Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-08-23

Der OF manufacturers, such as blacksmiths,
weayers, SC. near whom our freebcoters
resided, though they frequently pundered
their nearest neighbors-on the other side
OF the lake lived respectable, peaceabie
farmer, Cor whom the robbers protested
great friendship, who by'h;s industry had so
improved his land from "a W lderness state,
thathe was enabled to send many canoe loads
OF produce for sale to the people on the o.
Their side. Now it happened that the lake
robber became jealous of the increasing pros
perity OF the farmer. (who by the bye, was
very good customer of his children, ny buy
Ing all his plpughs, scythes, coats, hats, sc
of them, who, Notwithstanding the bad ex..
ample of their father were very expert in
making these things) 10 such a degree that
he used to fire muskets loaded with balls
into the boats, and several times killed the
children Of the farmer His reason for com
hitting these friendly actions, was, as he
pretended, to search for old breaches &c.
which he suspected the farmer to be gui ty of
conveying to the land robbers people, with
whom he was at yariance,) or to discover
some of his sons who he alleged had enter.
ed into the service of the farm r, IN doing
which he frequently made slaves of the old
mans sons-sometimes he said he was obli..
ged to rob and murder them for his own
preservation, as according to his logic, the
trade the farmer carried on with the land
robbers children, was injurious to him, i'm
asmuch as the children of his enemy were
thereby prevented from starying-this doc
trIne was rather too absurd to be assented
to by the farmer, who thought plain old
fellow, had too much spin to submit 10 such
notions--he therefore forbid any of the arm
ed boats OF the water robber, from coming
near his house, or receiving any provisions
from thence, until he behaved in more
peaceable manner-our waterman row came
openly forward, and declared that he would
take every canoe belonging to the former
th9t he founl gong to the other side--hc
would, however, permit him, as great IA
| YOUR, to send boat TO small spot in the
lake, where the former used to buv his SUI
gar and coffee, and then he was only 20 be
allowed to buy sufficient for his own family.
| use--the land robber finding his opponent
| measures begin to affect himself and chill.
dren, In order to conteract Them, swore that
II he caught the farmers people going TO or
from, or even looking towards tn pirates
house, or were seen talking with him, he
would plumber them whichever he could
meet them These Unfair proceedings the
farmer perceived would, 1T persisted in,
Involve his family ia TN dispute, end in the
end perha cause their ruin He therefore
lO u VI SuIuItn at nome, cS
as they were ingenious and Industrious, he
knew they wculd.bc abiuJo mike for them
selves, all those articles winch they had
formerly purchased at great risk from their
| enemy's children and their neIghbors.
This wise and PEE cea BILE conduct, WAS much
opposed ny a. few lily servants, and some
Interested visitors in the old msn's family !;
but he had the satisfaction in the end, TO
hnd that his measures were well planned,
and approved by all candid people 1T home
and abroad for the two robbers experien
cling greater distresses every day, in con
sequence of the, formers wise measures,
finding that he won't no, he imposed upon,
that the produce of his farm was nece sary
to their existence, and that if they persis
ted In their unjust notions, the former won d
soon require none of the produce of the Ia
hor of their children, they determined that
IN future the trade of the farmer should be
restricted by - other than the laws of rea.
son. The consequence was, that the far
mer's plantation prospered to a great de-.
gree, and those who had most loudly COM
planned against his conduct, were obliged to
confess that it was dictated by principles of
reason and humanity.