Star.
London, England, 1828-07-30 00:00:00

ATROCIOUS PIRACY.

, 1
‘IIXTDACT 01, A LETTRIt To Mass Rs. IL AND A. 1107.1.
Htbdi Janeiro, May 24.
Gentlemen—lt is With much grief th .t I have been
'compelled to put into this port, after being plundered
and most inhumanly treated by pirates, who have tubbed
woof albour stoi t of our sails, rigging, provision.,
compasses, sett:lnt, quadrants. charts, chronometer, log
glasses. nautical books, the whole of obr clothing, about
thirty tons of cargo, boats--in fact it is impossible td
'numerate what is gone at this moment.
On the 7th of May, in lat.-2. So. south, 10ng.22. SO.
west, just after day-light, we saw a vessel right ahead
am, standing towards us. It being a light breeze at
the time, we hoisted nor colours. At SO minutes past 7,
foontrher to be an armed brig, and full of men. She
passed under our stern, hoisted Colombian colours,
hailed us in English, and told me to go on bond of
him immediately with my papers.. Seeing him put his
own boat out, I thought it was not necessary for me to
do so. I perceived hum taking the tompions out glhi.s.
guns I hailed him, when he again repeated.' Hoitt Sht
Tor boat, and y ot,(the Ca pt sin)cnme on bond with your
papers." Whet, I got on board of him, the Captain took
me lam his cabin, and while examining 'my papers,
said an English man of war five days before had
''fired into him, killed and wounded several of his men,
cut his sails and rigging, and thrown three of his gore
overboard, and that be hid sworn to sink the first Eng-
lish ship he fell in with. and destroy the crew.' I remon-
strsted with him on 'thetrhelty of such a proceeding in
punishipik us, who isirpVclnnocent of the transaction. He
said t e should detaiutie on board, and should supply
himself with sails, rope, provisions, &c. from as, and
give me an order uton-ItirsGnirernment. I questiond
his tight to keep me piisoner and rob my ship; when
he spoke in Svan•sh,and several of his men seized me,
bundled me down the hold, just.abart the mainmast, beat
me most crpelly with their cutlasses, and lished me down
on my back to ring bolts on the statboard side below,
and even refused me a drink of water when I asked for
it. I soon heard my pigs, fowls, &c. tome alongside..
Between eight and nine the two sentries; armed with
pistols and cutlasses, which were placed our me, con-
dotted me into the cabin, which was darkened. At the
farther end sat the'eaptain, and I perceived a dagger
glittering in his right band.. He addressed. me • thus-
-44 Where is your nsoney concealed? " I said there was.
none except what 1 bad in my bureau and writing:
desk—in English and Spanish money between seven
pounds and eight posods. ',Sp:, no, be replied, "it
is the money you have so purchase your"lterepe.
ward cargo that I went. I knovr irehat.thu Indi a *side
is, so tell me: if yOU refuse, your life shall pay tho,ter.-
kit." I assured hies there was ." Is that your-
answer?" be said.. I topliod, r.Yes,", rhea" li<taid.
something in Spanish; Two mete sise
,Miioip 1
bad not seen: each put a pistol to ifit head: Hq
said, " Mind, money cannot recall' or its the
• least avail you when you are genii', if you. regird
your life, .at once acquaint Cod 'rot life • shall
be safe, for this is my •professioui, in 'pvig,ijoy
it I am inured tai blood, so expect too 'mercy'. II
you are obstinate, cie any' idaY:''cleeediee-me, I shall
either scuttle or ,burn • tho ship, loci. leaire nooks' to.
tell tales." . I stilfassared him there lwas
be told his men in English to prepares the, caked
_their pistols, .81.4,1 fell 'o* 'my -I.tiseess and in• in
agony of feeling implored hii,nierey,, fpf'fbe sake of
my wife and children, who would he thrthin destitute.
on the world. Ijii`Aptftitsmsoftenithis.hesirt: .Be •
vse orders, and my mite was brodglte down, end
threatened with deaths if.be did not tell. He combo.
rated my statement. • I was senr back ip my prison; acid
told I had haft an hour 'to consider' between life and
death. About three fife next !reigning I was. again
ushered into the presence of the'':Wretch, who-asked me
for the key of ray sexton, and told me he had released
my crew ; my long-boat was alongside; that he had
lost my other boats ; and that I might think myself well
I of, for his determination was to have destroyed us,
ship and all.
I got into my boat with tome 'difficulty, sore with
liaises, and weak saitlithemannner tf.my confinement.
std got on board, it theft' blOwing very strong. My
heart was almost broke when I saw the.havock that was
made with the cargo ;—broken eases, casks, bottles,
about the deck--everything to the greatest contusion.
Tarpaulins cut to pieces, hatches broken to pieces, run-
ning rigging, sails, cordage, provisions, 'guns, muskets,
cutlasses, powder, ,ghot....the whole of Irsj,, wear.
kg apparel. and that of shy . mates u. together with
my own private *atom all 'Sauteed iistriments,.
eta gone, cabin stoles, in fact,. completely • gutted of
everything. not nee ._knife sat fork er 'spoon, ten
CT sugar, or a setassel-`ollbt 'ME back left.—
While on beard of him, I obVetelrln botite;. on which,
although much faded, T diatinet y saw " Cumberland"
painted in black letters on a white oviL• • This-bucket
had been painted green with black hoops • judge what
arty feeling,must have been then. and when 113 y life wa
threatened, it prechided hope. for it struck me kome.
diately of the fate Of poor Cunt. There was also an
Efiglish binnacle, mahogany, with a brass revolving
top, standing abaft' *at be mast have sobbed from
man ship.
The brig was entirely black. no channels, same as the
Clorinda when she was bought ; American built. ap-
peared to have.hems: originally a schooner, was about
*XlPione, very sharp, sailed fast, bad a. deal of overhang
abaft, a billet bead ; her topsail-yards nearly as square
es her lower-yards ; and royal-yards rigged abafe ; had
a long 18 or 24-pounder on a pivot on the forecastle;
*4 four long guns; apparently 12-pounders, on the
stoic deck, and two in the hold dismounted; the Cap-
tsin seemed tome to ben New Orleans French or Aim-
titan, spoke rather broken. English, but very rampagi-
ngly ; his crew chiefly Spanish. but some.Englisli and
Americans among theft; at times a good deal of Eng.
ush was spoken.
The English frigate Thetis is,i believe, going to cruise
alter this villain, also a Ffench brig-of-war.
(Sped) GEORGIC CARREW, bark Clacked&

