The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-28 00:00:00

NATIONAL REGISTER.

Ti.

i-lORRIBLE SAVAGE MILTRUETCS:

FROM THE SYDNEY (NEW SOUTH WALES) GAZETTE,

SEPTEMBER 1, 1810.

DESTRUCTION OF THE BOYD.
We mentioned in our last, that Captain Chace had received at
New Zealand a particular account from an Otaheitan, of the loss
of the above vessel—which we premise by aiding, upon the
foregoing autharity, that when the Boyd went front hence, she
had on board four or five New Zealanders, who made part of
her crew. These people were displeased at their treatment on
their passage, and determined on revenge. On their arrival they
communicated their complaints to their friends and relatives,
who were of the Whangarooan party, and frequently at war
with Tippahee and his subjects, and the design of taking the
ship was funned in consequence. It being Captain Thompson's
intention to take in a quantity of spars, he applied to the natives
for assistance in procuring them, which they promised ; but, in
order to entice him on shore, artfully objected to pert inn, until
he should accompany them to point out such as he mieht best
approve. The Captain was thereby prevailed on to leave the
vessel, accompanied by his Chief Officer, with three boats
mahned, to get the spars on board, the natives who had arrived
in the ship being of the party, which was accompanied by a
number of others in -their canoes. The boats were conducted
to a river, on entering which they were out of sight of the Ship,
and after proceeding some distance up, Captain t bompson was
invited to laid, and mark the spars he wanted. The boats land-
ed accordingly, the tide being then beginning to ebb, and the
crews followed to assist in the work. The guide led the •party
thrOugh various parts of the wood that were least likely to an-
swer the desired end, thus 'Jellying the premeditated attack
until the boats should be left, by the effluence of the tide, suffi-
ciently high to prevent an escape ; which part of the horribla
plan accomplished, they became insolent and rude, ironically
pointing at decayed fragments, and inquiring of Captain Thomp-
son whether they would suit his purpose or not. The natives
belonging to the ship then first threw off the mask, and in op-
probrious terms upbraided Captain Thompson with their mal-
treatment; informing him at the same time, that he should have
no spars there but what he could procure himse:f. Ihe Captain
appeared careless of the disappointment, and with his people
turned towards the boats ; at which iiistant they were assaulted
with clubs and axes, whic the assailants had till then concealed
under their dressts-and although the boats' crews had several
muskets, yet so impetuous was the attack, that every man was
prostrated before one could be used. Captain .1 hompson and
his unfortunate men were all murdered on the spot, and their
bodies were afterwards devoured by the murderers, who,
clothing themselves with their apparel, launched the boats at
dusk the same evening, and proceeded towards the ship, which
they had determined also to attack. It being very dark be-
fore they reached her, and no susuicion being entertained
of what had happened, the second Officer hailed the boats,
and was answered by the villains who had occasioned
the disaster, that the Captain having chosen to remain on
shore that night for tl e purpose of viewing the country, had
ordered them to take on board such spars as bad aireed,.• been
procured ; which account readily obtained belief, and the Officer
was knocked down, and killed by those who first ascended the
ship's side. All the seamen of the watch were in like manner
surprised and murdered. Some of the assassins then went down
to the cabin door, and asked the passengers and others to go on
deck to see the spars, and a female passenger obeying the sum-
mons vas killed on the cabin ladder. The nuke occa..ioned
her fall alarmed the people that were in bed; who running on
deck in disorder, were all killed as they went up, except four or
five, who ran up the shrouds, and remained in the rigging the
re-t of the night. The next mousing l'ippahea appeared along-
sAe in a canoe, and was much offended at what had happened ;
but was not permitt• d to interfere, or to ri main near the ship.
The unfortunate men in the rigging called to him, and iinylored
his protection ; of which he ass•ired them, if they could make
their way to his canoe. This they effected at every hazard;
and was by the old K ng landed on the nearest point, though
nursued. 'Fite pursuit was continued on sheree they
.were all overtaken, anti Tivpaltee was forcibly held while the
murder of the unhappy fti, hives was perpetrated. A fetrale
passenor and two children who were atterwards found in the
cabin, were spared Eom the massacre, and taken on shore to a
but, in which situation Mr. llerry and Capt. Paulson, of the
City of I?iliaburo, found them when they rescued them.
*l.:ppallee was afterwArds permitted by the Whangarocans to
ta:ze three boat I :ads of any property he chose out of the ship,
tire-arms and gun-powder excepted ; and the bulk they divided
among themselves. The salt provision filur, amd spirits they
tarew.orethuards as utvalatable; the carriage gunsiley did the

