The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-16 00:00:00

The seaman said he believed that such an attempt had
been made, but he was bound hand and foot at the time. It
was to Capt. Watson, of the trading schooner Essington of
Sydney, he was indebted for his deliverance from the dread-
ful slavery amongst the natives of Timour Laut, and much
ingenuity was necessary to be used on the occasion as well
as resolution. Captain Watson having been assured that an
Englishman was amongst the natives, appeared off the island
in March, 1839, and the natives proceeded to the vessel with
their usual appearance of kindness and goodwill. They had,
however, as was evident from their conversation when the
vessel approached the island, determined to seize her, and
if that had been accomplished, there could have been no
doubt as to the fate of the crew. Every one of them would
have been murdered. In order to accomplish his object of
releasing the captive, John Watson used the following
stratagem :—He closed his ports, strongly armed his crew,
and sent them below. He then allowed the natives in the
first canoe to get on board, and finding one, of the principal
chiefs of the island amongst them, peremptorily demanded
the white man. The chief was taken completely by surprise,
but he positively denied all knowledge of any stranger. The
captain then ordered up his men, and compelled the natives
to leave the ship, detaining only the chief, whom he was re-
solved never to deliver up without the exchange required.
Still the chief presisted in declaring that no white man was
on the island, and it was not till the afternoon of next day,
when, no doubt, terrified by the threats of the captain and
boatswain, and the formidable appearance and conduct of
the armed crew, the savage admitted that his people had a
prisoner, and consented to give that prisoner liberty on ob-
taining his own. The order was then issued by the chief,
and he (Forbes) was taken from the cavern in which he lay
bound, and was once more placed amongst human beings.
The chief was then allowed to descend into his canoe and
depart, but the crew were very desirous when they heard of
the bloody cruelty of the natives to have a fling at them.
Alderman Pirie.—My poor fellow, you must have found
the change very great.
The Seaman.—lndeed it was, Sir, but it was almost too
late. The kindness of Captain Watson and his crew was
very great, but I never had a moment's health ; my strength
is entirely gone. I was put into the hospital at Sydney,
and treated with the greatest care for fourteen months. All
the people there were most kind to me.
Mr. Brooks.—He has been here six weeks, and has been
attended constantly by medical men; but he has not been
able to come up to the Mansion-house before this day. IVIy
object in attending here with him is to solicit the Mayor's
exertions in his favour. He never will be able to work a
single stroke, and it occurred to me that the public sympathy
could, through the press, be enlisted to this poor creature's
service. The facts, which are frightful iu the detail, have
been stated with simplicity, and without (as must strike
everybody) the least exaggeration. _ _ _

„
Alderman Pirie.—lt is a singular fact that I, who am thus
addressed on this occasion, was the very person who sold the
schooner just before she went upon her fatal voyage. I am
much gratified at being present when such an application is
made. It will give me the.most sincere pleasure to receive
subscriptions for the benefit of the sufferer, and I will com-
mence myself with £5. I shall answer for the readiness
with which the Lord Mayor will aid in the case, and that his
lordship will be happy to receive contributions from the
benevolent.

Mr. Brooks also subscribed £5, and intimated that he
should feel greatly honoured by receiving subscriptions.
The seaman returned thanks, in a voice that " piped and
whistled in the sound," and with tears trickling down his
pale and withered cheeks.