-
Sunday 'morning, i)evonshi,e College, Kennington,
the lesidence of W. Scow, gill. was • broken upon,
sod two gold watches, and several articles of jewellery
vac stolen.
Saturday, a young lad died at Pettis under peculiar
tjiteessiances. He was a slater by business, and along
%int another of ttie.same crafti'fiad got out at an attic
window to make some small repair Din* the roof
very high house. As is the custom is" such eases, they
managed their business t 7 throwing.* rope over the
rigging stone, the one bowing fast un the, one side to
baiaftethe puler, who was perh.roi.lng•the work on the
t'PlJobne side. The latter having occasion to give a
signal to the other to shift the rope, was surprised by
Li tepested calls net bring answered, and therefore
ascrpded to the top. when he found bit comrade had
erased to live. 'fine escape of the survivor was most
providential :..if his unfortunate companion had held
the rope by his hand, the other must have been I. k loose
and disisheci go piece but the rope being wound around
ins thigh, was the means of sawn% the other.

ASSIZE INTELLIGgstcs. •-
.. •
GUILDFORD. Jest vo.
Cameo SiOg 7—Vet4re Mr. Baron Gaisow.
HIGHWAY Rosaeßv.—William Hunt, a .11m youth,
only 17 years old. stood charged with havine fel°
funnily assaulted STK Tones, on the Eines highway,
at St. Paurs, Deptford. and put him in bodily fear, and
forcibly taken hom his person a gold chain, three gold
seals, and a ring, his property.
The prosecutor had been spending the day with some
friends at Greenwich, and had taken; as he admitted,.a
chef, ful glass or. two after dinner. On his return, when
between Deptford and New (`,rose to *as overtaken by.
the prisoner, who entered into obnversation with him,
and after_a few 'Ordinary .observaCions, offered him his
km. The .p.tosecutor declined taking it, and walked
on briskly; in hopes of getting rid of the prisoner,
but the latter kept up with him, and nn their math
ing.at lope patt of the road, struck him suddenly
.a violent blow on the face,, which knocked' him
down, and he fell into a ditch. The prisoner then
made a snatch at his watch, but it being secured by a
guard-chain, it tesisted his effort, and he only succeeded
in p,ettiog the chain and seals, with which he ran eff.
The chain was broken off near tire bottom. link by the
violence of the pull. A person who heard the alarm
given by the prosecutor, followed in pihsait, and did
not losesight of the prisoner till he.was stopped by a
watchman. On searching him, the chain and seals were
fotiwd in his possession.
MNADoLettos called several witnesses to the prisoner's
chdruter, but none of them answered. Verdict—Guilty.
• The Learned „lunca, addressing the prisoner, said it-
was dreadful to see so young. a., man charged with -a;
crime of such an aggravated kind. He should take
time to consider what was tobe done with him. •

