Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-05
From the Democratic Press.

dvog 70 take his picture"
"A short Sketch Of ,he history ofan I'M
presSe1s .imericaR Seaman.
Written by one who knew his worth, who
loved his virtues, and has often wept
over his sufierings and his sorrows.
1t was i'll the year 1906 that James
Brown, then in the 25th year of his age,
who had been married one year, and was
the only stay of a widowed mother, fee
bic, old, and poor it was, well remem
Der, In the spring of1806 that he embarked
at this port on board an American ship, on
voyage to the East Indies.-The voyage
was prosperous. He had been permitted
tc embark his little all ina venture--and
as the ship neared the shore he would gai-
Jy walk the deck, and on his watchat night
calculate all his gains and often, in the
fondness of fervid imagination, would he
pour his board of wealth into the lap of his
beloved wife and affectionate mother. In
such reveries did he often indulge until
his full heart would overflow and the big
tears ofjoyful expectation roll down his
manly cheek.
From one of these indulgings of the
heart he was aroused by cry from the
mast head of {: sail IA sail!' The sail
proved to be British frigate. She sent
gang of ruffians on board and, in spite
circumstance, in defiance of right, they
dragged poor Brown more dead than alive,
into their boat. They, with many a bloc
dy lash, compelled him to work and fight
their battles. lie tailed and fought, and
trusted that day would come when he
might escape from his task-masters, and
regain his native land. Once he jumped
overheard in the hope of finding protection
in neutral country /; he reached the shore,
but before he could even dry his clothes he
was again lii the power of his enslayers.
His labor was redoubled-scofis, scorns
and scourges were multiplied, and his
manly spirit was sinking under its burden
when the news reached him that the Uni
Ted States, had declared war against
Great Britain-s' Then so help me hea-
yen,'' said the captive, Sc fever | raise my
arm against my country or my country
men. | am In your power" said he to the
British captain :" have been your slave
for years, and you may dispose of me as
you will, but neither punishment nor pri-
vation shall ever induce me again to work
or fight under the flag Of the declared enc
my of my country" This declaration was
firmly adhered to, in defiance of threats
and blows.
He was at lengthlanded asa prisoner of
war in England, that country for which he
had for six years been compelled to work
and fight !; he was landed without shil-
ling in his pocket, and manacled like fe-
Ion he was marched to Dartmoor prison,
Z ~ tl,e Ia
in Jail, and the sensibilities of his nature Of
ten wounded his heart when he pictured
the distress of his wife and the sorrows of
ms poor old mother; whose age almost
precluded the hope of his ever again fold
ing her to his demonstrating the
beams of hope would irradiate his path,
when he would hear of the victories of his
brave cOuntrymen, and he would long to
contribute more than his prayers, to their
success.
He hoped to be exchanged--one cartel
came and then another, butas those that
were taken in fight were first exchanged,
cur poor sailor was still left to sigh in cap
tivity. At length rumor of peace found
ltswayinto the prison the rumOr was con-
firmcd, the peace was ratified, and many
heart in Dartmoor prison beat high with
Joy but none, no not one, beat more tu-
TnulfuOusly than did the heart of Brown
His Imagination revealed in delight. He
shook hands with all his messmates. He
was to be restored again to freedom, to his
country--again to feel the fond, the heart
warm pleasure OF wife's embrace, and on
his Bonded knee again to receive the bles-
sing ofhis poor and aged, but once again
happy mother.
How inscrutable are the ways of Provi-
dence Brown was destined never again
to taste the sweets of freedom, never again
to see his native land, nor those who were
nearest and dearest to his heart The bar
barians who had ensaved and made him
prisoner, murdered him in cold blood, and
his corpse, with those of seven others ofhis
murdered countrymen, were cast into one
common grave, ia foreign and hostile
land. With his dying breath he com
mended bis soul to his creator, and his
cause TO his country. May his prayer as
cend to Heaven, and be accepted b. F.
From The Savannah Republican, Jiue 90.
CO.lEJfUNTCaTION.
Tr1ho - M,,,sIo. D,Il. u