, what with the scorching of

the sun and cooling of the water, our skin was blistered all over. By

day we were stark naked; by night we had on shirts or loose coats; for

we had left our clothing ashore, on purpose to lighten the boat.

One of our number had a pocket dial, which supplied the place of a

compass; and, to say the truth, was not ill befitting such a vessel and

such mariners. By its aid we steered our course by day, while the stars

served as a guide by night; and, if they were obscured, we guessed our

way by the motion of the clouds. In this woful plight we continued four

days and nights. On the fifth day we were at the brink of despair, and

abandoned all hopes of safety. Thence we ceased our labor, and laid

aside our oars; for, either we had no strength left to use them, or were

reluctant to waste the little we had to no purpose. Still we kept

emptying the boat, loth to drown, loth to die, yet knowing no means to

avoid death.

They that act least commonly wish the most; and, when we had forsaken

useful labor, we resorted to fruitless wishes--that we might be taken up

by some ship, if it were but a ship, no matter of what country.

While we lay hulling up and down, our hopes at so low an ebb, we

discovered a tortoise, not far from us, asleep in the sea. Had the great

Drake discovered the Spanish plate fleet, he could not have been more

rejoiced. Once again we bethought ourselves of our oars, and silently

rowing to our prey, took it into the boat in great triumph. Having cut

off its head, and let it bleed in a vessel, we drank the blood, ate the

liver, and sucked the flesh. Our strength and spirits were wonderfully

refreshed, and our work was vigorously renewed. Leaving our fears behind

us, we began to gather hope, and, about noon, discovered, or thought

that we discovered, land. It is impossible to describe our joy and

triumph on this occasion. It was new life to us; it brought fresh blood

into our veins, and fresh vigor into our pale cheeks: we looked like

persons raised from the dead. After further exertion, becoming more

confident, we were at last fully satisfied that it was land. Now, like

distracted persons, we all leapt into the sea, and, being good swimmers,

cooled our parched bodies, never considering that we might become a

ready prey to the sharks. But we presently returned to our boat, and

from being wearied with the exertion, and somewhat cooled by the sea,

lay down to sleep with as much security as if it had been in our beds.

It was fortunately of such short duration that the leaking of the boat

occasioned no danger.

Refreshed by sleep, we found new strength for our work, and tugged hard

at the oar, in hopes of reaching a more stable element before night. But

our progress was very slow. Towards evening an island was discovered,

which was Fromentere, having already seen Majorca; at least, some of our

company, who had navigated these seas, declared that it was so. We

debated long to which of the two our course should be directed; and,

because the last discovered was much infested with venomous serpents, we

all resolved to make for Majorca. The whole of that night we rowed very

hard, and also the next, being the sixth from our putting to sea. The

island was in sight all day, and about ten at night we came under the

land, but it consisted of rocks so steep and craggy that we could not

climb up.

Whilst under these rocks a vessel approached very near. Let the reader

conceive our apprehensions, after all our toil and labor, of being

seized by some Turkish privateer, such as are never off the seas. Thus

we were obliged to lie close; and, when the vessel had passed, we crept

gently along the coast, as near as we durst to the shore, until finding

a suitable place to receive our weather-beaten boat.

We were not insensible of our deliverance on reaching land; though, like

men just awakened from a dream, we could not duly appreciate the

greatness of it. Having had no food since we got the tortoise, John

Anthony and myself set out in search of fresh water, and three remained

with the boat. Before proceeding far, we found ourselves in a wood,

which created great embarrassment. My comrade wished to go one way, and

I wished to go another. How frail and impotent a being is man! That we,

whom common dangers by sea had united, should now fall out about our own

inclinations at land. Yet so we did. He gave me reproachful words; and

it is well that we did not come to blows, but I went my way, and he,

seeing me resolute, followed. The path led to one of those watchtowers

which the Spaniards keep on the coast to give timely notice of the

approach of privateers. Afraid of being fired on, we called to the

sentinel, informing him who we were, and earnestly requesting him to

direct us to fresh water, and to give us some bread. He very kindly

threw down an old mouldy cake, and directed us to a well close at hand.

We drank a little water, and ate a bit of the cake, which we had

difficulty in swallowing, and then hastened to return to our companions

in the boat, to acquaint them with our success.

Though now necessary to leave the boat, we did not do it without regret;

but this was lulled by the importunate cravings of hunger and thirst;

therefore, making her fast ashore, we departed. Advancing, or rather

crawling towards the well, another quarrel rose amongst us, the

remembrance of which is so ungrateful that I shall bury it in silence,

the best tomb for controversies. One of our company, William Adams, in

attempting to drink, was unable to swallow the water, and sunk to the

ground, faintly exclaiming, "I am a dead man!" After much straining and

forcing, he, at length, got a little over; and when we were all

refreshed with the cake and water, we lay down by the side of the well

to wait for morning.

When it was broad day, we once more applied to the sentinel, to point

out the way to the nearest house or town, which he did, directing us to

a house about two miles distant; but our feet were so raw and blistered

by the sun that it was long before we could get this short journey over;

and then, the owners of the house, concluding from our garb that we came

with a pilfering design, presented a fowling-piece, charging us to

stand. The first of our number, who could speak the language of the

country, mildly endeavored to undeceive him, saying, we were a company

of poor creatures, whom the wonderful providence of God had rescued from

the slavery of Algiers, and hoped that he would show mercy to our

afflictions. The honest farmer, moved with our relation, sent out

bread, water and olives. After refreshing ourselves with these, we lay

down and rested three or four hours in the field; and, having given him

thanks for his charity, prepared to crawl away. Pleased with our

gratitude, he called us into his house, and gave us good warm bean

pottage, which to me seemed the best food I had ever ate. Again taking

leave, we advanced towards Majorca, which was about ten miles distant.

Next morning we arrived in the suburbs, where the singularity of our

attire, being barefoot and bare legged, and having nothing on except

loose shirts, drawn over our coats, attracted a crowd of enquirers. We

gave a circumstantial account of our deliverance; and, as they were

willing to contribute to our relief, they supplied us with food, wine,

strong waters, and whatever else might renovate our exhausted spirits.

