Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-07-26
gpisfeilanfous Selections.
THE SENSIBILIIIES OF A
VIRGINIA GOVERNOR

he public mind has been painfully
excited for several days past in this
quarter, by rumots of the esemy APP
preaching Richmond, 1000 strong, and
the atrocities committed by him preyi
Gus 10 his quitting Hampton. We had
no doubt but these stories had very
much improved on their ira,els.--
/ he following is laughable enough, and
although our friend may have gwen IL
10 Us in rather lively manner, il is
substantially true. Monday week five
British frigaiss aud number OF lea
ders got under way and stood mp James
liver. l his movement Of the enemy
was promptly communicated to gen
Barbour by gen Taylor, commandilg
a, Norfolk His excellency immedi
a,ely posted off to Sandy Point, and ar
irving there before the enemy appeared,
he leil his orders with the people III the
vicinity 10 hasten expresses To him. il IL
should be necessary, and then returned
TO Richmond. his order WAS exact.
" 20 the steof many OF the peigh-
bors, vino p, onais,d 10 be faithful Ut
their posts OF obse,vaiioD, for they
knew they should be we'll paid-This
was on "Wednesday. Early the n,xl
day All express arrived out Of breath and
covered with dust, and rushing into
the governors presence, exclaimed,
+" Governor, Governor, ihey',e coming
they're coming %" How many are com
ing !; where arc they !" ! don't know
Gosernot-i thousands are coming
saw :hem from Sandy Point by ,hous-
ahds' FfaE THE Guns" said his
excellency. Soon after IA second ex-
pr,s, came, and hardly taking lime to
dlsmount, cried out, I" Cove MOI,
they're coming They're coming saw
them landing" "how many landed 7"
said his exoellency 81 don't know,
Governor, any thing al all about ii, but
j saY'em landing by thousands"
:" BEAT THE DRUns," said his excel
Iency \ third express pressed close
upon the heels oil the second, with" u !.
Governor, they're coming, they IRE com
ing | saw'em marching by thousands"
Ring the Bells, and make all the
noise you cam" said the Governor
Richmond now exhi.,ted such scene
Of inconceiyabl, confusion and distress,
language cannot describe. Cannon II
ring drums beating; bells ringing /;
women sh,isking dogs and negroes
ba hing, and the nineling OF ten thous.
and horrid noises ; 10 which Millions
|, pandemohium, 1.-THE pleni'tude OF lis
tcrrors, was Paradise itself.
Towards evening il occurred TO his
excellency, that Il would be as well TO
question these descendants of Mercury
with more care, and they were sent for.
Their Information Was vague and I'M
certain, and 1t was pl4in, tina. their fears
: had multiplied enemies with more
dexteli,y than Falstaff ever could
The British had rose upon their distrac.
ted vision like Rhoderic Dhu's soldi us,
when TO Eiiz James the whole NOUN
tain appeared clad III steel Before eve.
ming more expresses arrived, when il
was ascer,ained, that these thousands,
which Richmond fea,ed might bury
her honors in the dust, wefe, in truth.
only lew barges hat iormeda lorag-
ing party which came up the river Tor
provisions |; and among other places.
two had land, d at Sandy Point, where,
after picking up a few sheep, they had
gone away "Order The firing to cease !;
hush the drums stop tae ringing OF
the bells, and all this Internal noise,"
said the Governor.
The clouds OF war which oyershad
owed the city had passed ava, - Inc