Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-08-03
From. the Cleaner.
rnr cocrrAr.oxs or UNCLE JOHN.

THE cocrrArsoxs OF UNCLE JOHN.
3 / had heard of ships, and Of sailors, and
|of the ocean, and ! fonged to see subje cts
$50 deeply interesting. ! visited the sea
shore. Methinks there is nothing IN the
works Of man calculated to give SO high
IN opinion Of his power and capacity, as
|the structure of ships and their nayiga-
|r;en, through storms and tenipests, on.
The tfackiess bosom Of the deep. | be-
eld the sailor, frank. generous and brave.
There is something in the life he lives
the hardships he endmes; and the arator
[,nd shirt with which he meets the foes:
.sf his country, thatrenders him interest
mo. and excites the kindliest wishes OF
the. heart. for his welfare. Fhe ocean
Itself, rolling in lofty pillows, and bear.
ling TIE mighty menof war, with the ease
|of cookie shell--boundless IN its extent
terrible in its wrath-flls the mind
with awe, and leads the soul to the con-
Temptation Of the greatness of HIM who
hath said g thus far shalt thou come, and
here shall thy proud waves be staid."
A friend took nae to a high reek by the
Shore. The pillows broke in hoarse MUIR
,nurs against its base. A thousand inte-
resting objects arrested s,e eve, AS we
were looking, behold a large shfp, under
Ia press OF sail from the east, hove in sisht,
and soon after. a smaller vessel from tire
south. The last was soon recognized as
the Hope, long expected from India
And what 10y will there be, thought !, IN
the meeting OF friends long separated
There is on board that ship, said my
friend, sailor--an interesting young
man. He had just commenced business,
lwhe he had Ship burnt by the French,
that nearly ruined him. Soon after, the
Iembargo came, and blasted all his hopes.
| His friends assisted him with money to
make handsome venture to India. He
lis noble fellow. In prosperity, so kind
Ito TIE poor: and 50 pleasant. He has a
lovely wife and three little ores; and
They are very anxious for bis return, for
His creditors are becoming troublesome,
land her infant boy she has buried since
William left her. But see, sad be on
1.-The wharl-there is Lucy, viii, Ter hthe
Jones. She knows the ship, AID has come
ldown to bid MIN welcome Blow, blow,
I've southern gales and watt the long lost
|husbend to the arms of his bc!ored wife.
Hooked again to the ocean. The ships
were near us. | beheld tie cross flying
from the large one. She was g British
man Of war, and was evidently intend
ling to cut off the Hope from the harbor.
What cr.,id it mean We we're at peace
with that nation. A boat from the Bri-
fish, immediately boarded the American.
We could distinctly hear Che In,perious
'angaase Of sbsn1ate authority We saw
sailor struggling toreiease himself from
1.-The grasp ofreie;als. we saw him drag
ICED to- to boat, and from Thence to TIE
ldeck of theeman of war. En- tie ,hTsnzv
|of despair, die attempted 70 throw him.
lself into tie sea, tut was ARE s;ed. We
saw the dalnued lash Of TIE boatswair
lfall, and we heard tie 81 4 of anguish.
THE ship that stole him was soon out Of
sight. But We saw Lucy wien tie Hope
came to the wharf, and she learned the
tate of William. Her cheek was like
death. Her eye was fearless. Fer limbs
failed her, and she sunk on the earth. O!
It's widowhood and orphanage More
dreadful than that which springs from the
grave.
| "Man do not know with what an ago.
ny Of tenderness she gazed upon her lit
tie ones. Be Thou her comforter who
art the widows friend y
And asked mys;lfif this was an evil
to be borne ; II these were wrongs to be
endured If patience under such injuries
was not weakness, and forbearance
lcrime {
This nation is able and willing to a.
lvenge her wrongs and maintain her rights.
Drive the weak and selfish men who rule
and disgrace us, who abandoned Wash
Iington to its fate, and whose miserable
measures invite insult and aggression
drive them from our councils. Raise
men to their place-pat'lotic, honorable,
|highminacd men, and the evils will cease:
or the just vengeance Of the country, like
lightning from Heaven, shall fall On the
|oppressor. :.
Before left town, asked my friend
If he knew the fate of Lucy. He told
lne that she was in the hospital, where he
visited her. She knew no one, but con-