They said, however, that we must remain in the suburbs until the viceroy

had notice of our arrival. We were called before him, and when he had

heard the account of our escape and dangers, he ordered us to be

maintained at his expense until we should obtain a passage to our own

country; and, in the meantime, the people collected money to buy clothes

and shoes.

From Majorca they proceeded to Cadiz, and from thence to England, which

they reached in safety.

Several expeditions at different periods were fitted out by different

European nations to chastise the pirates. The Emperor, Charles V., in

the plenitude of his power, sailed with a formidable armament in the

year 1541, and affected a landing. Without doubt he would have taken the

city, if a terrible storm had not risen, which destroyed a great part of

his fleet and obliged him to re-embark with his shattered forces in the

greatest precipitation. The exultation of the Algerines was unbounded;

they now looked on themselves as the special favorites of heaven; the

most powerful army which had ever attempted their subjection had

returned with the loss of one third their number, and a great part of

its ships and transports. Prisoners had been taken in such abundance,

that to show their worthlessness, they were publicly sold in the

market-place at Algiers, at an onion a head.

For nearly a century after this, little occurs of note in Algerine

history except a constant system of piracy. In 1655 the British Admiral

Blake gave them a drubbing.

The French were the next to attack these common enemies of Europe.

Admiral Duguesne commanded the expedition, and after bombarding the

place a short time, the Dey himself soon began to be terrified at the

destruction these new engines of naval war made, when an unfavorable

wind arising, compelled the fleet to make all sail for Toulon.

Relieved from the terror of immediate destruction, the Algerines

returned to their old ways, making descents on the coast of Provence,

where they committed the most dreadful ravages, killing, burning and

destroying all that came in their way. The Dey also recovered, not only

his courage, but his humor; for learning what a large sum the late

expedition against his city had cost, he sent to say, "that if Louis

would give him half the money, he would undertake to burn the whole city

to please him." The French accordingly sent a new expedition under the

same officers the next year. Duguesne again sailed, and in front of the

city was joined by the Marquis D'Affranville, at the head of five other

stout ships. A council of war was held and an immediate attack resolved

upon, in consequence of which, the vessels having taken up their

stations, a hundred bombs were thrown into the town during that day, and

as many more on the following night, when the town was observed to be on

fire in several places; the Dey's palace, and other public buildings

were in ruins; some of the batteries were dismounted, and several

vessels sunk in the fort. This speedy destruction soon determined the

Dey and Janissaries to sue for peace; and a message to this effect was

sent to Duguesne, who consented to cease firing, but refused to

negociate regarding terms, until all the captives taken fighting under

the French flag were given up as a preliminary step. This was agreed to,

and one hundred and forty-two prisoners immediately sent off. In the

mean time the soldiery becoming furious, assassinated the Dey and

elected a new one, who ordered the flag to be hoisted on the city walls.

Hostilities were now renewed with greater fury than before, and the

French admiral threw such volleys of bombs into the city, that in less

than three days the greatest part of it was reduced to ashes; and the

fire burnt with such vehemence that the bay was illuminated to the

distance of two or three leagues. Rendered desperate by the carnage

around him, the new Dey ordered all the French captives who had been

collected into the city to be cruelly murdered, and binding Father

Vacher, the French Resident, hand and foot, had him tied to a mortar and

fired off like a bomb against the French fleet. This wanton piece of

atrocity so exasperated Duguesne, that, laying his fleet as near land as

possible, he continued his cannonade until he had destroyed all their

shipping, fortifications, buildings; in short, almost the whole of the

lower town, and about two-thirds of the upper; when finding nothing else

which a naval force could do, and being unprovided for a land

expedition, he stood out leisurely to sea, leaving the Algerines to

reflect over the sad consequences of their obstinacy. For several years

after this they kept in the old piratical track; and upon the British

consuls making a complaint to the Dey, on occasion of one of his

corsairs having captured a vessel, he openly replied, "It is all very

true, but what would you have? the Algerines are a company of rogues,

and I am their captain."

To such people force was the argument; and in 1700 Capt. Beach, falling

in with seven of their frigates, attacked them, drove them on shore, and

burnt them. Expeditions at various times were sent against them, but

without effecting much; and most of the maritime nations paid them

tribute. But a new power was destined to spring up, from which these

pirates were to receive their first check; that power was the United

States of America.

In 1792 his corsairs, in a single cruise, swept off ten American

vessels, and sent their crews to the Bagnio, so that there were one

hundred and fifteen in slavery.

Negociations were at once set on foot; the Dey's demands had of course

risen in proportion to the number of his prisoners, and the Americans

had not only to pay ransom at a high rate, with presents, marine stores,

and yearly tribute, but to build and present to the Dey, as a

propitiatory offering, a thirty-six gun frigate; so that the whole

expenses fell little short of a million of dollars, in return for which

they obtained liberty for their captives, protection for their merchant

vessels, and the right of free trade with Algiers. The treaty was signed

September 5th, 1795; and from that time, up to 1812, the Dey continued

on tolerable good terms with Congress; indeed, so highly was he pleased

with them, in 1800, that he signified to the consul his intention of

sending an ambassador to the Porte, with the customary presents, in the

Washington, a small American frigate, at that time lying in the harbor

of Algiers. In vain the consul and captain remonstrated, and represented

that they had no authority to send the vessel on such a mission; they

were silenced by the assurance that it was a particular honor conferred

on them, which the Dey had declined offering to any of the English

vessels then in harbor, as he was rather angry with that nation. The

Washington was obliged to be prepared for the service; the corsair flag,

bearing the turbaned head of Ali, was run up to her main top, under a

salute of seven guns; and in this respectable plight she sailed up the

Mediterranean, dropped anchor before the seven towers, where, having

landed her cargo, she was permitted to resume her own colors, and was

thus the first vessel to hoist the American Union in the Thracian

Bosphorus.

