Star.
London, England, 1831-05-27 00:00:00

No. 13,795.

THE CHOLERA MORBUS.
(Addressed to Sir Henry Haiford, Bart. President of the Royal Col-
lege of Physicians.)
At the risk of being accounted an alarmist, I am about
to call your attention to the subjed of a contagion, which is
creating increased apprehensions in the eyes of those who
have watched, like myself, its gradual and devastating pro-
gress, from the furthermost regions of Asia to the frontiers
of Bohemia and the banks of the Vistula.
It appears' from a memoir lately read before the Society
of Arts and Sciences at Gottingen, by the celebrated Pro-
fessor Heeren, that Europe has not been visited by so frig!it-
ful a scourge since the middle of the fourteenth century,
when it was laid waste in all directions by " The Black
Death." A very minute detail of this wide-spread calamity
has been handed down to us by Villani, the Florentine his-
torian, who continued his brother Giovanni's chronicle ; did/
latter having been carried off by the malady. Heeren's ac-
count of it is principally derived from this source.
After observing, that no such scourge as this had ever be-
fore afflicted the human race, he says, " It originated in the
environs of Catai, in China, and the upper districts of India,
and spread through the adjoining provinces to the sea-shore
itself. The disease first showed itself by spitting of blood ;
Ithe invalid usually died, either on the very day of the at-
tack, or within 24 or 36 hours afterwards. The sickness
seldom extended beyond that interval. Those who waited upon
the patients instantly imbibed the contagion, and died in the
same way. With some, it exhibited itself in swellings on
the lower part of the abdomen ; with others, they rose under
the right or left arm ; and its attack was seldom known to
be unaccornanied by a tumour on some part of the body.
This pestilence spread through one-third of Asia in the
first year of its appearance ; next proceeded to the shores of
the Mediterranean, to Syria, Turkey, and Egypt ; and
thence took a northerly direction from Greece to Russia.—
Whilst raging along the Mediterranean, some Italian gal-
lies, hastening to avoid infection in the Syrian ports, sud-
denly quitted them with their cargoes, for Italy. Many of
their crews died on the passage. After bartering with the
natives of Sicily, and landing their sick, who communicated
the disease to that island, they set sail for Pisa and Genoa,
where it immediately showed itself, though not in a violent
manner. Hence it journeyed, in a westerly direction to
Sardinia, Corsica, and the other islands in the Mediterra-
nean ; and trat elfin.; no.th and south, laid hold of the latter
with peculiar virulence.
In the year 1343, it raged throughout Italy, and in that
same year crossed the Alps, and spread into Savoy, Pied-
mont, and Provence. By the year 1349, it had reached
Spain, England, and Scotland : leaving Brabant but partially
scathed. In 1350, it ravaged Germany, Hungary, Den-
mark, and other Northern countries. Wherever it appeared
its duration was five whole months; a fact which I have
meet mined by authentic communication from various quar-
ters. As the disease was contracted by mere sight, as well
as touching, of the patients, there were thousands who would
not go near them, and the consequence was, that as many
tlsoostouls died for want of care and attendance. When it
Lroke out in Florence, numbers shut themselves up in their
houses, or fled to a distance ; yet many of them fell victims
to i.s fury.
In this city, it lasted from the beginning of April to the
first creek in September, 1348, and was fatal to three-
fourths and u;.wards of the inhabitants of Florence and its
territory. The population in other parts of the world suf-
fered a similar diminution, as appears by the accounts we
have collected from various quarters. The medical world
were unable to devise a rem:dy, and the Pope, with all his
indulgences, could not exorcise it. The confessor perished
in common with the confessed.

