Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-08-13
Fran thc Monthly Magazine.


lf he Sgfe,ings 81 the cyezps Of tho schooners,
tcy' oT The squadron Of General Miranda,
zghicA zgere taheH BY tzpo S5aAish euardacos-
tds, in Jfane 1906, gryiften By ore 81 the SAT.
teyers, Srho made his escape
The world knows little Of the extrsor.
binary expedition Of General Miranda 10 the
Spanish Name in 1906 but il will be rem
.embercd thst he arrived 10 the Gulph IF
Mexico with an armed brig and schooners
and that ~ 3 e-eucOuntes with two guarda-
COastes, the schooners were / In taken.
We arc now enabled "a lav before our rea-
ders the particulars of HE treatment their
crews met wIlh from the Spanieids The
Trials, also, tend 10 tArow .ome light CT the
expedition itself
Towards The end IF June, the lieutenant
governor Of Caracas, accompanied. by as
s'stant officers, Of Judges, together with an
Interpreter for each officer, arrived at Porto
CaVelio, tor the purpose oftaking he exam
NATION OF the prisoners. They assembled
Ia the guard house, within the wills Of Cas-
tie St Philip, jn large room fitted for
that purpose. III this room were placed
h'e st- rate branches, WHY desks At one
OF which was seated the lieutenant cover
3or, with an interpreter; at The other
&, each OF The Judges, with an Interpreter
also.
The ordinary appearance cf the place, to-
gc;her wIth the unGignihtd looks Of the
Judges, could scarcely induce the prisoners
10 believe, that this WAS the tribunal before
which they were 10 be tried for their lives.
N0r were they little surprised when they
ascerlaned, by the course Of the pro
ceedInss, that they were to be compelled
e give evidence under oath, against them.
ssNes ard against each olher and upeu
this testimony alone they were 10 be conyic.
teJ.
The Judges being ready TO proceed, caus.
ed hVe Ui me prisoners 10 Be brought up in
the first place. They were informed OF the
charges exhibited against them, viz piracy,
rebellion, and numbering enc of his Catho-
he mgesiy's subjects. They were then
asked 70 describe the manner in which
oaths are administered IN their own coun-
try winch having done, they were re-
qucsted TO lay their hands npon the Bible
and administer the oath to themselves, a
gTeeabe 10 The manner in which they had
been accustomed 10 swear.
The tyc prisoners were thus distributed
one 20 each Judge, seated at his respective
desk, al beng m one room, aBd some little
distance from each other
IN the middle OF The floor, lay number
q arms and instruments Ut war, such as
guns, rifles, axes, pistols, pixies, swords and
shoyeis also, riIranda's coiors, uniform
clothes, and number Of proclamatious, ali
OF which we're taken from on board the
schOUncrs.
The Judges commented their examination
by their interpreters, who put tie questions
IA English, and gave The answer 10 the
Judges. Tie, continued to examine them
for The space al 4 or 5 hours, when they
were returned to the PRISON, and tye g.
theirs brought up in their places. IL
tins namer Tie examination proceeded
tor the space ots two weeks, before IL ell
ded.
The following were the general ques.
tious put TO one Of the prisoners, who has
since regsined his liberty, aud his an
swers
Q. How old are you
"A. about. % Years
Q. Where was you born, and where do
your paren,s reside
a. l was born IN the state Of Massachu-
sets my parents reside IL New-Yyik.
9. why did you leave New-Kork
a. 10 seek my fortune.
q Who engaged youto so on board the
Leander I
a. Co. Armstrong.
z Where was you engaged to 60
A. To j4cmvl, aud irull. there - o,her
places not disclosed 10 Tie 1t the time of the
engagement.
z. Did you know that you was coming
here
a. Ns-Porto Caveno was not mentioned