[Illustration: _Algerines in the act of firing off the French consul from

a mortar at the French fleet._]

In 1812, however, the Dey, finding his funds at a low ebb, and receiving

from all quarters reports that a wealthy American commerce was afloat,

determined on trying them with a new war. He was peculiarly unfortunate

in the time chosen, as the States, having about a month previously

declared war with Great Britain, had, in fact, withdrawn most of the

merchant ships from the sea, so that the only prize which fell into the

hands of the Dey's cruizers was a small brig, with a crew of eleven

persons. The time at length came for putting an end to these lawless

depredations, and peace having been concluded with England, President

Madison, in 1815, despatched an American squadron, under commodores

Bainbridge and Decatur, with Mr. Shaler, as envoy, on board, to demand

full satisfaction for all injuries done to American subjects, the

immediate release of such as were captives, the restitution of their

property, with an assurance that no future violence should be offered,

and also to negociate the preliminaries of a treaty on terms of perfect

equality, no proposal of tribute being at all admissible. The squadron

reached its destination early in June, and, having captured an Algerine

frigate and brig-of-war, suddenly appeared before Algiers, at a moment

when all the cruizers were at sea, and delivered, for the consideration

of the Divan, the terms on which they were commissioned to make peace,

together with a letter from the President to the Dey. Confounded by the

sudden and entirely unexpected appearance of this force, the Algerines

agreed, on the 30th of June, to the proposals of a treaty, almost

without discussion.

It had long been a reproach to Great Britain, the mistress of the sea,

that she had tamely suffered a barbarian power to commit such atrocious

ravages on the fleets and shores of the minor states along the

Mediterranean. At length a good cause was made for chastising them.

At Bona, a few miles to the east of Algiers, was an establishment for

carrying on a coral fishery, under the protection of the British flag,

which, at the season, was frequented by a great number of boats from the

Corsican, Neapolitan, and other Italian ports. On the 23d of May, the

feast of Ascension, as the crews of all the boats were preparing to hear

mass, a gun was fired from the castle, and at the same time appeared

about two thousand, other accounts say four thousand, infantry and

cavalry, consisting of Turks, Levanters, and Moors. A part of these

troops proceeded towards the country, whilst another band advanced

towards the river, where the fishing boats were lying at different

distances from the sea; and opening a fire upon the unfortunate

fishermen, who were partly on board and partly on land, massacred almost

the whole of them. They then seized the English flags, tore them in

pieces, and trampling them under foot, dragged them along the ground in

triumph. The men who happened to be in the country saved themselves by

flight, and declared that they saw the soldiers pillage the house of the

British vice-consul, the magazines containing the provisions, and the

coral that had been fished up. A few boats escaped, and brought the news

to Genoa, whence it was transmitted by the agent of Lloyd's in a

despatch, dated June 6th.

No sooner had the account of this atrocious slaughter reached England,

than all ranks seemed inflamed with a desire that a great and signal

punishment should be taken on this barbarian prince, who was neither

restrained by the feelings of humanity nor bound by treaties. An

expedition, therefore, was fitted out with all speed at Portsmouth, and

the command intrusted to Lord Exmouth, who, after some delays from

contrary winds, finally sailed, July 28th, with a fleet complete in all

points, consisting of his own ship, the Queen Charlotte, one hundred

and twenty guns; the Impregnable, rear admiral, Sir David Milne; ninety

guns; Minden, Superb, Albion, each seventy-four guns; the Leander fifty

guns, with four more frigates and brigs, bombs, fire-ships, and several

smaller vessels, well supplied, in addition to the ordinary means of

warfare, with Congreve rockets, and Shrapnell shells, the destructive

powers of which have lately been abundantly proved on the continent.

August 9, the fleet anchored at Gibraltar, and was there joined by the

Dutch admiral, Van Cappillen, commanding five frigates and a corvette,

who had been already at Algiers, endeavoring to deliver slaves: but

being refused, and finding his force insufficient, had determined on

joining himself with the English squadron, which it was understood was

under weigh. Meanwhile, the Prometheus, Captain Dashwood, had been sent

forward to Algiers to bring off the British consul and family; but could

only succeed in getting his wife and daughter, who were obliged to make

their escape, disguised in midshipmen's uniform; for the Dey, having

heard through some French papers of the British expedition, had seized

the consul, Mr. Macdonnell, and put him in chains; and, hearing of the

escape of his wife, immediately ordered the detention of two boats of

the Prometheus, which happened to be on shore, and made slaves of the

crews, amounting to eighteen men. This new outrage was reported to Lord

Exmouth soon after leaving Gibraltar, and of course added not a little

to his eagerness to reach Algiers. He arrived off Algiers on the morning

of the 27th of August, and sent in his interpreter, Mr. Salame, with

Lieutenant Burgess, under a flag of truce, bearing a letter for the Dey,

demanding reparation.

Meantime, a light breeze sprung up, and the fleet advanced into the bay,

and lay to, at about a mile off Algiers "It was now," says Mr. Salame,

in his entertaining narrative, "half-past two, and no answer coming out,

notwithstanding we had staid half an hour longer than our instructions,

and the fleet being almost opposite the town, with a fine breeze, we

thought proper, after having done our duty, to lose no more time, but to

go on board, and inform his lordship of what had happened.

"Mr. Burgess, the flag-lieutenant, having agreed with me, we hoisted the

signal, _that no answer had been given_, and began to row away towards

the Queen Charlotte. After I had given our report to the admiral, of our

meeting the captain of the port, and our waiting there, &c., I was quite

surprised to see how his lordship was altered from what I left him in

the morning; for I knew his manner was in general very mild, and now he

seemed to me _all-fightful,_ as a fierce lion, which had been chained in

its cage, and was set at liberty. With all that, his lordship's answer

to me was, '_Never mind, we shall see now_;' and at the same time he

turned towards the officers, saying, '_Be ready_,' whereupon I saw every

one with the match or the string of the lock in his hand, most anxiously

expecting the word '_Fire_'!