271

same with, considering them useless; the musiets they prized
very much; and one of the savages, in his eagerness to tr one,
stove in the head of a barrel of powder, and filling the pan clf
the piece, snapped is directly over the cask, the explosion of
which killed live native women, and eight or nine men, and set
part of the ship on fire. From the foregoing detail, it appears
that neither Tippalitie nor his son Mytye bad any share in the
barbarous acts committed by those sanguinary miscreants: but
that the Old Chief had, on the contrary, endeavoured to pre-
serve the lives of several of the crew ; and if we consider the
order in which the incidents are narrated, we must at least con-
clude this to,be the most probable account received of the dole-
ful event before us ; and the more especially so, as it is the
report of an Otaliyitan, who was on the spot at the time, and
who, as an alien, not being inter, sted on the part either of the
Bay of (slanders or of the Whangarooans, may still more be
titled to credit. In the principal facts, alas! all accounts un-
happily coincide; and while we have to deplore the calamity,
we cannot forbear expressing a hope that the Commanders and
crews of vessels traversing these seas will temper friendship and
humanity towards the unciviled Islanders with prudence and
caution, and be ever guarded against surprise and trea-
chery, to which numbers of our countrymen have become the
victims.

LAIV REPORTS.

COURT OF CHANCERY, APRIL 26.
INIMI MATE INJUNCTION.

Mr. Hart, on the sitting of the Court, applied to the Lord
Chancellor for an immediate injunction, to prevent the propri-
etors of the York Buildings Water-works from breaking up the
streets, and laying down iron water•pipes, until such time
as the provisions of the Act of Parliament under which they
were proceeding should be pruperiy discussed bef d-e. his Lord-
ship. The Learned Counsel stated, that the York Buildings
Water woiks Company were a new Company, who kept their
Office in Villiers-street, Strand, where they had erected consider-
able works for the purpose of supply fug the inhabitants of that
quarter of the town with Thames water. That at an early
hour this morning they had employed a considerable nunlike-
of workmen and Wino rers, to break up the pavement in Robert-
street, J,-hn•street, James's-street, and other streets adjacent to
the Adelphi, and were, at that moment, in the act of layirg
down iron pipes for the conveyance of water to the respective
inhabitants who should consent ro be supplied by them. He
contended, that this was contrary to the true construction and
meaning of the Act of Parliament, and highly injurious to the
interests of °OAr individua's. lie therefOre prayed fur lua
Lordship's immediate injunction to prevent their further pro-
ceeding. His I .ordship dire( ted that an immediate injunction
should issue pending the question on the Act of Parliament.
His Lordship was occupied during the remainder of the day
in hearing argt.ments upon the construction of the will of the
late Mr. Mowbray. Tills case has already been frequently
before the Court, and the further hearing being postpooed.
nodding of any notoriety occurred.

counT OF KING'S BENCH, APRIL 96.

SIFTINGS AT GIJILDILALL.

FRINGTON V. THE MARQUIS OF IIFADFORT.

This was an action upon a hill of esehinge drawn upon, and
accepted by the defendan, , for 9001. Tile proof Of the accept-
ance and nun-payment being made on the part of the plaintiff,
it appeared on the part of the defendant, that he had receivtd a
quantity of goods as a valuable c(.nsideri.tion, in full for the bill
in question, but winch goods sold at the Commercial Hall foe
only 4001.
Lord ELLEsaoaoucit held, that this was not valuable consi-
deration under the ,Statute of Frauds, and the plaintiff was noun
suit td.
The next action which was tried, also against the Noble Mar—
quis, was upon a similar tran,attion, in which the plaintiff W;4l
also non-suit:d, on the. wine grounds.
A third case was also tried, but as the consideration Wa of a
different character, the el efendatit agreed that the plaintiff should
tax a verdict for 2:i01.

POLICE.

MARLBOROUGII-STRF.F.T.

ImrosrrtoN.--"l'be Public are cautioned against a sot of
pees, who passing newly-manufactur?,l fictitious notes,
which are be: tt.r known by 0: name of:posh-screens, payable:a
the Lena and the Flect. They are so ~veal entlittgi as to escape