So far Villani's report: and the writer, who continued
William de Naugis' Chronicle, speaks of the nature, symp-
toms, and fatal consequences of this dreadful scourge in
nearly similar language, as respects the French dominions.
He observes, that it attacked the young iu preference to the
old ; that so many died it was scarcely practicable to bury
them : that he who was in perfect health one day, was borne
to his grave the;-next; and that if the healthy ventured even
to visit the sick, they rarely escaped the peril of death.
I will only add to Heeren's melancholy narrative, that
the ' black death' made its first appearance in Dorsetshire,
in the month of August, 1349 ; thence it spread through-
out the kingdom, and carried off one half of the population.
In this metropolis, indeed, it is said to have raged with so
much violence, that in twelve months fifty thousand persons
were buried within the churchyard on which the present
Charter-house now stands.
Now, Sir, it has not yet been shewn, that the existing
cholera varies, in its main symptoms, from that of the four-
teenth century ; and it is, at least, lamentably certain,
that both of them have been of Asiatic origin, and that the
course of both have been from east to west. Under these
circumstances, the country has a right to expect that Go-
vernment should take immediate steps for instituting an in-
quiry into every particular connected with so fast approach-
ing a calamity ; and especially into those means of arresting
its fatal consequences, which I understand to have been
attended with the best effects in Moscow.
lie Medical Committee of the Parisian Academy of Sci-
*nee have collected very important information on this
subject, and I should hope that his Majesty's ministers are
already in full possession of the details ; if not, they have
but to apply for them, and they will be readily trans-
mitMsL
I know it is the opinion of the committee, that the ap-
pearance of the disease on the French soil is inevitable: but
I cannot relieve you from this long intrusion without men-
tioning, that a relative of mine, who served in the Madras
army, when it was sweeping away the troops by hundreds
and thousands, succeeded in stopping its ravages among his
own detachment by the following means :—lmmediately
upon the exhibition of thrdisease, he gave the patient a
dose, consisting of a tea cvp of brandy, mixed with a si-
milar quantity of warm water, into which three-fourths of
a tea-spoonful of landanum had been infused ; and as a
vomit accompanies the attach, he persevered in adminis-
•
tersny the dose until it was retained.
From the state of exhaustion which necessarily ensiled,
his men recovered very quickly under careful treatment.
AUGUSTUS LANOSIT•IN is.—Tass most fruitful of modern
romance writtre died at Hulk., in Saxony, on the Nib alt. in the 71st
year of his age. He was born at OrUnswick, studied divinity in the
drat instance,-and then undertook the education of General Tliaddin's
(mew ; an, he UN, became chaplain of a Prussian regiment. which
be accompanied in 1782 in the campaign against France. After the
pease of Basle, he retired to Halle, where he has lived ever sines, on a
pension grated to him by the King of Prussia.

THE CONFESSIONS OF A PIRATE.

The miserable wretch, from whose own lips the following
particulars were collected, was convicted of murder on the
MO) seas, and was to have been executed on the 22d ult.
He is a native of the state of Rhode Island, and is known

in America by the name of Charles Gibbs, but from the
wording of the paragraph we suspect it is not his real name.
From his confession, carefully compared with known facts,
there is every reason to believe that he was concerned in
the robbery of more than forty vessels, and in the destruc-
tion of more than twenty, with their entire crews. Many
of those destroyed had passengers on board, which makes it
probable that he has been an agent in the murder of nearly
tour hundred human beings !
The account he gives of himself is, that he served first
'hi the navy of the United States, and was on board the
.Chesapeake when captured. After his exchange he aban-
doned all idea of following the sea for a subsistence, and
rstnrned to Rhode Island ; but after a few months he en-
tered again. The death of an uncle now put him in posses-
sion of about 2,000 dollars, with which he established him-
self in the grocery business in Boston, but, not succeeding,
he again went to sea. Eventually he served on board the
Columbian privateer Maria, Captain Bell; and here begins
the history of his piracies.
The crew becoming dissatisfied in consequence of the
non-payment of their prize-money, a mutiny arose, the
crew took possession of the schooner, and landed the offi-
cers near Pensacola. They cruised for a short time with-
out any success, and it was then unanimously determined to
hoist the black flag, and declare war against all nations.
Their bloody purpose was not carried, however, into im-
mediate execution. They boarded a number of vessels,
and allowed them to pass unmolested, there being no specie
on board, and their cargoes not being convertible into any-
thing valuable to themselves. At last one of the crew,
named Antonio, suggested that an arrangement could be
made with a man at Havana, that would be mutually be-
neficial ; that he would receive all their goods, sell them,
and divide the proceeds. This suggestion being favourably
received, they ran up within two miles of the Moro Castle,
and sent Antonio on shore to see the merchant and make
a contract with him. Previous to this, Gibbs was chosen
to navigate the vessel. Antonio succeeded in arranging
everything according to their wishes, and Cape Antonio
was appointed as the place of rendezvous. The merchant!
was to furnish droghers to transport the goods to Havana,
which was done by him for more tl.an three years.
The Maria now put to sea, with a crew of about fifty men,
principally Spaniards and Americans, with every hope of
infamous success. The first vessel she fell in with was the

