The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-02-17
For the MASSACHUSETTS, SPY.


Mr.. THOMAS,
In Mills and Hicks Gazette of the gre of January lar,
find the following piece of intelligence, viz.
La week failed from Poimouth, bound to Whitehaven,
the bnganne Brothers, John Walker, MATER who had
been iezed ION OF information given by the
noted John Malcolm, for which he in November ait re-
ceived reward from the faors at Sheepfcut nver) by
one of his Malefys vees and cleared by order OF the
honorable commihioners of his Maeay's eutoms."
Now that the publc may be acquainted with that whole
procedure, beg you will pubih the following narrative
which doubt not will be satisfactory to the bigger part
of your readers well to your humble fervant,
II Friend 10 tbe Libafies-of Mankind.
TIME brigantine Brothers, commarded by John Walker,
was owned in Whitehaven in England, by ieveral
merchants of character and fortune, OF whom fold his
part another gentleman, who thinking his property IN
the velel entirely ecure, while the ces name remain
ei in .h~sa, IN ,iserreitiy eracd the name of the
gentleman of whom he purehaed, and inherited his own
With this RICHTER thus altered, Capt. Walker made eyera
voyages to SheePieut river loaded the ad brig with timber
cleared her at the cuom-houe at Falmouth Cafco- Bay
where was not iugged him that his RICHTER was
IN any hape irregular; but about twelve months fncc,
Capt. Walker ordered South Carolina for freight
of rice for Zealand, where having loaded his brig, he app
ed to the cuom-houie for clearance and the collector be-
ing abent, who had cleared his yee with the fame RICHTER
on former voyage; his deputy its probable having an in
cnation to fleece the Captain of three four gunea told
him that his RICHTER forged, and refued him clear
anee, and upon his replying That the legality thereof was
never queftoned in any office before, the ad officer with
iome warmth the ad cgher and told him 20 take out
he anWered that as he was no part owner nor
could take upon him wear who were the owners il was
mpaehcabe for him to obtain reger and therefore
demanded the old the officer ultimately refued to
let him have it, telling him get one in England or
elewhere, but finally granted him clearance and he pro-
ceeded his voyage Having delivered his rice cargo the
defined port, he returned Cowes in the lie of Wight and
wrote his lpeng the lois of his regter and
deired to be informed what voyage he Mould proceed on
next in reply thereto they directed him to fail for Sheeput
river and take in cargo of tmband from thence return to
Whtehaven and that he mi depend upon their forward
ing RICHTER TO him by veile that was to a foon
after him. Capt. Walker Immediately upon receiving this
direction cleared his brig, the cuomho in Cowes,
without any difficulty, and failed in balah only for Sheepf
cut river, whence he arrived iome time in October lat.
Having got his velel nearly loaded, he Falmouth by
land, and cleared the brig and cargo the cuomhou
there for Whtehayen. But during his abience, dirty
tcoundre at Pownaboough, native of Whtehayen who
was under the geatef obligations the of this vee
for the peculiar vours he had received from hem had the in
gratitude to fend letter fifteen miles TO the--flmous
John Malcolm, aequaintug him that Captain Walker had
no RICHTER, ard counting him to and make
a feizure of the brigantne.
Malcolm, without the ea delay, fets out for the infor-
mers houie, and demands guard protect him from iE-
ults there muf beg pardon of the public for clubbing
the nfomer dirty lcoundre, for in truth he holds CAP
tains commiiion under the Governor of this province.
This informing captain Immediately orders his four resns
TO funih themielves with iuch arms and ammunition as
the law requires, and thus equipped, they et eoyt
the great Malcolm Capt. Walkers brig, and having made
the ezue he dfmiied his guard what pay they received
for this very extraordinary military maneuyre, has tran
fPed, but they ioon beeae ATTAINED of their conduit.
The heroic Macom made mark upon the maf, and COM
menced oe commander of the brig, ordered the abourers to
delft from loading heartily damned the laos, men.ced the
mate, and behaved with great inoenee the gentleman
who funifhed the cargo, and who happened then be on
board threatened heath his xod in the bowels Of any
who dared dPute his authority and in af iome
ackling with which ome timber hofing, BY which
means three four people narrowly ecaped intantansOus
leath. The briggs crew could be reconciled to the
treatment they received from their commander, buc
Don told their grievances to about forty fifty falos then
the river, council was held among the tls, and oon-
non fame peaks true, Captain Malcolm verify received
ONE inadequate reward.
Captain Walker returned fon Falmouth with his clear.
nee expecting proceed his voyage, but told rhs,
he bEigantinc fixed BY Mr.. MAcom, and by him De