_ _ .......
Shortly after, on the prosecutor applying to recoils-
Mend him to mercy, on the ground' of his youth, and
the. respectability of his connexions, Mr. Baron GAR..
Row said, that in all probability his lile would be spared.
Throughout the day no-case of interest was disposed
if on the civil side.
OXFORD CIRCUIT—STAFFORD, JULY ms.
live—Before Mr. Justice Gamma.
1111.1W.4 OF .rAo?stbe or UARRIAOS —ISADELLA,LZAKE
• •
;en* 'was siwection brought by the plaintiff, a most
o,sßitrible ilia- accomplished young ,Lady, the step.
daughter of a Captain in the Royal Marines, to recover
from- an. opulent gentleaiiirfarmer, tesiding at Whit.
thigtonahall; akar Whittington, in this county, a corn.'
plifls4titM in damages for the noa-fulfilment of a pro-1
Apse, to 'hake her hi: wife.
Mr; R. V. RICHARDS opened the pleading:.
Mr. Jitavis ~- Gentlemen of the July, I have the'
horibui to iik.ptair here this day as <<ninuel for an amiable
itteaccOMplished yorsaw lasiyiwts,6 is one of sit stir-
'Wog children of Mr. Leake, now nn more,who was an
eminent iron-master in the county of -Deems. He died j
many year.Eagcli leavine hicrespected widow,with seven,
children, one df whom has since died. 'Sonic years
lifter. his:- death. his- widow- unities' a gentleman ofJ
cslivie of smms, who bore the honourable rank!
• it Otpl Ott in the Marines, , and the widow, pet-
-0014 a faired duty 'in fulfilment of the .wishes
her .diseelaWfd • &china had .expreised, settled VOL
pn :each-:. of 'his' children previous to her second
aiseridges; Captain Simms_ (who-had received hOnoui-
able wounds in the service of his' country,
.1)11 the tier,
tweintirable cicc4sion of the mutiny at the Hort, Where
wie.ans * lite ef Sir John Colpoys was sived)
'at a illiag6 called Kinglike, in this county, with
his wife and three daughter!, of whom one alone is mar-
ried. 'The plaintiff is youngest but one of the the and
thi Lady whsi comes benne you, Gentlemen, has great
personal charms; and it is not fit that I should
.conceal
from you, she is now about thirty years of age.,
The defendant, Mt...Griffiths, is an opulent and scieil
tific farmer, occupying two large terms under _Lord
Stamford. One -of them is at the village of Whit.'
tingto, , and it is' callet_Whittington-hall, near where
plaintiff resided, and tlere the . subject minter
of the present action *Use. Both these. farms Were
held together at a rent' exceeding 700/. and these,
farms ate completely Stocked ; so that you can easily
cbnceive, Gentlemen,. this defendant is.a man of no in-
considerable substance.. Captain Simms, at whose,
hOuse tilt plaintiff lived, resided at a place called Scone"
Cottage,,lll the door of which the defendant had con-'
Dismally passed in his road to his residence. Having
stated the age of Miss Leake, Gentlemen, I will now
give .yon my understanding of the age of the defenil
dant. He is, I understand, to all appearance. about 1,
the age of fifty, though I Understand it is to be al.
leged that he is older. , He is a widOWer' and he 'has;
one only son, who is about nineteen years of age. The
defendant having frequently seen Miss Leake. as was
easy to be supposed, in passing by the door, solicited
to he. allowed the honour of paying her matrimonial
addresses. He was received in the family as a friend,
but when he.pretended.courtship, Mrs. Simms remon-
strated a ith him upon 'the' diSparity of years between
the plaintiff arid the defendant—tipon the smallness of,
Miss Leslie's fortime--upou her incapability of ma.
naging a farming concern sogreat as that carried on by
the defendant. To the first point the defendant replied
that he felt no inconvenience from the circumstance
of Miss Leake being his junior I to the second ob-
jection, he urged that motley was no object to him;
and to the third, he responded: that he kept a house,'
keeper, who managed all his 'dowitistit affairs; and
as to the • small fortune, he.' would 'Mot condescepd
to• tooth a 'farthing. of it. A fount) suggeition
was made by Mrs. Simms, which was, that the'
dVfendast had a son by his former Marriage:a—
This fact was met by the defendant stating, that Such
'son was wholly dependent upon him, and therefore he
should never dare to offend the feelings of the plaintiff.
He continued assiduous in his addresses,•Gentlemen ;
but tile elder daughter knowing her father was lacked
with a paralytic affection, thought it her duty to make
Certain inquiries as to the defendant's real intentions.—
The courtship had commenced in 1825. la the month
of September, of the lime year, the Lady alluded to,
who would be called as* witness, returned home, and,
then trederstood from the lips of the defendant, that the
marriage with bier sister was to take place in that month.
He Axed the rime by-word of mouth, and he more so-
lemnly identified it by writing the following letter :

