Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-05-23

discipline, which will be the lasting support of
our navy. Ifan officer has no price in his pro-
fesslon, he never will rise above mediocrity.--
There IS as much pains taken to keen Cur SLIPS
heater and cleaner than those of other nations
as there would be in fighting them and il ia
with pleasure all American can hear the need
ct praise given by all to his country's navy.
During the time we lay off 'rripoli "a Neapol
itan frigate arrived there with IL present, alias
Tribute, for the Bashaw. Naples has sufficient
navai force to keep al The Barbary. powers in
awe; but theywa the spirit, and ', ould pre-
fer adisgraceful peace to an honorable one,
The Neapolitans are in my opinion, the most
pusiiianimous people aver heard or read Of.
They show il not only i'm this Instance, bnt in
tneir general conduct on all occasions. Some
Few centuries ago the Inhabitants of this part
OF the globe were the greatest people, iii eve
ny respect. then in being. An Italian may
now eAciaim Oh what "a falling, off is there,
my countrymen" It'll a just observation that
the place whici, once gave heroes TO the world,
now FURNISHES It with singers and fidders. All
our ships have italian bands on board
After the Tripolitan boats left u.s. we
so, under way and laid our course for Tunis.
PoRT MAHoN, JAM 1917.
Before our arrival at Port Ma
hon, WIS led 10 believe from what had
heard of the place, that il was one ofthe poor
estin the Mediterranean-butI have found it
otherwise. The inhabitants appear to live in
more peace and comfort than at any other
port [ have been at. There are very few,
il any beegars, which is sufficient to prove
that the place is not so poor as has been repre-
sented.
The town is kept very clean and neat, and
every thing has the appearance of ease; the
roughness OF the pavement renders walking
disagreeab,e--)ack asses arein common use for
riding, and il appears very ludicrous to see la
dies mounted onsuchuely built obstinate be-
Jugs. Slahon and its vicinity is full of wind
mills George Town is about two miles from
nahom andis nearly as large; both places are
fuil OF billiard tables, and various other instru-
ments tor gambling. Thsis an elegant harbor
* as safe as mole, but has the misfortune Of
being in possession OF those who do not know
how to appreciate its worth. There is a navy
| yard here which might be made very fine one
1 though the buildings are now in tate of de.
cay. We have had the use of it and all the
bniidings-- there is no naval force of any kind
kept upbere.
He isas lazy as a Port Mahon soldier is
common saying among cur brave tars and
must confess they are the LATEST set Of men
| ever saw: they seldom appear in uniform and
their clothes lock as if they never we're in the
wash tnb-when the sun shines you can see
item In groups basking in its beams, employ
ing their time in picking the virmn OFF their
clothes and bodies-they are all convcts trans
ported mere from Spain. \ few weeks before
our arrival a ship arrived here with l50 on
BOARD IN double irons, who were Immediately
released and habited like soldiers they get for
pay, per day ten cents and their bread-all Of
them have the look of villains-they steal
every thing they can lay their hands on
even the tomb is not sacred 10 them, they
nave broken up marble monuments and sold
the pieces, which are very good merchandise
here.
The Spanish officers are body of men who
come hero either TO live in idleness or amass
fortunes-to procure the latter thew spare no
means IN their power. They will smuecle ex-
tort accept of brides, and wink at MANY prac-
.Ices winch IL Is their duty to prevent and their
interest net to see
The MinOrcans are a different set of people
from The Spanards, speak different language
ana are an hoscst Industrious set of men, They
cannot endure SpaHiard, and consider il an
insult to be called by. that name. Our hos
| pital surgeons have been treated with tho
greatest poiiteneSs and attention hy The inla-
bitants.
| As TO the justice administered her. / shall
| give you but one instance, whichis now the
| common topic OF conversation at this plaee A
respectable gentleman who lives between Port
Mahon and George Town, has prohigate son,
who married about six months since He very
soon ran out the sum OF money his father gave
MN ano went to him for more, which the old
gentleman refused and demonstrated on the
impropriety of his conduct. The son left him
and Immediately went TO two soldiers, to bar
gam with them TO murder his father on whose
G GSath me whole property would devolve on
doltfOr two douhoons to be paid OH the exc.
cntion OF the deed. But as he had not the
uoubioons he wanted them to wait for pay till
NJ: got the property. But they thinking, that,
after the deed was done, the other would not
pay, refused doing il without being paid before
hand; some alteration arose and the son left
them, saying that he conld get it done forIlaIf
the money. The soldiers unwilling TO lose
this opportunity ofmaking money, lodged in
formation against him before the magistrates.
lie was apprchended and on trial il was fni-
~ proved that his intention were to have his
rather murdered. The soldiers owned they
would have done it had he paid them the mo-
ney. The soldiers were released and the son
confined for three months, which time is now
ost, and he was set at liberty few DAYS since.
no houht to commit deed which ought to fiji
the soul with horror.
From what have stated, you will perceive
tnat the ties are very slender which bind the
MInorcaDs to Spain. They stand ready to as
sist any power, whichwili sever them from H. In
case OF Spanish war, our present force is suf
hclent to take the place.
Fort 81. Philip is situated at the nontI, =
the harb0r-it was once the strongest i'm I'm
rope, andis now nothing more than hcao &c
ruins. When the British evacuated tie place
the Spaniards destroyed the fort, and there is
now scarcely any obstacle TO fleet euterin,,
the harbor. In this fort Midshipman Moor.ee
late ofthe Ontario, i buried ,wiihthc ii crm
stances OF whose death yOn are well acouaint-
ed. fN'''"'-
The Java and Ontario have sailed for the q.
nIfed States, the Peaeock for Barcelona. and
tho Erie for hlarselles, the Washington and
Spark will sail for Algiers and Gibraltar. the
United States and Constellation, will remain
here Tor some time We have broken mn orr
hospital establishment at his place, and the
hospital Surgeon( MIR. Reynolds) has sailed in
the Java, -
From yours, &c.