"No sooner had Salame returned, than his lordship made the signal to know

whether all the ships were ready, which being answered in the

affirmative, he directly turned the head of the Queen Charlotte towards

shore, and, to the utter amazement of the Algerines, ran across all the

batteries without firing or receiving a single shot, until he brought up

within eighty yards of the south end of the mole, where he lashed her to

the mainmast of an Algerine brig, which he had taken as his direction,

and had then the pleasure of seeing all the rest of the fleet, including

the Dutch frigates, taking up their assigned stations with the same

precision and regularity. The position in which the Queen Charlotte was

laid was so admirable that she was only exposed to the fire of three or

four flanking guns, while her broadside swept the whole batteries, and

completely commanded the mole and marine, every part of which could be

seen distinctly from her quarter-deck. Up to this moment not a shot had

been fired, and the batteries were all crowded with spectators, gazing

in astonishment at the quiet and regularity which prevailed through all

the British ships, and the dangerous vicinity in which they placed

themselves to such formidable means of defence. Lord Exmouth, therefore,

began to conceive hopes that his demands would still be granted; but the

delay, it appeared, was caused by the Algerines being completely

unprepared for so very sudden an approach, insomuch that their guns were

not shotted at the moment when the Queen Charlotte swept past them, and

they were distinctly seen loading them as the other ships were coming

into line. Anxious, if possible, to spare unnecessary effusion of blood,

his lordship, standing on the quarter-deck, repeatedly waved his hat as

a warning to the multitudes assembled on the mole to retire, but his

signal was unheeded, and at a quarter before three in the afternoon the

first gun was fired at the Queen Charlotte from the eastern battery, and

two more at the Albion and Superb, which were following. Then Lord

Exmouth, having seen only _the smoke of the gun,_ before the sound

reached him, said, with great alacrity, '_That will do; fire my fine

fellows!_' and I am sure that before his lordship had finished these

words, our broadside was given with great cheering, which was fired

three times within five or six minutes; and at the same time the other

ships did the same. This first fire was so terrible, that they say more

than five hundred persons were killed and wounded by it. And I believe

this, because there was a great crowd of people in every part, many of

whom, after the first discharge, I saw running away, under the walls,

like dogs, walking upon their feet and hands.

"After the attack took place on both sides in this horrible manner,

immediately the sky was darkened by the smoke, the sun completely

eclipsed, and the horizon became dreary. Being exhausted by the heat of

that powerful sun, to which I was exposed the whole day, and my ears

being deafened by the roar of the guns, and finding myself in the

dreadful danger of such a terrible engagement, in which I had never been

before, I was quite at a loss, and like an astonished or stupid man, and

did not know myself where I was. At last his lordship, having perceived

my situation, said, 'You have done your duty, now go below.' Upon which

I began to descend from the quarter-deck, quite confounded and

terrified, and not sure that I should reach the cock-pit alive; for it

was most tremendous to hear the crashing of the shot, to see the wounded

men brought from one part, and the killed from the other; and

especially, at such a time, to be found among the _English seamen_! and

to witness their manners, their activity, their courage, and their

cheerfulness during the battle!--it is really most overpowering and

beyond imagination."

The battle continued to rage furiously, and the havoc on both sides was

very great. There were some awful moments, particularly when Algerine

vessels so near our line were set on fire. The officers surrounding Lord

Exmouth had been anxious for permission to make an attempt upon the

outer frigate, distant about a hundred yards. He at length consented,

and Major Gossett, of the corps of marines, eagerly entreated and

obtained permission to accompany Lieutenant Richards in the ship's

barge. The frigate was instantly boarded, and, in ten minutes, in a

perfect blaze. A gallant young midshipman, although forbidden, was led

by his too ardent spirit to follow in support of the barge, in which

attempt he was desperately wounded, his brother officer killed, and nine

of the crew. The barge, by rowing more rapidly, escaped better, having

but one killed.

About sunset the admiral received a message from rear-admiral Milne,

stating his severe loss in killed and wounded, amounting to one hundred

and fifty, and requesting that, if possible, a frigate might be sent him

to take off some of the enemy's fire. The Glasgow accordingly was

ordered to get under weigh, but the wind having been laid by the

cannonade, she was obliged again to anchor, having obtained a rather

more favorable position. The flotilla of mortar, gun, and rocket boats,

under the direction of their respective artillery officers, shared to

the full extent of their powers the honors and toils of this glorious

day. It was by their fire that all the ships in the port (with the

exception of the outer frigate already mentioned) were in flames, which,

extending rapidly over the whole arsenal, gun-boats, and storehouses,

exhibited a spectacle of awful grandeur and interest which no pen can

describe. The sloops of war which had been appropriated to aid and

assist the ships of the line, and prepare for their retreat, performed

not only that duty well, but embraced every opportunity of firing

through the intervals, and were constantly in motion. The shells from

the bombs were admirably well thrown by the royal marine artillery, and,

though directed over and across our own men-of-war, did not produce a

single accident. To complete the confusion of the enemy, the admiral now

ordered the explosion ship, which had been charged for the occasion, to

be brought within the mole; but upon the representation of Sir David

Milne that it would do him essential service, if made to act on the

battery in his front, it was towed to that spot, and blown up with

tremendous effect.

This was almost the final blow;--the enemy's fire had for some time been

very slack, and now almost wholly ceased, except that occasionally a few

shots and shells were discharged from the higher citadel, upon which the

guns of the fleet could not be brought to bear. The admiral, who from

the commencement had been in the hottest of the engagement, and had

fired until his guns were so hot that they could, some of them, not be

used again; now seeing that he had executed the most important part of

his instructions, issued orders for drawing off the fleet. This was

commenced in excellent order about ten at night, and the usual breeze

having set off from shore favored their manoeuvre, so that, all hands

being employed in warping and towing, the vessels were got safely into

the bay, and anchored, beyond reach of shot, about two o'clock the next

morning.

So signal and well contested a victory could not have been gained

without a considerable loss and suffering. It amounted in the English

fleet, to one hundred and twenty-eight men killed, and six hundred and

ninety wounded; in the Dutch squadron, to thirteen killed, and fifty-two

wounded; grand total, eight hundred and eighty-three. But the enemy

suffered much more severly; they are computed to have lost, in killed

and wounded, not less than between six and seven thousand men. The loss

sustained by the Algerines by the destruction in the mole was four large

frigates, of forty-four guns. Five large corvettes, from twenty-four to

thirty guns. All the gun and mortar-boats, except seven; thirty

destroyed. Several merchant brigs and schooners. A great number of small

vessels of various descriptions. All the pontoons, lighters, &c.,

Store-houses and arsenal, with all the timber, and various marine

articles destroyed in part. A great many gun-carriages, mortar-beds,

casks, and ships' stores of all descriptions.