Whittington Hall, 19th October, 1927.
MT XV[ll DIA' Imucta—No doubt my unusual absence from
Kingfare has excited souse surprise (and I will now candidly state
the cause.). The overwhelming depression which has happened to
myself, and, Indeed, every one engaged in agriculture, has moot
materially altered our future prospects in life ; and lest I bring
others info difficukies as well as myself, I am, my ever dear girl,
only avilinis that oar union may be pialimmi for a short time, in
older to ascertain what may be the event.
If it should be asked why was not this communication dtade i 4
person ? I answer, the Close ensnare in which the family have.preeisd
i be matter, lett me little chance of explaining so delicate ab AOC
satisfactorily. Far be it trust me, my dear girl, to twin efii
. solemn promise I have made to many you in the most unquallked
sense of thrwled, and with the best hopes and wishes to Make
fat happy. It this letter Amid be received in the spirit 'with
which it al written, it wig relieve my mind Isom that mutiny
which has lately preyed upon it in a ntanaer which nom but this
[ who feel can know. It, dahappilyr It should be tow/6W ea a

snbterfoge or till:44ola evit& rat4niti47:,:, It Win of chum
lead to a separation; and then, nay .augiil,'nuthilsg will be lgt
Ole bat fir offer of my alarm trienddlip. and the esertssion. 'of
every good wish for the happiness and prosperity of every part of
the family. I am very truly, my ever deer isataella,
Most sincerely yours.,
W. GRIFFITH&
Gentlemen, t!e d it was fixed and the hour appointed,
but the defendant did not come to the meeting he had
assigned, and conkuently the family felt as they ought
to do, a just indignatiitn. After this the defendant felt,
I sappobe, iome compuneti,in at his conduct, and with
i propriety which-I do not condemn, he wrote. the fol-
Lowing letter to the mother:

W. Griatlis most respectfully takes the liberty to ask Mrs.
'Bitumen' there win be any objection Wilk calling at Kingfares "
speaking with Miss'lsabella?
Whittington Hall, 13tb Feb. ISIS.