Indispensable, an English ship, bound to Havana, which
wns and carried to Cape Antonio. The crew were
immediately destroyed ; those who resisted were hewn
to pieces, those who offered no resistance were reserved
to be shot and thrown overboard.—A French brig, with a
valuable cargo of wine and silk, was taken shortly after.
The vessel was burnt and the crew murdered.

Gibbs was now unanimously chosen to be their leader in
all future enterprises. To reap a golden harvest without the
hazard of encouutering living witnesses of their crimes, it
was unanimously resolved to spare no lives, and to burn and
plunder without mercy.
He now directed his course towards the Bahama Banks,

where they captured a brig, believed to be the William
from New York, to some port in Mexico, with a cargo of
furniture ; destroyed the crew, took her to Cape Antonio,
and sent the furniture and other articles to their friend at
Havana. Sometime during this cruise, the pirate was
chased for nearly a whole day by a U. S. ship, supposed
to be the John Adams; they hoisted patriot colours, and •
finally escaped. In the early part of the summer of 1817,
they took the Earl of Moira, an English ship from London,
with a cargo of dry goods. The crew were destroyed, the
vessel burnt, and the goods carried to the Cape. There
they had a settlement with their Havana friend, and the
proceeds were divided according to agreement.
Gibbs then repaired to Havana, introduced himself to
the merchant, and made further arrangements for the suc-
cessful prosecution of his piracies. While there he became
acquainted with many of the English and American naval
officers, inquired respecting the success of their various ex-
peditions for the suppression of piracy, and made himself)
acquainted nith the speed of their vessels, and all their in-
tended movemeuts.
On his arrival at Cape Antonio, he found that his com-
rades were in a state of complete mutiny and rebellion,
and that several of them had been killed. His energy
ckecked tl,e disturbance, and all agreed to submit to
his orders, and put any one to death who should dare to dis-
obey them.
Daring the cruise, which was made in the latter part of
1817 and the beginning of 1818, a Datch ship from Ca-
ray's, was captured with a cargo of West India goods, and
a quantity of silver plate. The passengers and crew, to
the number of thirty, were all destroyed, with the exception
of a young female about seventeen, who fell upon her kuees
and implored Gibbs to save her life. The appeal was suc-
cessful, and he promised to save her, though he knew it
world lead to dangerous consequences among his crew. She
was carried to Cape Antonio, and kept there about two
months ; but the disaffection increased until it broke out at
last into open mutiny, and one of the pirates was shot by
Gibbs for daring to lay hold of her with a view of beating
out her brains. Gibbs was compelled in the end to submit
her fats to a council of war, at which it was deeided that
the preservation of their own lives made her sacrifice in-
dispensable. He therefore acquiesced in the decision, and
gave orders to have her destroyed by poison, which was
immediately done.
This, he says, hurt his feelings more than any act of his
life, and is the only one he can say he felt sorry for I Her
father, mother, and all her relations perished on board the
vessel.
The piratical schooner was shortly afterwards driven
ashore near the Cape, and so much damaged that it was
found necessary to destroy her. A new eNtrp bait
schooner was in consequence provided by their **Ad
friend in Havana, called the Picciana, sad despaiahalf 401
their rendezvous.
anfu
or
yeah. Among
nt h i a vesse
lthe
they c r I ri
s. d St: ekTV
stroyed with their crews, he remembered the brig Jaw,
Liverpool ; brig (name forgotten) of New York, from the
Spanish Main; brig Belvidere of Boston, taken in the Gulf;
two French brigs in the Gulf of Mexico; ship Providence,
of Providence—took from her 10,000 dollars. She was