Negociations were immediately opened in form; and on the 30th August the

admiral published a notification to the fleet, that all demands had been

complied with, the British consul had been indemnified for his losses,

and the Dey, in presence of all his officers, had made him a public

apology for the insults offered him. On the 1st of September, Lord

Exmouth had the pleasure of informing the secretary of the Admiralty,

that all the slaves in the city of Algiers, and its immediate vicinity

were embarked; as also 357,000 dollars for Naples, and 25,000 dollars

for Sardinia.

The number of slaves thus released amounted to one thousand and

eighty-three, of whom four hundred and seventy-one were Neapolitans,

two hundred and thirty-six Sicilians, one hundred and seventy-three

Romans, six Tuscans, one hundred and sixty-one Spaniards, one

Portuguese, seven Greeks, twenty-eight Dutch, and not _one Englishman_.

Were there an action more than another on which an Englishman would

willingly risk the fame and honor of his nation, it would be this attack

on Algiers, which, undertaken solely at her own risk, and earned solely

by the expenditure of her own blood and her own resources, rescued not a

single subject of her own from the tyrant's grasp, while it freed more

than a thousand belonging to other European powers.

In August, 1816, the strength of Algiers seemed annihilated; her walls

were in ruins, her haughty flag was humbled to the dust; her gates lay

open to a hostile power, and terms were dictated in the palace of her

princes. A year passed, the hostile squadron had left her ports, the

clang of the workman's hammer, the hum of busy men resounded through her

streets, fresh walls had risen, new and more formidable batteries had

been added; again she resumed her attitude as of yore, bid defiance to

her foes, and declared war on civilization:--again her blood-stained

corsairs swept the seas, eager for plunder, ready for combat;--Christian

commerce once more became shackled by her enterprise, and Christian

captives once more sent up their cry for deliverance. In 1819, her

piracies had become so numerous that the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle

caused it to be notified to the Dey, that their cessation was required,

and would be enforced, by a combined French and English squadron. His

reply was brief and arrogant, and the admirals were obliged to leave

without obtaining the least satisfaction. By menaces, however,

accompanied by the presence of some cruisers, England, France, and the

United States caused their flags to be respected.

Ali, the successor of Amar, had died in 1818, and was succeeded by

Hassein Pasha, who, from the commencement of his reign, evinced the

strongest antipathy to the French power. In 1824, he imposed an

arbitrary tax through all his provinces on French goods and

manufactures; the consul's house was frequently entered and searched in

a vexatious manner, contrary to the express stipulations of treaties;

and, finally, April, 1827, the consul himself, having gone at the feast

of Bayram to pay his respects, was, upon a slight difference of opinion

arising during their conversation, struck across the mouth with a

fly-flap which the Dey held in his hand, and in consequence soon after

left Algiers, while the Dey ordered the destruction of all the French

establishments along the coast towards Bona, and oppressed in every

manner the French residents within his dominions. A blockade was

instantly commenced by the French, and maintained for nearly three

years, until it was found that they suffered much more by it than the

Dey, the expense having reached nearly 800,000_l_ sterling, while he

appeared no way inconvenienced by their efforts, and even treated them

with such contempt as to order his forts to fire on the vessel of

Admiral Le da Bretonniere, who, in 1829, had gone there under a flag of

truce to make a final proposal of terms of accommodation. So signal a

violation of the laws of nations could not be overlooked, even by the

imbecile administrations of Charles X. All France was in an uproar; the

national flag had been dishonored, and her ambassador insulted; the cry

for war became loud and universal; conferences on the subject were held;

the oldest and most experienced mariners were invited by the minister at

war to assist in his deliberations; and an expedition was finally

determined on in the month of February, 1830, to consist of about

thirty-seven thousand men, a number which it was calculated would not

only be sufficient to overcome all opposition which might be

encountered, but to enable the French to reduce the kingdom to a

province, and retain it in subjection for any length of time that might

be considered advisable. No sooner was this decision promulgated, than

all the necessary preparations were commenced with the utmost diligence.

It was now February, and the expedition was to embark by the end of

April, so that no time could be lost. The arsenals, the naval and

military workships, were all in full employment. Field and breaching

batteries were mounted on a new principle lately adopted; gabions,

earth-bags, _chevaux-de-frise,_ and projectiles were made in the

greatest abundance maps, notes, and all the information that could be

procured respecting Barbary were transmitted to the war office, where

their contents were compared and digested, and a plan of operations was

drawn out. The commissariat were busied in collecting provisions,

waggons, and fitting out an efficient hospital train; a

deputy-commissary was despatched to reconnoitre the coasts of Spain and

the Balearic Islands, to ascertain what resources could be drawn from

them, and negociate with the king for leave to establish military

hospitals at Port Mahon. Eighteen regiments of the line, three squadrons

of cavalry, and different corps of artillery and engineers were ordered

to hold themselves in readiness; four hundred transports were assembled,

and chartered by government in the port of Marseilles, while the vessels

of war, which were to form the convoy, were appointed their rendezvous

in the neighborhood of Toulon. After some hesitation as to who should

command this important expedition, the Count de Bourmont, then minister

at war, thought fit to appoint himself; and his etat-major was soon

complete, Desprez acting as chief, and Tholoze as second in command.

Maubert de Neuilly was chosen provost-marshal, De Bartillat (who

afterwards wrote an entertaining account of the expedition)

quarter-master general, and De Carne commissary-general to the forces.

In addition to these, there were about twenty aid-de-camps, orderlies,

and young men of rank attached to the staff, together with a Spanish

general, an English colonel, a Russian colonel and lieutenant, and two

Saxon officers, deputed by their respective governments. There were also

a section of engineer-geographers, whose business was to survey and map

the country as it was conquered, "and," says M. Roget, who was himself

employed in the service we have just mentioned, and to whose excellent

work, written in that capacity, we are so much indebted, "twenty-four

interpreters, the half of whom knew neither French nor Arabic, were

attached-to the different corps of the army, in order to facilitate

their intercourse with the inhabitants." As the minister had determined

on risking his own reputation on the expedition, the supplies were all,

of course, of the completest kind, and in the greatest abundance.