Atter this, Gentlemen, the acquaintance was allowed)
to be. resumed, or :rather, .1 should' say,- Mr. Griffiths
was peimitted to revisit the plaintiff, and the mmu Mg
of marriage was re-assigned. This Is what we lawyers
should'call St new assignment. The defendant actually
went as far as iiispecting the silk's ashes which were to
grace the intended; or rather unintended bride sin the
morning of the mardige. He fixed the day anew,•and'
the. Wight before, when taking his supper at Captain I
Simms"s house at ten o'clock, .he stated, that he some-'
times saw.suspicious. persons inthe-road he usually took
home, and therefore he would like Acelaave his watch
with her far fear of being robbed. It was a handsome
watch, and no cloaht a valuqlle one; bur his subsequent
conduct shows, Gentlemen, a subterfuge, under which
he intended to inflict an insult. I think, Gentlemen,
you will be perfectly of my opinion ss hen you come to
see the ins, lent epistle which here follows:
Abandon me a. the eery Worst of men. Pray. accept my 'watch
and keep it, but detest us onee owner. Ica newt traltyvaisetable.
Match 112. W. 43.
Gentlemen, it is r f course unnecessary for me to in-
form you that this watch was returned; it was.sent back
with the disdain it deserved; and the impertinence
was repudiated withpromptitude. The most melancholy
past of the tale, I regret to state, remains to be told : the
effect .of so gross an insult qn an informed mind, you.
could conjecture; despair it might produce, but. it was
hot so. 1 lament to say, however, that it has left trace.
which perhaps may never be effaced.' Mis.s Leake, I la-
ment to say. has lost her love, but I hope *not lost her
loveliness; she if still, however, in ill health. Though
the 'watch was returner', that could not, ease her feel-
ings. She felt that the man who once held. her heart
could disown her and then whistle her back again. My
friend,Gentlemen, who is On the other side, is not afraid
of my observatioire►a IWish he may think them wadi!
of a remark. to cal( forth the opportunity of a reply.
.He mey, however,. think I am asking an unfair admen-
tage to expect the last word. About damages I shall
say nothing.. Pecuniary recompense is neither:sought
nor can it atone:' 4t woman who was happyood who
ever wears the besiveputati in, has been insulted in the
grossest.osanner. lt is for' that indignity she. seeks the
best redress when she appeals to the feelings and the
honour of her own.countrysben, oho, I believe, are all
Englishmen in the true sense of the word.
Miss Martha Leake, examined by Mr. RIO akt.tie—l
am the daughter in law of Captain Shinn., And, Jiny
sister, who is plaintiff, is also Cal)-
tain SiMtna married my unothee altar* ago, and we.,
live at Iciagfare, in this county, where I via, bred. Cap.'
rain &Mme.'s on the half pay of the Royal Marines, and
has n private fortune of his vein besides as well as, my
mother. The defendant lives. at' Whi,tiisgtonthh3l. That
is a
..large extensive mansion. The witness 'then de.
scribeti the course of pretended courtship,and Went on as
follows:-.When my sister received the last note, she
was very much affected, and I formed an answer :to
n certain extent. My sister Went from home shortly
after this. My sister Haonab hearing hoe distressed
she was, came to fetch her. She could not leave home
for a week. ,On the 13th of February the note was re-
ceived.,reque'ging to speak with her sister. He opened
the door as usual, and came in ; I was writing ; I would
not-notice him—l was silent. • After tea my mother',
asbed the what Wes the. matter? I said I was.very
much bust that he should be received again. and then;
askedlim if he catbe to make tools of the family'
second time? He said he was-sorry for what had.passeclf
end he came with a full wish to marry my sister. I'
felt disgusted with huh, and I left the room. I saw
him on the Suadar following at Captain Simms's.--
My sister had felt hurt at my conduct, and in conse-'
quence I made up my mind dial I wotfld be friendly
with Mr..Griffiths.. I told him so, and he rose from his
seat and shisok hehds with me, and said how happy)
ha should be. " Well, Sir," I said, 44 bow long is our
friendsbip to last?" • He said, " For ever, L hope;" and
I said, 44 That entirely depends on your conduct." 1
said, ".Now we are on the subject. I should like Iso know
when the wedding is to t ke place ;fir I think yqu have
kept our.house in a state of agitation quite long enough.
He said, he wished to marry her soon. I said," Pray,
Sir,shat do you call stain? After hai vest, I presume;
and I suppose it will be a long hat vest this year, as
'you have taken another farm." He took that for a joke,
and:tit:rued it as such. I saw him on the following
Sandiy. It was in March. I had been absent from
the-room; on my return. the said in the presence of
Griffiths, " Martha, I shall leave you in the latter end
of the month to be married to Mr. Griffi*.hs." I said,
ff I shall be sorry to part with -you, Isabella; but I
hope you will .be happy. I hope Mr.Griffiths, how-
ever, is not going to deceive you a second time."
The defeadant appeared extremely indignant, and 'said
that it was a matter entirely for his and my sister',
atmhgensent: I told him he could not be surprised at
my interference. After that he called a few days after),
and he was in the sitting room with my sister. He said'
be could not stay tea. at( hit horse was at the. gate. but
he wfould.cillthe neat day. I said, " Well.tbea, I will
ask you to-morrow when it will be convenient to ac-
company my sister And me to Birmingham;" and he
said, "On the 25th of the month." He said] if we
went by ourselves, we should spend too much money.,
I observed he was rather premature'in his notion, and
that the money would not come out of his pocket.—
He replied, ." It would come out of the 'family, and
that was all the same." I added, that if he meant I
to trifle with my sister. as I expected be intended,
be should not bilge with sue ; and if I did not go to
Birmingham' that week, I never would go upon that
errand. I told him. it the same time, it was MY
wish that he should not marry her, and I much
feared, from his conduct; `thy sister would have cause
to repent for not taking My advice. He said I inter.
fered too much, and he' asked, " What can you suppose
could be. my mOtrie to come to your house a second
time, wrings. I wished to marry your sister soon?" I
replied, ".Tian why procra.tinate r I said. " Sup-
posing yeti Were the father of daughters, and a prison
'erne constantly paying his addresses to one of them,
and oontintially assigning a, time for a wedding, and
,breaking it off, what would .you do—would
_ you
not make him Ss a timer He said, most tbstainly
be should. He much commended me for that
said-sitad Itad said nothirag what waXper. He
said be would come oo thelellowing da bich was