The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-03-27
MORE BRITISH OUTRAGE,
(From q Chariesten [ s. C. p'


The American brig B.utus, capt. Mitchill,
built and owned in Baltimore, sailed from this
port for that city on Thursday last, laden with
cotton, rice, and some specie, was taken on
the same evening by the British blrckading
SQUADRON, and ordered 10 Burmuda.
TEXT -
Creof Britain has done no essential injury"
further Illustrated and excmplihed IN the following
account of the seamen that the Cleaner met with
from the British vessels Of war. off the bar-polite-
ly handed us by gentleman. aPassenger' on board
On Saturday, between II and ~, the ship
Cleaner, capt. King, from Philadelphia, was
brought to by British brig of war, of this
port, in fathoms water.-Upon her coming
under the ships stern, an officer from the
quarter-deck assailcd the master of the ship
In the Most opprobrious language, of which
nothing was Ineligible but repeiitions of
damned internal rascal, and similar epithets
concluding with s. ned be damned but he
would fire into her." So insuIted and ,hrea-
tened, capt. King replied, fire away. The
order Was given TO the ready mariner, on the
lorecastle, who with deliberate aim, dischar-
ged his musket among the passengers and
crew happily without effect--his exulting
captain asking should he fire again This
was into ship few yards distant, lying too
for him under the American flag, almost in
sight of this city, and without word of en-
quiry or examination.
Upon being boarded by an officer, enquiry
was made as to the name OF the brig, to
which various answers were givenby the boats
crew--she was called the Cclumbinc, Carlo,
and Pert. The midshipn.an said she was
French prize, taken on this coast some time
ago, and had never been in Europe since,
that her captains name is John 1homts n.---
give this commander the same credit for
concealing the name of his vessel, that con.
sider foot pad entitled to, for his cunning
in wearing false nose, to prevent his person
being identified.
1t a man capable Of acting in manner so
cowardiy and wanton, could be. reached by
my obse, vations that would be felt by gen.
erous and brave spirit, would enquire of
capt. Thompson how he could have disgra-
ced the fay OF Britain bv an outrage that
manhood mnsl disclaim Do the ample re-
cords oi British heloism afford to this officer
no bright example of the manners of the gen.
tieman united with the exercise OF proft ssion-
al duty !-ls II more correct to come at once
TO the degrading conclusion, that this person
is OF so base nature AS to be incapable Of
emulation, and of habits so brutal that, 1t is
his pride to be distinguished az a ruifian or
an assassin !--He may be equal to the des-
peralion Of a bravo, but none but a cospard ~
heart could he caprble Of such dastardly at
tack, for Inc must feel that he would shrink
from the indignant brow Of those he insnlted,
il he had only his personal prowess to sup
port him.
What must be the feeling Of an English
gentleman who sees floating over such a
character that ensign that waited Nelson and
country to such glorious ceiebrty-to hear
from one in uniform that he uses no language
but terms dsgraceful to the lowest Of the
species, TO say that shot by his order which
should be never expended but in his country's
service--poured by paltroon, on the deck
OF friendly unprotected merchant ship, ly-
ing under his bow, III obedience to his signal
a PASSENGER.
This passenger, If we may Judge from the man.
ner in which he has written the account, fed
eralist. But this outrageous conduct of the British
captain was too much even for him. We believe that
unless British naval commanders retrench that
bearing and insoIent spirit which ready to
Dc deserted by many federalists, who now their
friends. Is it not monstrous, that G. Britain should
employ such buccaneerng potroons. to "pour their
nurderous shot upon the decks Of friendly, unprc-
lected merchant ships lying under their bows in O.
bedience 20 their signal" Had France wsntonly at
tackled pubick vessel of the United States and
butchered part of her crew had she impressed
thousands of our seamen, and continued her impos.
lions and insults as Great Britain has done, the
whole country would have been in arms against her.
The people would have called upon the government,
the government would have responded, and "the
hand of every man in America wsud have been rai-
sed against the hand of every man in France" But
as these outrages were committed by the British, it
is all very well and neither government nor people
appear to think that any measures of energy ought
be adopted, teach such outlaws to respect our
rights. On the contrary, the federal papers are
upholdmg the British in their various en-.
rroachments, and defending their enormities with all
ns srdour OF British subjects. Boz. Chron