Provisions for three months were ordered; an equal quantity was to be

forwarded as soon as the army had landed in Africa; and, amongst the

other materials furnished we observe, in looking over the returns,

thirty wooden legs, and two hundred crutches, for the relief of the

unfortunate heroes, a boring apparatus to sink pumps, if water should

run short, and a balloon, with two aeronauts, to reconnoitre the enemy's

position, in case, as was represented to be their wont, they should

entrench themselves under the shelter of hedges and brushwood.

The French effected a landing at Sidy-el-Ferruch, a small promontory,

about five leagues to the west of Algiers, and half a league to the east

of the river Massaflran, where it discharges itself into the bay. On the

14th of June they all landed without opposition.

After a continued series of engagements and skirmishes the army got

within cannon shot of Algiers, where they broke ground and began

entrenching, and the French works being completed, the heavy breaching

cannon were all mounted; and at day-break on the 4th of July, General

Lahitte, having assured himself by personal inspection that all was

ready, ordered the signal rocket to be thrown, and at the same moment

the whole French batteries opened their fire within point blank

distance, and with a report which shook the whole of Algiers, and

brought the garrison, who were little expecting so speedy an attack,

running to their posts. The artillery was admirably served, and from one

battery which enfiladed the fort, the balls were seen to sweep away at

once an entire row of Algerine cannoneers from their guns. The Turks

displayed the most undaunted courage; they answered shot for shot,

supplied with fresh men the places of such as were slain, stopped up

with woolsacks the breaches made by the balls, replaced the cannon which

the French fire had dismounted, and never relaxed their exertions for a

moment. But the nature of their works was ill-calculated to withstand

the scientific accuracy with which the besiegers made their attack.

Every ball now told--the tower in the centre was completely riddled by

shots and shells; the bursting of these latter had disabled great

numbers of the garrison. By seven o'clock the besieged had begun to

retire from the most damaged part of their works; by half-past eight the

whole outer line of defence was abandoned, and by nine the fire of the

fort was extinct. The Turkish general, finding opposition hopeless, had

sent to the Dey for commands; and in reply was ordered to retreat with

his whole remaining force to the Cassaubah, and leave three negroes to

blow up the fort. The tranquillity with which they performed this fatal

task deserves record. The French, finding the enemy's fire to fail,

directed all theirs towards effecting a practicable breach. The fort

seemed to be abandoned;--two red flags floated still on its outside line

of defence, and a third on the angle towards the city. Three negroes

were seen calmly walking on the ramparts, and from time to time looking

over, as if to examine what progress the breach was making. One of them,

struck by a cannon-ball, fell, and the others, as if to revenge his

death, ran to a cannon, pointed it, and fired three shots. At the third,

the gun turned over, and they were unable to replace it. They tried

another, and as they were in the act of raising it, a shot swept the

legs from under one of them. The remaining negro gazed for a moment on

his comrade, drew him a little back, left him, and once more examined

the breach. He then snatched one of the flags, and retired to the

interior of the tower; in a few minutes he re-appeared, took a second

and descended. The French continued to cannonade, and the breach

appeared almost practicable, when suddenly they were astounded by a

terrific explosion, which shook the whole ground as with an earthquake;

an immense column of smoke, mixed with streaks of flame, burst from the

centre of the fortress, masses of solid masonry were hurled into the air

to an amazing height, while cannon, stones, timbers, projectiles, and

dead bodies, were scattered in every direction--the negro had done his

duty--the fort was blown up.

In half an hour the French sappers and miners were at work repairing the

smoking ruins, their advanced guards had effected a reconnoissance along

the side of the hill towards the fort Bab-azoona, and their engineers

had broken ground for new works within seven hundred yards of the

Cassaubah. But these preparations were unnecessary; the Dey had resigned

all further intention of resistance, and at two o'clock a flag of truce

was announced, which proved to be Sidy Mustapha, the Dey's private

secretary, charged with offers of paying the whole expense of the

campaign, relinquishing all his demands on France, and making any

further reparation that the French general might require, on condition

that the troops should not enter Algiers. These proposals met with an

instant negative:--Bourmont felt that Algiers was in his power, and

declared that he would grant no other terms than an assurance of life to

the Dey and inhabitants, adding that if the gates were not opened he

should recommence his fire. Scarcely had Mustapha gone, than two other

deputies appeared, sent by the townsmen to plead in their behalf. They

were a Turk called Omar, and a Moor named Bouderba, who having lived for

some time at Marseilles, spoke French perfectly. They received nearly

the same answer as Mustapha; but they proved themselves better

diplomatists, for they spoke so much to the general of the danger, there

would be in refusing the Janissaries all terms, and the probability that

if thus driven to despair they might make a murderous resistance, and

afterwards destroy all the wealth and blow up all the forts before

surrendering, that Bourmont, yielding to their representations, became

less stern in his demands; and Mustapha having returned about the same

time with the English vice-consul, as a mediator, the following terms

were finally committed to paper, and sent to the Dey by an interpreter.

"1. The fort of the Cassaubah, with all the other forts dependent on

Algiers, and the harbor, shall be placed in the hands of the French

troops the 5th of July, at 10 o'clock, A.M.

"2. The general-in-chief of the French army ensures the Dey of Algiers

personal liberty, and all his private property.

"3. The Dey shall be free to retire with his family and wealth wherever

he pleases. While he remains at Algiers he and his family shall be under

the protection of the commander-in-chief. A guard shall insure his

safety, and that of his family.

"4. The same advantages, and same protection are assured to all the

soldiers of the militia.

"5. The exercise of the Mohammedan religion shall remain free; the

liberty of the inhabitants of all classes, their religion, property,

commerce, and industry shall receive no injury; their women shall be

respected: the general takes this on his own responsibility.

"6. The ratification of this convention to be made before 10 A.M., on the

5th of July, and the French troops immediately after to take possession

of the Cassaubah, and other forts."