suffered to pass, as examinant could not consent to destroy
his own townsmen. [A gleam of humanity like that of Lady
Macbeth.] Ship William, of Salem ; bark Dido, of Bremen ;
bark Larkin, of London ; Genoese brig, name unknown,
took from her a large quantity of plate, some gilt-edg•ill
paper, and from 20 to 30 piano-fortes.
While I was in the schooner Margaretta, we took the
American ship Caroline, and run her on shore at Cape An
tonio (Cuba). The United States armed vessel, the En-
terprize, came along shortly after, and before we had a
chance of taking anything out of her, the crew, or some
of the crew of the Enterprise, landed ; we had a fight with
them—snmo of our men were killed, and I believe some of

theirs. We were beaten and driven to the mountains--

where we remained some days. We then separ ted—some
got to Trinidad, south side Cuba ; others got to the Ha-
vana. The crew of the Enterprize destroyed our fort, took
the goods from the Caroline and our two vessels, the Marga,
retta and Picciana."

When asked why they were so cruel as to kill so many
persons when they had secured all their money, his answer
is worthy of observation :
" The laws are the cause of so many murders. Because
a man has to suffer death for piracy; and the punishment
for murder is no more. Then, you know, all witnesses
are out of the way, and I am sure, if the punishment was
dill, rent, there would not be so many murders."
On one occasion, Gibbs states that be cruised for more
than three weeks off the Capes of the Delaware, in the
hopes of falling in with the Rebecca Sims, a Philadelphia
ship, bound for Canton. They knew that she would have a
large quantity of specie on board, but they were disappointed
in their booty. The ship passed them in the night.
Some time in the course of the year 1819, he states that
he left Havanna and came to the United States, bringing
with him about 30,000 dollars. He passed several weeks in
New York, and then went to Boston, whence he took pas-
sage for Liverpool in the ship Emerald. Before he sailed,
however, he had squandered a large part of his money by
dissipation and gambling. He remained in Liverpool a few
months, and then returned to Boston in the ship Topaz,
Captain Lewis. His residence in Liverpool, at that time,
is satisfactorily ascertained from another source besides his
own confession. 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 slle
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."

