Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-21
MARINE COMMUNICATIONS.
Before HENRY WHEATON.
ROBERT SWANTON,& Esluires'
JOHN j. SCOTT, JUSTICES
SH1ViNG-ASS1ULI' g. BATTERY.
PETER DUFFIE,

PETER DUFFIE,
GEORGE MATHEwSON, RICH'D. CLARK,
JAMES KNIGHT, JOHN MARK
WELL, EDWARD CRAW, GEoRGEJEN-
KINS, WM.AsKEw, THOMAS MAXWELL
AND DANIEL MARSHALL
GAINES, Coun,rii fo,. The PLiintiF
FAY, Connection the Defendants
The Captain and crew of vessel on the high
seas, nave no IlSht 10 permit or excite Old
Neptune to shave passenger, and ini-
meIse him III a tub ofwater, contrary TO his
will.
This was an action of assault and battery
alledged 10 have been committed on board the
British ship Thomas, OF Lancaster, While ON The
hgh seas, Ot which ship MathewsOn was the
captain, the other defendants seanen, and tie
plaintiff, one OF the passengers.
III appeared that the snip came from the
ehalhy cliffs OF Albion, with a number or pas
seHgerS. ~ arrived on the banks OF Nevtoun,-
lind. The sons ofthe Deity who rules the wide
| domain, through which they had past in safe
| y, with Joy beamine III every eye, met andcoli-
| ieFIed. by atscurseHce to ancient legends,
| cOeyai with the common law x among them.
| OF greater validity, it was found that as of
| ten as landsmcn came in view of the Banks
| before thea, he ustproduce bottle of Cog
niac or rum, as AN acceptable sacrifice to Nep-
| tune.
| The nature of the sacrifice was explained
| to The iaudsmsn, and the greater part, com
| pied with requis.tioD, sanctioned by inn
memorial usage; the defendant, with others
refused.
| Mhereupon the seamen invoked the God
| with sad complaints = Oh omnipotcnt father
| King of the ocean, behold the rebellious sons
| % Terra who have dared TO ntrude into thy
| dominlons, refusing to bend before thy divine
| altar, and 10 render to thee AN accustomed IL
| baton. Their boards, Oh father are long,
| ncouth, and Indecent retained BIS them i'm
defiance Of thy laws, and III deriSiOn OF thy di-
vinitY."
'ybo f,tl,ar of,cc.,, j,e.,J 81 t:c,.t 4.
iui head snDliAic above the waves, attended
by the TritOEs, the Mercedes, & all tile daugh
tcrs of the azure rnaiu.
lie saw his children, and thus responded TO
tneIr complaints, through a brazen trumuef
whose reyerbcratiOns shook the distant pro-
h0rtory OF Chapeau Rouge, aud re-cahoed
through the spacious hav of Placentia Car
ny, These lnpious mortas from my presence
-pehOid tier boards which they dare to re-
Tam III ',espite ofn-y authority. They shall be
shared."
{" Sic fata smart"
lie said, and kAig his razor aud shaving box
from his CIR. while Amphiirite held his horses,
he seized tge PROV aud assembled by the head
rail; into the lofty ship. His presence Inspired
his children with JOY. ButWhc mparting his
command, through his bTdzcn trumpet TO the
crew, the landsmen below trcmbed. Bring
hitler that tub and fill IL with sea tyater -
Twas done. Bring forth the long bearded
tribe, one by one The command was Obeyed
but Dune, wien 1t came to his turn, was IN
ciined to b. refractory, and resiSted-But who
can resist, wh u gods command?
The razOru. ed by MS godship, was nianufac-
tured III the caverns of Atna, by one OF the
Cyclops, from an iron hoop; and though some
what rough on the edge, did good business
Held above ilic tub, Duife underwent the
operation with streaming eyes. while the mo-
unsaTOury smell from tile ldther entered his
nOstris. As sson the oihce of the razor was
accomplished aud the awful oath which binds
even Gods below, was administered, the tub
I.af.. b.. -. AZ.
aud the god descended into the bosom Of the
vastly deep
1t appeared that dypassengcr, named Ann
Jones, was subjected To the samc ceremony
the hunnr oi which was enjoyed by Duf.c. in
common with the others. MarNweu person
atcd Neptune, and the captain acted IN the CT
paciy Of assistant to tie deity, and was
aiding, abettlng ni assisting IN the cercmo-
uy-