These terms were so much more favorable than the Dey could have

expected, that, of course, not a moment was lost in signifying his

acceptance: he only begged to be allowed two hours more to get himself

and his goods out of the Cassaubah, and these were readily granted. It

may, indeed, be wondered at that he and his Janissaries should be

allowed to retain all their ill-gotten booty, under the name of private

property; but Count de Bourmont, though not without talent, was

essentially a weak man, and was in this instance overreached by the wily

Moor. The whole of next morning an immense number of persons were seen

flying from Algiers, previous to the entry of the French army, and

carrying with them all their goods, valuables, and money. They fled by

the fort Bab-azoona, on the roads towards Constantina and Bleeda; and

about a hundred mounted Arabs were seen caracolling on the beach, as if

to cover their retreat. No opposition to it, however, was made by the

French troops, or by their navy, which had now again come in sight.

At twelve o'clock the general, with his staff, artillery, and a strong

guard, entered the Cassaubah, and at the same moment all the other forts

were taken possession of by French troops. No one appeared to make a

formal surrender, nor did any one present himself on the part of the

inhabitants, to inquire as to what protection they were to receive, yet,

on the whole, we believe the troops conducted themselves, at least on

this occasion, with signal forbearance; and that of the robberies which

took place, the greater number were perpetrated by Moors and Jews. One

was rather ingenious. The minister of finance had given up the public

treasures to commissioners regularly appointed for the purpose. Amongst

others, the mint was visited, a receipt given of its containing bullion

to the amount of 25,000 or 30,000 francs, the door sealed, and a sentry

placed. Next morning the seal was perfect, the sentry at his post, but

the bullion was gone through a small hole made in the back wall.

The amount of public property found in Algiers, and appropriated by the

French, was very considerable, and much more than repaid the expenses of

the expedition. The blockade of the last three years had, by

interrupting their commerce, caused an accumulation of the commodities

in which the Algerines generally paid their tribute, so that the

storehouses at the Cassaubah were abundantly filled with wool, hides,

leather, wax, lead and copper. Quantities of grain, silks, muslins, and

gold and silver tissues were also found, as well as salt, of which the

Dey had reserved to himself a monopoly, and, by buying it very cheap at

the Balearic Isles, used to sell it at an extravagant rate to his

subjects. The treasure alone amounted to nearly fifty million of francs,

and the cannon, projectiles, powder magazines, and military stores,

together with the public buildings, foundries, dock-yards, and vessels

in the harbor, were estimated at a still larger amount; while the entire

expense of the expedition, including land and sea service, together with

the maintenance of an army of occupation up to January, 1831, was

computed not to exceed 48,500,000 francs; so that France must have

realized, by her first connection with Algiers, a sum not far short of

L3,000,000 sterling--a larger amount, we will venture to say, than is

likely to accrue to her again, even after many years of colonization.

In a few days the Dey had embarked for Naples, which he chose as his

future place of residence; the Janissaries were sent in French vessels

to Constantinople; the Bey of Tippery made his submissions, and swore

allegiance to the French King; orders were issued, and laws enacted in

his name; the Arabs and Kalyles came into market as usual with their

fowl and game; a French soldier was tolerably safe, as long as he

avoided going to any distance beyond the outposts; and, on the whole,

Algiers the warlike, had assumed all the appearance of a French colony.

THE ADVENTURES, TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN GOW.

Captain Gow sailed from Amsterdam, in July, 1724, on board the George,

galley, for Santa Cruz, where they took in bees'-wax. Scarcely had they

sailed from that place, when Gow and several others, who had formed a

conspiracy, seized the vessel. One of the conspirators cried, "There is

a man overboard." The captain instantly ran to the side of the vessel,

when he was seized by two men, who attempted to throw him over; he

however so struggled, that he escaped from their hands. One Winter, with

a knife, attempted to cut him in the throat, but missing his aim, the

captain was yet saved. But Gow coming aft shot him through the body and

throwing him over the rail he caught hold of the main sheet; but Gow

taking up an axe, with two blows so disabled him that he fell into the

sea and was drowned. The conspirators proceeded to murder all who were

not in their horrid plot, which being done, James Williams came upon

deck, and striking one of the guns with his cutlass, saluted Gow in the

following words: "Captain Gow, you are welcome, welcome to your

command." Williams was declared lieutenant, and the other officers being

appointed, the captain addressed them, saying: "If, hereafter, I see any

of you whispering together, or if any of you refuse to obey my orders,

let every such man depend upon it, that he shall certainly go the same

way as those that are just gone before."

Their first prize was the Sarah Snow, of Bristol. After they had rifled

the vessel and received one man from it, they allowed her to prosecute

her voyage. The Delight, of Poole, was the next vessel that fell into

their hands; but they not long after captured two others, from one of

which they received a quantity of fish, and from the other bread, beef,

and pork. They also forced two men from the latter ship. A French ship,

not long after, furnished them with wine, oil, figs, oranges, and

lemons, to the value of 500_l_. In a short time after, they captured

their last prize, and, as she made no resistance, they plundered and

dismissed her.

They next sailed for the Orkney Isles to clean, but were apprehended by

a gentleman of that country, brought up to London, and tried before a

Court of Admiralty, in May, 1725. When the first indictment was read,

Gow obstinately refused to plead, for which the Court ordered his thumbs

to be tied together with whipcord. The punishment was several times

repeated by the executioner and another officer, they drawing the cord

every time till it broke. But he still being stubborn, refusing to

submit to the court, the sentence was pronounced against him, which the

law appoints in such cases; that is, "That he should be taken back to

prison, and there pressed to death." The gaoler was then ordered to

conduct him back, and see that the sentence was executed the next

morning; meanwhile the trials of the prisoners, his companions, went

forward.

But the next morning, when the press was prepared, pursuant to the order

of the Court the day before, he was so terrified with the apprehension

of dying in that manner, that he sent his humble petition to the Court,

praying that he might be admitted to plead. This request being granted,

he was brought again to the bar, and arraigned upon the first

indictment, to which he pleaded Not guilty. Then the depositions that

had been given against the other prisoners were repeated, upon which he

was convicted, and received the sentence of death accordingly, which he

suffered in company with Captain Weaver and William Ingham.