He subsequently returned to Boston, sailed for Havana,
and again commenced his pientical career. In 1826, be
revisited the United States, and hearing of the war between
Brazil and the Republic of Buenos Ayres, sailed from Bos-
ton, in the brig Hilly, of Ports nouth, with a determination,
as he states, of trying his fortune in the defence of a repub-
lican 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 to him, he joined a
ship of 34 guns, called the Twenty-fifth of May. There he
remained, in the capacity of fifth lieutenant for about four
months. Having succeeded in gaining the confidence of
Admiral Brown, he put him in command of a privateer
schooner, and he sailed from Buenos Ayres, made two good
cruises, and returned to port. He then bought one half of a
new Baltimore schooner, and sailed again, but was captured
seven days out, and carried into Rio Janeiro. He reutairted
there until peace took place, then returned to Buenos Ayres,
and thence to New York.
After the lapse of about a year, which he passed in tra-
velling from place to place, Gibes stets that the war between
France aad Algiers attracted his attention. Knowing that
the French commerce presented a fine opportunity for plun-
der, he resolved to embark for Algiera and offer his services
to the Dey. He accordingly took passage from this pUrt in
the Sally Ann, belonging to Bath, landed at Barcelona,
crossed to Port Mahcn, and endeavoured to make his way
to Algiers. The vigilance of the French fleet prevented
the accomplishment of his purpose, and he proceeded to
Tunis. He afterwards took passage to Marseilles, and
thence to Boston. Flom Boston he sai!ed to New Orleans,
and there entered as cne of the crew of the brig Vineyard.
To a question, why he, who had been accustemed to com-
mand, should enter as a common sailor on board the Vine-
yard ? he answered that he sought employment to assuage
I the horrors of reflection.
Gibbs was married in Buenos Ayres, where he now has
a child living. His wife is dead. By a singular concur-
rence of circumstances, the woman with whom he became
acquainted in Liverpool, and who is said at that time to
have borne a decent character, is now lodged in the sante
prison with himself. lie has written her two letters since
his confinement.
Herefuses to tell the names of any person concerned with
him in his piracies, but admits there are many now living in
the United States.
Though he gives no evidence (says the American writer)
of a contrite heart, yet he evidently dwells with great un-
willingness upon the crimes of which he acknowledgei him-
self guilty. Since his trial, his frame is somewhat en-
feebled, his face paler, and his eves more sunken; but the
air of his bold, enterprising, and desperate mind, still re-
mains ; he is affable and communicative, and when he
smiles, exhibits so mild and gentle a countenance, that
no one could take him to be a villain.— New York Eves-
itag Post.
FATAL Du EL.— A tencontre took place at Rodney, on
the 13th inst. between John Briscoe, Esq. of that place, and D. Ben-
jamin /1. Moyle:, of Lake Washington, of which the ciocuutstances
were as follows:—The Doctor accosted Briscoe in the cveninr of that
day4u* as he, Briscoe, had dressed himself to attend a 'wedding.—
Brircoe endeavoured to avoid any contest that evening ; and °beamed.
that the dispute could be better settled at Lake Washington, where he
could and would give full satisfaction. The doctor insisted upon set.
I ding it on the spot, Mr. B. still desiring to put it of, even till the wet
day, after the wedding Man over. The doctor claimed instant satkhe-
tion, spit in his face, at the same time attempted to draw a largo duel-
ling pistol from his bosom, but was prevented by the bye-standees.
Briscoe, being unarmed, ran into a store, where be procured a shot
gun. and coming out, cried to the company to clear the way. At
eleven paces distance, both raised their weapons; Briseoe's Inapt, mod
Doctor Morin shot Briscoe in the arm and abdomen, and had deism
another pistol, and was in the act of firing, when Briscoe had retested
hie gun, and prepared, which this time west off; the Doctor fell mor-
tally wounded; and died the same night. Briseoe's wounds were
.Baba—An inquest 'rubel(' over the body; and the verdict wu, that
had acted in self-defence, and was justifiable—Amertems Ayer.
MANUFACTURE OF CHEESE FROM POTATOES.—
Cheese, as it is said, of extremely fine quality, is manufactured hem
potatoes in Thuringia and part of Saxony in the followtog meanest—
After having collected a quantity of potatoes of good qualityisteldneg
the preference to the large white kind, they are boiled in a
and after becoming cool, they are peeled and reduced to a pulp, either
by means of a grate or mortar. To live pounds of this pulp. which
ought to be as equal u possible, is added a pound of soar milk, and
the necessary quantity of Wt. The whale is kiseadod tagethei.antlibe
mixture covered up and Awed to lie for three or fair days, amrem
to the season. At the end of this time it is kneaded ammoind=theg
cheeses arc placed in little baskets, where the ettperramilla re is
allowed to escape. They are then allowed to di* fa the ili snd
tac%layers in large psts or Taisho, whoa they reirstrellidnitet
teai days. The elder NIP them, ealhr.
' *eves. Thee kb& of dubs Ire mode: M
lite SiNrgit.
amass, is Made imeordtag to fleapepeninie
second, whitlow parts of potatoes, and two parts of ;the
third, with two parts of potatoes, mid tsar pseud art sr wan&
These cheeses have this advantage over every toner kidt 11011 flig de
not engender worms, and keep dry a number vi yam f her dry.