[Illustration: _Gow killing the Captain._]

The stories of these two men are so interwoven with others, that it

will be impossible to distinguish many of their particular actions. They

were, however, proved to have been concerned, if not the principal

actors, in the following piracies: first, the seizing a Dutch ship in

August, 1722, and taking from thence a hundred pieces of Holland, value

800_l_.; a thousand pieces of eight, value 250_l_. Secondly, the

entering and pillaging the Dolphin of London, William Haddock, out of

which they got three hundred pieces of eight, value 75_l_.; forty

gallons of rum, and other things, on the twentieth of November in the

same year. Thirdly, the stealing out of a ship called the Don Carlos,

Lot Neekins, master, four hundred ounces of silver, value 100_l_. fifty

gallons of rum, value 30_s_. a thousand pieces of eight, a hundred

pistoles, and other valuable goods. And fourthly, the taking from a ship

called the England, ten pipes of wine, value 250_l_. The two last

charges both in the year 1721. Weaver returned home, and came to Mr.

Thomas Smith, at Bristol, in a very ragged condition; and pretending

that he had been robbed by pirates, Smith, who had been acquainted with

him eight or nine years before, provided him with necessaries, and he

walked about unmolested for some time. But Captain Joseph Smith, who

knew him when a pirate, one day met him, and asked him to go and take a

bottle with him; when they were in the tavern he told him that he had

been a considerable sufferer by his boarding his vessel "therefore,"

said he, "as I understand that you are in good circumstances, I expect

that you will make me some restitution; which if you do, I will never

hurt a hair of your head, because you were very civil to me when I was

in your hands." But as this recompense was never given. Weaver was

apprehended and executed.

PIRATE'S SONG.

To the mast nail our flag it is dark as the grave,

Or the death which it bears while it sweeps o'er the wave;

Let our deck clear for action, our guns be prepared;

Be the boarding-axe sharpened, the scimetar bared:

Set the canisters ready, and then bring to me,

For the last of my duties, the powder-room key.

It shall never be lowered, the black flag we bear;

If the sea be denied us, we sweep through the air.

Unshared have we left our last victory's prey;

It is mine to divide it, and yours to obey:

There are shawls that might suit a sultana's white neck,

And pearls that are fair as the arms they will deck;

There are flasks which, unseal them, the air will disclose

Diametta's fair summers, the home of the rose.

I claim not a portion: I ask but as mine--

'Tis to drink to our victory--one cup of red wine.

Some fight, 'tis for riches--some fight, 'tis for fame:

The first I despise, and the last is a name.

I fight, 'tis for vengeance! I love to see flow,

At the stroke of my sabre, the life of my foe.

I strike for the memory of long-vanished years;

I only shed blood where another shed tears,

I come, as the lightning comes red from above,

O'er the race that I loathe, to the battle I love.

FINIS.

INDEX

Algerine pirates

Allen, Lieutenant

Arabian coast

Arabian pirates

Avery, Capt. Henry

Bahamas

Bainbridge, Commodore

Baltic Sea pirates

Banister, Captain

Barbary corsairs

Barrataria, La., pirates

Benavides, Vincent

Black Beard

Bonnet, Major

Bonney, Anne, female pirate

Boston, Mass

Booth, Capt. George

Bowen, Captain

Bracket, Joshua

Charleston, S. C

Chesapeake, frigate

Chilian pirates

Chinese pirates

Ching, Mistress, female pirate

Condent, Captain

Corsairs of the African coast

Crusades

Danish and Norman pirates

Davis, Capt Howel

Decatur, Commodore

De Soto, Bernardo

Dew, Capt. George

Dungeon Rock, Lynn, Mass

Dutch girl kept by pirates

East India Company

East India piracies

England, Capt. Edward

England attacks the Algerines

England overrun by pirates

Female pirates

France ravaged by pirates

French attack Algiers

"Friendship" (ship), piracy of

Germany ravaged by pirates

Gibbs, Capt. Charles

Gibraltar, pirates at

Gibson, Captain

Gilbert, Pedro

Glasspoole, Richard, captured by pirates

Gow, Captain

Guinea coast, pirates on

Halsey, Capt John

Havana, resort for pirates

"Herculia" (brig), piracy of

Hornigold, Capt. Benjamin

Jackson, Captain

Jackson, General

Joassamee pirates

Jonnia, Captain

Kearney, Lieutenant

Kidd, Capt. Robert

Ladrone pirates

Lafitte, Jean

Lewis, Captain

Lincoln, Captain

Low, Capt. Edward

Lynn, Mass., pirates

Mackra, Captain, captured

Madagascar pirates

Malay pirates

Maynard, Lieutenant

Mediterranean, a resort for pirates

"Mexican" (brig), piracy of

Mogul's ships

"Morning Star" (ship), piracy of

Newfoundland, piracy at

New Orleans, battle of

New York, pirates at

Norman pirates

North Carolina coast

Oakley, William

"Panda" (schooner)

Patterson, Commodore, expedition under

Pirate vessel, description of

Pirates, cruelty of

Dress of

Executions of

Song of

Trials of

Pirate's Glen, Saugus

Privateering on English coast

Porter, Commodore

"Potomac" (frigate), attacks Malay pirates

Quallah Battoo, Sumatra, pirates of

Rackam, Capt. John

Rahmah-ben-Jabir

Ras-el-Khyma

Read, Mary, female pirate

Read, Capt. William

Ricker, Captain

Roberts, Capt. Bartholomew

Rogers, Capt. Woods

Ruiz, Francisco

Rumps, Arabia

Salem, pirates in

Skinner, Captain, murdered

Soto, Benito de

Spanish pirates

Sumatra pirates

"Swallow" (man-of-war), captures pirates

Swedish pirates

Teach, Edward

Texan privateers

Tew, Capt. Thomas

United States attacks Algiers

Vane, Capt. Charles

Veal, Thomas

"Vineyard" (brig), captured

Warren, David

West Indies, piracy in

White, Capt. Thomas

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